When you embark into the dark world of Neurosis, bring your
patience and perseverance. This is a difficult CD to sit through
because the nine tracks on this CD contain 70 minutes of
gut-wrenching heavy metal that nearly causes nausea. The tracks
rarely dip below six minutes in length so when Neurosis begins a
new song, hold on for the ride. In essence, this CD is not for
those who like their music light.
Neurosis is at its best during the primal pounding and growling
in a track like “Through Silver In Blood.” It introduces the
listener to the band through mesmerizing drum rhythms. The rhythms
intensify, adding searing electric guitars and bass. It is nearly
three minutes into the track before lead vocalist Scott Von Till
begins growling, “Through silver in blood/ We stand not judged by/
Eyes of flesh when/ transit times cross/ prey vision consumed.” All
the while the drums build, the guitars rip apart your eardrums and
you nod your head. Unlike other metal acts, Neurosis doesn’t rely
on catchy guitar riffs. The glue of their music seems to be the
relentless tribal drumming. Twelve minutes later, you arrive at
track two. Seemingly aware of how intricate their music is,
Neurosis calm things down with some samples and odd sounds. This
lasts less than two minutes, which is just long enough to prepare
for the next onslaught.
That onslaught of intensity comes as the third track “Eye.” Back
to the growling, the tribal drumming and ripping music. This track,
which clocks in at a little over five minutes, includes more
intense guitars than track one. It ends with eerie high pitched
notes.
By the time you get to the twelve-minute fourth track, “Purify,”
it’s obvious why Pantera liked Neurosis enough to have them open
some shows for them back in 1996. Both bands play music is darkly
heavy, even when the tempo slows.
The final five tracks do not change my impression of Neurosis.
This CD is excellent for fits of depression or when you have a lot
of time to actually ingest what the band is trying to do musically
and lyrically. The adjective “intense” best describes Neurosis.
The experience of listening to this Neurosis disc ends with the
following lyrics: ” . . . Bleed my eye/ Heal my stone/ I will open
a door/ and bleed in your dreams/ silently praying for/ enclosure
within the flame of origin.”
Nothing more to say after that!
