“You lie in the snow. Cold, but not dead…” – ‘Burn’ by Neurosis
Winter is the darkest time of the year. It is marked by death: plants shrivel and fade, weaker animals starve, and the natural world slows to a veritable crawl. Despite this, I find some peace in this process, as I know it is both ephemeral and necessary; a cleansing in preparation for rebirth. Civilization, though it has tried, has not freed us from these natural rhythms.
The music of Neurosis embodies this progression; the passing of the old to make way for the new. They are often described as a force of nature, but in reality they are just a reflection – as is all good art.
The Eye of Every Storm is their most primal album. Stripped of the apocalyptic, layered sound of previous works, ‘Eye’ is open, raw, and human. It is men coming to terms with their place in the natural order of things. Eventually, we all must do this. Winter is the time for such contemplation.
So start a fire, pour yourself a dark ale (currently Pyramid’s “Snow Cap Winter Warmer” for me), and grow a beard while Neurosis guides you through the winter. You’re cold, but not dead.
Check out a YouTube playlist here.
