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"Enemy of the Sun" was released in 1993 by Alternative Tentacles; it is the fourth studio album by Neurosis, a group of musicians from Oakland, California. More than one definition has been coined for their original proposal, attempting to cover and explain as best as possible the rich blend of styles and influences incorporated into their sound: post-core, post-hardcore, progressive-sludge, and so on. In reality, it is difficult to channel into a single genre all the sound elements present here: especially in the early works, the ensemble's hardcore roots are clear, which over time have been enriched with components of psychedelia, progressive, metal, doom-metal, folk, dark-ambient, and even classical (the latter particularly noticeable in the keyboard parts; note that the instruments present include two guitars, bass, drums, and three alternating vocals).
The aforementioned album represents a very significant step in the group's musical progress: it is one of the first works in which many of the above elements can already be found, and the sound proposition here is very close to that of later works, even though we are not yet faced with the compositional maturity of a masterpiece like "Through Silver in Blood", perhaps the first work where the group's poetics find full fulfillment. The compositions appear long and stretched out, each composed of various moments, and interspersed with shorter instrumental interludes; an approach to their development is very close to a jam session rather than the traditional song format (this attitude will be widely resumed by others later, particularly Tool and Isis). The rhythm section marks dismal cadences, alternating with more noisily cathartic moments; guitars, vocals, and keyboards construct a sonic wall with intense emotional impact, painting a picture where the predominant tones are those of desolation, frustration, anguish, and anger.
It's difficult not to encounter these feelings when getting carried away by the compelling psychedelia mixed with distorted outbursts of "Lost", "Raze the Stray", the "Cold Ascending"/"Lexicon" duo, or the title track. Special mention goes to the concluding "Cleanse", the track that most deviates from the album's predominant mood: it is half an hour of true "spiritual gathering", marked by the rawness of a few elements, such as percussive rhythms with tribal sounds and a single, continuous, piercing scream that extends until the end.
In conclusion, although it may not be the band's compositional peak, "Enemy of the Sun" represents a crucial step in their musical evolution, already presenting many characteristics that over the years will become more and more pronounced up to their latest works.
Speaking personally, I feel inclined to recommend it to anyone who, perhaps already familiar with Neurosis, wants to better understand their aforementioned musical evolution; for those who have not yet delved into the depths of this project's poetics, I would suggest other works (particularly the aforementioned "Through Silver In Blood" or the more recent "A Sun That Never Sets") as more prominent.
Tracklist Lyrics Samples and Videos
01 Lost (09:41)
My eyes were jades, so close to the centre I could not see
But now they are fixed and glaring at the sacrifice to be made
Now that I'm aware of the cycles I pray that I can deal
Now that I have shown you these cycles I pray that you can feel
In and out of the stray
Taking the bait
Feeling compelled to obey, betray
The isle of await
Running scared from their thought
Thinking I can summon some ancient truth before wrong
Seeking my nature, our nature with fear of being caught
Or have we been like this all along
The dawn of birth gives way to men
Age brings dimness to sight as it must
Death seals the eyelids on darkness once again
Augmentation of the dust
02 Raze the Stray (08:41)
Falling out, crawling out, seeking out
Emerge now and see the
Returning to raze my shrine
Whole seeds no soul
Blind, shall we lay tides shallow
Wise, I stand my ground
I will not stray
Wounding the ego, get up lick your wounds
Mistrust to survive, avoid being burned alive
Biting other people with words
Searching for oblivion, small scares etc permanence
Tearing your whole life to shreds
All that was alive and spontaneous
Fading under the crests of imbalance
Gnaw your teeth into fangs, only to have them lash out at yourself
For what they forever have done to you
Numbness escapes, willing to face the pain
Your rebirth demands a part of you dead
The longing in your heart for transcendence
Something greater than what we've become
04 Cold Ascending (04:35)
Your eyes are stained - you're shining low
Candles burn on your star - slowdive in
Old stain (slide on)
Brain is cold ascending - crawl on bits
Away - firestarter - crow (slide on)
05 Lexicon (05:41)
See - sick - eyes - on - off - broke dry - trigger
Taste - dirt - know - on - off - stand - blood - lied
Water - scar - flesh - on - off - watch - will - used
(You leave more cancers than you have yourself)
(Nothing to resist - they know no other)
06 Enemy of the Sun (07:33)
Torn of this land's disgrace
Too hungry to contain a future
The sun bathes my wounds with a veil of rage
It's rays dyed with the blood of our disrespect
Suffering for the wisdom long forgotten
The sound of bloodletting echoes on the wind
The suicide of drought for a faith destroyed
We starve with pride and glass in our throats
Harvest their return
Those who drive away the sun
The masks lay fallen, sheltered in the dust
Tearing our flesh amongst wolves
See how they run as we laugh
In lunar horizons there is understanding
Harvest their return
Carry my soul to the sun
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Other reviews
By Enkriko
A splendid record: incredibly dark and revolutionary, full of unusual ideas and sounds;
The voice of a soldier in a trench, muttering something to himself, before the whistle calls for a charge.
