By Azzam Bilal 
HangupsMusic.com – The landscape of experimental heavy music is shifting once again as Sunn O))), the undisputed masters of low-frequency architecture, have unveiled their latest sonic offering, “Butch’s Guns.” This new track serves as a precursor to their highly anticipated self-titled debut on the legendary Sub Pop Records, which is scheduled for a global release on April 3. Following the recent emergence of the single “Glory,” this latest release solidifies the duo’s momentum as they prepare to embark on an ambitious touring cycle that will span across North America and Europe. For a band that has spent over a quarter-century redefining the boundaries of volume and vibration, this new era represents both a homecoming to their Pacific Northwestern roots and a bold step into a new phase of their storied career.
The duo, comprised of founding members Stephen O’Malley and Greg Anderson, has long been synonymous with the genre of drone metal—a style characterized by its extreme minimalism, glacial tempos, and an emphasis on the physical sensation of sound. With "Butch’s Guns," Sunn O))) continues to explore the cavernous depths of their signature sound, utilizing sustain and feedback to create a monolithic atmosphere that feels both ancient and futuristic. The track arrives at a pivotal moment, as the band transitions to Sub Pop, a label that, while historically associated with the birth of grunge, has consistently championed experimental and boundary-pushing artists.
The partnership with Sub Pop was first formalized in October, a move that sent ripples through the underground music community. To commemorate the signing, the band initially released a trio of singles titled “Eternity’s Pillars,” “Raise the Chalice,” and “Reverential.” These tracks served as a bridge between their previous works and the forthcoming self-titled LP. While the band has released numerous albums over the years, the decision to name this upcoming project simply Sunn O))) suggests a definitive statement of intent, perhaps signaling a distillation of their core essence or a reset of their creative clock.
This upcoming album is the band’s first major studio effort since their twin 2019 releases, Life Metal and Pyroclasts. Those albums, recorded with the late, legendary engineer Steve Albini, were praised for their warmth and brightness—a departure from the darker, more suffocating tones of earlier masterpieces like Black One. Life Metal in particular was celebrated as one of the best metal albums of its year, showcasing the band’s ability to find beauty and transcendence within the massive walls of sound they construct. In the interim, the band also treated fans to Metta, Benevolence, a live recording captured during a session for Mary Anne Hobbs’ show on BBC Radio 6 Music in 2021, which served as a reminder of the band’s formidable power in a live setting.
The announcement of the new single is accompanied by a significant expansion of their 2024 touring itinerary. What began as a North American run has now grown into a comprehensive global trek with the addition of a European leg. The tour is set to begin in late March in San Francisco, traversing the United States and Canada before jumping across the Atlantic in July. The European dates will see the band performing in prestigious venues and cultural hubs, starting in Zurich and moving through cities such as Amsterdam, London, and Berlin. Given the nature of their performances—which often involve massive stacks of vintage amplifiers and the heavy use of fog machines—the choice of venues is always deliberate, seeking spaces that can accommodate the physical weight of their sound.
A Sunn O))) concert is often described as more of a ritual or a physical endurance test than a traditional musical performance. Clad in their iconic hooded robes, O’Malley and Anderson stand before a literal wall of Sunn Model T amplifiers, coaxing tectonic shifts of sound from their guitars. The volume is not merely a stylistic choice but a fundamental component of the art; at a Sunn O))) show, the audience does not just hear the music—they feel it in their chest cavities and through the floorboards. This immersive quality has earned them a dedicated global following that transcends the typical metal demographic, attracting fans of avant-garde composition, ambient music, and sound art.
The band’s move to Sub Pop is a full-circle moment for Anderson and O’Malley, both of whom have deep ties to the Seattle area and the independent music infrastructure that Sub Pop helped build. While the duo has largely operated through Anderson’s own Southern Lord Records, the move to a larger, yet still fiercely independent label like Sub Pop, provides a broader platform for their uncompromising vision. It also places them alongside a roster of artists who, despite their sonic differences, share a commitment to artistic integrity and the subversion of mainstream expectations.
As the April 3 release date for the self-titled album approaches, the excitement within the experimental music community continues to build. "Butch’s Guns" and "Glory" suggest that the band is operating at the height of their powers, refining their ability to turn pure noise into something profoundly emotive. The upcoming tour will provide fans with the opportunity to experience these new compositions in their intended environment: at maximum volume.
Below is the current list of confirmed tour dates for Sunn O))):
03-30 San Francisco, CA – Regency Ballroom
03-31 Los Angeles, CA – The United Theater on Broadway
04-01 Phoenix, AZ – The Van Buren
04-03 Dallas, TX – Trees Lounge
04-04 Austin, TX – Emo’s
04-05 Houston, TX – White Oak Music Hall
04-06 New Orleans, LA – Civic Theatre
04-07 Atlanta, GA – The Goat Farm
04-09 Columbus, OH – The Bluestone
04-10 Washington, DC – The Lincoln Theatre
04-11 Philadelphia, PA – Union Transfer
04-12 New York, NY – The Town Hall
04-13 Montreal, Quebec – Le National
04-14 Toronto, Ontario – 131 McCormack
04-16 Chicago, IL – Salt Shed
04-18 Iowa City, IA – Englert Theatre
04-19 Omaha, NE – The Waiting Room
04-20 Denver, CO – Ogden Theatre
04-22 Boise, ID – Shrine Social Club
04-24 Seattle, WA – Showbox (So Do)
04-25 Portland, OR – Roseland
06-23 Zurich, Switzerland – Rote Frank
06-24 Antwerp, Belgium – Trix
06-25 Amsterdam, Netherlands – Paradiso
06-26 Koln, Germany – Essigfabrik
06-28 Bristol, England – Prospect Building
06-29 Brighton, England – Corn Exchange
06-30 Liverpool, England – The Dome
07-01 Leeds, England – Project House Leeds
07-02 Birmingham, England – The Institute Birmingham
07-03 London, England – The Troxy
07-06 Berlin, Germany – Silent Green Betonhalle
07-07 Berlin, Germany – Silent Green Betonhalle
The inclusion of venues like the Silent Green Betonhalle in Berlin—a former crematorium turned cultural space—highlights the band’s preference for locations with unique acoustic and historical properties. As they prepare to take their wall of sound across two continents, Sunn O))) remains a singular force in the music world, proving that even in a digital age of fleeting attention spans, there is still a profound hunger for the slow, the heavy, and the immersive. With a new album on the horizon and a massive tour ahead, the duo is poised to continue their reign as the high priests of the drone, inviting audiences everywhere to lose themselves in the vibration.