Synergy is a funny thing. Combining two separate things into one can make the resulting thing stronger or weaker than the two would have been individually. The same goes for musical collaborations. As for the artists on this CD, the question would be if two of the best known drone artists would combine to make something completely over the top, self-indulgent and inaccessible, or if they would take the strongest elements of their repertoire and create something worthwhile. Thankfully, in this case the latter is true.
Altar is a group effort not just of Sunn O))) and Boris, but also of guest vocalists Jesse Sykes and Joe Preston (High On Fire), guest guitarist Kim Thayil (Soundgarden) and a few other additional musicians. The songs are droning and plodding, with the 6 tracks on the CD clocking in at nearly an hour. There is plenty of diversity as well, as the atmosphere of the songs range from sparse and dreamy to dense and noisy. There are instrumentals, songs with female vocals and songs with male vocals.
On this CD you get some of what you expect, which is doomy drone. But you also get some things you didn't expect, such as the dreamy ballad "The Sinking Belle." This isn't a CD for everyone, but if you are fan of Boris and/or Sunn O))), you will appreciate and enjoy their collaboration.
