Sum Of R

Switzerland's Sum Of R exists since 2008 and was created by Reto Mäder (URAL UMBO, RM74) to construct/deconstruct sound in ways that infest and cloud the interior of the mind. Sum Of R creates slow moving instrumental music with a sensibility for hypnotic and complex song structures. Their intense and pulsating sound is influenced by lumbering doom, drone, post-metal, ambient, noiserock, psychedelic and cinematic post-rock. Sum Of R’s ritualistic take on expanding sound layers is deepened by the rawness of an unconventional metal atmosphere plunged into darkness, light and its reflection. Their live performances as a duo are characterized by a cyclical process involving bass guitars, drums, effects, samples and drones to create a unique and dense whole which is more than the sum of its parts. Sum Of R has played concerts with Amenra (BE), Wolvserpent (USA), Oozing Wound (USA), Asva (USA), Oathbreaker (BE), Wolves In The Throne Room (USA), Corrupted (JP), Pelican (USA), Puma (NOR), Siberian (SWE), Dead Neanderthals (NL), Killl (NOR) a.o. The band toured in Europe in June 2016 together with Aluk Todolo (France, Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Czech republic, Poland, Hungary). Sum Of R also played festival gigs at "Funkenflug" (2016, Abtenau, AUS), "Atmosphaera" (2015, Ghent, BE), "Radau gegen HIV" (2014, Lünen, GER), "Swiss Psych Fest" (2014, Yverdon-les-Bains, SUI), "Utech Records Music Festival II" (2013, Milwaukee, USA), "Saint Ghetto" (2012, Bern, SUI), "Experimental Evening V" (2012, Bochum, GER) and "LUFF" (2008, Lausanne, SUI). Sum of R's self-titled debut album was released in 2008 on Milwaukee-based independent label Utech Records (Home of Locrian, Aluk Todolo, Horseback, Nadja, James Plotkin, Mamiffer, House of Low Culture). Following 2012 EP "Ride out the Waves" on Italian label Storm As He Walks and contributions on two compilations alongside bands like Sonic Youth, Sunn O))), Carla Bozulich, Master Musicians Of Bukakke, Menace Ruine, Aluk Todolo; Sum of R's second full-length "Lights on Water" has been released in December 2013 on Utech Records and self-released in February 2014. LIVE LINE UP 2017: Reto Mäder: Guitar, drones, effects Fabio Costa: Drums, percussion, effects DISCOGRAPHY: Albums: - Sum Of R "Lights On Water" / LP & CD, 2013/14, Utech Records (USA) & Sum Of R (SUI) URLP085, URCD085/SUM01 - Sum Of R "Sum Of R" / CD, 2008, Utech Records (USA) URCD025 EP: - Sum Of R "Ride Out The Waves" / LP, 2012, A Storm As He Walks Records (IT) SAHW001 Compilations: - V.A "Black Mass Rising" / 3x LP, 2012, Black Mass Rising (FR) BMR 2 - V.A "Does Your Cat Know My Dog?" / LP, 2010, Three:four Records (SUI) TFR004 PRESS COMMENTARIES: “The music of Sum Of R is a soundtrack of the judgment day. After the dark and ambient style of the early days of Sum Of R, their music turned into the doom of the new generation, comparable to the development of early Godflesh to Sunn O))).” (Onda Rock, IT) “Sounds like a shipping container being pushed through the mud by hand; every drum thump is its own distinct punctuation rather than an aftermath of the one before, shunting forward the duo's concrete block one inch at a time into a strangely coherent whole.” (Rock-A-Rolla, UK) “The clock goes crazy, the sounds seem to flow forward and backwards at the same time. The sound sources merge into one another and silver vibrations create black whirls.” (Bad Alchemy, GER) “Some of the most attractive aspects of Sum Of R's sound lies in the combination of a sort of ominous apocalyptic imminency, one of the most recurring and reasonable leitmotiv in the range of sources for inspiration, with a certain gore, which gives forth from sometimes unpredictable combustions of doom metal, industrial, instrumental rock and drone.” (Chain D.L.K, USA)