Sumac

The Profile

Sumac is an American-Canadian post-metal trio formed in 2014 by Aaron Turner with Brian Cook and Nick Yacyshyn. Known for long, heavy, and experimental compositions, they have released The Deal (2015), What One Becomes (2016), Love In Shadow (2018), and May You Be Held (2020), as well as collaborations with Keiji Haino.

Reviews highlight extreme, long-form tracks, abrasive vocals, and dense atmospheres; recurring production involvement by Kurt Ballou; trio format (guitar, bass, drums); American-Canadian lineup; What One Becomes noted as partially recorded in a church; May You Be Held mixed by Kurt Ballou and tracked over multiple years in different studios.

Four DeBaser reviews hail Sumac’s crushing, long-form post‑metal as challenging, monolithic, and dark. Aaron Turner’s feral vocals and the trio’s riff cycles draw comparisons to Isis, Neurosis, and Godflesh. Production credits repeatedly nod to Kurt Ballou. Albums covered: The Deal, What One Becomes, Love In Shadow, and May You Be Held.