Al Cisneros

Al Cisneros /sɪsˈnɛroʊs/ (born September 23, 1973) is an American musician from San Jose, California. He is the lead singer and bassist for the stoner metal band Sleep.[1] He is also the singer and bassist in the rhythm heavy drone band Om.[2][3] He was a member of Shrinebuilder and Asbestosdeath and has put out six releases as a solo artist.

Al Cisneros
Al Cisneros performing with Sleep, Portland, Maine, 2019
Background information
Born (1973-09-23) September 23, 1973
OriginSan Jose, California, U.S.
GenresStoner metal, doom metal, drone metal, dub
Occupation(s)Musician
InstrumentsBass guitar, vocals
Years active1989–present
Associated actsSleep, OM, Shrinebuilder, Asbestosdeath

On April 20, 2019, Rickenbacker Guitars announced the release of a limited edition Al Cisneros signature bass guitar, Rickenbacker model number 4003AC.[4]

Music career

Cisneros' earliest musical interests included an appreciation of Black Sabbath, in particular their first four albums.[1]

In 1989 he formed the sludge metal band Asbestosdeath, taking up bass and vocal duties, with Chris Hakius on drums and Matt Pike and Tom Choi on guitar. Asbestosdeath released two EPs in 1990.[5]

Sleep

Following Choi's departure, Cisneros, Hakius and Pike recruited Justin Marler on guitar and renamed themselves Sleep. Cisneros jokingly called himself "Luke" in the early days of Sleep, in homage to 'Luke's Wall', the title of the outro section of War Pigs.[6][7]

In 1991 Sleep released their first album, Volume One. They soon gained a devoted underground following in the doom metal scene.

In 1992 they released their next album, Sleep's Holy Mountain an influential album in the early development of stoner metal.[8]

Between 1995 and 1998, Sleep worked extensively on their next album, Dopesmoker, a single song lasting one hour. However, their record label at the time refused to release it, and in 1998 Sleep disbanded. An abridged form was released in 1999 under the title Jerusalem. Dopesmoker in its entirety was first officially released by Tee Pee Records on April 22, 2003.

On November 26, 2012, it was reported that Sleep had recently announced their own status as a "full, reunited band".[9]

OM

In 2003, Cisneros and Hakius decided to form their own band named OM, with Cisneros on bass and vocals and Hakius on drums. As a duo OM 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 and was replaced by Emil Amos on drums. Since then, OM has released the two full-length studio albums God is Good and Advaitic Songs on the Drag City label, a 7" for Sub Pop entitled Gebel Barkal, and the live vinyl-only LP Conference Live on Important Records.

OM's 2012 tour for the Advaitic Songs album included Robert Lowe on backing vocals, guitar, synthesizer and tambura.[10] Lowe had previously appeared on vocals and tambura on God Is Good.[11]

Solo

In December 2012 Cisneros released his first solo record Dismas on the band's own Sinai imprint, following the religious tones themed in OM but with more of a dub approach. A second solo record Teresa of Avila followed in March 2013. A 10" EP featuring two longer songs, "Ark Procession" and "Jericho", was also released in 2013. In January 2014 a 12" EP featuring five songs was released and in October 2014 a 7" featuring two songs and artwork by David V. D'Andrea will be released by Samaritan Press. Another 7" on the Sinai imprint followed the next month under the title "Lantern of the Soul".

Discography

With Asbestos Death
  • 1990 – Dejection
  • 1990 – Unclean

With Sleep

With Om

With Shrinebuilder

With Melvins
  • 2018 – Sabbath (EP)

Solo
  • 2012 – "Dismas" 7" (Sinai)
  • 2013 – "Teresa of Avila" / "Levitation Dub" 7" (Sinai)
  • 2013 – "Ark Procession"/"Jericho" 10" (Drag City)
  • 2014 – "Toward Nazareth"/"Indica Field"/"Harvester Dub"/"Yerushaláyim"/"Version" 12" (Drag City)
  • 2014 – "Empty Tomb"/"Sepulcher Dub" 7" (Samaritan Press)
  • 2014 – "Lantern of the Soul"/"Untitled" 7" (Sinai)
  • 2020 – "Apple Pipe"/"No Tobacco" 7" (Zam Zam)

Appears on
  • Six Organs of Admittance – River of Transfiguration. The Sun Awakens (Drag City)
  • Harvestman – The Hawk of Achill. In a Dark Tongue (Neurot)

Equipment

Basses

  • Rickenbacker 4003AC (Al Cisneros Signature model)
  • Rickenbacker 4080/6
  • Rickenbacker 4003
  • Rickenbacker 4003S5
  • Rickenbacker 4004
  • Rickenbacker 4003W

[12] Amplification

[13] Effects

  • Peterson Strobe Tuner
  • Chicago Iron Tychobrahe Parachute Wah
  • Orange Bax Bangeetar Guitar Pre-EQ
  • DOD Preamp Overdrive 250 (modified)
  • Electro-Harmonix Pog 2
  • Mu-Tron Bi-Phase
gollark: I would tell you a UDP joke, but I don't know if you would get it.
gollark: But I meant actual Haskell. Just communicate with the server over UDP.
gollark: Or frege.
gollark: That fixes all bugs.
gollark: We should rewrite it in Haskell.

References
  1. Jones, Cat (February 6, 2013). "Eastern Philosophy and Black Sabbath Worship: Q&A with Al Cisneros of Om and Sleep". Oregon Music News. Archived from the original on March 24, 2013. Retrieved May 9, 2013.
  2. Pehling, Dave (February 12, 2007). "Om Top of Holy Mountain". Seattle Weekly News. Retrieved May 9, 2013.
  3. Ali, Reyan (February 7, 2013). "Om Drone Metal Riffs on Religion". OC Weekly. Archived from the original on November 9, 2013. Retrieved May 9, 2013.
  4. "Rickenbacker Guitars". Facebook. Retrieved August 9, 2019.
  5. "Asbestosdeath". Discogs. Retrieved August 10, 2017.
  6. Cook, Toby (September 29, 2012). "The Gospel According To Luke: Al Cisneros Of Om Interviewed". The Quietus. Retrieved May 9, 2013.
  7. War Pigs
  8. Rivadavia, Eduardo. "Sleep biography". Allmusic. Retrieved May 9, 2013.
  9. "Sleep is now a full, reunited band". November 26, 2012. Retrieved April 26, 2013.
  10. "Om, Advaitic Songs, Expanding the Template". The Obelisk. August 13, 2012. Retrieved May 9, 2013.
  11. "Om – God Is Good (Vinyl, LP, Album) at Discogs".
  12. Finn, Gary (September 2019), "Om-Ward Bound", Bass Guitar, pp. 35–36
  13. Finn, Gary (September 2019), "Om-Ward Bound", Bass Guitar, pp. 35–36
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