The Rock Blogger

A modest collection of both classic and obscure drone releases.
A burial ground, at the bottom of the ocean.

10, Nadja. Truth Becomes Death . 2005.
This Toronto duo has been steadily rising to the top ranks of the drone/doom metal circuit in North America thanks to their prolific output and monolithic sound. This early LP is a powerful demonstration of their creative powers as brooding slabs of distorted guitar and plodding percussion progressively layer on top of each other. A deep and crushing album.

9. The Angelic Process. Weighing Souls with Sand . 2007.
A cult classic that is slowly gaining new acolytes after the tragic suicide of the band’s lead guitarist. Distant, mournful vocals, reverb-drenched guitars and sqaulls of noise make for a haunting experience. Drone metal and shoegaze elements collide on this emotionally devastating album.

8. Boris with Merzbow. Rock Dream. 2007.
Two of Japan’s biggest names in the experimental underground unite to create what is one of the greatest collaborations I’ve ever come across. Storms of noise surround Boris’ plodding guitars, twisting down towards cacophonous psychedelia. An exhausting album that washes over you, wave after flattening wave.

7. Aidan Baker and Tim Hecker. Fantasma Parastasie . 2008.
A spine-chilling release that combines sparse guitar work with creeping waves of ambient noise, blending together into blissful, otherworldly drones. The duo immerse you in their finely crafted atmosphere, evoking the presence of the paranormal. These two artists collaborate with seemingly telepathic synchronicity.

6. Sunn O))). The Grimmrobe Demos . 2000.
No drone list would be complete without these hooded geniuses. While this first set of demos came before the eventual refinement of their now blackened style, it still remains my favorite. Uncompromising in its scope and pacing, this album’s guitar work sounds like a subterranean revolt against the decadent surface world.

5. Birchville Cat Motel. Gunpowder Temple of Heaven . 2008.
This 40 minute soundscape is an exercise in ethereal subtlety, as soothing drones slowly layer over each other to produce an insanely deep listening experience. While it consists of only one track, it’s still a sonic journey in itself, taking you to the nether regions of the subconscious. A noble and evocative experiment.

4. Menace Ruine. The Die is Cast. 2008.
A terrific and innovative album that uses crushing drones, airy female vocals and jangly guitars to produce an almost mystical experience. Touches of metal, medieval choral music and noise rock seep into this wondrous and elating wall of sound.

3. Jesu. S/T. 2005.
Justin Broadrick’s masterful project is a mighty amalgamation of drone, post-rock, doom metal and industrial styles. The first Jesu LP remains the most devastating, with extensive and bleak songs like “We All Falter”, “Sun Day” and “Tired of Me” showcasing Broadrick’s technical prowess. An inspirational sound that manages to convey power, terror and calm in its thundering bursts.

2. Natural Snow Buildings. The Dance of the Moon and the Sun . 2006.
NSB’s sound, with its tinges of avant-folk and psychedelia, pushes drone to beautiful new heights. While its length is daunting, it’s many mysteries and secrets lay in weight. The use of acoustic instruments, esoteric samples and choral vocals lend ancient and foreboding feelings.

1. Earth. Earth 2 . 1993.
Revolutionary for its time, this album features three slow-as-molasses guitar dirges that stretch onward into oblivion. Its atmosphere is extreme and strangely relaxing, as thunderous riffs slowly turn your insides into amorphous goo. Many have been inspired by its minimalism and density, but no one can match the focus, precision and sheer intensity of this record. An essential piece of doom/drone metal that helped shape the genre.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, May 12th, 2009 at 8:43 pm and is filed under Lists. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.