Neurosis (band)

Neurosis
Neurosis at Tuska Open Air Metal Festival 2009
Neurosis at Tuska Open Air Metal Festival 2009
Background information
OriginOakland, California, U.S.
Genres
Years active1985–2019 (on hiatus)
Labels
SpinoffsTribes of Neurot
Members
Past members
  • Scott Kelly
  • Adam Kendall
  • Pete Inc.
  • Simon McIlroy
  • Chad Salter
  • Josh Graham
Websiteneurosis.com

Neurosis is an American post-metal band from Oakland, California. It was formed in 1985 by guitarist Scott Kelly, bassist Dave Edwardson, and drummer Jason Roeder, initially as a crust punk band. Chad Salter joined as a second guitarist and appeared on the band's 1987 debut Pain of Mind and then Steve Von Till replaced him in 1989. The following year, the lineup further expanded to include a keyboardist and a visual artist. Beginning with their third album Souls at Zero (1992), Neurosis transformed their hardcore sound by incorporating diverse influences including doom metal and industrial music, becoming a major force in the emergence of the post-metal and sludge metal genres.

The band's lineup stabilized in 1995 with the addition of Noah Landis, who replaced Simon McIlroy on keyboards and electronics. That same year they formed the experimental music group Tribes of Neurot and in 1999 the record label Neurot Recordings. This line-up remained stable until 2019, when the band parted ways with Kelly after discovering his history of domestic violence against his family, though this would not come to light until August 2022 out of respect for the privacy of Kelly's family members. The band has been on hiatus since then, and there is currently no information on whether or not the band will continue or disband.

Neurosis have garnered critical recognition over the course of their 11 studio albums. The BBC credited them with taking "heavy music to previously unimaginable spaces ... [and shaping] metal's definitive response to the 21st century."[1]

History

[edit]

Formation and early years (1985–1995)

[edit]

In late 1985, Scott Kelly, Dave Edwardson, and Jason Roeder, formerly members of Violent Coercion, founded Neurosis as a hardcore punk outfit, inspired also by British crust punk in the vein of Amebix.[2]

In 1986, Chad Salter was added on second guitar and vocals. There have only been a few changes in the lineup of Neurosis' musicians since band's inception. In 1989 guitarist/vocalist Chad Salter was replaced by Steve Von Till, who previously played in bands Transgressor, Peace Test and Tribe of Resistance, and in 1990, Simon McIlroy joined the band as a synthesizer/sampler with Adam Kendall as visual artist (Adam and Simon have been friends since they were teenagers and they were doing a lot of experimental music together before).[3] In 1995, Noah Landis, a childhood friend of Dave Edwardson, replaced Simon McIlroy as keyboardist.[4]

1992 promotional photo

With The Word as Law, Neurosis began to transition[5] from the rapid-fire hardcore punk of Pain of Mind to the more experimental sound of Souls at Zero, which featured slower tempos, unorthodox song structures, and guest performers on instruments like trumpet, violin and flute. The album would ultimately prove critical in the development of the post-metal genre[6] and atmospheric sludge metal. Neurosis' signature sound came into full force with Enemy of the Sun, with The Quietus observing that "at the time few could have predicted this black hole of agonizingly precise metal riffs, unnerving backmasking, industrial folkisms and extensive sampling".[5]

Through Silver in Blood to The Eye of Every Storm (1996–2004)

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In 1996, Neurosis attracted mainstream attention with its Relapse Records debut, Through Silver in Blood and subsequent tour with Pantera.[4][7] In 1999, Neurosis released Times of Grace, which was designed to be played synchronously with Grace, an album released by Neurosis' ambient side project, Tribes of Neurot.

In the early 2000s, the band founded their own independent record label, Neurot Recordings, which, in addition to releasing material from Neurosis and its associated projects, signed several other artists.[8]

Beginning with A Sun That Never Sets, Neurosis began incorporating clean vocals and acoustic instrumentation with a growing folk music influence, more noted presence of classical string instruments (which had been used sparsely since Souls At Zero) as well as slower tempos and a more contemplative sound. Allmusic described this change as an "aesthetic sea change".[9] 2004's The Eye of Every Storm expanded upon this change by incorporating more ambient textures into the mix and presenting a softer post-rock oriented sound.

Given to the Rising, Honor Found in Decay, Fires Within Fires (2007–2019)

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The band released their ninth studio album Given to the Rising on May 8, 2007, through Neurot Records.[10] On this album Neurosis re-incorporated a more aggressive approach into their music once again, and the album was well received by critics.[11]

The band entered the studio in December 2011 to record the follow-up to Given to the Rising. The new album, entitled Honor Found in Decay, was released in late October 2012.[12]

The band performed at Roadburn 2016, with Brooklyn Vegan's Ian Cory writing that "once the house lights came up it was hard to justify watching anything else."[13] This was part of their series of shows performed in celebration of their 30th anniversary as a band.[14]

On May 5, 2016, relapse Records confirmed they were reissuing A Sun That Never Sets and The Eye of Every Storm on vinyl on June 17 with new artwork.[15][16]

On August 1, 2016, the band released a teaser trailer for their upcoming album online.[17] Their eleventh studio album, titled Fires Within Fires, was released on September 23, 2016.[18]

Scott Kelly's dismissal (2019–present)

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Following a Facebook post confessing to allegations of abuse towards his wife and family, Scott Kelly retired from music and public life in August 2022.[19]

According to a statement released by the band's Facebook page the next day, Kelly had been quietly expelled from the group in 2019 when his bandmates discovered the extent of his abuse and domestic violence.[20] The band never made any prior formal announcements regarding this "out of respect for [Kelly's] wife's direct request for privacy, and to honor the family's wish not to let their experience become gossip in a music magazine." In the post, the band condemned Kelly's abuse and described being filled with "disgust and disappointment" towards "a man who we once called Brother". There is currently no announcement or info on whether or not the band will continue or disband, as "in due course, when it's appropriate, we will provide more information about our future musical endeavors, but that time is not now."[20]

Visuals

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Neurosis live in 2008

From 1990 to 1993, Adam G. Kendall was recruited to create visuals and perform live with the band. Following his departure from touring, Pete Inc. took over the job, although Kendall continued to contribute visuals for the band until as late as 1997.[21] Kendall also shot the footage for the "Locust Star" video.

Josh Graham took over live visuals in early 2000 as Pete wasn't "cutting the mustard" (in the words of Steve Von Till), and created album artwork for 2004's The Eye of Every Storm, 2007's Given to the Rising, and 2012's Honor Found in Decay, as well as re-designs for the reissues of Souls at Zero and Enemy of the Sun.[22] Graham and Neurosis amicably parted ways in late November 2012 via an announcement on the band website.[23] He was not replaced and the band ceased to use live visual media.

Often experimental and psychedelic in nature, Neurosis' visual media have added to the reputation of their live performances. Many of the visuals for their tours supporting Through Silver in Blood are taken from Ken Russell's film Altered States. Other images are included in the enhanced portion of the Sovereign EP, and on the A Sun That Never Sets DVD video release. The majority of the DVD release was directed by Graham, with an additional video by Chad Rullman.

Musical style and influences

[edit]

Neurosis formed as a hardcore punk band, performing a blend of hardcore and heavy metal inspired by British punk[24] and described as crust punk[25] or crossover.[1] Already their second album The Word as Law (1990) incorporated avant-garde music and sludge metal,[26] a genre marrying the ferocity of hardcore and the deep heaviness of doom metal. Thereafter, the band developed an original sound. Greg Moffitt of the BBC wrote that through a "process of evolution and refinement" beginning with their third album Souls at Zero (1992) and culminating in their fifth, Through Silver in Blood (1996), they "[took] heavy music to previously unimaginable spaces and, in the process, shape[d] what has thus far been metal's definitive response to the 21st century."[1]

The style Neurosis pioneered has been named post-metal,[27] an "expansive, progressive and often apocalyptic" sound,[1] "adding alien sounds, oddball instrumentation and atmospheric depth to [the] viscerally crushing approach" of sludge metal.[25] Their sound has also been described as experimental[28]/avant-garde metal,[24] doom metal,[24][29] post-hardcore,[30] industrial metal,[31] drone metal,[30] stoner metal,[29] psychedelic metal,[32] progressive metal,[33] alternative metal,[34] art metal,[35] and extreme metal,[24] and as employing elements of folk.[24][33] Steve Huey of AllMusic called it sludge infused with industrial, metal, and alternative rock,[36] while Kory Grow of Rolling Stone called it a mix of "metal, punk, sludge and avant-garde experiments."[37]

When asked what the band's influences are in a 2000 interview, Scott Kelly stated: "Mainly ourselves at this point, but our foundation ranges through Black Flag, Pink Floyd, Die Kreuzen, Amebix, Jimi Hendrix, King Crimson, The Melvins, Celtic Frost and, of course, Hank Williams."[21] In other interviews, members of the band also listed Throbbing Gristle, Joy Division, Black Sabbath, Crass, Voivod, Loop, Godflesh, Swans, and Townes Van Zandt as influences.[38][39][40][41] In 2007, Steve Von Till stated that lyrically he and Kelly are inspired by literature, alluding to writers such as Cormac McCarthy, Jack London, and Paul Bowles.[42]

In an interview with The Guardian in 2016, the band cited the British Anarcho-punk bands of the early 80s "rife with bitterness, rage and fear, but also possessed of a desire to experiment with punk rock’s parameters, be they sonic, visual or ideological" as being a collective influence, including Flux of Pink Indians, Oi Polloi, Icons of Filth, Amebix, Discharge, Subhumans, Rudimentary Peni, Crass and Chumbawamba. Other artists of other genres were also mentioned such as Killing Joke[43] Swans, Skullflower, Hawkwind and Townes Van Zandt.[44]

Some commentators note that both sonically and lyrically, Neurosis convey an intense emotional-spiritual effect.[39] There is a mythical aspect to their imagery or a ritual aspect to their performance. Brandon Geist of Revolver relates that "Kelly and Von Till ... speak about their band in bold, quasi-religious, 'honor and glory'–type language. Words like commitment, sacrifice, surrender, and spirit come up a lot."[45]

Many bands and artists have cited Neurosis as an important inspiration, including Converge,[46] Slipknot,[47] Agalloch,[48] Yob,[49] Isis,[50] Mastodon,[51] Amenra,[52] Kylesa,[53] Pelican,[54] Wolves in the Throne Room,[55][56] Cobalt,[57] Withered,[58] Baroness,[59] Oathbreaker,[60] Chelsea Wolfe,[61][62] Pallbearer,[63] and Full of Hell.[64] Their influence echoes through acts that have defined the post-metal genre, such as Isis, Boris, Agalloch, Amenra, Pelican, and Deafheaven.[65][66]

Members

[edit]

Timeline

[edit]

Discography

[edit]
Main article: Neurosis discography
Studio albums

Side projects

[edit]
  • Tribes of Neurot - The "alter ego" of Neurosis; a collective of musicians that create dark ambient and noise music.[8]
  • Blood and Time - An acoustic side project of Neurosis with apocalyptic folk overtones featuring Josh Graham, Noah Landis and Scott Kelly.[8]
  • Culper Ring - A brief side project of Neurosis experimenting with dark ambient and industrial music featuring Steve Von Till.
  • Red Sparowes - A group formerly featuring Josh Graham, as he departed the group early 2008.
  • A Storm of Light - A heavy/drone/experimental/rock band featuring Josh Graham.[22]
  • Battle of Mice - A post hardcore band featuring Josh Graham.
  • Harvestman - an ambient/industrial side band featuring Steve Von Till.
  • Violent Coercion - pre-Neurosis Hardcore/punk band with Scott Kelly on guitar, Dave Edwardson on bass and Jason Roeder on drums.
  • Jesus Fucking Christ - A heavy punk/thrash band reminiscent of Pain of Mind-era Neurosis featuring Dave Edwardson on bass and vocals.
  • Kicker - A '77 punk/UK82 band featuring Dave Edwardson on bass and Pete the Roadie, former Neurosis roadie, on vocals.
  • Shrinebuilder - A stoner metal "super group" featuring Scott Kelly.[8]
  • Corrections House - A drone/doom/experimental "super group" featuring Scott Kelly.
  • Mirrors For Psychic Warfare - An experimental noise project featuring Scott Kelly.
  • Sleep - A Doom Metal Band featuring Jason Roeder

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d Moffitt, Greg. "Neurosis - Times of Grace Review". BBC. Retrieved January 5, 2016.
  2. ^ Mikkelson, Jill (July 2007). "Neurosis Are Insulated". Exclaim.ca. Retrieved May 26, 2013.
  3. ^ "Neurosis Outtakes: Extended Interview with Souls At Zero Keyboardist Simon McIlroy". Decibel Magazine. December 20, 2016. Retrieved August 30, 2017.
  4. ^ a b Bromley, Adrian (April 18, 1996). "Neurotics Never Know: A Chat with Neurosis' Dave Edwardson". Chroniclesofchaos.com. Retrieved November 21, 2016.
  5. ^ a b Gardner, Noel (August 10, 2009). "The Quietus Looks Back At The Career Of Dynamic Metallic Neurosis". The Quietus. Retrieved May 26, 2013.
  6. ^ Norton, Justin M. "Neurosis - 'Souls At Zero'". About.com. Archived from the original on April 3, 2013. Retrieved May 26, 2013. Souls At Zero was a game-changing album, not just for Neurosis but for the entire metal genre. It's one of the records where the rules were changed and a new order established
  7. ^ Ehrbar, Joe (January 31, 1997). "Dose Of Neurosis Opening For Pantera On Monday". Spokesman.com. Retrieved January 23, 2012.
  8. ^ a b c d "an interview w/ Scott Kelly (Neurosis, Neurot, Shrinebuilder)". BrooklynVegan.com. April 22, 2009. Retrieved November 21, 2016.
  9. ^ Kennedy, Patrick. "Neurosis: A Sun That Never Sets". Allmusic. Retrieved May 26, 2013.
  10. ^ Mikkelson, Jill (June 25, 2007). "Neurosis Are Insulated". Exclaim!. Retrieved November 21, 2016.
  11. ^ Jurek, Thom. "Neurosis: Given to the Rising". AllMusic. Retrieved May 26, 2013. There is an aggression here that seems to have been kept in restraint for a few years and has returned now to claim its proper place.
  12. ^ "Neurosis: Title Of Tenth Full-Length From Musical Pioneers Revealed". Earsplitcompound.com. August 13, 2012. Retrieved May 26, 2013.
  13. ^ "Roadburn 2016 Day 4 review & pics (Blind Idiot God, Neurosis, Ecstatic Vision, more)". BrooklynVegan.com. April 21, 2016. Retrieved May 27, 2016.
  14. ^ "Neurosis Announce Special 30th Anniversary Shows". Loudwire.com. November 20, 2015. Retrieved May 27, 2016.
  15. ^ "Neurosis reissuing 'A Sun that Never Sets' and 'The Eye of Every Storm'". BrooklynVegan.com. May 5, 2016. Retrieved May 27, 2016.
  16. ^ Records, Relapse. "Coming June 17th on Deluxe 2XLP". Relapse.com. Archived from the original on June 9, 2016. Retrieved May 27, 2016.
  17. ^ "NEUROSIS SHARE SOUNDS FROM THEIR FORTHCOMING ALBUM, FIRES WITHIN FIRES VIA VIDEO TEASER, PLUS PRE-ORDERS NOW ACTIVE". Neurotrecordings.blogspot.com. August 1, 2016.
  18. ^ "NEUROSIS To Release 'Fires Within Fires' Album In September". Blabbermouth.net. June 21, 2016. Retrieved July 5, 2016.
  19. ^ Young, Alex (August 27, 2022). "Neurosis Singer Scott Kelly Admits to Abuse, Announces Retirement from Music". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved August 27, 2022.
  20. ^ a b Kennelty, Greg. "Neurosis Parted Ways With Scott Kelly In 2019, Issues Lengthy Statement After His Admission Of Abuse". MetalInjection. Retrieved August 28, 2022.
  21. ^ a b Samudrala, Ram (October 17, 2000). "Interview with Scott Kelly of Neurosis". Ram.org. Retrieved November 21, 2016.
  22. ^ a b "An interview with Josh Graham (Neurosis, A Storm of Light)". BrooklynVegan.com. March 28, 2008. Retrieved November 21, 2016.
  23. ^ "Neurosis Begins New Chapter". Officialneurosis.blogspot.com. November 27, 2012. Retrieved May 26, 2013.
  24. ^ a b c d e Thomson, Jamie (December 2, 2010). "How Neurosis blazed a trail for 'thinking man's metal' and lasted 25 years". The Guardian. Retrieved January 5, 2017.
  25. ^ a b Heilman, Maxwell (September 26, 2016). "Neurosis brings post-metal back to its roots". The Chimes. Retrieved January 5, 2017.
  26. ^ Terich, Jeff (September 12, 2016). "Celebrate the Catalog: Neurosis". Treblezine.com. Retrieved March 29, 2017.
  27. ^ Heller, Jason (July 25, 2014). "Beak casts a post-metal shadow over "Light Outside"". The A.V. Club. Retrieved January 5, 2016.
  28. ^ Adams, Gregory (July 13, 2011). "Neurosis to Reissue 'Sovereign' EP". Exclaim!. Retrieved January 5, 2016.
  29. ^ a b Distefano, Alex (December 30, 2013). "Neurosis - The Observatory - December 28, 2013". OC Weekly. Retrieved May 21, 2017.
  30. ^ a b McCracken, Colin (January 19, 2013). "Neurosis: Honor Found In Decay – album review". Louder Than War. Retrieved January 5, 2017.
  31. ^ Gardner, Noel (October 8, 2016). "Neurosis – Fires Within Fires". The Quietus. Retrieved January 5, 2017.
  32. ^ Grow, Kory (November 27, 2012). "Neurosis Reveal Inspirations Behind 'Honor Found in Decay' (and Their Full 30-Year Career)". Spin. Retrieved January 5, 2017.
  33. ^ a b Rosenberg, Tal (December 30, 2012). "Reader's Agenda Sun 12/30: Neurosis, a servants' tour, and Lawrence of Arabia". Chicago Reader. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved January 5, 2016.
  34. ^ Henderson, Alex. "Project: Failing Flesh – A Beautiful Sickness". AllMusic. Retrieved January 19, 2017. alt-metal is a far-reaching term that has been used to describe everyone from Hammerlock to Neurosis to Ministry to Limp Bizkit
  35. ^ "The Top 10 Arty Metal Bands". LA Weekly. April 11, 2017.
  36. ^ Huey, Steve. "Neurosis biography". AllMusic. Retrieved January 5, 2016.
  37. ^ Grow, Kory (November 22, 2016). "Neurosis on 30 Years of Finding 'New Ways of Being Heavy'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved January 1, 2017.
  38. ^ "Neurosis Reveal Inspirations Behind 'Honor Found in Decay' (and Their Full 30-Year Career)". Spin.com. November 27, 2012. Retrieved July 20, 2021.
  39. ^ a b Gavrilovska, Ana. "The spirituality of iconoclastic metal band Neurosis". Detroit Metro Times. Retrieved July 20, 2021.
  40. ^ "Death, Trauma, & Friendship: Former Swans Vocalist Jarboe On Her Landmark Collaboration With Neurosis". Daily.bandcamp.com. July 22, 2019. Retrieved July 20, 2021.
  41. ^ "Neurosis on working with Steve Albini, locking horns with Godflesh and making time stand still - Page 2 of 2". Factmag.com. September 15, 2012. Retrieved July 20, 2021.
  42. ^ Hesselink, Jasper. "Interview with Neurosis". Lordsofmetal.nl. Retrieved July 9, 2008.
  43. ^ https://machinemusic.net/2020/08/13/pillars-of-the-90s-an-interview-with-neurosis-about-through-silver-in-blood/
  44. ^ Deller, Alex (November 3, 2016). "Neurosis: 'Crass were the mother of all bands'". The Guardian. Kings Place, London. Archived from the original on November 29, 2022. Retrieved June 27, 2023.
  45. ^ "Neurosis: Rise Above". Revolver. July 2007. Retrieved August 30, 2022.
  46. ^ "Rank Your Records: Converge's Jacob Bannon Reflects on the Seminal Hardcore Band's Eight Albums". Vice.com. June 15, 2017. Retrieved July 20, 2021.
  47. ^ Kennelty, Greg (May 17, 2016). "SLIPKNOT Looks To Influences Like NEUROSIS And NINE INCH NAILS For Its New Album". Metalinjection.net. Retrieved July 20, 2021.
  48. ^ "Machine Music's Albums of the Decade: An Interview with Agalloch". Machinemusic.net. April 1, 2020. Retrieved July 20, 2021.
  49. ^ "YOB's Aaron Rieseberg: 6 Albums That Made Me". Revolvermag.com. March 13, 2019. Retrieved July 20, 2021.
  50. ^ Caramanica, Jon (September 20, 2005). "The alchemy of art-world heavy metal". The New York Times. Retrieved July 20, 2021.
  51. ^ "10 Bands Who Influenced Mastodon". Loudwire.com. November 15, 2018. Retrieved July 20, 2021.
  52. ^ "Amenra @ ABBox: luid maar zuiver". Focus.knack.be. December 23, 2012. Retrieved July 20, 2021.
  53. ^ Murphy, Tom (May 21, 2013). "Kylesa's Phillip Cope talks about his favorite horror movies". Westword.com. Retrieved July 20, 2021.
  54. ^ "Does Pelican really sound like "fog spilling down a glacier at dusk"?". The A.V. Club. November 30, 2009.
  55. ^ Stasis, Spyros (June 13, 2018). "At One with Nature: An Interview with Wolves in the Throne Room". Popmatters.com. Retrieved July 20, 2021.
  56. ^ "Machine Music's Albums of the Decade: An Interview with Wolves in the Throne Room". Machinemusic.net. January 13, 2020. Retrieved July 20, 2021.
  57. ^ "Machine Music's Albums of the Decade: An Interview with Cobalt". Machinemusic.net. January 8, 2020. Retrieved July 20, 2021.
  58. ^ "Interview With Withered « Teeth of the Divine". Teethofthedivine.com. Retrieved July 20, 2021.
  59. ^ Boland, Casey (November 12, 2009). "Interview: John Baizley (Baroness)". Invisible Oranges. Archived from the original on October 30, 2020. Retrieved September 11, 2020.
  60. ^ "Oathbreaker Focus on the Pain, the Only Thing That's Real". Clrvynt.com. December 12, 2016. Retrieved July 20, 2021.
  61. ^ "Chelsea Wolfe Interview Cover Story // Revolver". Sargenthouse.com. Retrieved July 20, 2021.
  62. ^ "Chelsea Wolfe explains her 5 favorite metal albums". Thefader.com. Retrieved July 20, 2021.
  63. ^ "The Quietus | Features | In Extremis | Blessed By The Sabbath: Pallbearer Interviewed". The Quietus. August 13, 2014. Retrieved July 20, 2021.
  64. ^ "CVLT Nation interviews FULL OF HELL in Barcelona - CVLT Nation". Cvltnation.com. April 6, 2018. Retrieved July 20, 2021.
  65. ^ "Neurosis rip it up and start again". Crack Magazine. Retrieved August 30, 2022.
  66. ^ "Boris: W – "merging old and new sound worlds"". Sun 13. January 28, 2022. Retrieved August 30, 2022.
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