The internal spirit conflicting with the mind and body. Nature is against you. You've tormented her for too long. The apocalypse has been here since the dawn of man. Growing, surging, poking and proding. The evolution of man is really the de-evolution of the spirit. Believe it or not earth will win. As do all things in nature. Global warming. Wars. Poverty. Riches. Corporate annihilation of mankind. If we all fall tomorrow the world (and the universe) will still be here.Neurosis is a hard band to define. For some hard to listen. For others hard to contemplate. They started as a hardcore band in the late 80s Oakland CA. Their first proper release came with Pain of Mind. A real hardcore record that, even then, showed the struggle of survival. Even for the time it had more dynamics than your standard hardcore record. They did a couple of 7"s and expanded to create Word As Law.Prior to this they were a standard 4 piece (2 guitars, bass and drums). Now they added something appalling. Keyboards. The hardcore community lambasted them. At first. This album is now considered an epic in crust proportions. It is a very good crust record. But that was only the beginning.By the time Souls At Zero and Enemy of the Sun came out on Alternative Tentacles they started to explore space, depth and length. The keyboard was used more as a vehicle to move the mind. Subtleties and dynamics were the focus as opposed to notes. The 2-3 minute song length was gone. The purist hardcore community was not digging it. But those without blinders on was starting to see a band come into their own. It wasn't metal, it wasn't hardcore or punk. It was heavy and deep. In the purest form. The only other band I could compare them to is the Swans. When they completed Through Silver In Blood they were becoming masters of their craft. People were noticing. They started to incorporate visuals into their darkened live journeys. They rarely spoke. It was like watching a movie from start to finish without blinking. Only taking short breathes just to live. Songs and visuals melded from beginning to end. You witnessed a journey of the inside to the out. These were not shows where you would cheer for an encore because you were usually speechless. As they continued on the exploration grew. In all areas. If you appreciate what they are doing than it is really hard to pick a bad album. Each one is a different mood. A different challenge. It is hard to listen casually. Sometimes you can't listen. It may take you somewhere you do not want to be at the moment.With their latest release, Given to the Rising, they are returning more to the days of Through Silver In Blood. Kind of. They are doing more shows (which has become rarer since the Times of Grace tour). The attack is more reflective. Jagged rocks falling for no reason from above. Wind pushing you away. Muscles tightening trying to walk to the security of what you thought was your sanctuary (home, loved ones, whatever you decide that is).It isn't heavy.It isn't angry.It is reality.And now you have to survive in it.