Over the last twenty-five years, Neurosis has continuously transcended genres, labels, and any essentialist interpretations with their quintessentially inspirational brand of post-metal / post-punk / post-modern ditties. If there ever could be a definition for experimental heavy music, Neurosis would certainly exemplify said definition. Neurot Recordings is finally doing the world (and especially younger fans) a favor by re-issuing two classic albums from the band's catalog that have, especially in recent years, become increasingly difficult to find. In order to appropriately appreciate and contextualize the evolution and progression of one of the most influential and innovative musical acts of this or any era, the ownership of these two records is crucial.
Originally released in 1992 on Alternative Tentacles, "Souls at Zero" (the band's third full-length record) is widely regarded as "the first proper Neurosis record" and the beginning of the band's transcendent journey beyond punk into the abysmal territory of experimentation where they would reign supreme. Aggressive crust combined with no-wave, folk, and heavy metal to create layered compositions that alienated many but inspired many more in the early 1990s. Certainly ahead of its time, the noticeably longer songs and sophisticated structures paved the way for new opportunities in heavy music. Tracks such as "Sterile Vision" and "To Crawl Under One's Skin" showcased this new sonic endeavor while "Zero" and "The Web" assaulted listeners with well-placed samples and powerful guitar riffs. Atmospherically, this album sounded more like a testament to the end of times and less like another independent record on Jello Biafra's label in 1992. The 2011 reissue contains remastered versions of all the original tracks, demo versions of "Souls" and "Zero," and a very impressive live version of "Cleanse III," making this album even more impressive and essential than it has ever been before.
In 1993, while MTV was still managing to capitalize on the commodification of "grunge" music, Neurosis released a visceral, heavy, and dark album that demonstrated not only a comfort with their new experimental musical approach, but also commitments to lyrical integrity, conceptual innovation, and purposeful clarity. "Enemy of the Sun" continued the band's progression and included a prominent emphasis on experimental percussion that would become known as the "tribal drum sound." While certainly more atmospheric than its predecessor, "Enemy...." showcased more powerful production, drastically darker tones, and heavier than obese riffs that certainly made any Cannibal Corpse fan quiver. Despite all of those amazing qualities, the album may always be remembered for its lyrical and conceptual progression that articulated clearer than ever the band's interest in spiritualism, the relationship between humans and Earth, and the proverbial isolation which results from a commitment to destruction. The reissue of this classic contains demo tracks including an unbelievably powerful demo version of "Takeahnase" and an equally impressive live version of "Cleanse II." This could very well be one of the best and most significant records of the 1990s.
- Joe
