The history of Neurosis is entwined with that of Roadburn. Aside from having been enormous fans of their output for as long as any of us can remember, they have graced us with their presence – as a band and with other associated projects – multiple times over the last couple of decades. All bands that perform at Roadburn are woven into the festival’s history, but few have the presence and power to help truly define Roadburn. Neurosis is unquestionably such a band.
Their Roadburn debut came in 2007 – a performance that was immortalised in a Live At Roadburn album that was later released to commemorate their 25th anniversary – followed by a return in 2009 where they curated their own section of the festival called Beyond The Pale. Their defining Roadburn moment – to date – is the two-night thirtieth anniversary performances in 2016; a pair of career spanning shows that truly highlighted why Neurosis were such a special band in the Roadburn universe.
Such an appearance is a tough act to follow for any artist at Roadburn; when you have showcased so much of your creative output in a way that deftly demonstrates not only your artistic vision but the impact that your work has had on the environment around it – artists, peers, audience alike – what could possibly come next? In the case of Neurosis, a couple of years after their last Roadburn appearance, they went on a prolonged hiatus, with a future that looked uncertain at best.
In a move that few expected but many had yearned for, Neurosis returned in early 2026. With an album that not only heralded a new era of the band – complete with the addition of Aaron Turner, also no stranger to the Roadburn stage – they also signaled that they were capable of delivering the emotionally charged, expansive, thought-provoking heaviness that has kept them close to our hearts, even in their absence. An Undying Love For A Burning World is an act of resistance, a sign of resilience, a refusal to shy away with a whimper. With a new internal structure, a new sonic palette from which to draw, and a newly invigorated impetus to embrace this mode of channeling their creative talents – Neurosis are back.
An Undying Love For A Burning World rightfully claims a spot in the upper echelons of a back catalogue that has been a conduit for the catharsis of generations of heavy music fans. Once the surprise of their return had ebbed away, the vastness, the density and the sheer emotional heft of the record left us reeling. 2026 has seen Neurosis firmly back at the top of their game, a commanding, generous and welcoming presence.
And, soon, they will be back at Roadburn. Having just performed their first show in almost seven years at Fire In The Mountains, we’re absolutely over the moon to be able to announce that Neurosis will return to Roadburn in 2027. They will perform two sets, the details of which will be revealed further down the line.
Steve Von Till comments: “There are few places in the world that feel like home to our music the way Roadburn does; where we are in the company of kindred spirits who share our endless obsession for emotional, genre defying, independent heavy music. Roadburn is a place where the fourth wall, that imaginary boundary between artists and audience, dissolves as we all become one: a community that gathers together to honor and celebrate the healing power of intense dark music as a way to stay sane in an insane world. Now, as we have re-emerged from the darkness with the album of our lives, we can’t imagine making our return to Europe in any place other than Roadburn.”
From our perspective too, it is hard to imagine Neurosis making their live return in Europe anywhere other than here with us – call us biased, but this feels right. Life is not the same as it was the last time Neurosis had their name on a Roadburn poster – many things have changed in the intervening years, here in this cocoon of heavy music, as well as out there in the world – but knowing that this bond between us remains is a source of comfort and a genuine reason to celebrate.
