Neurosis

It's a strange thought, calling Neurosis the kind of band suited for an EP, but this short (by Neurosis standards, lots of bands would call it an album) disc takes the best of their apocalyptic, end time, post-everything metal and compresses it down to a brief 39 minutes, including new bonus track "Misgiven," a previously unreleased, feedback-drenched sludger, which is actually refreshing, not devastating like a full-length Neurosis experience. This reissue is pretty cool, serving as a good reminder that back in 2000, Neurosis were completely untouchable ― while they remain that way, they were just transcending back in the new millennium, and that excitement is all over this EP. Describing individual songs is kind of futile and silly (yes, there are "tribal" elements, also known as toms; yes, the songs build and build and build until you feel like you can't handle it anymore; yes, the sounds are atmospheric, brutal and emotionally heavy), so here's what you need to know: metalgaze and post-metal are for wimps. Neurosis were there first and they were untouchable. This EP documents the period of time when we all finally realized these men had risen beyond hardcore, beyond metal and had begun creating great art for life.