Khanate were a drone/sludge Doom Metal band formed by Sunn O))) guitarist, Stephen O'Malley. Like Sunn O))), they are known well for being Nightmare Fuel in music form. Other band members are James Plotkin (bass), Alan Dublin (vocals), and Tim Wyskida (drums). Their band name is a term for a government or country which is under a ruler known as Khan, usually in ancient Asian countries.
Lineup
- Stephen O'Malley - Guitar
- Alan Dublin - Vocals
- James Plotkin - Bass
- Tim Wyskida - Drums
Discography:
- Khanate (2002)
- Things Viral (2003)
- Capture and Release (EP) (2005)
- Clean Hands Go Foul (2009)
- To Be Cruel (2023)
Khanate's music provides examples of the following tropes:
- Ax-Crazy: All of their songs are written from an extremely deranged and hateful perspective.
- Careful with That Axe: Alan Dublin delivers almost every line in a eardrum-shattering screech.
- Cold-Blooded Torture: "Pieces of Quiet" appears to be about sawing a person apart because they won't stop crying. "Release" also seems to be about this.
- Epic Rocking: Their entire output. Their longest are "Under Rotting Sky" (18:17), "Release" (25:03), and "Every God Damn Thing" (32:52).
- Face on the Cover: One cover for Capture and Release features mugshots of the band members.
- Genuine Human Hide: "Skin Coat."
- Indecipherable Lyrics: Well, the vocals are screamed, so...
- Last Note Nightmare: "No Joy" and "Too Close Enough to Touch".
- Madness Mantra: Oh man, this band has PLENTY: "RED GLOOORY!" ("Commuted"), PLEASE DON'T BREATHE!!! ("No Joy"), HELLLLLLLL! ("Every God Damn Thing")
- Metal Scream: All the vocals (except the whispered ones) are eardrum-shattering Type 3 shrieks, but one of the few times Alan holds a long note is at the beginning of "Skincoat".
- Mind Screw: BIG TIME!
- Nothing Is Scarier: Their quieter tracks define this trope.
- Obsession Song: "Capture" and "Commuted."
- Psychopathic Manchild: A lot of their music gives off this impression, due to the simplistic but disturbing lyrics and screamed delivery of the vocals.
- Title Drop: From "Too Close Enough to Touch" the band drops the title of the album the song is on: Outside...ugly...things viral...
- Sanity Slippage Song: Their entire catalog. Especially "Every God Damn Thing". Read the lyrics and you'll know what I mean.
- Screams Like a Little Girl: Dublin does this so much it's a wonder he still has a voice.
- Serial Killer: The general vibe they give off.
