Customer Reviews

Eye of Every Storm

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

After I bought this album and threw it in my car stereo, one thing quickly became clear: "The Eye of Every Storm" was not going to be a raging masterpiece on the level of "Times of Grace" or even "A Sun That Never Sets." Neurosis have never been content to follow the traditional "rules" of metal, but for this latest release they seem to have just fired the rulebook out the window. While Neurosis's previous albums were basically works of metallic ferociousness with some eerie minimalism mixed in, "The Eye of Every Storm" is an eerily minimal album with some metallic fury occasionally injected to provide a bit of catharsis. If you found the quieter moments to be the highlights of previous albums, then this one is tailor-made for you.

Even a look at the liner notes can give you a hint of what's in store. "Space"? "Atmospheres"? "Textures"? Samples? MOOG SYNTHESIZERS? On a Neurosis album? Yes, the blistering guitar-based assault of the old Neurosis is largely absent here. In addition, Steve von Till's throat-ripping scream has been almost entirely replaced by a husky, smoky baritone that might have you wondering when Neurosis decided to install Tom Waits as frontman. And while that's still Jason Roeder on drums, you shouldn't expect too much of the thunderous pounding that made John Bonham sound like a third-grader tapping pencils on a desk.

So, does all of this mean a kinder, gentler Neurosis, one that'll be touring with John Mayer next? Hardly. These guys are still more than happy to wallow in negativity and depression, and "The Eye of Every Storm" is every bit as darkly intense as previous albums. Yes, it's quieter, in many places much quieter, but Neurosis's brooding emotion hasn't disappeared; it's just evolved into a more subdued form. While I was initially disappointed that this album provided few opportunities for headbanging, my disappointment faded as I gradually discovered all the nuances and dynamics that are to be found here.

After a few listens, I was pleased to discover an album that was just as moving and powerful as its predecessors, if not as sonically overwhelming. On the eight songs here, Neurosis manage to cover more stylistic ground than most bands would even attempt in a whole career. Rarely have they mixed styles as well as they do on the musical roller coaster that is "No River to Take Me Home," a song that brings the same ear for mood and texture to metal that bands like Mogwai and Godspeed You! Black Emperor have brought to rock. The apocalyptic "Left To Wonder" is a creation of bottomless depth and symphonic sweep filled with twisted riffage and gut-wrenching vocals that would fit right in on one of the band's older albums. "Bridges" is Neurosis at their most bizarre, throwing out every convention you can think of as it incorporates piano, synthesizers, muted drumming, and moments of fuzzed-out guitar squall for some of the most brilliantly atmospheric work in this great band's catalog. And Neurosis's knack for jarring dynamics is still abundantly evident in "I Can See You" and the instrumental "Shelter," two pieces that start slowly and then kick into high gear for a searing heaviness that's all the more effective for the calm that preceded it.

While it can take some getting used to for fans of Neurosis's heavier material, "The Eye of Every Storm" is ultimately more than worth the effort. These guys still occupy their own little niche in the music world, composing multifaceted epics with an admirable disregard for what everyone else is doing. While I do miss the full frontal assault that made me want to seek shelter under my bed at times, "The Eye of Every Storm" stakes out fascinating new ground for a band that's clearly not content to rest on their laurels. As with most Neurosis material, this is a must-have album.

NEUROSIS - The Eye of Every Storm
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Neurosis is a band that has been progressing with each release they have done... `The Eye of Every Storm' is no exception. They started in 87' as a punk/hardcore Metal band. `Souls at Zero' came out in 92 and set a new direction which they perfected in 96 with `Through Silver and Blood'. Now in 2004 they've moved into Post-Metal territory (which they were slowly heading with `A Sun that Never Sets'-in 2001) Truth is... Not every fan will like this. Personally I do. I love bands like Pelican, Isis, (Specially their newer stuff) Red Sparowes, GY!BE, and Mogwai. More so I enjoy seeing a band that started heavy go Prog. Honestly... When bands `age' they want change, they generally have 3 choices:
#1) Progression - Bands like Opeth, and Amorphis, have taken this route and continued growing as musicians
#2) Stay the Same - Slayer has kept their general sound for decades. (Sure they've grown and matured a bit, did some lower tunings but overall still the same focus)
#3) Sell-Out - And yes of course I'm going to cite Metallica...
-So ideally progression is my preferred choice (And obviously the choice for Neurois as well)
Musically this album is `softer' in terms of Neurosis but just as dark as anything they've ever done. Steve Von Till and Scott Kelly have never sounded better, their deep beckoning voices only further an atmosphere that really could be the soundtrack to the eye of a storm... The Guitar work is subtle but effective and the Keys are more dominant on this album. Also the minimalist drumming truly helps keep the ambient feel flowing throughout the entire album.
Patience is a virtue exercised while listening to this album but it will pay off if you let the albums beauty unfold in front of you.
Honestly if you like Progressive Music, Post-Rock/Metal, or any of the bands mentioned above check this album out... Also for a heavier journey check out there back catalogue.
Favorite Songs: Burn, No River to Take Me Home, and A Season in the Sky.
-5 Stars

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I've had The Eye Of Every Storm ever since it first came out, and I'm sorry I'm just now posting a review for it. I am a HUGE music fan, and my taste in music covers a wide range of artists and styles of music. This recording is one of the VERY BEST I've ever purchased period. It's actually my favorite cd of all time. This is a brilliant record, an instant classic that should be placed among the ranks of Dark Side of the Moon, but will probably never get the recognition it truly deserves. Everything about the album/cd from it's packaging, to of course the music itself sets a mood and pace that is both relaxing and somber, and keeps the listener at that level for the entire recording without any deviation what so ever. Every song is equally superb, perfectly accomplishing the mood intended for the lister. There are many other artists that I'm sure anyone who reads this review would be familiar with, that have made some great melancholy records, but NONE will come close to The Eye Of Every Storm. If you are a true fan of music, you should own this record. To all of you Neurosis fans that didn't like this album because it's not Through Silver in Blood, Take another look and listen to The Eye Of Every Storm with a different insight. I think you will come to appreciate the time, effort, and creativity that was put into this recording.

Neurosis is a band that redifines their sound with every release, and each time they pull of these technical and difficult transitions flawlessly. No matter what game Neurosis seem to be playing, they always come out on top. Whether it be super aggressive hardcore ('Pain of Mind'), a more progressive brand of metal / hardcore ala early Isis (Enemy of the Sun'), crushing doom-ish noisecore ('Through Silver in Blood'), or an experimental, yet heavy sound ('Sun that Never Sets'). Unlike the vast majority of Neurosis's extensive catalouge, 'The Eye of Every Storm' incorporates many aspects from ambient and noise recordings. Sound something like Godspeed You! Black Emperor meets modern day Isis, the album is perhaps the most powerful, well executed, and emotion record that Neurosis has released (yes, even surpassing the absolutely stunning 'Sovereign' E.P., which up until now was my favorite Neurosis release). Like 'Sun that Never Sets' and the aforementioned 'Sovereign', 'The Eye of Every Storm' focuses not only on the aural presentation of the music but also in the visual presentation. The etheral and misterious artwork really enhances the total package of the music, bringing forth all the aspects of the music that can't be felt by just listening to it. Song wise, the album contains some of the most beautifully devastating tracks ever; the opener "Burn" is imediately strikes at your psyche, "The Eye of Every Storm" has one of the most haunting vocal passages I've ever heard, and "Left to Wander" has what I think to be the greatest piece of ambient guitar work every laid down. 'The Eye of Every Storm' is for those who want a unique listening experience that is both heavy and heavenly; there is no better.

10 / 10

Okay, truth must be told. Neurosis has gone mellower over the years since that behemoth of a disc we all know as "Through Silver In Blood." To some, they may sound tired with music, they may sound out of energy, the same energy that has carried them through almost twenty years of music together. But even though I cannot say I'm a long-time fan, maybe about six months of listening to these prodigies, I still find this disc striking and moving.

I immediately ran my ass out to best Buy this morning to go get it along with Atreyu (which I had for about 7 weeks before the real date, so this was priority) and I buried myself in it as I'm still doing right now.

There's a certain sculpting of the voices of Steve Von Till and Scott Kelly that has finally come out. They carry themselves no longer scared of using clean voices to express their strong feelings and emotions (quite apparent with the lyrical content) and it sounds just as chilling as the end of "falling unknown" from A Sun That Never Sets, but this time, they don't need to scream.

Musically, we're hearing a more ambient Neurosis, no doubt. Noah's keys are coming out more, as well as more playing with the guitar feedback and drone work which I personally enjoy without end. Jason's drumming has picked up in pace, and this album definitely moves along quicker than ASTNS, and his skill at being able to control atomsphere with his cymbals has become much more apparent. Dave's Moog work comes out well, but I miss the bass strength that came along with earlier CD's. Scott and Steve have borrowed the single note picking from the Sovereign EP and have allowed more feedback to coast through the storm of music.

The packaging is plain, simple yet perfectly befitting of this disc. The simple swirls that grace the lyrics sheets and liner notes is excellent, and the sleeve always is an excellent idea, especially for such an important release.

Bottom line: This is Neurosis, can't deny it. They're still one-of-a-kind. But you will be in for a mellower trip. Those who worship Enemy Of The Sun should probably stay away, but anyone else, you will appreciate this release.

Rock on.

I'm a fairly big fan of post-rock/ post-metal. I love bands like Isis, Agalloch, GY!BE, Pelican, etc. But for me, it all really started with Neurosis. These guys not only do a lot of the little cool things that Tool does, but they actually did them first. Granted, Neurosis is an underground band (and that's where they belong) but you can't fault them for being innovative. Many may see "The Eye of Every Storm" as just a basic, boring rock album, but give it time. This band's maturity level is far beyond most of their competitors.

Unlike most of the post-metal that I love, the name of this album actually represents the album as a whole. The sounds and patterns in most of the songs actually reflect the spinning, vast, and ominous nature of a hurricane's eye. Don't take it too literally though, it's more symbolic. The songs won't sound like storms; instead, the song-structures will exemplify them.

This CD is not as heavy as earlier Neurosis offerings; specifically it's much less abrasive. But it's not radio music either. The songs are long and drawn out. It's gloomy, post-grunge -- not commercial, but still accessible. Not a bad place to start if you're not familiar with the band. Don't expect something epic, grand, orchestral, or conceptual. This is just a group of guys playing in a band. However, what has always set them apart is the maturity with which they can construct and produce music. These guys play with both style and conviction. Solid writing and solid lyrics are presented with impact. Listen to this for a while and you will definitely begin to appreciate it in an intangible way. You won't be able to describe it, but you will know: it's just better somehow

once again neurosis come out on top, i have been a fan for years and i have to say there are parts of sunthatneversets that i didn't like, so was a bit owrried bout the new album. but it is just fantastic from start to end.

There is such a foreboding cadence to The Eye Of Every Storm. It never quite climaxes and I find that brilliant. The restraint they show on this record is astounding to me. It's as though the whole of the record is comprised of the small spurts of emotion and warning that squish through the cracks of a huge wall that was built to keep the sheer force of the entire sound behind it. To break down the wall would surely destroy us all, so Neurosis allows but a tiny fraction of its magnitude to be unleashed upon our unprepared consciousness. The result is phenomenally exploratory.

While I adore Times Of Grace & Through Silver In Blood like the next Neurosis nut, it is this phase of their sound that really shows what this band is capable of. To create an aural tapestry that is able to wrap itself around you in the moment, but on a larger scale, pushes musical boundaries as a whole. If you are tuned into its broadcast, this record says a great deal while appearing to be very minimalist. It employs a duality that hearkens to what you've come to love about this band while redefining it in the same motion.

Despite my appreciation for it, I honestly can understand how this album seems to have lost some of the hardcore fans. Largely absent is the sonic bludgeoning that we have become accustomed to. However, in its place seems to be precisely what lies on the other side of all of their heavier endeavors. If you were able somehow to flip upside-down what they've previously created, this might in fact be the contoured mold from which it was birthed. Every note they didn't play on the previous records can be found here.

At a base level, this is the very moody side of the Tribe. Every bit as heavy but far less deliberate in its delivery. For new comers, I still think Through Silver In Blood is a great place to start, but The Eye of Every Storm may even be a more accommodating launching pad. For fans who haven't yet taken the plunge on this one, prepare yourself to be even more impressed by the deep and inimitable creativity of the mighty Neurosis.

What's your definition of heavy? Is it 10,000 beats per minute and a singer who sounds like he's coughing up a lung? Is Meshuggah heavy or is Neurosis heavy?

The Eye of Every Storm is one of Neurosis mellowest albums yet, but, strangely, it's still heavy. It's heavy even when drummer Jason Roeder isn't pounding the skins like a maniac and guitarists Scott Kelly and Steve Von Till aren't trying to bring the studio roof crashing down on their heads. That's how good they are at this point. Even Von Till conveys heaviness with his rough, world-weary vocals. Their music is so deep and dreary and conceptual that heaviness is not an end onto itself, but rather a brief stop along the road.

That isn't to say that there aren't heavy parts on Eye but it's a fleeting kind of heaviness, a brief sonic eruption of noise and wind and fire that, more often that not, lapses right back into typical shoegazing style. Only opener "Burn", with its tense, commanding approach, manages to keep a consistency heavy vibe throughout. The first minute of "Left to Wander", in fact, features more thundering aggression then just about the rest of the disc put together. It's a welcome burst of noise from a band that's left their hardcore roots far, far behind, and makes me wish they'd conjure up more moments like that, but the restrained, serene flow that follows quickly cuts short that idea. Then it's on to the next song...

Not my favorite Neurosis album, but one that'll keep the accolades (and acolytes) flowing in.

Since thier EP "Soveriegn" Neurosis has shown a very diffrent progression. The vocals and the music both became less grueling and aggresive. What surfaced was an evolved and smoother version of the band they've always been and something especially in this album has taken Neurosis to an even more fluid level. This album has almost prog overtones with a hint of pink floydish harmonies between vocalists they've never shown untill now. To small lucid piano and trumpets Neurosis continues to evolve in every sense, thier songwriting, thier music's fluidity... This album may require a few listens for older fans, but it's not like they wont inevitably feel this albums obvious and enveloping power and grace.

To those older fans of Neurosis who loved Neurosis's second noticable evolutionary period "Souls At Zero" "Enemy of the Sun" and "Through Silver In Blood" I would say Neurosis have gone on to do even much more then how much I banged my head to those perfect albums. Neurosis are by far one of the top 3 bands this planet has to offer and as surely as thier structure and patience has matured you may find yourself feeling this particular album... perhaps thier greatest yet.