Uploaded August 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Stephen O’Malley of Sunn O))) and Khanate reflects on a career that evolved from early influences in thrash metal and Scottish Highland bagpipes into a philosophical exploration of elemental forces, detailing a decades-long work with feedback, saturation, and temporality. He discusses how physical memory inhabits his process, and how the space between notes—sculpted into dangerous and suspenseful shapes using feedback and tube amplification—became the foundation of his contribution to the RUINS library.
Listen to our full interview with Stephen O'Malley, as part of THE RUINS PODCAST:
→ slateandash.com/blogs/editorial/the-ruins-podcast
Our new guitar instrument RUINS is available now at 30% off for a limited time:
→ slateandash.com/products/ruins
Stephen O’Malley of Sunn O))) and Khanate reflects on a career that evolved from early influences in thrash metal and Scottish Highland bagpipes into a philosophical exploration of elemental forces, detailing a decades-long work with feedback, saturation, and temporality. He discusses how physical memory inhabits his process, and how the space between notes—sculpted into dangerous and suspenseful shapes using feedback and tube amplification—became the foundation of his contribution to the RUINS library.
Listen to our full interview with Stephen O'Malley, as part of THE RUINS PODCAST:
→ slateandash.com/blogs/editorial/the-ruins-podcast
Our new guitar instrument RUINS is available now at 30% off for a limited time:
→ slateandash.com/products/ruins
