Neurosis - "Honor Found In Decay" CD

The long-awaited studio album from influential "post-metal" group Neurosis offers much to those who listen. In the wake of other heavy music (don't call them "metal") mavens like Pelican, Isis, or the formidable Russian Circles, Neurosis are like grand-dads now, re-asserting their throne after a 5-year absence.

Neurosis begins with the subtle textures of "We All Rage In Gold", which takes a few minutes to build. By the end of it's 6+ minutes, the band is in full-on sludge mode. This is just about as heavy as rock can get. "At The Well" is initially as plodding/grueling as early SWANS, all slow-motion pummel and agonized wails, before erupting outwards. "My Heart For Deliverance" is a huge 11-minute monolith of down-tuned riffage, scathing vocals, and ambient effects that climax with soft strings and mountainous guitar churn. 

Neurosis haven't missed a beat on "Honor Found In Decay", proving that this former Bay Area hardcore band has evolved well beyond what anyone could've ever imagined. This is a monster of an album, complete with huge riffs, subtle introspection, throat-searing anger, psychedelic textures, and massive drums. Play this one loudly and absorb. 

(Neurot Recordings)

Neurosis - "Honor Found In Decay" trailer

American post-metal innovators Neurosis have released a brief 3-minute teaser video for their upcoming new release, "Honor Found In Decay", due in late October worldwide. This will be the band's 10th album, and it promises to be their very best.

As well, those of you near England have a chance to see the band in London with fellow post-metal monoliths Godflesh. Neurosis' Steve Von Till commented in the press release: “Neurosis and Godflesh together is long overdue! We have been admirers of Godflesh since their first recordings. Streetcleaner changed heavy music forever. I don't think anyone can argue that this will be an extremely powerful and special night for all of us." I am jealous, being a faraway Yank! Perhaps the bands will consider a US tour together? Please? Anyhow, watch the trailer...



For further info, visit the band's site at:
www.neurosis.com/

Ufomammut - "Oro: Opus Primum" CD

This veteran Italian group has been garnering some notice these days, and with good reason. Now signed to the esteemed Neurot Recordings label, Ufomammut's 6th album opens with the epic "Empireum" -- a 13-minute slab of mammoth instrumental riff that's equal parts down-tuned stoner metal and evil post-Sunn O))) drone. "Aureum" is even heavier, with spacey electronic elements complimenting the crushing guitars and sparse drumming. Think SWANS meets Hawkwind.

"Infearnatural" slow-churns in the style of Neurosis -- sludgy, slow, and grinding. Other cuts, like the mantric "Magickon", echo this direction. Ufomammut are a crushingly heavy act, focused on low and slow assaults, and "Oro" is a massive juggernaut of seething power. I'm impressed. (Neurot Recordings)

Ufomammut site

Buzzov•en - "Sore" 2xCD

This limited-to-2000 copies gold-disc remaster combines this South Carolina stoner/sludge metal band's famous second album (from 1994) with another 4-song (28 minute) EP of unreleased material. Unbeknownst to me, this is an influential album of underground metal that, alongside their brethren in Eyehategod, helped jump-start an ugly and evil form of heavy rock that utilized elements of noise and even post-industrial sounds alongside mean, drug-fueled hardcore. It's not a nice or friendly sound, but one rooted in pain, aggression, and negativity. So no upbeat pop tunes here.

Opening with the ugly and hallucinogenic sound collages of "Sore", the band juxtaposes twisted, swampy grooves with energetic hardcore punk/metal crossover. It's a well-layered mix (by Billy Anderson), full of down-tuned guitars, weird and grimy sound effects, and the screeching, pained vocals of Kirk Fisher, who was apparently very, eh, medicated during this band's reign. Imagine Corrosion Of Conformity if they became possessed by evil spirits on a week-long drink-and-drug binge. It's a grueling trip through a side of life we normally don't want to see firsthand. Some uncompromising and harrowing sounds here, not for the faint of heart. (Metal Mind Productions Poland/Roadrunner)

Neurosis - "Live At Roadburn 2007" CD

A Neurosis gig must be an exhausting experience for the band (as well as audience). Witness this superlative and potent recording of a massive Neurosis live experience from 2007. "Roadburn" amply exhibits both the raw, grueling heaviness and subtle moodiness of this veteran post-punk/noise/metal/psychedelic group as well as any studio recording has, before or since.

The band kicks things off with the 9-minute scalding of "Given To The Rising", which alternates between ambient interludes and monolithic stabs of swollen ferocity. "A Season In The Sky" begins with gently dark acoustic guitars, but soon builds to a huge swell of doomy grind with the fearsome, full-throttle vocals of Steve Von Till. "At The End Of The Road" is an atmospheric beast with creepy electronic effects that are more aligned with industrial music than metal or rock. Again, it all comes down in a hail of Neurosis' now-influential post-SWANS grind and lurch. This is a potent, all-consuming sound that transcends genre.

"The Doorway" closes it out with a maelstrom of noise, electronic effects, and tribal drums that demonstrate the awesome physicality and spiritual power of this band. And at 77 minutes, this is as near to an essential Neurosis document as I've yet to hear. (Neurot Recordings)

Neurotspace (label)

Neurosispace (band)

Neurosis - "Enemy Of The Sun" CD

Originally released in 1994 on Alternative Tentacles, this early Neurosis album shows the Oakland band growing into their trademark symbiosis of tribal percussion, dark industrial ambience, and full-throttle aggro-metal. Since becoming an icon of what's now termed "post-metal", Neurosis' blackened soundscapes (which owe an acknowledged debt to early SWANS) paved the way for so many later acts, it's hard to even quantify.

Here, the band open with the raw "Lost", which is almost asphyxiating in it's density and painful throb/grind. "Raze The Stray" opens with the atmospheric vocals of Erika Little, accented by piano and keyboards. But this is soon interrupted by a screaming rupture of drums, primal shouts, and grinding guitars. The track returns to the moodier sound thereafter, creating an epic dirge that pulses and shifts to and fro. It's a little reminiscent of (Controlled Bleeding side project) Skin Chamber as well, who were working in a similar arena at the time, daring to join experimental industrial sounds and textures with brutal grind metal. The title track is a feral assault, with samples augmenting the percussive attack.

Neurosis' success lies in that they have learned to temper their destructive and primal urges with moments of stark, blissful beauty. And their varied use of nontraditional metal instruments also ups the ante. "The Time Of The Beasts", for example, dares to include horns, even, creating an almost dusky Southwestern vibe amidst the pounding noise, which segues into the 16-minute drum circle & didgeridoo piece, "Cleanse". Fans of defunct California tribal-percussion voodoo-conjurers Crash Worship will appreciate this wickedly esoteric track.

To make this reissue a worthy purchase for fans who may already have an earlier pressing, Neurot Recordings has sweetened the deal with 2 bonus tracks - a demo of "Takeahnase" and a live version of "Cleanse". "Enemy Of The Sun" is a 78-minute set of dark tribal grind metal with few equals. Recommended. (Neurot Recordings)

Year Of No Light - "Ausserwelt" CD

From France comes this formidable and majestic post-metal juggernaut which calls to mind the potent tribal nihilism of bands like Isis or Neurosis (sans caveman grunting, thankfully), all the while maintaining a crystalline drone/shoegaze guitar backdrop that could please fans of Mono or Explosions In The Sky. "Ausserwelt" opens with 20 minutes of "Persephone" (in 2 parts), and these crushing instrumentals aptly exhibit the massive, earth-crushing momentum of what must be one of France's most potent bands.

This album only contains 4 tracks, but make no mistake -- it's 48 minutes of carefully-crafted, intense psychedelic-metal that's so stunningly tectonic that YONL must aim to summon primordial beasts from beyond with every reverberating drum laceration and swirling guitar whirlpool. When it all winds down, on the 13-minute "Abbesse", a fleet of ambient sounds gently lulls the beast back to the abyss. An amazing, powerful, and standout release here. I am duly impressed. (Conspiracy Records)

Year Of No Light site

Year Of No Lightspace

Harvestman / U.S. Christmas / Minsk - "Hawkwind Triad" CD

Perhaps unjustly ignored here in the states, longtime sci-fi space-rock group Hawkwind have inspired literally hundreds of willing space-travelers throughout their 40+ year journey on this planet. And, they gave Lemmy Kilmeister (later of metal legends Motorhead) his beginning. That aside, this is a tribute album, with 3 present-day psychedelic / post-rock / intelligent metal acts performing their favorite classic Hawkwind cuts. What's it sound like? Well, it's a respectful and reverential set, with faithful covers of freak-out heavy rockers like "Masters Of The Universe" and "Orgone Accumulator", as interpreted by Appalachian psyche-blues act U.S. Christmas. Neurosis frontman Steve Von Till (as Harvestman) contributes 4 tracks, with his gruff, weathered vocals and stark arrangements, but I find this material less energetic than his bewilderingly intense Harvestman LP of last year. Minsk's lumbering and majestic 12-minute behemoth "Assault And Battery/The Golden Void", however, shows that Hawkwind may've have been the Pink Floyd of the heavy music scene, and this may be the highlight for me. U.S. Christmas returns with the deep trippers "Psychedelic Warlords" and the frenzied "You Shouldn't Do That", both complete with driving mantric riffs and far-out synth scribbles. I dare you to listen to this and not commit heinous acts of synesthesia. A powerful and spaced-out set of heavy rockers, here. Monumental. (Neurot Recordings)

Steve Von Till/Harvestman page
Von Tillspace

U.S.Christmaspace

Minsk site
Minskspace

Harvestman - "In A Dark Tongue" CD

Having heard a number of avante-metal band Neurosis' releases and side projects, I thought I'd had these guys pegged. Then I get this new release from (Neurosis frontman) Steve Von Till, and my preconceptions are blown. And in a wickedly good way. It turns out that this is Von Till's second release as Harvestman, and "In A Dark Tongue" is a trippy, oozing miasma of dark, psychedelic space rock with a healthy dose of krautrock dipped onto the blotter. But before you think I'm describing some kind of retro prog-rock silliness, let it be known that Harvestman's wide-open psilocybin-scapes are positively mind-altering on their own. The lengthy drones and overloaded effects on the 13-minute "By Wind And Sun" become a mantra of epic proportions, enveloping listeners in gauzy noise and guitars like a lava lamp set to "destroy". "Music Of The Dark Torrent" is a stark, layered guitar piece that encircles itself peacefully until a series of disorienting digital tones take over the mix. Weird and otherworldly. "The Hawk Of Achill" brings in Al Cisneros of Sleep/Om fame for a trance-inducing percussive assault that reminds of Amon Duul II-meets-Neu!-gone-evil. Amazing. The journey ends with the ambient electronics of "Centre Of The World", tempering the fires that burned so intensely on this wondrous and truly hallucinogenic rock album. (Neurot Recordings)

Harvestmanspace

Steve Von Till's site

A Storm Of Light - "Forgive Us Our Trespasses" CD

This album serves as a warning, and a document of mankind's widespread gluttony and greed over our own Mother Nature, and the devastating effects of Earth tipping the scales back into her favor. And to capture that heavy-duty concept, the music needs to be grand, all-encompassing, and absolutely omnipotent. "Forgive Us Our Trespasses" comes mightily close, and in fact works quite well under that condition. Formed in 2008 by Josh Graham (ex-Battle Of Mice, Neurosis visualist) and joined by Dominic Seita (Tombs, Asea), Andy Rice (Sinking Ships), and Joel Hamilton (Battle Of Mice, Book Of Knots), this incredible combo is primed to prove themselves juggernauts of environmentally-conscious, cerebral post-metal heaviness. The titanic rhythms and thunderous riffage of the aptly-titled "Tempest" envision a future wrought with apocalyptic cataclysm. The potent storms of doomy, slow, and tortuous grind here are melodic and dynamic, though, pulsing with ethereal undercurrents that envelop the monolithic slabs of pure, primal force. Lydia Lunch herself provides effected spoken parts through three cuts, and former Swans frontwoman Jarboe also adds her considerable vocal talents to a couple of songs, but this is really Graham's child, as he contributes just about every instrument to the mix, as well as conjuring the amazingly apocalyptic artwork on the sleeve and liners. "The Light In Their Eyes" places a mournful cello as the centerpiece, with martial drums and frightening soundtrack textures providing the color to the rendering. This is an album that warns of a possible, even inevitable, global environmental catastrophe. And the music provides a sort of soundtrack -- powerful, unstoppable, and ultimately sorrowful. This is a hell of a recording, and this group will be legendary if they can keep up with a creative zenith like this. (Neurot Recordings)

A Storm Of Light website

Link to exclusive video for "Tempest", on Brooklyn Vegan website

Shrinebuilder - "Shrinebuilder" CD

Heavy and and melodic psychedelic metal here, from a new project from prominent members of Om, Melvins, and Neurosis, with Wino (from the Obsessed) on vocals. "Shrinebuilder" draws on everything from stoner rock to classic metal to drone/tribal hybrids to lysergic improv, and to good effect. "Solar Benediction" evolves from heavy groove to mellow psychedelia in it's almost 9-minute duration, while "Pyramid To The Moon" is a huge and head-nodding slab of post-Sabbath groove, albeit with added space-out textures. "Blind For All To See" is a slow, churning drone-stone wanderer, sounding like a massive epic jam from another time and space. If big, monstrously heavy and monolothic doom metal is your thing, Shrinebuilder are certainly a must-hear. (Neurot Recordings)

Shrinespace

Neurosis - "A Sun That Never Sets" DVD

As one of the longest-lived and influential of the so-called 'alt.metal' groups, progressive heavy band Neurosis have few peers (aside from maybe the mighty Melvins). Their scalding mix of detuned, post-SWANS lurch and grind is tempered by a penchant for fiery, pagan folk and even a good dose of tribal ambience (as with their alter-egos, Tribes of Neurot, who get an ambient visual section here, as well). 'A Sun That Never Sets' is the group's first video release, and it successfully blends the complex pulsations of the band's deep and dark sound alongside often abstracted visuals. The stop-motion, landscapes, kaleidoscopic images, and effected live footage (and a recurring raven theme) are collaged into a hefty and doomy accompaniment for Neurosis's searing, psychedelic intensity. It's a breathtakingly dense mix, simultaneously intoxicating and suffocating. That's an endorsement, I'd say. (Relapse Records)



Neurosis site

Neurot Recordings site