The sudden return of post-metal pioneers Neurosis caught the heavy music world entirely off guard. Following former singer and guitarist Scott Kelly‘s 2022 public admission of severe domestic ab*se, his bandmates strongly condemned his actions, expelled him from the group, and effectively placed the legendary band on an indefinite hiatus. Many fans assumed the group was finished for good.
That narrative completely changed on March 20, when the band surprise-released a brand new studio album, An Undying Love For A Burning World. The record also brought the massive revelation that Aaron Turner, known for his extensive work with Sumac, Old Man Gloom, and the massively influential Isis, had officially stepped in to fill the vacant frontman role.
For longtime fans of the genre, the pairing feels almost preordained. Throughout the 2000s, countless bands attempted to replicate the distinct sonic blueprints laid out by both Neurosis and Isis, to the point where the portmanteau “Neur-Isis” became a common tongue-in-cheek genre descriptor.
In a recent interview with Bandcamp, guitarist and vocalist Steve Von Till and Aaron Turner discussed the band’s rebirth and how the highly anticipated collaboration finally came together.
“We were thinking about how we could reinvent ourselves with the same energy that we reinvented ourselves with when I first joined, when we went from The Word As Law [1990] to Souls At Zero [1992],” Steve Von Till explained. “But we’re no longer young men. What kind of puzzles could we put in front of us to create that level of reinvention when time doesn’t move the same way it used to? It came down to finding the right energy.”
He continued: “Honestly, the only hesitation about Aaron at first was that it seemed so obvious. And we weren’t convinced that he wasn’t too busy with his own work to just want to drop everything and join our dysfunctional old man band.”
When asked about his reaction to the invitation, Aaron Turner noted that their shared history made the transition feel natural, even if the reality of joining one of his biggest influences was initially shocking.
“It’s not like Steve and I had never spoken, and he all of a sudden asked me to join. Our paths became interwoven a long time ago. Numerous projects of mine released stuff on [Neurosis’s label] Neurot. I did some artwork for Neurosis. Neurosis took my old band [Isis] on tour. I don’t know if Steve remembers this, but in the early 2000s, he proposed that I come up to the Bay Area and do some stuff with him and one of the guys from Enablers.”
“This is a relationship of community where everybody is doing stuff with each other constantly, and there are always ideas flowing back and forth,” he added. In that way, it wasn’t surprising to me. I’d had an open dialogue with Steve for many years. At the same time, it was definitely a what-the-f**k moment for me because this is a band that I had been deeply influenced by in many ways, both musically and ideologically.”
According to Steve Von Till, the band was specifically looking for a fresh creative voice rather than a simple stand-in to play old material.
“We’ve always been a collective, and we need the energy. As much as people may think they understand what happens behind the scenes in certain bands, Neurosis has always been collaborative,” he stated.
“This album being a reinvention, we didn’t want the same old s**t. We wanted somebody to come up with new ideas and a fresh approach—to make not only the old stuff their own, but to bring new stuff. All ‘Neur-Isis’ jokes aside, it’s really been what Aaron has done with Sumac, the really unhinged sonic dynamics and mastery of raw emotion, and his unique approach to guitar, that we felt was really going to click with our energy,” he concluded.
When it was announced that Neurosis is back with new album, the group released a collective statement explaining their mindset.
“We need this, perhaps more than ever, and we suspect we are not alone. The trials and tribulations in our personal lives and as a band, combined with simply trying to navigate the insanity of our society, with the stress, anxiety, and isolation that come with it can be excruciating. Add to that the existential confusion and sorrow of the climate crisis and the sixth mass extinction. It is enough to cause you to completely lose your mind if you can’t find release or catharsis. This strange emotionally charged music has always been our method of trying to survive this and this is what we’ve always been singing about. When you have spent a lifetime engaged with these energies and utilizing this form of expression to purge and purify, it feels detrimental to our well-being to let it sit idle and neglected. This was now or never.”
Discussing the seamless integration of their newest member, the veteran act praised his immediate creative impact.
“He came straight out of the gate contributing, writing and presenting ideas. His energy matches ours perfectly. It’s as if he was always meant to be there.”
For the new guitarist and vocalist, joining the iconic post-metal outfit represents the peak of a lifelong artistic connection.
“From the moment I first heard Neurosis over 30 years ago, I felt this was the music my heart and mind had been seeking but not yet heard. Now after many years traveling along various musical paths of my own, the singular sound and spirit embodied by Neurosis continues to speak to the depths of my being. It is an honor and a true pleasure to have been welcomed so warmly into a band that not only shaped my perspective on the limitless possibilities of music – but has lived and exemplified the necessity of upholding creative integrity and camaraderie above all else.”
Alongside the unexpected studio release, the revamped lineup has also been confirmed for a live appearance on the opening night of the Fire In The Mountains festival. The event is set to run from July 23–26 at Red Eagle Campground in East Glacier, Montana.
Guitarist and vocalist Steve Von Till, who is also a board member of the Firekeepers Alliance, the organization behind the event, explained why this setting offers an ideal backdrop for the band’s return to the stage.
“I cannot think of a more appropriate environment for us to return to the stage. Last year’s Fire In The Mountains festival was the most profound music event I have ever been a part of. The weekend took on a healing, cathartic ceremonial nature that is difficult to put into words. Using emotionally heavy music to build community and collectively stare darkness in the eye is something we have always believed in, but using it to directly address the heartbreaking reality of su*cide, grief, loss and trauma is taking it to another level.”
An Undying Love For A Burning World Tracklist:
- “We Are Torn Wide Open“
- “Mirror Deep“
- “First Red Rays“
- “Blind“
- “Seething And Scattered“
- “Untethered“
- “In The Waiting Hours“
- “Last Light“
