Today, we get a new surprise album that's an actual no-shit surprise. In 2022, Scott Kelly, frontman of the legendary long-running underground metal band Neurosis, admitted to abusing his wife and children and wrote that he's "100% permanently retired from being a professional musician." In response, Kelly's Neurosis bandmates expressed their "disgust and disappointment" with him and said that they'd already parted ways with him in 2019. It was a sad, shitty end for a band that was once a truly inspiring force. But as it turns out, it wasn't the end.
Now, Neurosis have suddenly returned, with Aaron Turner in place of Scott Kelly, and their new album An Undying Love For A Burning World is already out. On their website, they say that it's not a reunion because they never broke up.
Aaron Turner founded the label Hydra Head, and he's been a member of bands like Old Man Gloom, Greymachine, and most recently SUMAC. Most importantly, though, Turner was the frontman of Isis, the pioneering post-metal band who broke up in 2010. (They had that name before the other Isis.) Neurosis and Isis were the twin pillars of a certain ferocious slow-churn metal aesthetic. Back in the day, people used to talk about the "Neur-Isis" sound, and it's back in effect on An Undying Love For A Burning World.
Aaron Turner is now a full member of Neurosis, along with longtime members Steve Von Till, Dave Edwardson, Noah Landis, and Jason Roeder. On their website, Neurosis say that Turner "came straight out of the gate contributing, writing and presenting ideas. His energy matches ours perfectly. It’s as if he was always meant to be there." Here's what Turner says about joining the band:
From the moment I first heard Neurosis over 30 years ago, I felt this was the music my heart and mind had been seeking but not yet heard. Now after many years travelling along various musical paths of my own, the singular sound and spirit embodied by Neurosis continues to speak to the depths of my being. It is an honor and a true pleasure to have been welcomed so warmly into a band that not only shaped my perspective on the limitless possibilities of music — but has lived and exemplified the necessity of upholding creative integrity and camaraderie above all else.
An Undying Love For A Burning World the expansive new hour-long album that ends with the 16-minute epic "Last Light." It's the first Neurosis album since 2016's Fires Within Fires. Neurosis recorded it in Seattle over three weekends this winter, with Scott Evans recording them. I'm listening to it for the first time now and still processing how it feels for this band to be back, but it absolutely sounds like a Neurosis record. Listen below.
Along with the new album, Neurosis have announced their first live show since 2019. Along with Sixteen Horsepower, they will headline Fire In The Mountains, a festival that's coming to Blackfeet Nation in Montana July 23-26. The bill also includes acts like Enslaved, Baroness, Between Two Worlds, Agalloch, Yob, Full Of Hell, Midwife, and Turner's side project Old Man Gloom.
Here's what Steve Von Till says about the festival:
I cannot think of a more appropriate environment for us to return to the stage. Last year’s Fire In The Mountains festival was the most profound music event I have ever been a part of. The weekend took on a healing, cathartic ceremonial nature that is difficult to put into words. Using emotionally heavy music to build community and collectively stare darkness in the eye is something we have always believed in, but using it to directly address the heartbreaking reality of suicide, grief, loss and trauma is taking it to another level.
Neurosis' website mentions "further news" coming in the months ahead. An Undying Love For A Burning World is out now on Neurot Recordings.
