“The dissonance is deafening. We are torn wide open.”
Shot on 30th October, 2026. Photography and words by Kyle Ostrander. Contact before any use.
There’s a good reason metal icons Neurosis have been a household name in the worlds of sludge and post-metal for nearly 40 years. With an already solid discography under their belt, the group dropped another impressive album, An Undying Love for a Burning World, earlier this year, their first new record in a decade. And it’s not just the records still hitting the mark. The group’s live show packs the kind of punch every new band should be taking notes on. This was on full display at Warsaw in Brooklyn this past Friday, the first of three sold-out nights in NYC. Joining them on Friday were local noise rock act Uniform.
Uniform
The stage was set up with two drum kits and two bass rigs bookmarking both ends of the stage, as Uniform’s guitarist and vocalist took their places at the center. The stage was in shadows except for a single spotlight shining on the vocalist’s face from below. The dim and dire lighting gave the group’s performance an intimate DIY basement show feel, perfectly accenting the heavy chords and atonal leads that filled the space. The ensemble of dual bassists and drummers created a low-end sound wave that shook the crowd, while their singer intensely gripped the mic, delivering screaming vocals. The 45-minute set oscillated between slower droning songs, and faster-paced more traditional metal tracks, all while the crowd bobbed their heads in admiration.
Neurosis
By the time the stage was being set for Neurosis the venue was packed shoulder-to-shoulder with fans, leaving barely enough space to navigate through the dense crowd. “Thank you for coming back…we needed you!” screamed an excited fan as the musicians took the stage. All was dark except for a single spotlight highlighting singer/guitarist Steve Von Till, who started the show with “We Are Torn Wide Open”, a mostly acapella intro track from their new album. “We are torn wide open! We are torn wide open! We are torn wide open!” chanted the singer to start as the entire audience soon joined in. The second the last verse was finished, the rest of the group immediately dove full-force into the pounding riff of “Mirror Deep”, drenching the room in a sweet ferocity of distortion and noise. The stage lit up in orange lights, revealing the musicians diving into powerstances and thrashing their instruments overhead with the music’s dynamics.
The 90-minute set delivered six tracks from An Undying Love for a Burning World, with the rest of the cuts spanning nearly the entirety of the band’s career. Regardless of whether a song was a long-time classic or a newer-favorite, each was performed with a reverberating sonic force that shook the room and left fans headbanging all night. Every musician delivered their parts with surgical precision, while still finding moments to connect with the crowd and each other. The connection between the musicians shined brightest when Steve Von Till would trade vocal responsibilities with fellow guitarist/vocalist, the legendary Aaron Turner (Isis, Old Man Gloom, Sumac), who recently joined the lineup. “This is the best show I’ve seen in years! Like seriously, I knew it would be good, but this is incredible!” exclaimed a fan to their friend between songs.
Neurosis continue their run of U.S. shows through early January, before heading overseas in the spring and summer for a handful of dates, including appearances at Roadburn, Roskilde, and ArcTanGent festivals. The full list of dates can be found on their website.