Legendary drone metal band Sunn O))) have added an interesting addition to the list of venues lined up for their upcoming tour – one that will no doubt leave Australian fans, who caught them on their recent tour in plain, old normal venues, feeling rather envious. The band will be embarking on a European string of dates to tour their latest album, Kannon, during which they will perform at Parma’s Labirinto Della Masone; which just happens to be the world’s largest maze.
Just in case you aren’t familiar with the venue, the labyrinth sprawls over a three kilometre expanse. Lined with various bamboos, the maze forms part of a cultural park which also contains a museum, a Catholic chapel and a library. The actual logistics of Sunn O)))’s performance have not been released as yet, leaving fans to guess whether they will actually play inside the maze.
Critics appear to be divided as to whether the maze will enhance or inhibit a live show. Some people appear to be divided between frustration and amusement at the idea of an audience blindly lost within the world’s stupidest venue. Others are entranced by the thought of the atmospheric labyrinth playing host to their dark, doom-laden music, drawing comparisons between the mythical, ritualistic ambience of Sunn O))) and the fabled home of the Minotaur.
My guess is fans who find their deepest satisfaction in twelve minutes of ecstatic feedback, fuzz and menacingly croaking vocals are more than likely to get into the spirit of the maze. For anyone who has ever seen Sunn O))) live, you will no doubt understand the intensity and magnitude of this performance, more an all-encompassing physical and aural experience, per se, than any typical gig.
Listen below and get lost in the black opus that is Sunn O))). Check out their full list of tour dates also.
14 June – Amsterdam, Paradiso
15 June – Ghent, Vooruit
17 June – Clisson, Hellfest
27 July – Helsinki, Tavastia
29 July – Stockholm, En Arena
31 July – Leipzig, Conne Island
01 August – Munich, Feierwerk, Hansa 39
02 August – Wiesbaden, Schlachthof
03 August – Bochum, Turbinenhalle (Ruhrtriennale)
05 August – Vienna, Arena
06 August – Budapest, A38
07 August – Ljubljana, Kino Siska
09 August – Parma, Labirinto Della Masone
10 August – Vevey, Rocking Chair
Image: Mojo4Music