The style Neurosis pioneered has been named post-metal, characterised by an "expansive, progressive and often apocalyptic" sound "adding alien sounds, oddball instrumentation and atmospheric depth to viscerally crushing approach" of sludge metal. The band's sound has also been described as experimental/avant-garde metal, doom metal, post-hardcore, industrial metal, drone metal, stoner metal, psychedelic metal, progressive metal, alternative metal and extreme metal, and as employing elements of folk. Steve Huey of AllMusic called it as a blend of industrial, metal, and alternative rock rooted in sludge metal, while Kory Grow of "Rolling Stone" called it a mix of "metal, punk, sludge and avant-garde experiments."