Enemy of the Sun

For the band, see Enemy of the Sun (band).

Enemy of the Sun
Studio album by Neurosis
Released	August 17, 1993
Genre	Sludge metal[1] industrial metal[2] post-metal[1] post-hardcore[3]
Length	72:21 61:41 (2010 reissue)
Label	Alternative Tentacles
Producer	Neurosis
Neurosis chronology
Souls at Zero (1992) Enemy of the Sun (1993) Through Silver in Blood (1996)
Reissue artwork

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
About.com	[4]
AllMusic	[5]
Rock Hard	[6]

Enemy of the Sun is the fourth studio album by American post-metal band Neurosis. It was originally released on Alternative Tentacles in 1993 and later reissued on Neurot Recordings in 1999. The album was reissued with new cover artwork on April 20, 2010.^[7] On February 14, 2012, a fully remastered version was released on vinyl via Relapse Records.^[8]

The album opens with a sample from the movie adaptation of The Sheltering Sky. Coincidentally, the album Scenes from the Second Storey by The God Machine, released in the same year as Enemy of the Sun, opens with the same sample.

The cover artwork depicts a statue from Toddington Manor in Gloucestershire, England – the subject is unknown but is most likely Saint Thomas Becket. Simon Marsden is the original photographer.^[9]

This album is the last Neurosis album to feature Simon McIlroy.

The track "Cleanse" runs for 26:35 on the original CD. On the 1999 and 2010 reissues, it was edited down to 15:54.

An episode of the TV series Home Improvement had the character Mark (played by Taran Noah Smith) wearing a T-shirt that featured the album.^[10]

Track listing

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Lost"	9:41
2.	"Raze the Stray"	8:42
3.	"Burning Flesh in Year of Pig"	1:37
4.	"Cold Ascending"	3:44
5.	"Lexicon"	6:32
6.	"Enemy of the Sun"	7:33
7.	"The Time of the Beasts"	7:59
8.	"Cleanse"	26:35
Total length:		72:21

Bonus tracks

No.	Title	Length
9.	"Takeahnase" (demo version)	7:44
10.	"Cleanse II" (live in Oberhausen)	6:45

Personnel

Neurosis

• Scott Kelly − guitar, vocals
• Steve Von Till − guitar, vocals
• Dave Edwardson − bass, backing vocals
• Simon McIlroy − keyboards, tapes, samples
• Jason Roeder − drums
• Pete Inc. − Live Visual Media

Additional musicians

• Kris Force – violin
• Erika Little – voice
• Paul Lew – horn

Technical personnel

• Neurosis − production
• Billy Anderson − engineering, mixing
• George Horn − mastering
• Michael Whitney − artwork, cover design

Release history

Region	Date	Label	Format
Worldwide	August 17, 1993	Alternative Tentacles	CD
Worldwide reissue	1999	Neurot Recordings	CD
	August 20, 2010	Neurot Recordings	CD, digital
	February 14, 2012	Relapse Records	LP

References

1. Heilman, Maxwell (September 26, 2016). "Neurosis brings post-metal back to its roots". The Chimes. Retrieved January 5, 2017.
2. Gardner, Noel (October 8, 2016). "Neurosis – Fires Within Fires". The Quietus. Retrieved January 5, 2017.
3. Shteamer, Hank (October 29, 2012). "Neurosis: Honor Found in Decay | Album Reviews". Pitchfork. Retrieved October 29, 2012.
4. Pacheco, George. "Neurosis – 'Enemy Of The Sun'". About.com. Archived from the original on January 17, 2013. Retrieved December 17, 2012.
5. Raggett, Ned. "Enemy of the Sun – Neurosis". AllMusic. Retrieved December 17, 2012.
6. Jaedike, Jan. "NEUROSIS - Enemy Of The Sun". Rock Hard. Retrieved December 9, 2022.
7. "Neurosis' 'Enemy Of The Sun' To Be Reissued With New Artwork". Blabbermouth.net. May 26, 2012. Archived from the original on February 21, 2013. Retrieved December 17, 2012.
8. "Neurosis: Classic Albums To Be Reissued On Deluxe Vinyl". Blabbermouth.net. December 6, 2011. Archived from the original on February 21, 2013. Retrieved December 17, 2012.
9. "Gargoyle of Thomas a Becket (c.1118-1170 – Simon Marsden as art print or hand painted oil". www.myartprints.co.uk. Archived from the original on October 20, 2020.
10. "Home Improvement: Neurosis". www.tshirtsonscreen.com/. January 19, 2016. Retrieved March 25, 2023.