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Live Reviews : Neurosis @ The Hi-Fi, Melbourne 08/08/14

By on August 11, 2014

I thought I knew what heavy was. I was wrong. Seeing Neurosis live was an epiphany of sorts; that bands can be as physically crushing as you always suspected, and they can do it with substance and style, not gimmicks like bass drops.

I have an unfortunate habit of discovering bands just after they tour the country, but in what’s possibly a first for me, I managed to get into Neurosis about a year before these shows. Now given how long they’ve been revered by almost the entire international metal community, I know that’s almost as bad. One man in the crowd, so overcome by excitement and beer, screamed “I’ve waited thirty fucking years for this!”, and was audible over the feedback. A lot of people were definitely feeling something I wasn’t. But what I lack in admiration I make up for in ignorant enthusiasm, and I think that made all the difference. I felt no hype. I wasn’t expecting the best. I couldn’t be let down. And I’m happy to report that even someone who doesn’t know the name of every Neurosis song still thought it was one of the best fucking shows he’s ever seen.

Everything, literally everything, about this show was nigh-on perfect. I have never heard a band at the Hi Fi sound so good, which is only unfortunate in that I now know what’s possible and I’ll begrudge any and every band that fails to live up to this experience. They were simultaneously the loudest and clearest band I’ve seen live, and not to mention the heaviest. Whatever that word means to you, I promise you’ll find it epitomized in Neurosis. Whoever mixed the night should be given a Nobel Prize; it was flawless. So were their voices, their guitar tones, their musicianship, their set list – all of it.

Never having been super into doom/stoner/sludge metal, watching Neurosis finally made it click for me. These guys play with light and shade in such a superb way that when they finally kicked into a heavy section, it sounded less like a “cool riff”, and more like a fuel tanker exploding. It sounded mature, as if most other bands are just kids mucking about and this is what dad does at work all day. It was considered and thoughtful without being self-indulgent.

And that’s the other thing I liked; they didn’t need theatrics but there was none of that fucking shoe-gazing nonsense that seems to be popular at the moment. Each note was played with a passion and intensity that puts bands half their age to shame. There was never a dull moment and nary a scripted dance move or crowd interaction in sight.

The show was two unrelenting hours of revelatory music, and that’s coming from someone who previously thought of them as “pretty good.” I can’t begin to imagine how long it’s taking their diehard fans to recover. Even if you’re not the biggest fan, try and catch them on their remaining shows. They’ll answer some questions you didn’t even realize you should be asking.

About

Mitch is a 26 year old vegan, socialist, atheist, utilitarian, reductionist metalhead, stand up comedian and philosophy major that hates labels. When he isn't being politely ignored at dinner parties he's being politely ignored on comedy nights around the country.