The Eye of Every Storm, by Neurosis. Pretentious mini-review incoming.
Shows another side of Neurosis. Their music has always been brutal and punishing, but also captivating in its exploration of our best and worst traits as humans. However, on this album, we see them take a more staid approach, working in long ambient passages and less aggressive arrangements that allow for reflection and thought. This is a recording by a band that was growing older and wiser, and shows an evolution of sounds and ideas they explored in their previous two albums, 1999's Times of Grace (a fantastic album in its own right) and 2001's A Sun That Never Sets, where ambience and breathing space would allow for a different kind of meditation than the dark and angry music in their earlier catalogue. While still overwhelming and forceful at times, The Eye of Every Storm gives us numerous reprieves from the sonic onslaught that Neurosis have been famous for. The production, handled by Steve Albini, is also top notch, and plays to Neurosis' strengths, allowing their sound in the softer passages to ring out with richness and warmth, and alternately hitting us with crunchy distortion when the time is right. This album used to be a little too heady for me. I loved the harder parts, but I found it a bit too relaxed and placid at times; I was younger and wanted the instant gratification. However, on repeated listening, this album unfolds and becomes something beautiful.