Sunn0))) and Boris: Altar

Label: Southern Lord

Excess has always been a big part of heavy metal, and the pairing of Sunn 0))) and Boris seems to fit right into this tradition – an all-star, Godzilla-and-King-Kong collaboration between two of alt-metal’s undisputed champs. But Altar will surprise you; there’s no ego-clashing, no over-the-top histrionics but an album that’s quite restrained and at times even lovely. It sounds like neither a Sunn0))) record nor a Boris record; the two bands were obviously determined to take both their strengths and build something new and powerful. They succeeded. The album kicks off with “Etna,” featuring layers of drone guitar that have come to define the Southern Lord sound, climaxing with a burst of fiery guitar leads. Standout tracks like “N.L.T.” (lush and ambient) and the phenomenol 15-minute closer, “Blood Swamp” (pure evil!) should have Southern Lord fans delirious with delight. Other tunes feature some welcome contributions from the likes of Jesse Sykes (whose vocals on “Sinking Belle” nicely sweeten things), Soundgarden’s Kim Thayil, Earth’s Joe Preston and many others. Once again, Southern Lord brings metal to new heights. (Also with a bonus disc with a 30-minute track.)