Sunn O))) - Monoliths & Dimensions

Massive big blocks and chunks of words found all across the web in forms of "reviews" for this album applauding it on many levels, yet confusing the references between the live experience and the studio one.

I have only heard about Sunn O)))'s live shows, but haven't been fortunate enough to witness one and feel the intensity of their chords in my chest, which is a positive point for this sound review focusing on the actual record making no parallels.

Monoliths & Dimensions sets a turning point in the band's sound production and it is worth welcoming, though no change comes for free rather always on the expense of "something else". The first keywords corssing my mind in contrast everytime I listen to this album are: Clarity, Drone, Lo-fi, Darkness, Bass and Dynamics. Comparing Monoliths & Dimensions to the previous productions is somehow futile as it clearly shows how "polished" this album's sound is. Sure it's clearer, bigger and sharper in sound, but how does it really work for a bass driven droning band?

The muffed sound and low end bass rumbles always suited Sunn O))). They increased the mystery, boosted the dark atmosphere and worked perfectly with the minimal approach to their music. Monoliths & Dimensions is pretty much like a sailing ship in the middle of the ocean, it unclothed the musical structure, making it all naked and pale in a vast area where nothing much happens. The dark atmosphere became less and the lack of sound dynamics is now more than obvious, which only proves why people are keen on the closing track "Alice" more than any other track on the album. The track has the suitable sound dynamics to make this production interesting, while unfortunately the rest of the tracks fail to deliver.

Monoliths & Dimensions is a great improvement in sound production where Randall Dunn and Mell Dettmer delivered a solid outcome that does not match the current band's musical state but, it might work in the future where more dynamics are introduced and developed as in the case of Bohren & Der Club of Gore. It is a new starting point for the band and it will be interesting to hear the production on the next work where a dramatic change on all levels is more than expected.