photos by Jon Wiederhorn
When we heard Neurosis were headlining a show at the Brooklyn Masonic Temple, all we could think of was the surreal orgy scene in Stanley Kubrick's "Eyes Wide Shut." Unfortunately, there were no writhing naked bodies or ritual sacrifices on the second of two nights of Neurosis and Mastodon shows, however there was plenty of worship at the altar of mystical, mesmerizing metal.
Mastodon opened the event with a thunderous set largely drawn from the colossal Blood Mountain, but which also featuring songs from Leviathan and Remission. As always, the guitar interplay between Brent Hinds and Bill Kelliher was dynamic, however the temple acoustics were obviously designed for preaching -- and maybe moaning and grunting -- not the roar of metallic instrumentation, and as a result the complexities of Mastodon's music were somewhat lost in the din of the hall.
The same can sort of be said for Neurosis, however there was enough sonic variation in their set -- enough transitions between droning, crashing chords and eerie, ambient flourishes -- t0 make the sound problems less of a distraction. The band opened with the title track from their most recent album Given to the Rising, and then stormed through eight more visceral, darkly psychedelic songs, pausing for none of the promotional excesses ("How, you all doin' tonight!) that overload most metal shows.
As powerful as performances of "Distill (Watching the Swarm")," "At the End of the Road" and set closer "The Doorway" -- which ended in a lengthy shower of swarming feedback and tumbling drums -- were, the stage presentation was almost as captivating. Throughout the show, Neurosis were entirely lit by film projections on a circular screen -- including footage of burning crosses, wide open eyes, blooming flowers and decaying animals -- which significantly contributed to the cinematic, sometimes nightmarish, vibe of the show.
The only drawback to the unconventional lighting was the severe challenge it posed to photographers, who where strictly prohibited from using a flash since the concert was being filmed. And because Masonic worshipers don't seem to believe in photo pits, and the temple was filled to capacity, we were left clicking away from a seat our the shuddering balcony. But hell, we did our best.
And as we exited, our heads still vibrating, we walked by the social calendar listings and smiled as we saw the date for Neurosis and Masodon flanked by days booked for children's birthdays, weddings and other social engagements. Sadly, there were no orgies scheduled. Maybe next time.
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