NEUROSIS is back - the story of how they came to be our headliner at FITM ‘26…

Photos Courtesy of Bobby Cochran

NEUROSIS is back. 

This legendary and incomparable band holds a profound place in the heart of Firekeeper Alliance. Long before our work ever had a name, we were young listeners being mesmerized by the depth, weight, and uncompromising spirit of their music. Their fierce independence, undeniable and earth quaking heaviness, and refusal to follow trends helped define what heavy music could be - not only sound, but ceremony.

For decades, they have carried a torch for emotional honesty and creative courage in a way few bands ever have, earning a level of universal respect across the heavy music landscape. And after a nearly seven year slumber, we are deeply humbled and moved that they accepted our invitation to perform at Fire in the Mountains. Their presence is not just a booking, it is a full-circle moment for us and a powerful affirmation of the values that guide our work.

That meaning is made even more personal through Steve Von Till’s service on our Board of Directors. Steve is not only a caring, compassionate, high-character human being - he embodies what NEUROSIS has always meant to us. His life and work reflect the understanding that yes, darkness exists, and no, it does not have to consume us. Through integrity, reflection, community, and art, he demonstrates that confronting heaviness can lead to depth rather than destruction. His leadership within Firekeeper Alliance is a living extension of the spirit that NEUROSIS has carried for decades, and we are honored to walk alongside him and his bandmates in this work.

When Steve first told us that the unthinkable might actually be happening, we were floored. While NEUROSIS has long lived in the minds and spirits of countless music nerds, most of us never imagined we would see the day they would return and create new music again. And not only have they returned, they’ve welcomed another legend in his own right, Aaron Turner, into the fold. Even more unbelievable: they are releasing a new album today. 

As Steve told us plainly, “We just needed to put NEUROSIS on ice for a while, and now we’re back.”

So how did we end up working with Steve Von Till and ultimately get the chance to feature NEUROSIS as the Firekeeper headliner at Fire in the Mountains this year?

I first met Steve about a year and a half ago on a Zoom call arranged by our close mutual friend Alex, who had a feeling Steve might connect with what we were trying to build as Firekeeper was just getting started. It didn’t take long for that instinct to prove right. Steve immediately resonated with our mission and said he wanted to be involved.

Before long, Steve, Alex, and I - along with leadership from the Firekeeper and FITM teams - were meeting in Boulder, CO to connect with Wardruna, as well as the By Norse Music and AISA Management teams, to talk about the next evolution of FITM in its new home in Blackfeet country.

Steve’s humility and openness drew us in immediately. Within hours it felt like we had been friends for years. We would laugh, talk about the future of Firekeeper, and reflect on how protecting our loved ones from suicide felt like the most important work any of us could be doing. We’d nerd out about records, and Steve’s dry, snarky sense of humor would show up as he’d politely yet eloquently chide our music tastes while reminding us that even if we thought we were cool, we probably didn’t know shit about music.

Before long, the Firekeeper nonprofit was up and running as we dove in to work closely with Jeremy, Shannon, Shane, Alex, and Ollie, and the rest of the FITM team to create a special, intentional event. We found we were having to pinch ourselves in the Firekeeper camp. One of our heroes, a living legend, wasn’t just collaborating with us. He was encouraging us, validating what we were trying to do, and helping us feel like we were part of something truly meaningful.

Of course, lingering in the back of our minds the whole time was the question we couldn’t help but ask: would NEUROSIS ever come back?

Steve was understandably guarded when the subject came up. He seemed deeply aware of how much the band meant to people. We tried to be respectful of that history, but every once in a while Steve would offer a hint.

“Yes, I want it to happen,” he told us once. “Will it happen, and with whom? That’s a different question.”

As the months passed, we focused on the work of building Firekeeper. We’re proud of how far we’ve come, but we know we’re only just beginning. Throughout our journey together, Steve has been funny, dedicated, and completely aligned with the spirit of what we’re trying to do. His contributions to our organization have been immense, and we truly wouldn’t be where we are today without him.

Even with everything he has going on; his solo music projects, teaching fourth grade, caring for his wife and family, tending to his land and dogs, and running a record label - we never stopped pestering him about NEUROSIS.

Eventually we started hearing a slightly different tone.

One day Steve said, “I think it could happen.”

Not long after that, he said, “We’re going to do it.”

Then came the update: “Let’s not jinx it… but we’re meeting up to rehearse.”

Our immediate reaction was simple: “Who exactly is meeting up to rehearse?”

The answer:

Steve.
Jason.
Noah.
Dave.
And Aaron fucking Turner.

Of course. Of course that’s the lineup.

Which brings us to now.

We couldn’t be more proud of Steve and the band of brothers that make up NEUROSIS. We know how meaningful this reunion is for them, and we know how much it means to fans all over the world. NEUROSIS has always been one of those rare bands - not only beloved by fans, but revered by the artists who inspired an entire generation of heavy music. The kind of band that musicians across scenes point to and say, that’s the one.

When we realized what was unfolding, our first reaction was simply: Holy shit.

Our second thought was just as immediate: “NEUROSIS needs to be the headlining Firekeeper band at FITM this year!!!”

(Editor’s note: we’re beyond honored to help curate three incredible sets at FITM this year — Full of Hell, YOB, and Neurosis.)

To our absolute delight, these five incredible humans said yes. Steve told us that this special invite even helped the band kick things into high gear specifically so they could release the album in time to play FITM this year. Amazingly, their new record is being released only weeks after mixing. Any later and they would not have been able to pull it off this year. 

There truly are no words to fully describe what this musical resurgence means to us, or how much it means that not only Steve, but the rest of NEUROSIS, believes in the work we’re doing alongside our friends at FITM. We also cannot wait for the world to hear An Undying Love for a Burning World. Take it from us, this new chapter of NEUROSIS absolutely rips.

Our excitement for this record is only eclipsed by the thought of hearing these songs performed live in our backyard at the Backbone of the World this summer.

This final announcement is one we do not take lightly. It represents a lineage of sound and spirit that has shaped the very foundation of the FITM/Firekeeper community.

Friends, it is our profound honor to welcome the final headliner of Fire in the Mountains: NEUROSIS.

Keep the fire burning 🔥