I love Neurosis. They have a unique sound and are as consistent as they come. Their sound has evolved some over the years and gotten more refined and also more epic. The last Neurosis album 2012’s “Honor Found In Decay” was flat out amazing, so I had high expectations going into this one.

“Fires Within Fires” is another great Neurosis record. They do what they do, and do it well. The riffs are heavy, the vocals are tortured and the atmosphere is positively creepy at times. It’s Neurosis. “Bending Light” is a great opening track that takes it’s time building and building. The first part is quite atmospheric but still heavy. The vocals don’t even start until the mid-point of the track!

“A Shadow Memory” starts with a great melodic riff but the song switches to a meaty riff before revisiting the original riff. This is why I fucking love this band. These dynamics make them great. “Broken Ground” has some Tom Waits-like vocals which just adds to the overall sorrow and bleakness of the track. “Fire is the End Lesson” has the sludgy brutality the band are known for while “Reach” is just flat out epic even for Neurosis!

I’m not going to try to convert new fans for this band. If you don’t know Neurosis, “Fires Within Fires” is as good of a representation of them as any of their (newer) albums. If you are a fan of this band, “Fire Within Fires” is an essential addition to Neurosis’ amazing discography.

Rating: 9/10

Tracklist:
1. Bending Light
2. A Shadow Memory
3. Fire Is The End Lesson
4. Broken Ground
5. Reach

Label: Neurot Recordings