Neurosis

Coming together as a straight-up hardcore punk band in the same vein as bands like Amebix and Discharge, Neurosis was formed by Scott Kelly, Dave Edwardson and Jason Roeder, who had previously played together in the band Violent Coercion. After touring and recording for two years, the band released their debut album “Pain of Mind” in 1987, but the Neurosis that we know today wouldn't start to take shape until the release of their second album “The Word As Law” in 1990. The album was made after a second guitarist and a sample/synth player had been added in the form of Steve Von Till and Simon McIlroy respectively, and as a result, the band began to expand their sound.

This came to a head with the album “Souls At Zero”, whose mix of down-tempo, doom influenced riffing and lush, folk-indebted soundscapes arguably gave birth to post-metal single-handedly. The band's fourth album “Enemy Of The Sun” saw the band sign a record deal with Relapse Records, release their fifth album “Through Silver In Blood” and even play some high profile shows supporting the mighty Pantera. Ever since then, the band have remained one of the most fascinating, esoteric and unmissable metal bands of their generation, the kind of band that can claim to be influenced by Joy Division, Melvins and Phillip K. Dick and then have their records back them up on that. They're artists in the truest sense of the word, and for that, they come highly recommended.