Monoliths and Dimensions

Sunn O))) - Monoliths and Dimensions
Critic Score
Based on 17 reviews
2009 Ratings: #11 / 923
Year End Rank: #33
User Score
Based on 402 ratings
2009 Rank: #46
Liked by 53 people
May 26, 2009 / Release Date
LP / Format
Southern Lord / Label
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CRITIC REVIEWS

100
Drowned in Sound

For anyone interested in music that works both as art and an intensely new exciting experience - this is easily the best album that has come out this year.

100
The Guardian

The most compelling – and important – avant garde record since Love's Secret Domain by Coil.

90
Tiny Mix Tapes

Monoliths ends up standing tall not only as a watershed moment in metal, but also as a 21st-century artistic statement in general. And it may just be sunn 0))))’s strongest album to date.

90
musicOMH

Due to the distinctly avant garde nature of Sunn O))), this is likely the kind of album that many people will buy, listen to for five minutes (which as far as Sunn O))) are concerned relates to one note) and then display in their record collection as a mark of their awesome credibility.

90
AllMusic

Monoliths and Dimensions succeeds because it is the sound of a new music formed from the ashen forge of drone, rock, and black metal. In its seemingly impenetrable, slow, spacious, heavy sonic darkness, this is the new way forward for not only Sunn 0))), but for extreme rock music and possibly even what's left of the avant-garde. Brilliant.

90
No Ripcord

In spite of their addition of thickening and texturing agents to the mix, Monoliths & Dimensions is for a select crowd. The only difference now is that Sunn O))) can begin to appeal to the more generalized music fan, and not just their loyal following of metalfeeders content to wallow in the muck.

85
Blabbermouth.net
Brilliant in its imaginative non-conformity and boundless exploration, "Monoliths & Dimensions" is not an album for everyone, but one that nobody should be without. This will change the way you listen to music.
85
Pitchfork
Sunn O)))'s latest album may be their best, as dozens of collaborators join on four epic tracks that run from slow metal to shimmering orchestral drone.
85
Coke Machine Glow

Monoliths & Dimensions feels like a testament from a deep pit of despair with nowhere to look but up. They might never get out but the hope is in the fact that everyone involved is in the exact same spot.

80
Sputnikmusic

The album is a revelation for the band, showing their many faces. They are not just a doom band. They are a band of spirituality, a band of wishing and daydreaming. Monoliths & Dimensions flashes glimmers of hope among all the doom, like a distant light at the end of the tunnel.

80
Uncut
Their seventh LP is a(nother) case of "none more black," but 'Big Church'--in which a Viennese women's choir provides the counter to crushing, sustained chords are striking departures from Sunn)))'s awesome canon.
80
Mojo
Beautifully arranged, its four pieces amplifiy Sunn O)))'s signature drone rumble.
80
Prefix
With the explorations of additional instrumentation as well being more comfortable with silences and with echo, SunnO))) approach the freedom and abandon of the spirit-travelers alluded to in the titles and approaches on this, the band's best record yet.
80
Spectrum Culture

Monoliths & Dimensions is a dark, complex work from a band that will not appeal to everyone. Anderson and O’Malley are working with heady topics, making a listen to this album much akin to the experience of sitting through Miles Davis’ Bitches Brew. There is nothing tongue-in-cheek here, only some serious doom.

80
PopMatters

With nearly three dozen guest musicians chipping in, the aptly titled Monoliths and Dimensions is far and away the band’s most ambitious project to date, but typically, the many guest contributions are so subtly performed and arranged, not to mention entirely in keeping with O’Malley’s and Anderson’s collective vision, that we hardly notice.

70
Under the Radar
The more Sunn O))) neglect their Earth-worshipping roots in favor of this sort of robe-wearing, avant-garde composer thing, the more interesting it gets.
70
SPIN
Well known as purveyors of viscous guitar sludge, the duo of Stephen O’Malley and Greg Anderson expand their ambitions and make some startling jazz-ensemble noises on their seventh album.
BradTasteMusic
82

ahhhhh now that my friends is some dark bullshit

RemisReviews
76

I feel like I shouldn't be listening to this, it's dragging me straight to the depths of hell 💀💀 god help

I've heard Black One by Sunno before which I really enjoyed, that's a certified classic, especially It Took The Night To Believe. But I've never checked out their other stuff, so here I am.

Monoliths and Dimensions is an extremely dark record with ritualistic themes and mysterious vocals. The drones are pretty nice on here, although these tracks really don't do a great deal for me ... read more

StygianHollow
80

Dark and twisted soundscapes from dimensional voids and monoliths. It goes all the way from sinister and dreadful to tranquil and beautiful, and all the while you are continuously floating, through a deep, black nothing.

Favourite track: Alice

ScoopTime
43

I'm sorry this is corny as fuck, how are you going to make a Drone Metal album like this and have a super mysterious and deep voiced man basically humming his way through a 53 minute album and not do anything else to make this somewhat interesting. I get it Drone music isn't supposed to be all that exciting, but what is the concept here I am supposed to be looking for? What is the point of this project and why are people going absolutely ham over it? Sure it is dark and mysterious, but is ... read more

vinylmeister
80

Sunn O))) has left a good first impression on me with this record. I'm intrigued into checking out more doom metal because of it. "Monolith" is a good way to describe how this thing sounds, larger than life. Absolutely pummeling record.

Vivitine
85

A damn good drone metal record. Insanely heavy and dark, it feels like being trapped in a black hole. The eerie vocals elevate it evem higher. Better than Black One? Possibly

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