Steve Von Till "A Life Unto Itself"

The title doesn’t quite say it all, but it says most of it: A Life Unto Itself is as much the name of Steve Von Till’s fourth solo album as it is the perfect description for the 25-plus years he’s spent forging, with his brothers, the incomparable musical force that is Neurosis—not to mention the numerous sonic tapestries he’s woven with Tribes Of Neurot and under his alter ego Harvestman. You can hear that deep musical history, and all the life experience that goes with it, on A Life Unto Itself. As with his previous solo works, it’s Von Till’s weathered, distinctive voice and sparse acoustic guitar that provide the foundation. Though mostly quiet and subdued, these songs still manage to evoke vast emotional power as Von Till’s raspy whisper dives deeply inward and speaks of visions, memories, and self-reflection in a way that feels both seasoned and exposed. While his last couple of albums took on a more traditional approach with respectful nods toward Americana and Celtic ballads, A