Review by Adam M on November 5, 2012.

The new Neurosis "Honor Found In Decay" marks a return to the glorious sound that has been a foundation for all metal with atmospheric and post-metal elements. There is a combination of the more raw powerful and refined sound of the last album "Given To The Rising" with some more serene moments from albums like "A Sun That Never Sets" to be found here. The storming 'At The Well' is an early highlight and features a nice buildup with shouting of the phrase “in a shadow world” that recalls the likes of their older albums.

The peaks and valleys on the album are very noticeably defined as with their other material. There are moments of cascading riffs combined with gentler moments to make for a very dynamic and interesting album overall. The power of the band is still present, but this release doesn’t have quite as many memorable moments as some of absolute best albums. There are quality tracks, but they don’t have quite the superlative quality to make them the band’s best. Still, the music here is still head and shoulders above the current metal scene’s output. For anyone looking to become entranced with a combination of might and beauty, "Honor Found In Decay" is a stellar showing for a band that will hopefully continue to put out more great material for at least a few more years in the future.

The legendary brand of post-metal has been given a much needed return to form with the new Neurosis output and I for one couldn’t be gladder to have them back. This material is standout for metal this season and an album that fans won’t want to miss.

Categorical Rating Breakdown

Musicianship: 9.5
Atmosphere: 9
Production: 9
Originality: 8.5
Overall: 8.9

Rating: 8.9 out of 10