Al Cisneros, former vocalist and bass player with Californian doom-stoner bands Sleep and Asbestosdeath, and Emil Amos (aka Holy Sons), drummer with Oregon rockers, Grails, make up the duo OM. Originally formed by Al Cisneros and Sleep drummer Chris Hakius in 2003, the band released three studio albums before Amos replaced Haikus in early 2008. God is Good, their fourth album, was released in 2009 by Chicago label Drag City, and was follwoed by a tour featuring Robert Lowe aka Lichens on Tamboura.
Following the dramatic breakup of the meanwhile regrouped Sleep – seen by many as a group seminal in the development of stoner metal – in the late 90s, the two founding members, Cisneros and Hakius, reformed as OM in the early 00s. The pair, with Cisneros on bass and vocals and Hakius on drums, had a history going back to 80s playing in punk-metal band, Asbestosdeath. As OM, they released the albums Variations on a Theme in 2005, Conference of the Birds in 2006, and Pilgrimage in 2007. In January 2008, Hakius decided to leave the band. Cisneros then recruited Emil Amos on drums. OM have since released Gebel Barkal – a 7-inch for Sub Pop's Singles Club, a live vinyl-only LP Conference Live on Important Records, and on September 29th, 2009 their 4th full-length studio album God is Good was released by Drag City. The band are currently working on a new album which should be out sometime in 2012.
Nadja is a Canadian duo made up of Aidan Baker (guitar, vocals, drum machines) and Leah Buckareff (bass, accordion, vocals) alternately based in Toronto and Berlin. Originally begun as a solo project by Baker in 2003, Buckareff joined Nadja in 2005 to bring the project out of the studio and into live settings. Together, the duo creates music which has variously been described as "ambient doom," "dreamsludge," and "metal-gaze," combining the atmospheric textures and elements of shoegaze and experimental/ambient music with the heaviness and volume of metal and noise music.
Nadja has released numerous recordings on such labels as Alien8 Recordings, Hydrahead Records, Beta-Lactam Ring Records, Robotic Empire, and their own fledgling label, Broken Spine Productions. Nadja has toured and performed extensively around the world, appearing at such festivals as SXSW, FIMAV, Roadburn, and Unsound. They have shared the stage with such as artists as Tim Hecker, James Plotkin, Khanate, Grouper, Earth, Francisco Lopez, Isis, Om, The Grails, KTL, Z’ev, and many others.
