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Om is a duo featuring the sonorous bass tones and chant-like vocals of Al Cisneros, formerly of Sleep and currently also in supergroup Shrinebuilder, along with member of Neurosis and the Melvins. The group formed in 2003 with drummer Chris Hakius, also of Sleep, and released five albums together before Emil Amos of Grails and Holy Sons took over on drums in 2008. Om’s sound has always contained the hallmarks of Sleep’s revered stoner rock but, relying almost strictly on rhythm instruments, their songs are focused and meditative musical dialogues that often run well over 10 minutes in their search for transcendent bass tone. Live, Al’s Rickenbacker bass is powered by 480 watts and 18 speakers rivaling the bellows of a giant pipe organ, while Amos exudes enough fury behind the drums to fend off an army of rabid pit-bulls. Even at molasses-slow tempos, Om’s songs work like incantations, drawing a magic diagram that holds their two extremes – drawn-out euphoria and explosive crescendo – in perfect tension. They’ve just wrapped up North American and European tours in support of their new album God is Good – their first to incorporate more diverse instruments and flavours – and with new material already in the works, Om’s future is something to look forward to.