Khanate | Artist

Khanate is an American drone doom metal band formed 2000 in New York by Alan Dubin (vocals), Stephen O'Malley (guitar), James Plotkin (bass), and Tim Wyskida (drums). They are referred to a Supergroup based on the pedigree of the members, with Plotkin and Dubin coming from the defunct band OLD, as well as Tim Wyskida of Blind Idiot God and Manbyrd, plus Stephen O'Malley of Burning Witch and Sunn O))). Khanate's sound is categorised as Avant-Garde drone-metal, with songs that usually exceed the 10-minute mark, characterised by extremely slow tempos, harsh layers of feedback and vocalist Alan Dubin's torturous shrieking. The band released their misanthropic self-titled debut in 2001 on Southern Lord Records, followed by the twisted and ominous Things Viral appearing in 2003. They veered more toward extreme metal on their third album, 2006's Capture & Release, which has only one song per side. The band then split but returned in 2009 with their third album, the uncompromising Clean Hands Go Foul. After a 14-year hiatus they released 2023's excellent comeback To Be Cruel, which is a mammoth three-track, 67-minute set rife with discord, strife, and dark ambient textures. It's no surprise that the band's sound is often compared with guitarist Stephen O'Malley's other band Sunn O))). One reviewer described their work as "uncomfortable and frightening to listen to.. plodding along like a dinosaur with each crushing sludge riff taking you by surprise." Standout releases include Khanate (2001), Things Viral (2003), To Be Cruel (2023) and the live album It's Cold When Birds Fall From the Sky: Live 2005. The band name "Kahnate" comes from feudal chiefdoms of Mongol tribes of the Eurasian Steppes, ruled by a Khan.

Artist Website: khanateofficial.com

Featured Albums: Khanate

Related Artists: Sun O))), Old, Stephen O'Malley