Review Summary: After two decades of continuous experimenting, Neurosis create their most straightforward record in quite some time.
Chapter 10: All is Found in Time
Neurosis have been putting out records consistently now for quite some time. They started as a hardcore punk band, but soon afterwards they really became something completely different and unheard of. Starting from
The Word as Law, Neurosis have constantly been experimenting with their sound to no end. Whether it be the frightening
Enemy of the Sun, the folky
A Sun That Never Sets, the sparse
Eye of Every Storm, or the Sabbath-esque
Given to the Rising, Neurosis have always been known to change. After a long, diverse career, what could they possibly do next? This time instead of moving somewhere else, they’ve taken a look back on their career as whole, which has some rather interesting results.
Honor Found in Decay is an album that is rather different for Neurosis. Their previous effort,
Given to the Rising, showed them moving towards a more riff-based sound once again, and this album continues down that path. Another thing they pointed to was a culmination of all of their past work, and
Honor could best be described as a look back on the many sounds of the band. Neurosis have always been known for their dark, dreary, and heavy sound which is perfectly packaged in here, with lots of dissonant riffs, shouted vocals, and dramatic dynamic shifts. This will either satisfy fans, or it will disappoint certain fans.
While
Honor Found in Decay is certainly their most straightforward record, there are still new things to be found within. The vocals have certainly aged, with Scott’s voice sounding a bit more like a croon than his earlier shouts, as well as Steve’s vocals sounding similar. Dave’s growls have been absent for quite some time, and he still lays rather low for this release. The keyboard sounds have become noisier and somewhat symphonic since their last release, but it’s still what you would kind of expect from a Neurosis record. The riffs are still full of bends and drones, but there is a new level of maturity that shows signs of more folk influence. The production is also very raw, with little effects or anything of that nature.
So, Neurosis is at a good point in their long, twisted, and diverse career. They haven’t quite evolved, as much as taken everything they previously did and mashed it together.
Honor Found in Decay is certainly one of Neurosis’s most accessible records, but it is still a rather long and dark album. Not too many bands sound this good in this stage of their career, but Neurosis continually prove that they’re relevant to modern metal. They haven’t quite crafted a masterpiece, due to some things that could be improved upon. For instance, the album isn’t much different than their previous material, but this goes both ways. Scott’s voice also isn’t quite as strong as it used to be, but he certainly gets the job done. So,
Honor Found in Decay is a satisfying listen for fans, but it most likely won’t attract any newcomers.
