Steve Von Till - Guitars / Vocals
Scott Kelly - Guitars / Vocals
Jason Roeder - Drums
Dave Edwardson - Bass / Vocals
Pete Inc. - Visuals
Noah Landis - Keyboards

Discography:

1997 'Souls At Zero/ Enemy Of The Sun'
1997 'Through Silver In Blood'
1999 'Times Of Grace'
2000 'Sovereign' mini CD
Neurosis is best known for its ability to overwhelm the senses. Musically, visually and physically, the Bay Area masters of behemoth, operatic guitar girth cast an imposing presence geared toward generating a sense of catharsis and complete immersion in the environment shared between the audience and the band. In emphasis of this sensory-overload, the band's latest release is an epic four-song multimedia CD, titled Sovereign, that heralds the band's 15th year in existence. The disc provides an overwhelming experience that mixes the sonic battery of a Neurosis album with the hypnotic visuals of the band's live show, and reinforces the community spirit that the group cultivates among its fans.

Accompanying the characteristically suffocating wall of sound of the audio tracks is a stunningly graphic-intensive CD-ROM multimedia section that features several high-quality multiple-layer superimposed film clips designed to set the mood of the songs, just like the hallucinatory film and slide projections of Neurosis' visual artist, Pete Inc. In addition to the visuals, the CD provides access to a members-only area of the group's official web site (www.neurosis.com), where owners of the disc can download bonus tracks.

As the disc's title suggests, it is a celebration of the band's iconoclasm, independence and genre-transcending sound that is something like a composite of metal, industrial, experimental, punk, proto-goth and European folk music. Sovereign again pairs the band with indelicate and influential engineer, Steve Albini, who lent his intuitive and scientific recording approach to the 1999 Neurosis album, Times of Grace. Like its predecessor, Sovereign perfectly captures the band's expansive breadth and dynamic depth.

The sprawling four song CD further elaborates the band's strength in subtly building dynamics which erupt into torrential sheets of guitars, screamed vocals, subharmonic keyboard pulses and crashing, tribal drumming. "Prayer" opens the set with a delicately plucked guitar line that slowly builds tension as guitarist/vocalist, Steve Von Till's ominous rasp heralds the tightly-wound march to come. Drummer Jason Roeder drops in a syncopated tom-tom march as vocalist/guitarist Scott Kelly and bassist/vocalist, Dave Edwardson howl vocal rounds with Von Till's opening refrain. "An Offering" kicks off with rolling toms cascading over shards of synthesizer white noise, before Kelly's impassioned grunt overtakes the procession. Shortly thereafter, ragged guitar strata join in, while Edwardson's monstrous scream counterbalances Kelly's moan. "Flood" switches tones to a militaristic march that is saturated by keyboardist Noah Landis' sample-driven streams of icy drones and piercing chimes. The epic 13-minute title track pits groaning guitars and the lulling drones of Landis' keyboards against explosive rounds of shotgun drum blasts, eruptive cymbals and slithering down-tuned guitars. The guitar gnashing and triple-tiered vocal assault abruptly ends as a sinister half-step piano line builds beneath Von Till's declarative baritone. Then, rolling drums, triumphant synth chords and lumbering guitars seep over the top until the entire sonic space is saturated with sound. It is Neurosis at its most overwhelming and captivating. And, considering the all-encompassing aesthetic of Sovereign, Neurosis has only just begun its campaign to dominate our senses.

Official Neurosis website: www.neurosis.com

 
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