Scott Kelly

As a vocalist and guitarist in the foundational experimental metal band Neurosis, Scott Kelly's influence has been deep and far-reaching, even outside the realm of heavy music, and that's probably because Neurosis wasn't originally part of a metal scene. The band's members came up through hardcore and pushed that sound...

By Tom Murphy

November 29, 2011

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As a vocalist and guitarist in the foundational experimental metal band Neurosis, Scott Kelly's influence has been deep and far-reaching, even outside the realm of heavy music, and that's probably because Neurosis wasn't originally part of a metal scene. The band's members came up through hardcore and pushed that sound in more adventurous directions without losing any of the visceral intensity of the genre. Plus, the subject matter found on every Neurosis album is more in line with the likes of Swans and Einstürzende Neubauten in fusing the personal with the mythical. As a solo performer, Kelly has often opted for playing acoustic guitar instead of the seething yet haunting electric style he helped pioneer. But this doesn't exactly mean he's mellowed out. Rather, it proves Kelly can electrify with inspired simplicity, as well.

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Tom Murphy is a writer, visual artist and musician from Aurora, Colorado. He was a prolific music writer for Westword and a documenter of the Denver music scene.

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