When the updated list with new releases to review was sent out, I was lucky enough to be the first one to reply and pick this much-anticipated release by American experimental doom/sludge metal band Neurosis. In retrospect I quickly realized the daunting exercise I had given myself writing about a release by a band like Neurosis, especially since my career as music reviewer is still in its relative infancy.
Neurosis’ very impressive career has already lasted for around 25 years and ‘Honor Found In Decay’ is only the 10th release by this band in that time. Out of curiosity I read some online discussions about this album and I got the impression that the general opinion seems to be disappointment. Or perhaps the fans expected more since the band took 5 years to record and release ‘Honor Found In Decay’. I actually disagree, as I don’t think this album is a disappointment at all. Admittedly, it’s not a new ‘Through Silver In Blood’ or ‘Times Of Grace’, or even a new ‘Given To The Rising’, but ‘Honor Found In Decay’ does show a natural progression from the latter.
Neurosis again forged an alliance with legendary engineer Steve Albini and the result is a real listening pleasure for the ears. I initially was a bit let down by the production of the drums after listening to the opening track ‘We All Rage In Gold’. Perhaps because I am a big fan of the more bombastic and slightly over-produced drums sound used on ‘Through Silver In Blood’, but once you get through to the next track ‘At The Well’, this is not really an issue anymore. At this point you quickly realize that Steve Albini yet again managed to give this album a very natural production, which results in a very warm sound, without undermining the complexity of the multiple layers coming through on this record.
I’m not going to review this album track by track, but I do want to highlight a couple of stand out tracks. Said song ‘At The Well’ is probably my most favourite song on ‘Honor Found In Decay’ as it is a fine examples of demonstrating all the elements which makes Neurosis such a groundbreaking band within its genre. After a long atmospheric intro, ‘At The Well’ builds up slowly, introducing heavy rhythmic drumming and some great guitar riffs, to then take a step back again before exploding in the pounding climax, with the repeatedly shouting of the lyrics ‘In A Shadow World’. Similarly, ‘Bleeding The Pigs’ builds up for a good 5 minutes, creating a near hypnotic trance by the use of tribal-like drums and an almost Jon Lord inspired Hammond organ, before giving the listener a devastating punch in the face with the explosion which follows. Finally, ‘All Is Found…In Time’ kicks right off in an almost stoner-rock grooving riff before taking an extensive breathing space midway through the song and again to build up towards another exploding climax to end the song.
Overall, ‘Honor Found In Decay’ is a beautiful atmospheric metal album with touches of doom, sludge, post-metal and perhaps surprisingly a significant amount of melody. Even though it is not their strongest release to date, this album is a grower and I think it will leave many fans of Neurosis and this genre satisfied.
Released on October 29th through Neurot Recordings.
Posted by Sander van den Driesche
