Pain of Mind is the debut studio album

Studio album

A studio album is an album made up of tracks recorded in the controlled environment of a recording studio. A studio album contains newly written and recorded or previously unreleased or remixed material, distinguishing itself from a compilation or reissue album of previously recorded material, or...

 from the California

California

California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...

n band Neurosis

Neurosis (band)

Neurosis is a post-metal band, based in Oakland, California. They formed in 1985 as a hardcore punk band, and their sound progressed towards a doom metal style that also included influences from dark ambient and industrial music as well as incorporating elements of folk music...

. The album documents their early stages as a hardcore punk

Hardcore punk

Hardcore punk is an underground music genre that originated in the late 1970s, following the mainstream success of punk rock. Hardcore is generally faster, thicker, and heavier than earlier punk rock. The origin of the term "hardcore punk" is uncertain. The Vancouver-based band D.O.A...

 band in the vein of Discharge

Discharge (band)

Discharge is a British hardcore punk band formed in 1977 by Terry "Tezz" Roberts and Roy "Rainy" Wainwright. They are often considered among one of the very first bands to play hardcore punk, and to mix punk with metal...

, Black Flag

Black Flag (band)

Black Flag was an American punk rock band formed in 1976 in Hermosa Beach, California. The band was established by Greg Ginn, the guitarist, primary songwriter and sole continuous member through multiple personnel changes in the band...

, Amebix

Amebix

Amebix are an English crust punk/heavy metal band. Formed as "The Band with No Name," Amebix's original run was from 1978 to 1987, during which time they released three EPs and two full-length LPs...

, and Die Kreuzen

Die Kreuzen

Die Kreuzen was a rock band from Milwaukee, Wisconsin which was formed in 1981. The name is broken German for "the crosses", and was picked up by the band from a German Bible...

. The 2000 reissue contains a special bonus disc that includes live tracks, live radio tracks, and demo tracks.

It was originally released on Alchemy Records in 1987 and later reissued by Alternative Tentacles

Alternative Tentacles

Alternative Tentacles is an independent record label originally based in San Francisco, California and was established in 1979. It was originally used as the label name by the Dead Kennedys for the self-produced single "California Über Alles", and after realizing the potential for an independent...

 in 1994 and by Neurot Recordings

Neurot Recordings

Neurot Recordings is an independent American record label founded by members of Neurosis and Tribes of Neurot. The label was founded to release the side projects of Neurosis and its members. It has since expanded to a fully functioning label, releasing music from artists...

 in 2000.

Notably featured on the front cover of the 1994 vinyl release is Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...

n politician Robert "Budd" Dwyer

Budd Dwyer

Robert Budd Dwyer was an American politician in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. He served from 1971 to 1981 as a member of the Pennsylvania State Senate representing the state's 50th district...

, moments before he committed suicide during a televised press conference in 1987.

Track listing

1. "Pain of Mind" – 3:06
2. "Self-Taught Infection" – 3:01
3. "Reasons to Hide" – 3:02
4. "Black" – 4:56
5. "Training" – 1:02
6. "Progress" – 1:46
7. "Stalemate" – 2:30
8. "Bury What's Dead" – 2:06
9. "Geneticide" – 2:34
10. "Ingrown" – 2:23
11. "United Sheep" – 3:06
12. "Dominoes Fall" – 3:00
13. "Life on Your Knees" – 2:20
14. "Grey" – 2:41

Bonus disc on 2000 reissue

1. "Stalemate" (live at Gilman) – 2:48
2. "Black" (live at Gilman) – 6:10
3. "Instrumental" (live at Gilman) – 3:12
4. "Grey" (live at WFMU '89) – 2:39
5. "Pollution" (live at WFMU '89) – 3:52
6. "Life on Your Knees" (live at WFMU) – 2:50
7. "Reasons to Hide" (first demo tape) – 3:21
8. "Ingrown" (first demo tape) – 2:40
9. "Pain of Mind" (first demo tape) – 3:49
10. "Dominoes Fall" (first demo tape) – 3:17