#as time explodes

Song Review: Neil Young and the Chrome Hearts - “Big Crime” (Live)

Rush-released as a recorded-during-soundcheck, standalone single in 2025, “Big Crime” had improved significantly by the time Neil Young and the Chrome Hearts performed the version slated to appear on As Time Explodes.

A blistering rock song that underscores Young’s status as the Godfather of Grunge, “Big Crime” remains simplistic, with the titular activity taking place in D.C. at the White House, per the refrain. But the 150-second arrangement is more fully formed in this iteration and the roar of Young and Micah Nelson’s intertwined guitar strings reinforce the angry message.

A career-spanning document of NYCH’s recent tour, As Time Explodes’ May 1 release was pushed to May 29 since “Silver Eagle” announced the LP.

Grade card: Neil Young and the Chrome Hearts - “Big Crime” (Live) - B-

Neil Young Makes a Wordless Statement with “As Time Explodes”

- Instrumental is recasting of “Be the Rain”

Neil Young lets his music - and contemporary video footage - do the talking on “As Time Explodes.”

A searing instrumental reimagining - or perhaps a snippet - of Greendale’s “Be the Rain,” “As Time Explodes” was released on video without explanation, though the audio and images make Young’s point.

Demolition of the East Wing. Oligarchs bending knees. Tesla’s CEO wielding a chainsaw. A Qatari jet. U.S. military personnel in America’s streets. Americans in the same streets saying: Enough! And Young thrashing away in the background.

This is quintessential Neil Young. The anger and ferocity in his playing making the perfect soundtrack for the terrifying images that accompany it. The music may be recycled. But Young is an environmentalist, so that works. And in any event, he says more with this 120 seconds of aggression than he’s said with any of his recent protest songs.

Keep on ragin’ in the (sorta) free world.

Album Review: Neil Young & the Chrome Hearts - As Time Explodes

With Neil Young off the road for 2026 save for a scheduled appearance at Farm Aid, As Time Explodes, the live album culled from Young’s 2025 gigs with the Chrome Hearts, is the best chance most fans have of experiencing the octogenarian musician with his latest band.

Though Young’s reedier voice and clunkier playing are detrimental to such ballads as “After the Gold Rush,” where Mother Nature is on the run in the 21st century, and “Harvest Moon,” they add something to seething electric numbers such as “Cortez the Killer.” When Young has a senior moment with the lyrics of “Cortez,” he’s heard saying something to one of his bandmates off-mic before synching back up in a powerful affirmation of the magic of live music.

Playing 13 career-spanning numbers alongside guitarist Micah Nelson, keyboardist Spooner Oldham, bassist Corey McCormick and drummer Anthony LoGerfo, Young is slightly diminished but still his unique self. And the second group to carry the NYCH acronym - but this ain’t Crazy Horse - is a sympathetic bunch of musical collaborators and supportive on the vocal front, where they provide essential buoyancy to folksy numbers like “Daddy Went Walkin’” and angry arena anthems including “Ohio.”

Though Nelson, McCormick and LoGerfo have previously worked with Young as NY + Promise of the Real, the Chrome Hearts are a new band with the addition of Oldham and the subtraction of Lukas Nelson. Songs from 2025, like the thrashing “Big Crime” and the countryish “Silver Eagle,” whose lyrics provide the LP title, suggest this band could develop into something special.

Older numbers, including “Vampire Blues” and “Like a Hurricane,” confirm it, though the inclusion of the dreadful “Be the Rain” - both on setlists and on As Time Explodes - is a head scratcher.

Grade card: Neil Young & the Chrome Hearts - As Time Explodes - B

Neil Young Issues another Wordless Statement with “As Time Explodes 2.0”

Neil Young has no words.

So, he issued another instrumental statement, dubbed “As Time Explodes 2.0,” this time combining a stormy drums-bass-and-keys interlude with news footage of migrant workers busting their asses on American farms followed by images of ICE agents busting and assaulting the workers.

Like the initial “As Time Explodes,” this minimalist soundscape packs maximum impact.

Where he takes this nascent series remains to be seen and heard. But Young has his finger on the pulse of what’s happening and he’s found a powerful way of expressing his rage.