Given to the Rising
NEUROSIS have long been one of my favorite bands. Their combination of sludge, prog, and post-metal have set them on a bar high above the other bands in the metal scene these days. This is why they’ve been around for nearly 22 years. Given to the Rising is a poignant, yet visceral album that hits on all cylinders and makes me think that this could be the album of the year for 2007.
Steve Von Till has never recorded better vocals than what is present on the new album. The best example of this can be heard on my favorite track from the album, “To The Wind”. Von Till provides a shockingly impressive feat when he holds his last note of the song for a vein-bursting 28 seconds. Other favorites on this album are “At the End of the Road,” “Hidden Faces,” and “Distill (Watching the Swarm)”.
I don’t have to praise Neurosis in this review, as anyone who likes metal knows how important this band is. They don’t disappoint with Given to the Rising either. I will, however, quote All Music because I feel that they describe the album best: “There is an aggression here that seems to have been kept in restraint for a few years and has returned now to claim its proper place.”
