The last few albums from drone-metal titans SUNN O))) have been collaborations: 2014’s Soused with Scott Walker and Terrestrials with Ulver. They haven’t released an album on their own since 2009’s Monoliths & Dimensions. That’ll change in December, which is really the only time of year that SUNN O))) should be releasing albums. The new album is called Kannon, and it consists of three tracks: the creatively titled “Kannon 1,” “Kannon 2,” and “Kannon 3.” The band recorded it in Seattle with regular collaborator Randall Dunn producing, and while it includes contributions from old friends like Mayhem’s Atilla Csihar and Oren Ambarchi, both past SUNN O))) collaborators, the bulk of the album comes from core members Stephen O’Malley and Greg Anderson. A press release calls it ” the most figurative album SUNN O))) has created” — but, given that this band isn’t exactly known for tight and concrete songs, god only knows what that means.

Kannon is out 12/4 on Southern Lord, with a few clear vinyl copies going on sale 11/27 for Record Store Day’s Black Friday.