Neurosis has one of the most impressive back catalogs of any band in history. 1992's Souls at Zero, their third full length (following the Conflict style punk of Pain of Mind and the punk/metal sound achieved on 1990's Word as Law) was a groundbreaking album to the hardcore community, as it blended elements of tradition hardcore, the slow/fast progressions of then groundbreaking bands (wo would later be dubbed the forefathers of "emo") Current, Still Life, and Evergreen, but with aggression, metaphoric insight, and a true knowledge of music orchestration that placed the band into a catagory of their own. This progression continued with 1993's Enemy of the Sun, which melded the darker elements of Souls with a harder edge and a more "wall-of-sound" approach, but also incorporated tribal and eastern influence into the music, including tribal drumming and time changes incomprehensible to western artists of the time, and has grown insurmountably with each subsequent release. Often mislabeled as "metal", Neurosis is and always has been on the cutting edge of dark, moody music perfectly blended with the hardcore roots of its members; and through several full-length and solo projects, the members of Neurosis have continued to bring new sounds and approaches to modern hardcore that are at once awe-inspiring and intimidating.

Twelve years after Souls at Zero was released, the Bay Area band bring us their eighth full-length album, The Eye of Every Storm. Three years following their slightly disappointing 2001 offering, A Sun that Never Sets which, though in the scale of contemporary music still ranked incredibly high, when placed against their impressive back cataolg seemed somewhat repetitive and almost a step back, suffering from what appeared to be an identity crisis, Neurosis return to their unique and groundbreaking selves, creating an album so intense in emotion, seeped in metaphor, and perfectly melded drum timing (I defy you to find a drummer more comfortable in 6/8 than Roeder), wall of sound, and quiet harmonies as to rival every previous epiphany of the band. Eye opens with a darkly beautiful combination of Tom Waits-esque vocals from guitarist/vocalist Steve Von Till (with all the fire and intensity his voice lacked on the previous album), with a wailing, if mildly subdued, single note to wall of sound progression which is simply incomparable to anything else you're likely to find anywhere. It continues to bend and weave through eight tracks of combined fury, serenity, and understanding, leaving you with the overall feeling that every note is lovingly thought out, every drum beat a living being, and every word truer than anything you've ever heard.

Some straight out hardcore/metal kids may have a problem with this record, and that might be fair; they're just not the straight-out angry kids they once were. Which is perfectly fine, since they are still making exceptional music which grows, learns, and matures, likely as the musicians themselves do. Neurosis has always been an honest, starkly raw band who have shown you the flaws of the world you live in, whether through politics, metaphors, or mood, and The Eye of Every Storm achieves this flawlessly. Very few bands have anything to offer after 15 plus years of playing together; this album gives the listener the idea that Neurosis could do this until they die, and let's hope they do.

Keep breaking new ground. Not die, of course.

-Todd Berry

For more info on Neurosis, various side projects, or their back catalog, go to Neurot Recordings.