Neurosis is truly one of the most unique bands in extreme music today. Rising from hardcore roots in the Bay Area in the late eighties (the debut Pain Of Mind is very much a hardcore album), the first signs of the future sound of the band began to take shape on parts of The Word As Law, and by the time of Souls Of Zero, their transformation into something special was complete. Describing their sound to the uninitiated is a difficult task -- they blend tortured vocals, tribal/rhythmic drumming, slow, dense riffing, and sampling effects to create bleak landscapes of sonic noise. The live shows are quite an experience as well, with intense visual effects that complement the music. They've been virtually in a musical field all to themselves, though in recent times a few bands have emerged with clear Neurosis influences (two fine examples are Cult Of Luna and Isis (6)).