Primordial and Psychadelic (A Sun That Never Sets - Neurosis)

Member Name: Burning_Darkness

Product:	A Sun That Never Sets - Neurosis
Date:	15/07/09 (45 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Brilliant songwriting, original sound, varied and powerful

Disadvantages: None

'A Sun That Never Sets' is the fourth album by the ever evolving progressive/sludge metal band Neurosis, a hugely influential veteran band who paved the way for the sludgy/post rock style of more recent big-hitters like Isis, Cult Of Luna, Pelican, Mastodon and the hundreds of others that followed in their wake.

From their hardcore punk roots Neurosis have pioneered a progressive metal style that merges psychadelic doom, folk music and hypnotic tribal drums to create a truly unique sound. The songs consist of lethargic, crushingly heavy metallic riffs backed up by simple but accomplished drums full of cymbal splashes and tribal rhythms. These are accompanied by lamenting violin and viola, reflective synths, synthesised bagpipes, ominous tolling bells and a mixture of coarse, ragged, hardcore vocals and deep-yet-soaring clean singing. The songs slowly progress and evolve, building up gradually to crushing creschendos and post-rock plateaus, whilst elsewhere quiet sections of acoustic strumming contrast with the waves of sludge. Other songs are devoid of riffs entirely, consisting only of mesmeric, thudding drums and ritualistic, booming chants that merge to create a powerful primordial atmosphere.

Its an incredibly accomplished and moving album, with a sound that is unconventional and initially quite unaccessable to the casual listener, but one that reveals new layers of depth with each listen. The music creates an atmosphere of desolate alien landscapes and ancient rolling seas, an image which is further supported by the psychadelic, Mars-red artwork and the powerful element-based lyrics. The song titles all lead on from one another to form a narrative, which is another innovative touch.

A flawless album, 'A Sun that Never Sets' is mandatory listening to fans of post rock, sludge and doom. There also exists an accompanying DVD, which completes the experience by providing a series of raw art-house style films that accompany every single track, as well as reworkings of the album acheived by various means of sonic experimentation, and this is well worth picking up as well.

Tracklisting-

1. Erode 01:49
2. The Tide 08:48
3. From The Hill 09:26
4. A Sun That Never Sets 04:59
5. Falling Unknown 13:10
6. From Where Its Roots Run 03:41
7. Crawl Back In 06:50
8. Watchfire 08:26
9. Resound 01:26
10. Stones From The Sky 09:45

Total playing time 01:08:20

Summary: A masterpiece of psychadelic sludge