Neurosis and Jarboe - s/t
(Neurot)
From the panting, chanting deathwish of the opening track, "Within" (sample lyric: "If God wants to take me, he will"), it's clear that the former vocalist of one of the heaviest, gloomiest and doomiest bands of all time (Swans) is perfectly suited for the metallic crunch of San Francisco's Neurosis. "His Last Words" highlights the gothic Wagnerian pomp and circumstance of much of Neurosis' rock show (perhaps Godflesh is a good reference point for those unfamiliar with their previous efforts), and Jarboe does a credible Nina Hagen impersonation on the equally dark "Taker."
The collaboration should appeal to fans of the more melodic, cerebral aspect of the Goth metal scene. And while Jarboe's histrionics on tracks such as "Receive" and, most particularly, "Erase" (wherein her strangulated banshee wailing is just about the most ferocious speaker-shredding shreik this side of John Lennon's primal-scream therapy on "Well, Well, Well") may require some major attitude adjustment, your patience will be richly rewarded.
Not as depressingly suicidal as Swans (although "Seizure," the final 121/2 minute duet between Jarboe and Neurosis mainman Steve Von Till, comes damn close), nor as comic-book silly as Ministry, Nine Inch Nails or White Zombie, this is a welcome addition to both artists' discographies and will appeal to the Gothic punks, ambient metalheads, and Batcave dwellers of all ages.
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