After a decade of no releases, the metal band Neurosis has returned with a new album that was dropped as a surprise to fans on March 20.
Neurosis was formed in 1985 as a hardcore punk band, founded by Scott Kelly, David Edwardson and Jason Roeder. As they released projects through the 1980s and 1990;s, their music style shifted towards metal subgenres, such as sludge metal and post-hardcore.
The band continued to release projects into the 21st century, going through a few changes in members and musical style.
After their eleventh studio album was released in 2016, the band seemed to come to a halt as members became radio silent towards the band’s future.
In 2022, it was revealed that Scott Kelly was removed from the band in 2019 after it was discovered that he had been physically abusing his wife and children for multiple years.
After Kelly’s removal, the band seemed to be at its end. However, behind the scenes, Aaron Turner joined the band in 2024 to fill the empty space Kelly left behind in the band.
In an interview with Bandcamp, Aaron Turner said, “as cool as it is to get this record out, it’s going to be a little sad not to have this secret anymore.”
After a long period of silence, Neurosis dropped their twelfth studio album, “An Undying Love for a Burning World,” without any promo or announcements beforehand.
They have also announced their first live performance in seven years at the Fire in the Mountains festival located in Montana.
On the band’s official website documenting their return, they said, “we need this, perhaps more than ever and we suspect we are not alone.”
The album runs for a little over an hour, featuring eight songs. There are loud, banging guitars, harsh vocals and a heavy atmosphere as the band returns from their hiatus with a bang, picking up where they left off almost ten years ago.
Songs like “Mirror Deep” and “Blind” showcase the banging, intense delivery of the band as they return to their metal and avant-garde roots. There’s a mix of loud and soft as various buildups help create a deep cut in the music.
Meanwhile, songs like “Last Light,” the longest song on the album at nearly 17 minutes, focus on a mix of atmosphere and darkness. Long drones of guitars and electronic beats give the song a unique feel, one that I’ve never really heard from any other metal artist.
My personal favorite song would have to be “Untethered,” a shorter song that packs a heavy punch. There are no breaks as the guitars pound and the vocals growl, creating a crushing tone that highlights Neurosis’s musical brutality.
After a few relistens, I grew to love the mix of guitars and grimy vocals given by Aaron Turner. The band hasn’t lost any of the charisma, even though they have been active for over 4 decades.
This marks an important point in the band’s lifetime, as their potential to grow after this record has increased dramatically. With a new singer and a new drive to create great metal, I’m excited to see where they take this new direction with the band.
