NEUROSIS — The Eye Of Every Storm (review)

NEUROSIS — The Eye Of Every Storm album cover

Album · 2004 · Atmospheric Sludge Metal

4/5 · 2012-01-03
Doomster

(Originally written for the Encylopedia Metallum.)

Neurosis are a band whom needs no introduction within the underground metal scene. Having been pumping out music for over 20 years, including stellar albums such as the agressive, apocalyptic monster that was "Through Silver In Blood" (often hailed as the band's magnum opus), the foreboding, folk rock-ish "A Sun That Never Sets" and the unforgettable gigantic slab of noise that was "Enemy of the Sun". Neurosis also go through a process which all bands must go through in their lives - evolution. Sometimes, so called evolution can be disastrous - let's not discuss Metallica, shall we? But for Neurosis, evolution is an important part of the band's sound. They began as a hardcore punk band in the mid to late 80's, knocking out two agressive thrashing punk albums, "Pain of Mind" and "Word as Law". Later on, the band first showed the world their true genious with "Souls at Zero", followed by quite possibly the two most foreboding records you will ever hear - the aforomentioned "Enemy of the Sun" and "Through Silver in Blood". After a three year hiatus following the release of "A Sun That Never Sets", the Californian post-metal pioneers finally rearrived in 2004 with their massive 8th album "The Eye of Every Storm".

To many long time Neurosis fans, this album was a shock. Neurosis had explored their softer sounds on "A Sun That Never Sets", but this album is their most experimental to date, which is saying much for Neurosis. With this album, Neurosis have managed to successfully blend extreme heaviness with soothing ambience and melancholy. The opening track, "Burn", which is rather upbeat (for a Neurosis song, anyway), immediately kicks the listener into submission with tribal drumming, grunge-ish guitar riffs, and the gritty, angsty vocals of frontman Scott Kelly. This continues on for a short while, but then around the 3 minute mark the song finally dies down to be replaced by soft drumming barely playing in the background and some ambient sounds with Scott Kelly continuing to chant in his accented, almost spoken-word vocals, and once again the song kicks your ass, then stops again, and so on and so forth.

I also spent alot of time on Kelly's vocals - compared to other Neurosis albums, where he sung in an ear shattering, throat rupturing hardcore-esque and wholly honest scream, he does alot of beautiful gritty clean singing on this album. Neurosis fans need not worry, though - Scott still gives off the occasional scream once in a while, but besides this, he will likely still be able to please the most avid TSIB fans with his honest and captivating clean-style. The title-track, "The Eye Of Every Storm", is the pinnacle of the album. It's the title-track and longest song (11:58) for a good reason. There is much experimentation on this song, and is one of the softer of the 8 songs. The first line Kelly musters is the inspiring "A wind carries your scent to those who will find you out". This song has an even more post-rockish sound than some of the other songs on this album, and would not be shunned on an Explosions in the Sky album. Around the 5 minute mark, everything stops dead in it's tracks to be replaced by a deep humming sound, followed by the lone vocals of Kelly, who suddenly barks out at 6:22 - "Now oath breaker sinks low!" The band finally aches back in with their post-rockish sound at the 9 minute mark. The song finally climaxes at the 10:12 mark, and from then on, it becomes some of the greatest post-rock/metal riffing you will ever hear. There is another 11+ minute epic somewhere later on in this album, entitled "Bridges" but I don't think it musters up as much emotion as the aforomentioned title track, though "Bridges" is still a great song in itself.

The title track isn't the only highlight here, though. The closing track, "I Can See You" is a great way to end the album - a thought-provoking, deeply saddening tale of the loss of a loved one. Here Kelly sings to his fullest in all the song's heart wrenching glory. Like many other tracks on this album, it lulls you into a soothing trance within the first few minutes, and then cruelly pushes you down the next, repeating the proccess.

Beauty, passion, emotion, and heart are not usually the things a person looks for in metal music, and would make one question if it is actually metal music in the first place, if it were to be casually described in words. But no - Neurosis is 100% metal, but like any good underground musician refuse to stray into the stereotypes of metal music. Neurosis, despite having changed their sound so much over the years, have always remained a consistent and powerful band who honestly and truly care about their music. While albums like "Through Silver in Blood" and "Enemy Of The Sun" may be the most glorified by other fans of this band, and while they are both great album, they are unparralled compared to the beauty, scale and passion of "The Eye of Every Storm". Personal album highlights: "The Eye of Every Storm", "I Can See You", "A Season In The Sky".