Beginning with "A Sun That Never Sets", Neurosis began incorporating clean vocals and acoustic instrumentation with a growing folk music influence, more noted presence of classical string instruments (which had been used sparsely since "Souls At Zero") as well as slower tempos and a more contemplative sound. Allmusic described this change as an "aesthetic sea change". 2004's "The Eye of Every Storm" expanded upon this change by incorporating more ambient textures into the mix and presenting a softer post-rock oriented sound.