Neurosis
Enemy of the Sun

THE REVIEW

"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.