An Undying Love for a Burning World by Neurosis, 2026 album.
Twelfth studio album by the American post-metal band, a record that marks a sensational and unexpected return after ten years off since the previous “Fires Within Fires” from 2016. A true artistic rebirth for the group.
Let’s look at a bit of the band’s history.
Neurosis, the iconic band from Oakland, California, were formed in 1985 by Scott Kelly, Dave Edwardson and Jason Roeder. Initially a hardcore punk collective, the band evolved with the arrival of Steve Von Till on guitar and Noah Landis on keyboards, gradually leaving traditional punk behind to explore slower, darker sounds.
In the ’90s, with landmark albums such as “Souls at Zero” (1992), “Through Silver in Blood” (1996) and “Times of Grace” (1999), Neurosis became true pioneers of post-metal. Their innovative sound blends the power of sludge metal with psychedelic and folk elements, industrial noise and sampling, creating a unique, immersive sonic experience. Their live shows, enhanced by apocalyptic visuals and video projections, became full-on multimedia spectacles.
The birth of this new album was marked by difficult personal events and major changes within the band. In 2019, longtime co-founder Scott Kelly permanently left the group after serious domestic issues.
This led Neurosis into a long period of pause and reflection. For this new phase, core members Steve Von Till, Jason Roeder, Dave Edwardson and Noah Landis enthusiastically welcomed Aaron Turner, a leading figure in post-metal, already frontman of Isis and Sumac, as the new guitarist and vocalist.
Turner fit in perfectly, actively contributing to the songwriting with his creativity and talent. The album was recorded by producer Scott Evans in a fast process that resulted in an extremely raw sound.
The album, speaks of spiritual and emotional survival in a difficult time, both globally and personally. The title itself sets, on one side, the image of a world on fire, a symbol of the environmental and geopolitical crises around us; on the other, the strength of love, which endures despite everything.
This “burning world” also represents the hardships the band faced after Scott Kelly’s departure, a time of great change and pain. The “undying love,” instead, is the choice not to give up, to keep believing in empathy, love and the beauty of art, even when everything seems to fall apart.
The album doesn’t stick to pure violence, but also plays with tension and silence. Noah Landis has a key role, adding spectral synthesizers, industrial noises and samples that recall the darker Pink Floyd. Many tracks unfold through long, ritual crescendos, like the closing suite “Last Light” (17 minutes), which gradually turns into an industrial escalation.
Aaron Turner, with his deep, cavernous and abstract growl, pairs perfectly with Steve Von Till’s desperate screams. Alternating with these two voices are bassist Dave Edwardson’s deep choruses and ghostly spoken word, creating a true tragic chorus that perfectly tells the story of the world’s collapse.
“An Undying Love for a Burning World” is an album that grabs you right away, with its emotional charge and bold sonic choices. There are moments that struck me in particular.
The album’s opening is truly unforgettable for the intense emotional weight it conveys, a goosebump-inducing start. The instrumental introduction “We Are Torn Wide Open” builds an almost cinematic tension. The industrial drones and tribal tolls give a sense of emptiness and looming danger.
In “Mirror Deep,” halfway through the track, the music slows down, almost stops, creating a suspended atmosphere, then explodes into a section of incredible heaviness. It’s right at this moment that Aaron Turner screams the line “True wealth between our fingers slip, as we count the dead”. A passage that fuses the melancholic force of post-metal with a shattering impact. Noah Landis’s synths take the track to near-spatial levels.
Then there’s “Blind”: the central instrumental section opens into stretched, hypnotic dynamics, recalling the more psychedelic Pink Floyd and krautrock, slowing the pace and leaving room for the music. The following contrast, between clean vocals and powerful growls over an imposing wall of guitars, is one of the album’s most intense and surprising passages.
“Seething and Scattered” has direct, syncopated riffs full of tension, spilling into an unexpected rhythmic turn. Jason Roeder’s drumming creates an almost tribal atmosphere before the track heads into spectacular progressions.
Finally, the ending of “Last Light” (a 17-minute suite), a colossal suite that closes with the desperate, anguished cry “What have we done?”, which fades into a loop of industrial noise, drones and feedback.
This album is undoubtedly a masterpiece. Turner didn’t just replace Scott Kelly; he became a true creative engine, bringing his deep growl and his unique approach. It’s not a nostalgia move, but a work that shows how Neurosis are still the kings of post-metal, able to reinvent themselves and rise even from major personal hardships.
My Version
Label: Neurot Recordings – NR138
Support: 2 x Vinile, LP, Album, Repress, Coke Bottle Smoke
Country: USA & Europe
Release: 19 giu 2026
Tracklist
A1 We Are Torn Wide Open
A2 Mirror Deep
A3 First Red Rays
B4 Blind
B5 Seething And Scattered
C6 Untethered
C7 In The Waiting Hours
D8 Last Light
Lineup
Art Direction – Neurosis
Band [Neurosis Is:], Bass, Vocals – Dave Edwardson
Band [Neurosis Is:], Drums – Jason Roeder
Band [Neurosis Is:], Guitar, Vocals – Aaron Turner, Steve Von Till
Band [Neurosis Is:], Synthesizer [Synths], Samples, Vocals – Noah Landis
Layout, Drawing [Drawings], Design Concept [Collage] – Aaron Turner
Mastered By – Matthew Barnhart
Recorded By [Additional Recording] – Randall Dunn (tracce: D8)
Recorded By, Mixed By – Scott Evans
