Neurosis (band)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Template:Short description Template:Use mdy dates Template:Use American English Script error: No such module "Infobox".Template:Template otherTemplate:Main otherScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".Template:Main other 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

Formation and early years (1985–1995)

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]

File:Neurosis 92.jpg
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)

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)

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, Jason Roeder's retirement from touring (2019–present)

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]

In January 2025, drummer Jason Roeder announced on his social media pages that he would no longer be touring and he intended to sell most, if not all, of his musical equipment.[21] In a follow-up post, Roeder denied he was retiring from music altogether, and further stated: "As far as Neurosis goes - I don't know. The remaining members are truly amazing people and with or without me I am sure they will continue to do mind-blowing work, whatever form it takes."[22]

Visuals

File:Neurosis 038.jpg
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.[23] 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.[24] Graham and Neurosis amicably parted ways in late November 2012 via an announcement on the band website.[25] 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

Neurosis formed as a hardcore punk band, performing a blend of hardcore and heavy metal inspired by British punk[26] and described as crust punk[27] or crossover.[1] Already their second album The Word as Law (1990) incorporated avant-garde music and sludge metal,[28] a genre marrying the ferocity of hardcore and the deep heaviness of doom metal. Thereafter, the band developed their trademark sound that has been described as a "blend of earth-quaking riffs, nervy hardcore menace and ritualistic dark ambience."[29] 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,[30] an "expansive, progressive and often apocalyptic" sound,[1] "adding alien sounds, oddball instrumentation and atmospheric depth to [the] viscerally crushing approach" of sludge metal.[27] Their sound has also been described as experimental[31]/avant-garde metal,[26] doom metal,[26][32] post-hardcore,[33] industrial metal,[34] drone metal,[33] stoner metal,[32] psychedelic metal,[35] progressive metal,[36] alternative metal,[37] art metal,[38] and extreme metal,[26] and as employing elements of folk.[26][36] Steve Huey of AllMusic called it sludge infused with industrial, metal, and alternative rock,[39] while Kory Grow of Rolling Stone called it a mix of "metal, punk, sludge and avant-garde experiments."[40]

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."[23] 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.[41][42][43][44] 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.[45]

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[46] Swans, Skullflower, Hawkwind and Townes Van Zandt.[47]

Some commentators note that both sonically and lyrically, Neurosis convey an intense emotional-spiritual effect.[42] 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."[48]

Many bands and artists have cited Neurosis as an important inspiration, including Converge,[49] Machine Head,[50] Slipknot,[51] Agalloch,[52] Yob,[53] Isis,[54] Mastodon,[55] Amenra,[56] Kylesa,[57] Pelican,[58] Wolves in the Throne Room,[59][60] Cobalt,[61] Withered,[62] Baroness,[63] Oathbreaker,[64] Chelsea Wolfe,[65][66] Pallbearer,[67] and Full of Hell.[68] Their influence echoes through acts that have defined the post-metal genre, such as Isis, Boris, Agalloch, Amenra, Pelican, and Deafheaven.[69][70]

Members

<templatestyles src="Col-begin/styles.css"/>

Timeline

<timeline> ImageSize = width:900 height:auto barincrement:20 PlotArea = left:90 bottom:100 top:0 right:20 Alignbars = justify DateFormat = mm/dd/yyyy Period = from:11/01/1985 till:12/15/2025 TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal format:yyyy ScaleMinor = increment:1 start:1986 ScaleMajor = increment:2 start:1986 Legend = position:bottom orientation:vertical columns:4

Colors = 

id:vocals     value:red          legend:Lead_vocals
id:bvocals    value:pink         legend:Backing_vocals
id:Guitar     value:green        legend:Guitar
id:bass       value:blue         legend:Bass
id:drums      value:orange       legend:Drums
id:perc       value:claret       legend:Percussion
id:keys       value:purple       legend:Keyboards,_synthesizers,_electronics
id:visual     value:powderblue   legend:Visual_artist
id:studio     value:black        legend:Studio_album
id:other      value:gray(0.5)    legend:Other_release
id:bars       value:gray(0.97)

LineData = 

layer:back
color:studio
at:03/10/1987
at:06/01/1990
at:05/19/1992
at:08/17/1993
at:04/02/1996
at:05/04/1999
at:07/08/2001
at:11/04/2003
at:06/28/2004
at:05/08/2007
at:10/30/2012
at:09/23/2016
color:other
at:06/01/1986
at:01/01/1989
at:09/01/1990
at:06/01/1996
at:12/01/1998
at:03/01/1999
at:07/01/1999
at:09/01/1999
at:06/01/2000
at:10/31/2000
at:05/01/2001
at:06/01/2002
at:09/17/2002
at:09/23/2003
at:08/30/2010
at:04/01/2016
at:08/11/2016

BarData = 

bar:Kelly     text:"Scott Kelly"
bar:Salter    text:"Chad Salter"
bar:Till      text:"Steve Von Till"
bar:Edwardson text:"Dave Edwardson"
bar:McIlroy   text:"Simon McIlroy"
bar:Landis    text:"Noah Landis"
bar:Roeder    text:"Jason Roeder"
bar:Kendall   text:"Adam Kendall"
bar:Pete      text:"Pete Inc."
bar:Graham    text:"Josh Graham"

PlotData= 

width:3 textcolor:black align:left anchor:from shift:(10,-4)
bar:Kelly     from:start      till:12/01/2019 color:guitar
bar:Salter    from:03/01/1986 till:10/01/1989 color:BVocals
bar:Till      from:11/01/1989 till:end color:Vocals
bar:Edwardson from:start      till:01/01/1992 color:Vocals
bar:Edwardson from:01/01/1992 till:end        color:BVocals
bar:McIlroy   from:04/01/1990 till:03/01/1995 color:BVocals
bar:Landis    from:10/01/1998 till:01/01/2000 color:BVocals
bar:Landis    from:01/01/2006 till:end        color:BVocals

width:11  textcolor:black align:left anchor:from shift:(10,-4)
bar:Kelly     from:start      till:12/01/2019 color:vocals
bar:Salter    from:03/01/1986 till:10/01/1989 color:Guitar
bar:Till      from:10/01/1989 till:end color:Guitar

bar:Edwardson from:start      till:end        color:Bass

bar:McIlroy   from:04/01/1990 till:03/01/1995 color:Keys
bar:Landis    from:03/01/1995 till:end        color:Keys
bar:Edwardson from:10/01/1998 till:01/01/2000 color:Keys   width:7
bar:Edwardson from:01/01/2004 till:01/01/2005 color:Keys   width:7

bar:Roeder    from:start      till:end        color:Drums

bar:Roeder    from:01/01/1993 till:end        color:Perc   width:3
bar:Kelly     from:01/01/1993 till:01/01/2000 color:Perc   width:7
bar:Till      from:01/01/1993 till:01/01/2000 color:Perc   width:7

bar:Kendall   from:04/01/1990 till:08/17/1993 color:Visual
bar:McIlroy   from:06/01/1990 till:08/17/1993 color:Visual width:7
bar:Pete      from:08/17/1993 till:12/01/2000 color:Visual
bar:Graham    from:12/01/2000 till:11/27/2012 color:Visual

</timeline>

Discography

Script error: No such module "Labelled list hatnote".

Studio albums

Side projects

  • 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.[24]
  • 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

Template:Reflist

External links

Template:Sister project

Template:Neurosis Template:Authority control

  1. ↑ a b c d Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  2. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  3. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  4. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  5. ↑ a b Template:Cite magazine
  6. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  7. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  8. ↑ a b c d Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  9. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  10. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  11. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  12. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  13. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  14. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  15. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  16. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  17. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  18. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  19. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  20. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  21. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  22. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  23. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  24. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  25. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  26. ↑ a b c d e Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  27. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  28. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  29. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  30. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  31. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  32. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  33. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  34. ↑ Template:Cite magazine
  35. ↑ Template:Cite magazine
  36. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  37. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  38. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  39. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  40. ↑ Template:Cite magazine
  41. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  42. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  43. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  44. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  45. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  46. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  47. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  48. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  49. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  50. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  51. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  52. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  53. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  54. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  55. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  56. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  57. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  58. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  59. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  60. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  61. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  62. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  63. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  64. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  65. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  66. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  67. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  68. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  69. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  70. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
Retrieved from "http://debianws.lexgopc.com/wiki143/index.php?title=Neurosis_(band)&oldid=816544"