About.com's Justin M. Norton recently spoke to Greg Anderson of SUNN O))) about the making of their seventh album, Monoliths And Dimensions.

Anderson discussed the influence of Gregorian chants and spirituality on the band’s music and approach, Attila Csihar's expanded role in the group and how Sunn O))) demands attention in a culture that seems fixated on making things shorter and more accessible.

Excerpts follow:

Norton: We live in a culture of short attention spans. Your music seems to require attention and go completely against an ethic both in metal and elsewhere that shorter is better. Is that intended?

Anderson: "The attention span is a lost art. With all the distractions today, the Blackberries and iPhones, it becomes difficult to reach people who are constantly stimulated. We aren’t consciously rebelling against that, but I’m proud of that fact that we make a statement. You make a statement these days with songs that are over five minutes and we put four songs on a record. We also don’t put two minute MP3 snippets online. We want people to listen to the pieces as a whole."

Norton: Mythologists have often talked about creating a “sacred space” with religious rituals and music. Is your intention with your music that listeners tap into something larger or outside of the normal realm of experience?

Anderson: "I hope that listeners get that experience from our records. One of the ideas of the group is to provide something different from the normal verse-chorus formula. Whether it’s a live performance or records, we want to offer something challenging and different. If people can go into a different space or if it puts them in a trance, or if it gets them outside of their normal life in any way, I think that’s great. But there’s nothing intentional, although the way we do things encourages that."

Norton: So you do feel there is a spiritual component to your music?

Anderson: Sure. I don’t feel comfortable pinpointing anything concrete or any sort of religious affiliation. It’s more like a very enjoyable or blissful experience and that can be spiritual."

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