Neurosis: The Word as Law

Reviewing any reissue can be tough, but when that reissue is The Word as Law, despair sets in. Neurosis's second album, The Word as Law is mostly written off as little more than a transition between the hardcore offerings of Pain of Mind and the highly influential, game-changing, Souls at Zero. For those willing to give it another listen—and let's be honest, they should—The Word as Law should emerge as a convincing, energetic, and dark powerhouse of an album. It may not be Neurosis's most popular album, or even their best collection of songs, but it nevertheless extremely powerful and needs rediscovering. For me, the biggest weakness is that it can be uneven but it is so dissonant and daring that the music strikes right at the heart no matter how uneven it seems. Listening to tracks like "Insensitivity" and "To What End?," I find myself nearly overwhelmed by the band's overall power. I never thought "Blisters" made the strongest closer in the world, but I'm learning to appreciate that song's uncanny melancholy. Recommended.

Track Listing:
1. Double-Edged Sword
2. The Choice
3. Obsequious Obsolescence
4. To What End?
5. Tomorrow's Reality
6. Common Inconsistencies
7. Insensitivity
8. Blisters

Added: August 15th 2017
Reviewer: Carl Sederholm
Score:
Related Link: Band Website
Hits: 1694
Language: english

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