Pitchfork

YACHT on a yacht, Bloc Party at a Block Party, and now, yes, Sunn O))) live in an ancient cathedral way the hell up in Norway. The revered doom duo set up shop in the historic house of worship in Bergen for a special show back in March of 2007, and pretty soon a recording of that show can be yours on glorious 180 gram vinyl.

Following a delay at the pressing plant, Dømkirke is expected to start shipping today (October 2) from Southern Lord. Comprised of four long tracks spread across two LPs, the release captures Sunn O)))'s performance at the Dømkirke cathedral, erected sometime around 1150. For the gig, Sunn's Stephen O'Malley and Greg Anderson were joined by onetime Earth member Steve Moore on the church pipe organ, Jazkamer's Lasse Marhaug on electronics, and Mayhem's Attila Csihar on totally freaking you the fuck out.

Speaking of all things ancient, Southern Lord plans to offer Dømkirke on vinyl and vinyl only, insisting there will be no CD or digital release. Folks can choose one of three versions of the limited edition offering: black vinyl (5,000 copies), transparent blue vinyl (1,000 copies), or clear vinyl with black streaks...OF DOOM!! (900 copies).

In other news, Sunn O))) turn 10 this year-- excuse me, 10)))-- and to celebrate, they're planning a few special anniversary gigs. The shows begin October 10 in Los Angeles, and will be devoted exclusively to material from the band's inaugural recording, The GrimmRobe Demos.

Don't expect any special guests at these events, but do expect O'Malley and Anderson to be performing in the spirit of shoshin, a Zen Buddhist concept which-- uh, let's just let them explain: "The beginner's mind, the yet undyed pure wool, the clarity in initiation upon the untraveled. The attitude of embodying the basics precisely, point by point, line by line, with an immovable faith in the teaching, experience, and of beyond the possibility. Of openness, eagerness, and lack of preconceptions when approaching, even with much experience, just as a beginner would upon the initial impetus and thirst to seek the path."

So, basically, all that stuff + slow motion + fog machines + really loud = these Sunn O))) anniversary gigs.

Dømkirke:

A1 Why Dost Thou Hide Thyself in Clouds?
A2 Cannon
B1 Cymatics
B2 Masks the Ætmospheres

Sunn O))) anniversary shows:

10-10 Los Angeles, CA - Safari Sam's *
10-12 Portland, OR - Berbati's Pan (Fall Into Darkness Festival)
10-15 New York, NY - Knitting Factory #^
10-16 Philadelphia, PA - First Unitarian Church ^%

* with John Wiese, Eagle Twin
# with Tony Conrad
^ with Thou
% with Earth