Neurosis were actually the OGs when it comes to post metal, with this album in particular being their most acclaimed and one of the cornerstones of the genre. Personally, while I prefer later bands like Cult of Luna that I think refined the sound significantly--Neurosis is still quote close to a Melvins-esque style of sludge metal--I still have a lot of respect for Neurosis's originality and influence. This is definitely a cool track that shows off their heavy af atmospheric sound, which just wasn't as common in the mid-90s as it would become once so many other bands came into the genre

@CriticalReactions

Жыл бұрын

I enjoyed this more than most post-metal so I wonder if the sludge aspect is the big differentiator for me.

Just the tip of the iceberg my friend.

It is impossible for me to have the favourite Neurosis album. Probably the most consistently amazing band ever.

@computerfile

Жыл бұрын

Got the same problem.

Just a note to add, during the section where the bass and drums are center and you mentioned call and response, the two guitarists are playing on their own separate drum sets. Really fun to watch them do that while doing vocals and then watching them switch back to guitars in time always felt kinda badass to me. Also quick note on the "chorus" riff I'm not entirely certain how they are getting the higher pitched tone (also shows up at very last buildup) but when it is played live the guitarists strike the strings above the nut (or is it technically below? whatever, it is the part that is between the tuners and nut), so I believe it is a combination of that and a sample being played by their keyboard/sample guy Noah Landis, I'm not one hundred percent on that though.

@computerfile

Жыл бұрын

There’s a great live recording of them at cbgb where you can see this on the tubes. Great watch

@CriticalReactions

Жыл бұрын

Whoa! Now I gotta check out a live version. I see a cbgb performance being recommended so I'll look into that.

@computerfile

Жыл бұрын

@@CriticalReactions Do. kzread.info/dash/bejne/ZJimmc2dYK-nj7A.html

@blanccarlos4479

Жыл бұрын

@@CriticalReactions dude check out any live performance of Neurosis during 1996. Unbelievably intense.

yeah, texture is the name of the game with Neurosis, particularly in this album. Everything in the soundscape is built arond the forward momentum of the drums ( I rank Jason Roedner over 90% of extreme metal drummers, btw, he has an uncanny ability to be a song's central core), which seem to cut a path through the walls of noise. This is probably the densest of the long tracks on this album, too, both the title track and Aeon feature some different ideas especially when it comes to vocal attacks, as guitarists and bassist all do vocals with a lot of texture and call and response. It has to be said, in Neurosis's credit, that they're one of those bands that is recognizable, but never did the same album twice, and always sought new expressions. Further albums include a lot more clean singing and a lot more melody, and even some hints of folk, in that americana conception of the word. They're a band that came from crusty hardcore punk and swallowed a lot influences from Swans and Godflesh to arrive at this incarnation. You reacted to the driest track of a Sun that Never Sets, sadly, as the rest of that album and its follow up The Eye of Every Storm are a generally much more palatable and accessible side of the band, exploring the same ideas of tension through more melodic means. This album was very trailblazing in its day, and again, you've enjoyed the fruits of its exploration before the originators, as it were. Cult of Luna, Isis, all of that "post metal" subsection of slow and heavy moody atmospheric quasi doom with shouty vocals have a direct lineage to this album. It's also and incredibly important album for me, personally, alongside Nick Cave. It's yet another example of heavy music trying to broaden its horizons outside the rigid confines of the riff, and a reminder to then young metal fans like me that intensity comes in many shades, and some of them don't rely solely on a fat and heavy guitar chug. It's wild experimentation may be less noticeable in the wake of the bands that ran with these formulas and perfected them and made it their own, but still, I think it's noticeable, especially when compared to the backdrop of the 80s, just how much these musicians were willing to go out on a limb and break the molds of what was a very musically conservative genre at the time.

@thegrimner

Жыл бұрын

Forgot to add that especially in this period, the drums were a very central part of their music, used in a very tribal manner. Their live shows (which used to include a full time visual artist) would occasionally include sections of just rhythmic ambience, and their previous album even includes a 20+ minute track of just drumming.

@LoganardoDVinci

Жыл бұрын

Roeder is King 🙌

Man, I hope we get The Seer. The bagpipes at the beginning are wild.

@CriticalReactions

Жыл бұрын

Keep them fingers crossed!

I'm much more into the stuff they did with Steve Albini, but this record is special too, and the last one they did before working with him too I believe. I highly recommend checking out the 2 records that came after this one if you haven't already!

The "crackle" is coming from the heavily distorted bass guitar. The song is about how everything is in a constant death/rebirth cycle, and how different ways of purifying your mind/soul may help with the rebirth aspect and reduce suffering

@CriticalReactions

Жыл бұрын

Excellent interpretation!

An amazing band, saw them live on this tour it is still one of the best gigs I've seen. Through silver in blood is a masterpiece.

Thanks for reacting, this is not only my favorite song of them, but one of my favorites songs ever, the closing part is beyond epic

Oh hell yeah Bryan. Freaking love Neurosis.

The way that the first section just swang and bangs with the pace of a wrecking ball, so hype you covered this! One of my favorites ever

one of the true greats, like 75 % of the bands i listen to either cite neurosis as an influence directly, or bands that themselves were influenced by neurosis. also a phenomenal presence when they're performing live. just such a shame scott kelly turned out to be a huge pile of shit. i hope the band can carry on and grow in his absence, and become even better almost 40 years after their founding

Great album. The distorted guitar hits hard when it first comes in. Such a great build up.

My favourite aspect of this song is its constant shifting between organised and disorganised sound. Constantly tooing and froing between the two until we finally find rest at the culmination of the song. This is probably most clear in the intro with the detuning chaotic guitars feeding into the more rigid heavy riff.

This is one record I would absolutely recommend that you do a full album reaction to, in the context of a complete listen these songs take on an entirely new meaning. In my opinion THE greatest metal album ever. Great analysis as always!

@computerfile

Жыл бұрын

Do the entire catalog

@islowthingsdown

Жыл бұрын

Absolutely one of the best out there

@DocDisco241

Жыл бұрын

Agreed. A masterpiece.

Ha! I actually considered suggesting this one for a full album review, but ultimately decided it wouldn't be very nice to subject you to 71 minutes of this apocalyptic, oppressive sound. :)

@CriticalReactions

Жыл бұрын

And I appreciate that 😅. 30-40 wouldn't be to bad but 71 would definitely be pushing my limits. Would have to be another album that I took a break in the middle of.

this is considered one of the most heaviest songs ever written, it also made me cry a couple times

Okay couple things: the lyrics and this album in general are about the destruction of our current civilization. About man losing his god-like technology and being forced back to living like a cave man. You were spot on about this being Post Metal. In fact, this album is often credited for creating the entire genre.

favorite Neurosis tune

It’s not doom. It’s not post metal. It’s Neurosis

You came back!

@CriticalReactions

Жыл бұрын

As soon as I saw Neurosis was coming up I knew you'd be excited about it. :)

@CJLindermanDragonBugg

Жыл бұрын

@@CriticalReactions If I had seen this theme coming I would've been digging through their discography trying to remember which songs had bagpipes, because they have off instruments in their music all the time! You're right about this one though, it's all about atmosphere and texture. Most of their music is, kinda.

For the longest time neurosis refused to play songs off of this album because there was so much oppressive energy put into this album when they first created it.

@yuusakk

7 ай бұрын

Well, they kinda did play Locust Star and Through Silver In Blood all the time...

It doesn't fit in the theme of bagpipes, but it would be sick to see the ambience of Disembowelment or Spectral Voice dissected like this!

if you dont mind, check out streetcleaner by Godflesh, an unforgiving track

if you want to here an unsettling tone. Listen to the note in His last words.

Really stretching the definition of “featuring” lol. No complaints, though, I love me some Neurosis, heavy bagpipe involvement or no

You really have no idea how layered this song really is. You’d have to find a good quality live recording between 96-97 to see what’s going on.

@p1sstoph3

10 ай бұрын

kzread.info/dash/bejne/ZJimmc2dYK-nj7A.htmlsi=MBk61Bm_DTf_0QpU

There is another track on this album that better features the bagpipes

@computerfile

Жыл бұрын

Also on Times of Grace

I don't know why they recommended arguable the weakest song on the album for you to react to? They should have suggested "Locust Star" or "Strength of Fates". Strength of Fates has the most intense intro build-up of any song I have ever heard.

well, not my cup of tea. a glacial build-up with an ultimately disappointing payoff. and the worst disappointment was the bagpipes, only coming in at the last 1.5m and mostly just there to act as a dissonant drone. if i were i trying to change someone's mind about the beauty of bagpipes, this would not be the track 😅

@computerfile

Жыл бұрын

That’s enough bagpipes for anyone. 1.6m and no one would want to hear the again.

@articircle

Жыл бұрын

😆

@_bats_

Жыл бұрын

The payoff for the build-up is "Locust Star"

@murphyia1980

9 ай бұрын

@@_bats_ and there aren't many finer payoffs than that.

Weird song to react to , they have much better songs

@eric_wood

8 ай бұрын

Wha songs would you have recommended by them instead?

@gratuitousfootnote1183

8 ай бұрын

For this album? Probably either Locust Star, Eye, or the title track.@@eric_wood

@luke9947

6 ай бұрын

Hell no, this is one of their best