Relapse Records Turns 25: Their 10 Most Groundbreaking Releases
A Return To The Roots Of Relapse Records
1. Neurosis – Through Silver In Blood (1996)
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Entirely unshackling themselves from convenient genre-description, Neurosis tapped into unparalleled levels of artistic endeavour on Through Silver In Blood and subsequently found themselves contorting Industrial Metal, Sludge Metal, Avant-Garde Metal and Hardcore Punk into ever more twisted shapes.
Bleak and cynical, Neurosis’ monolithically heavy riffing and layers of ear-annihilating distortion may drone and hum like the most unpalatable white noise but it’s their hypnotically tribal atmosphere that reaps the most rewards.
Very few bands can rival the densely unforgiving and yet subtly haunting dynamics Neurosis channeled nearly 20 years ago and Through Silver In Blood is still mandatory listening.
Music this powerful and so perfectly executed comes around once a generation (if you’re lucky) and Neurosis’, and therefore Relapse Records, defining moment is Through Silver In Blood; one of the greatest Post-Metal albums ever released.
Hi Chris,
Interesting list, to say the least. “Through Silver in Blood” as #1 is spot-on. That album is one the heaviest albums of all time. And it was so, so groundbreaking. And still is. Neurosis absolutely rules. I can’t say I agree with all your picks (High on Fire?), but your passion is obvious, so I’ll drink to that. But man, where is “Using Sickness as a Hero” by Human Remains? That’s a forgotten classic for sure. Thanks for the great read.
Stéphane Pageau
Hey man, thanks for reading and commenting. “Using Sickness As A Hero” is a unique album I’ll say that much, look for it in a future article!
I like this list. It is a good list. Thank you.
….and thank you for reading \m/
Thanks, man.