In a candid and revealing interview with The Vinyl Guide podcast, Steve Von Till, vocalist and guitarist for the seminal post-metal band NEUROSIS, offered profound insights into the creation of their first new album in a decade, "An Undying Love For A Burning World," released in March 2026 by Neurot Recordings. The LP marks a significant moment for the band, featuring Von Till alongside drummer Jason Roeder, bassist Dave Edwardson, and keyboardist Noah Landis, with the notable addition of Aaron Turner, a musician whose artistic trajectory has long been intertwined with NEUROSIS’s own influential legacy. This resurgence comes after a tumultuous period for the band, including the quiet departure of co-founder Scott Kelly in 2019, a decision shrouded in sensitivity due to allegations of domestic abuse and emotional manipulation.
Von Till spoke frankly about the seven-year hiatus that followed these events, describing the initial uncertainty that permeated the band’s future. "We walked away from it in pretty uncertain circumstances seven years ago and weren’t quite sure if, how, and why to make a return," he stated. The need for distance and introspection was paramount. It wasn’t until the end of 2024 that the four remaining members reconvened, a tentative step to gauge their collective creative spirit. "We missed each other. We missed making sounds," Von Till recalled. The reunion proved to be a powerful catalyst, with the familiar synergy reigniting almost immediately. "As soon as we were in a room together with amps firing and the drums going, it just started happening instantly. So we knew that we had to do something."
The addition of Aaron Turner, a long-time friend and acclaimed artist in his own right (known for his work with SUMAC and the influential ISIS), was a pivotal moment in this creative renaissance. "Early the following year, we had asked Aaron Turner, longtime friend, a great artist in his own right," Von Till explained. "We just had a feeling that he was the guy that was gonna help us complete the puzzle and bring the energy and the assistance in reinventing ourselves without having to explain where we were coming from or anything like that. He just inherently knew." Turner’s integration proved instrumental, facilitating a swift return to songwriting. "And so once he was in, the songs started coming quite quickly."
A Foundation in Shared Struggle and Collective Healing
The genesis of "An Undying Love For A Burning World" is deeply rooted in a personal and collective journey of processing difficult truths and finding a renewed sense of purpose. Von Till’s discussion with The Vinyl Guide delved into the profound impact of the circumstances surrounding Scott Kelly’s departure and the subsequent decision to maintain privacy for the sake of Kelly’s family. This period, as Von Till described, necessitated a significant degree of "ego death" for the band members, many of whom had identified closely with NEUROSIS since their teenage years.
"We didn’t know if maybe our legacy had been tarnished beyond repair. It was just a heartbreaking situation we were coming out with, and embarrassing and humiliating and all those other types of things," Von Till admitted. This introspection allowed the band to re-evaluate their individual identities beyond their shared musical history. "I think there was a positive aspect of internally processing what we are as individuals and human beings without that to lean into or to provide or to define us." The raw, visceral need to create and perform remained potent. "But we missed it. I felt in my body I was missing the roar of the amplifiers behind me. I was missing looking over my left shoulder and seeing Jason smashing those giant drums."
The Catalyst of Community and Purpose
A significant turning point in the band’s decision to move forward and commit to the new album came through an unexpected invitation related to a cause close to Von Till’s heart. Charlie Speicher, a friend and founder of the non-profit organization Firekeeper Alliance, approached the band with a unique request. Firekeeper Alliance is dedicated to providing protection, increasing awareness, and offering mental health services to reduce suicide rates on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation in Montana.
"It wasn’t until a good friend of mine, Charlie Speicher, who started this nonprofit, Firekeeper Alliance, which I serve on the board of, which is a nonprofit – for the listeners, it’s a nonprofit dedicated to providing protection and increasing awareness and mental health services to reduce suicide on the Blackfeet [Indian] Reservation in Montana," Von Till explained. He elaborated on the organization’s mission, highlighting its focus on making mental health services accessible to indigenous communities, integrating traditional healing methods, and recognizing the profound connection between heavy music and the acknowledgment of pain and suffering.
"One of the critical pillars of this group, besides making mental health services applicable to indigenous communities and increasing access and tying it to traditional methods of healing and connection, but utilizing heavy music and recognizing that heavy music has always looked darkness right in the eye," Von Till stated. He articulated how heavy music, by its very nature, confronts difficult emotions, offering both a cathartic outlet for creators and a source of meaning and connection for listeners. "It’s never shied away from pain and suffering. It sees it for what it is and it sits with it, and it provides, one, if you’re creating it, a positive outlet, to express those emotions we can’t always name. Two, as listeners and fans, we all know what music has done for us in being involved in weird, strange music, whether it’s just as a listener or wanting to start a fanzine or a podcast, it provides meaning, it provides connection, it provides a way to maybe get us through some of those dark moments."
A Performance with Profound Significance
Speicher’s invitation for NEUROSIS to headline the Fire In The Mountains festival in 2026, an event organized by Firekeeper Alliance, served as a powerful impetus. "And Charlie, who started that Firekeeper Alliance I was telling you about, asked, ‘Is there any chance that NEUROSIS…’ ‘Cause we were friends and he knew about our secret. He didn’t know we were making a record. We didn’t know we were making a record. But he asked, ‘Is there a chance that NEUROSIS could be the Firekeeper Alliance headliner at [the] Fire In The Mountains [festival] next year [2026] to represent our message?’"
This request provided the band with a purpose that transcended their personal desires. "And that gave us that – pun intended, it lit the fire that got us to actually book studio time the next day after we had that conversation, and to make it happen over the next few months, even though we weren’t really ready and didn’t have it finished, but we saw the skeleton, and we realized that this had to be the way. This was the way we were gonna do it." Von Till emphasized the profound impact of seeing their music through the lens of its potential to offer solace and strength to others, particularly within indigenous communities facing significant mental health challenges.
"But that new lens was one of responsibility. Maybe if our music could actually help somebody get through a moment that they might not be able to take back, then maybe if we actually have this gift that can reach down into the nether world of sound and pull out something that might be of help to somebody… Of course it’s gonna help us. It’s always been helpful for us to purge emotionally this way and to channel our emotions and feelings this way. But seeing it as a responsibility was different."
The Album’s Genesis and Recording Process
"An Undying Love For A Burning World" was meticulously crafted, with recording sessions taking place over three weekends last winter at Studio Litho in Seattle. The studio, known for its work with notable acts like KOWLOON WALLED CITY, SUMAC, and GREAT FALLS, provided a fitting environment for the band’s intense creative process. The mixing was completed in a swift three-day period, just six weeks prior to the album’s release, at Scott Evans’s Antisleep Audio in Oakland. This compressed timeline underscores the urgency and focused intent behind the project.
A Resumed Touring Schedule with Deep Roots
Following the album’s release, NEUROSIS embarked on a series of highly anticipated live performances, beginning with their first show in seven years on July 25th. This significant return to the stage took place on the traditional lands of the Blackfeet Nation in Montana, a poignant nod to the inspiration and impetus behind their comeback, as part of the aforementioned Fire In The Mountains festival, by special invitation of Firekeeper Alliance.
The band’s resurgence continues with an invitation to perform at Hellbender by The Orange Peel in Asheville, North Carolina, on September 5th. This festival appearance places them alongside esteemed artists such as ACID BATH, MELVINS, and KYLESA, further cementing their place within the heavy music landscape. Furthermore, NEUROSIS is set to play two highly significant "homecoming" shows at the historic Fillmore in San Francisco on October 16th and October 17th. These dates mark a symbolic return to the Bay Area, the region where the band’s foundational journey began, offering a full-circle moment for both the musicians and their long-standing fanbase. The band has indicated that additional live performance announcements are expected in the coming weeks, signaling a sustained commitment to their renewed creative output.
Broader Implications and Artistic Evolution
The reemergence of NEUROSIS with "An Undying Love For A Burning World" represents more than just the release of new music; it signifies a profound evolution for a band that has consistently pushed the boundaries of sonic expression. Their journey through personal adversity and their embrace of a mission larger than themselves have infused their latest work with a palpable sense of gravitas and purpose. The integration of Aaron Turner and the thematic resonance with the work of Firekeeper Alliance suggest a band that is not only looking inward to explore the depths of human experience but also outward to connect with and contribute to the well-being of communities.
The decision to address the complexities of their past, while difficult, has seemingly unlocked a new level of authenticity and resilience. By confronting their history and re-establishing their creative core with a renewed focus on shared purpose, NEUROSIS has demonstrated a capacity for growth and adaptation that is rare in long-standing musical entities. Their return to the live stage, particularly their performance on the Blackfeet Nation, underscores a commitment to engaging with their music in a context that acknowledges its power to heal and unite. As they continue to tour and connect with audiences, the implications of "An Undying Love For A Burning World" will undoubtedly unfold, offering a potent testament to the enduring power of music to navigate darkness and forge paths toward light.
