Review Summary: A spectacular musical journey for the ages
Neurosis is a band which needs no introduction. Kings of their niche, they stood the march of time with consistency whilst crafting their own special metal style and rarely disappointing.
The Eye of Every Storm gathers all the many virtues of the band, joining them seamlessly -even sweetly- to put together an album which represents the artistical peak of their career.
Now, this is not your typical Neurosis album. The heavy elements, while still present, shift away from the centre of the musical scene to let the eerie atmosphere dominate the journey. Soft passages captivate the listener in a deep and natural way -something not easy to achieve in the genre-, and as the songs pass by, one starts to feel caught on the storm the music so accurately represents. By the time
Shelter clocks in, this storm feels so cold and real that you might even forget that this is actually just music (“or is it not? What is this that feels so real?”). The eye of the storm was never so close.
“Digging a hole so I can rest
No tears from no river to take me home
The seeds in my way, roots to the core
Of a rising sun falling through the wind to the soil”.
The sorrowful and dark soundscapes found along this journey overrun the mind and seduce the senses in a mesmerizing and astonishing way. And this is the most iconic virtue of
The Eye of Every Storm: you can feel the music, feel the storm slowly surrounding you and understand that there is no way out, as the final track
I Can See You precisely evokes with its epic ending strike. All of that, shrouded in perfect lyrics that match the feelings.
“In the oceans we can find you, for the sun we praise your name”.
Despite the focus on the ambience, this is Neurosis at their most intense, stretching the bounds of their own musicianship to a surprising limit. The guitar work is crushing, heavy at certain points, but masterfully balanced with the spirit of the whole musical work. It is not the technical display what turns so unique the guitarwork, but the managing of timing, ranges, tones, and screeches, backed with the subtle bass guitar, an outstanding drumwork and a great use of keyboards (Neurosis best ever, easily); which, combined, are able to create an embracing wall of sound.
Vocals are a defining element of the album. From impressive yet always understandable raspy roars -which suit the ambience perfectly- to soft singing and spoken parts, the diversity and ability to join the musicianship’s route is a key element that coordinates the whole structure of the album.
Lots of emotions shift through the listener's mind as the album plays, due to the despairing -yet somehow enjoyable and addictive- sorrow that flows seamlessly all along.
“The leftovers were playing with my memories of love
I screamed at my god and he let me go
I drifted silently to the desert and began to pray”.
For those ready to let their senses drown in gloomy -yet beautiful- soundscapes,
The Eye of Every Storm will reward with one of the most unforgettable metal albums ever done.
“Time brings them all home to the eye of every storm”.
