Pyroclasts (album)
{{short description|2019 instrumental album by Sunn O)))}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2019}}
{{Infobox album
| name = Pyroclasts
| type = studio
| cover = Sunn O))) - Pyroclasts.png
| alt =
| artist = Sunn O)))
| released = {{start date|2019|10|25}}
| recorded = July 2018
| studio = Electrical Audio
(Chicago, Illinois)
| genre = Drone metal
| length = 43:56
| label = Southern Lord (SUNN333)
| producer = Greg Anderson, Stephen O'Malley
| prev_title = Life Metal
| prev_year = 2019
| next_title =
| next_year =
}}
Pyroclasts is the ninth studio album by American drone metal band Sunn O))).{{cite web |last=Minsker |first=Evan |title=Sunn O))) Announce New Album Pyroclasts |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/sunn-o-announce-new-album-pyroclasts/ |website=Pitchfork |accessdate=August 29, 2019 |date=August 28, 2019}} The album was released through Southern Lord Records on October 25, 2019. Pyroclasts was recorded and mixed by Steve Albini (Nirvana, Neurosis, Godspeed You! Black Emperor) entirely using analog tape. In addition to Greg Anderson and Stephen O'Malley, the album features collaborators Tos Nieuwenhuizen, Tim Midyett and Hildur Guðnadóttir.
Pyroclasts was written and recorded alongside what has been described as a "sister album"{{cite web| last = Ludwig| first = Jamie| title = First Listen: Sunn O))), 'Life Metal'| work = NPR| date = April 18, 2019| url = https://www.npr.org/2019/04/18/713445507/first-listen-sunn-o-life-metal| accessdate = April 19, 2019}} or a "fraternal twin"{{Harvnb|Hernandez|2019|p=33}} album titled Life Metal that was released six months earlier on April 26, 2019. Sunn O))) plus additional collaborators live recorded a new 11-minute improvised drone session at the start or end of each day during the recording of Life Metal. Pyroclasts is a collection of four of those tracks.{{cite web| last = Slingerland| first = Calum| title = Sunn O))) Ready New Album 'Pyroclasts'| work = Exclaim!| date = August 28, 2019| url = http://exclaim.ca/music/article/sunn_o_ready_new_album_pyroclasts| accessdate = August 30, 2019}} The title refers to volcanic airborne pyroclastic rock.{{cite web| last = Stanley| first = Terence| title = Sunn O))) trade dark for light on Life Metal| work = Guitar Magazine| publisher = BandLab Technologies| date = April 23, 2019| url = https://guitar.com/features/interviews/sunn-o-trades-dark-for-light-on-life-metal/| accessdate = April 24, 2019}}
Critical reception
{{Music ratings
| MC = 74/100{{cite web| title = Pyroclasts by Sunn O))) Reviews and Tracks| work = Metacritic| url = https://www.metacritic.com/music/pyroclasts/sunn-o)))| accessdate = November 10, 2019}}
| rev1 = The 405
| rev1score = 8/10{{cite web| last = Dedman| first = Todd| title = Review: Sunn O))) take a more meditative, luminescent approach on Pyroclasts| work = The 405| date = October 28, 2019| url = https://www.thefourohfive.com/music/review/review-sunn-o-take-a-more-meditative-luminescent-approach-on-pyroclasts-157| accessdate = November 10, 2019}}
| rev2 = AllMusic
| rev2score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}{{cite web| last = Jurek| first = Thom| title = Sunn O))) – Pyroclasts {{!}} Songs, Reviews Credits| work = AllMusic| date = October 25, 2019| url = https://www.allmusic.com/album/pyroclasts-mw0003303756| accessdate = November 10, 2019}}
| rev3 = Classic Rock
| rev3score = 3/10{{cite magazine|title=Sunn O))): Pyroclast|date=November 2019|magazine=Classic Rock|issue=268|page=85}}
| rev4 = Consequence of Sound
| rev4score = B{{Cite web |url=https://consequence.net/2019/10/album-review-sunn-o-pyroclasts/ |title=Sunn O))) Unleash Radiant Distortion on Pyroclasts |last=Pementel |first=Michael |date=October 23, 2019 |website=Consequence of Sound |accessdate=November 10, 2019}}
| rev5 = The Line of Best Fit
| rev5score = 8/10{{Cite web |url=https://www.thelineofbestfit.com/reviews/albums/pyroclasts-sunn-o-album-review |title=Pyroclasts is a fittingly accomplished conclusion to a monumental year for Sunn O))) |last=Lilly |first=Evan |date=October 30, 2019 |website=The Line of Best Fit |accessdate=November 10, 2019}}
| rev6 = Mojo
| rev6score = {{rating|3|5}}{{cite magazine|title=Sunn O))): Pyroclasts|date=December 2019|magazine=Mojo|issue=313|page=94}}
| rev7 = Pitchfork
| rev7score = 8.0/10{{Cite web |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/sunn-o-pyroclasts/ |title=Sunn O))): Pyroclasts |last=Martin-McCormick |first=Daniel |date=October 29, 2019 |website=Pitchfork |accessdate=November 10, 2019}}
| rev8 = PopMatters
| rev8score = 8/10{{Cite web |url=https://www.popmatters.com/sunn-o-pyroclasts-review-2641240750.html |title=Sunn O))) Revisit the World of 'Life Metal' with 'Pyroclasts' |last=Stasis |first=Spyros |date=November 8, 2019 |website=PopMatters |accessdate=November 10, 2019}}
| rev9 = Uncut
| rev9score = 8/10{{cite magazine|title=Sunn O))): Pyroclasts|last=Anderson|first=Jason|date=November 2019|magazine=Uncut|issue=270|page=33}}
}}
Upon its release, Pyroclasts received positive reviews from contemporary music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream publications, Pyroclasts received an average score of 74, based on ten reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews". In the review for AllMusic, Thom Jurek wrote that "The forward evolution of Life Metal has been balanced and extended into a mercurial spirit through formless, receptive interaction on Pyroclasts."
Jason Anderson of Uncut praised the album, writing that "The results may comprise the most finely distilled example of Stephen O'Malley and Greg Anderson's deconstruction of heavy metal riffage, with each of these tracks demonstrating the infinite varieties of fuzz and rumble that exist within a single mighty note."
Classic Rock gave the album a 3/10 score, writing, "Four 11-minute 'improvised modal drones' recorded by Steve Albini during the Life Metal sessions for which we're supposed to be grateful. This is why punk happened. Get a grip."
Track listing
{{Track listing
| all_writing = Stephen O'Malley and Greg Anderson
| total_length = 43:56
| title1 = Frost (C)
| length1 = 10:55
| title2 = Kingdoms (G)
| length2 = 11:04
| title3 = Ampliphædies (E)
| length3 = 11:03
| title4 = Ascension (A)
| length4 = 10:54
}}
Personnel
Pyroclasts personnel adapted from LP liner notes.{{Cite AV media notes| title = Pyroclasts| year = 2019| at = LP liner notes| publisher = Southern Lord Records| id = SUNN333}}
Sunn O)))
- Greg Anderson – electric guitar
- Stephen O'Malley – electric guitar, electric bass guitar
Additional musicians
- Hildur Guðnadóttir – electric cello, haldorophone
- Tim Midyett – electric baritone guitar
- Tos Nieuwenhuizen – Moog Rogue synthesizer
Production
- Steve Albini – recording, mixing (at Electrical Audio in July 2018)
- Greg Anderson – production
- Matt Colton – mastering (at Metropolis, London in July 2019)
- Stephen O'Malley – production
Artwork and design
- Samantha Keely Smith – paintings
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://sunn.bandcamp.com/album/pyroclasts Pyroclasts] on Bandcamp
{{Sunn O)))}}
{{Authority control}}