You may consider heavy metal music and ambient music to be genres that have nothing in common. If so, you could be surprised to discover that bands exist which are simultaneously metal and ambient. Two prime examples of this music are the albums Monoliths & Dimensions by Sunn 0))) and Celestial Lineage by Wolves in the Throne Room.
Of the two bands, Sunn 0))) has the relatively subtle approach. Monoliths & Dimensions features a number of guest musicians playing everything from trombone to viola in addition to the core duo of electric guitarists. Sunn 0)))'s album features no drums or percussion, a trait it shares with traditional ambient music. The massively distorted guitars, however, display the band’s heavy metal roots.
Wolves in the Throne Room take a different approach, attacking their electric guitars and drums so relentlessly that the constant wash of noise essentially becomes ambient. I would probably not put Celestial Lineage on as background music for a dinner party, but if I need some music that will energize me without being distracting, it hits the spot.
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