HONOR FOUND IN DECAY

For their latest sludge metal/post-metal offering, Neurosis offer up more of the same, and if that's all you expect or want from them I guess that's enough. However, those who prize Neurosis because of the adventurous experimentalism on display in Souls at Zero or Through Silver In Blood will struggle to warm to this release. With predictable, by-the-numbers tracks, the band seem to be going through the motions; the doomy riffs are like any other doomy riff produced by any other sludgey doomy band, the vocals feel anonymous and lifeless, and overall the band just seem unutterably tired. It'll tickle the fancy of their more uncritical fans, but I can't help but wonder whether they even want to be Neurosis any more.

"Honor Found in Decay" is the 11th full-length studio album by US sludge/post metal act Neurosis. The album was released though Neurot Records in October 2012. Since the release of "Given to the Rising (2009)", the band members have taken part in various other projects. Especially frontman Scott Kelly has been busy working on both the "Shrinebuilder (2009)" album and his 3rd full-length solo album "The Forgiven Ghost In Me (2012)".

The music on "Honor Found in Decay" is slow paced, heavy/doomy and atmospheric metal. Call it sludge, post-metal or doom, the fact of the matter is that it's dark and brick heavy. The heavy riffs are often layered with atmospheric effects, samples and keyboards. The drums often have a tribal feel to them, which provides them with an adventurous sound. To top it off you got the raw yet not completely non-melodic vocals by Scott Kelly. He is the kind of vocalist that bleeds harsh life experiences and authenticity and his distinct sounding vocals and convincing delivery bring a lot to the music.

The 7 track, 60:47 minutes long album is a dark journey and a leasson in how to create heavy and atmospheric music, that while it is at times hypnotically repetitive (check out the closing minutes of "My Heart for Deliverance"), it's still entertaining, and most of the time the repetition serves a justified atmospheric purpose. The only track on the album I feel is slightly sub par to the rest is "Casting of the Ages". That track just hasn't won me over yet. Fortunately the rest of the tracks are brilliant and as with most of Neurosis output, they grow on you with repeated listens. A track like the above mentioned "My Heart for Deliverance" is simply brilliant, but also "At the Well" and the more experimental "Bleeding the Pigs" score high in my book.

While "Honor Found in Decay" is probably not an album that'll surprise fans of the band, it's still obvious that Neurosis are as creative and determined as ever. They not only write intriguingly structured and damn heavy and atmospheric music, they also deliver that music with a burning passion that's admirable. Releasing consistently great and interesting albums for so many years is not an easy task. So upon conclusion "Honor Found in Decay" is another great album in a long line of great albums, featuring strong songwriting, great musicianship and in this case an organic sound production that suits the music well. A 4 star (80%) rating is deserved.