Named after the infamous scorched earth order by Adolf Hitler, San Fransisco-based Nero Order specialises in delivering the same sort of uncompromising music. Their latest album is called The Tower, so let’s take a closer look.
The music on The Tower can best be described as a culmination of sludge metal, doom metal and a fierce chunk of Neurosis styled post metal. Bands like Swans, Sonic Youth, The Melvins and Bloodiest come into play as well. The music on The Tower is certainly not for the faint hearted. As in true Neurosis fashion most of the songs are way past the ten minute mark.
I must be in a special headspace in order to appreciate this kind of music, but Nero Order certainly has its merits. Compositions like “Signs Of Five”, “Every Pillar And Its Crumbling” and “Levelling” are meticulously crafted post metal gems that will suck you in like there’s no tomorrow. The music has multiple layers. This enhances the adventurous feel of The Tower. The screams and growls adds to the overall desolate and avant-garde feel of the material.
The production of The Tower is quite a story in itself. The band chose to do it without the aid of ProTools and other modern devices. The analog production gives the album a vintage yet somewhat chaotic sound, but it does the music justice.
The Tower by Nero Order is certainly worth your attention when you’re into bands like Neurosis, Bloodiest and The Melvins. Certainly one of the better post metal albums I’ve heard in quite some time.
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