INTENSE AND FOCUSED // Neurosis - Under the Surface // Composer Reaction & Analysis

[@thegrimner]

It's interesting, yet a bit unfortunate, that people keep suggesting the more pummeling side of Neurosis to you on all the times you crossed paths with them, because their musical significance goes far beyond just the single minded wall of sound intensity on display here. This album marks the beginning of their collaboration with Steve Albini as a producer, which would be a constant on all subsequent albums. And it's also them trying to reset their sound of sorts, hitting a wall (of sound) before more or less reinventing themselves on the following albums, without losing their identity. All albums after this begin to lean heavily on a broader range of textures and emotions, with more quiet parts alongside the gigantic guitars, and with a bigger preponderance of pitched vocals which are just as raspy as the hardcore shouting, but have a very gravely quality to them. The end result is music that ends up being simultaneously loud and soft, downright delicate at times, angry, but also displaying a sense of vulnerability and intimacy. I mean, their next album starts with acoustic guitar strumming, sung vocals occasionally harmonising, and violin interludes before any sort of distortion is allowed to creep in, and it completely sounds like the same band. Songs like The Tide, Crawl Back In, The Eye Of Every Storm, all should interest you in how they not so much change their musical vision, but rather expand on their musical vocabulary.

[@nicolashunter4131]

One of my favourite songs of my favourite band, cheers man, almost no one makes reaction videos of Neurosis, I really appreciate it

[@lemonshik]

oh man, one of my favourite songs ever from one of my favourite albums ever! glad you checked it out!

[@nickalleye]

Thank you for reminding me of that sick album, i almost forgot how awesome it was. This is gonna be a fun week

[@cbn6635]

'Times of Grace' is such a brilliant Neurosis album; probably their most focused and concise release in their discography, but for me their earlier 'Through Silver in Blood' album is my personal favorite; one of the most dense and primordial sounding recordings ever. If you want to investigate post-metal influences in death metal, I suggest any song on the new Ulcerate album 'Cutting the Throat of God'; album of the year for me easily.. 🤗

[@erkkapehto9125]

Great choice! The point of the quiet middle section is to build up meditative tension for the big finale. The Neurosis rabbit hole goes truly deep. There are so many different kinds of albums

[@TheLivirus]

Great stuff! I've been sleeping on this song.

[@progrockplaylists]

8:12 theres only so much sludge/ doom hits before it feels like its just slowed down.