Origin:	Oakland, CA, USA
Genres:	Stoner Rock

Om

Bass and drums and vocals. That's it. No guitars at all! Such a concept isn't unheard of in the music world, but it's rare that a metal-based band would adopt such a concept. Moreover, this isn't just any bass-and-drum duo -- this is the former rhythm section of the mighty Sleep. Pilgrimage is their third and most recent album, and it's an interesting listen indeed. Consisting of two 10+ epics and two shorter songs, two of the four (the longer "Pilgrimage" and its shorter companion, "Pilgrimage (Reprise)" are quiet, ambient tracks that don't really go far, but the other two tracks really show what a bass and drum can do, slow, doomy, and grindy, and frankly the guitars aren't missed one bit. The vocals, when present, are clean and slightly ethereal, a better fit than the harsher tones that one might have expected here. This kind of music isn't for everyone, and it's not even for every metal fan, but it's got its moments.

As of February 2008, the pair split, with drummer Chris Hakius departing. Bassist Al Cisneros has since joined up with a new drummer, so the band continues. Interestingly, Cisneros and Hakius may play together in the future, as there are reports and rumors of a Sleep reunion.