I’ve been trying to keep on top of when Scion A/V dishes out some free downloadable Metal for the masses and so far I’ve directed readers to these offerings with about a handful of postings right here on the PiercingMetal Blog. It’s been great to find them calling our attention to free music by Immolation, Enslaved, The Melvins, Arsis and Wormrot. Let’s face it, the economy sucks and prices are still going up so why not indulge in something free whenever it is possible. That being said the next free EP from Scion A/V gives the mighty Meshuggah a go round by giving fans two unreleased tracks by the band. Okay so perhaps two tracks seems kind of a bummer, but its still free and its still Meshuggah and most of that bands fans will take anything that they can get from them. The first track is a studio cut called, of all things, “Pitch Black” (hence the name of the EP) and its pretty solid and representative of what we expect from the group. The second cut is “Dancers To A Discordant System” which is recorded live. This track originally hails from the bands 2008 release “Obzen”. Clicking the album cover below will take you over to Scion A/V where you can download these tunes legally. How cool is that.
Yeah so Meshuggah was here when Ministry did their “final tour” but the set was so damned short that it was almost pointless to go if you attended purely to see them. That made a full on headlining gig with the legendary Cynic some good Metal medicine for the bands loyal followers. Toss in The Faceless as well and you have a great night of music without question. We were on point for this show and if you scroll on down below you will be taken to the full article.
Artist: Meshuggah Venue: The Fillmore NY (New York, NY) Opener: Cynic, The Faceless Date: 2/19/2009 Label: Nuclear Blast Records
In some sense it has been awhile since we have had a proper visit from the mighty Meshuggah because even though the band opened up for Ministry on the bands “C-U-La-Tour”, they had been relegated to an incredible short set that left a lot of their fans wanting more. That’s of course assuming they were even able to secure tickets to the events which sold out rather quickly based on the hoopla surrounding Ministry’s last go round. One could not blame the Meshuggah fans for wanting their band to do a proper tour based on the popularity and acclaim that they were getting for their latest release on Nuclear Blast Records – the stunning “Obzen”. It was an album that continued to show why Meshuggah is as important as they continue to be for the modern Metal movement and proved that even after some six albums and a number of EP’s that they had not lost an ounce of their creative edge and not only continue to surprise the listener, but also continue to garner the respect of the bands that formed after hearing them. The show would take place at The Fillmore NY where I witnessed a dreadfully short set by the band when they opened for Ministry and that night the band played in almost complete darkness and for maybe thirty minutes. Continue reading Meshuggah @ Fillmore at Irving Plaza (2/19/2009)→
Artist: Meshuggah Title: “Destroy Erase Improve” – Reloaded (remaster) Label: Nuclear Blast Records Release Date: 7/8/2008 Genre: Technical Death Metal Rating: 4.5/5
It begins here Metal fans and that is the best way that one can describe the groundbreaking release from Sweden’s Meshuggah when it comes down to 1995’s “Destroy Erase Improve”. The exciting album gets a justified remastering treatment and this release comes to us “reloaded” with a number of cool bonus tracks as well. In 1995 the Metal scene in Europe was thriving, but over here in the States we were dealing with the dismalness of being bleak thanks to the “Seattle Sound” of Grunge where every musician in a flannel shirt secured a recording contract and offered up their personal malaise ad nausea. The exciting nature of what Meshuggah was bringing to the table at the time was sadly missed by a number of fans who would have really sunk their teeth into it and I admit to being one of them. “DEI” is an album that pummels the senses with off time signature thunderous drumming courtesy of Tomas Haake while the riffing of Hagstrom and Thordendal cuts like a razor blade. While the music offered up delivers a righteous thrashing, there is also a cool Jazz and Fusion feel based on the technical guitar diversity of Thordendal who breaks rank from the traditional expected run on the frets and instead demonstrates skills that one would not often find in a band like this. It opens with “Future Breed Machine”, which is an impressive introduction to the band for the new listener and also a number that is often delivered as a part of their live show to this day. The exciting tune is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the other offerings on the recording that while at some fourteen years of age is still a fresh sounding and relevant Metal release. Had tunes like “Beneath” and “Soul Burn” been released today, they still would have worked out well for the band. It was clear that the group was exploring many different musical dynamics across the board with this one and such is the reason that fans of not only conventional Death Metal, but also those who enjoy Progressive elements and Jazz Fusion would be stunned at what was being done here. Continue reading “Destroy Erase Improve” – Reloaded (remaster) by Meshuggah→
Artist: Ministry Venue: Fillmore NY (New York, NY) Opener: Meshuggah, Hemlock Date: 5/1/2008 Label: 13th Planet Records
The Industrial Metal genre was never something that I paid much attention to or even called myself a fan of even though I had enjoyed some of the tunes I heard over the years from some of the scene’s biggest providers. The name that everyone immediately calls to mind when it comes to this sound is the band Ministry and this is largely because they spearheaded the genre when they were founded some 27 years ago by Al Jourgensen. He has directed and guided a number of different lineups over the years but without the ideas that he first brought to the table there would be no blueprint to follow by bands like Marilyn Manson, Linkin Park and many, many others. They have established a cult status that still packs a venue when they come to town to play and when an album is released it does well among the genres demographic. Despite all of this it was never my thing and while friends were always excitable about them I was mostly only curious about what I was missing. The NYC show that was happening tonight was the perfect chance to dig into the band and rather historic because they were calling it the “C U La Tour”, as Jourgensen has decided to stop touring and recording with his iconic act. The other reason I wanted to hit the show was because the dates were the only US appearances of the mighty Meshuggah for the year and that was unbelievable to me. Hemlock would start the night off but we didn’t get a chance to see them. Here is how some of the action took place. Continue reading Ministry @ Fillmore New York at Irving Plaza (5/1/2008)→
Artist: Meshuggah Title: “obZen” Label: Nuclear Blast Records Release Date: 3/11/2008 Genre: Technical Death Metal Rating: 5/5
In a time where originality in music seems to be fading thing thanks to the likes of American Idol and other “talent” shows of that ilk, and a time where bands are consistently releasing cover albums, symphony albums and unplugged adventures; I am glad that 2008 has offered up new and once again startling music from the mighty Meshuggah. The Swedish quintet have returned to a scene that was quite in need of a visit with their latest studio effort “obZen”, and if you are one of those Metal fans who for some reason have yet to be exposed to the band in all their complexity and genius then the delivery of this one could not have come at a better time. The second that “obZen” begins with “Combustion” we are taken on a roller coaster ride of proportions that one rarely comes off of unscathed and I feel that this is exactly what Meshuggah wants to leave happening in you. If you’re a fan of that which is heavy, “obZen” will work for you. Should you enjoy technical movements that appear to go in dozens of directions all at once only to return to a single starting point, “obZen” will work for you. Have you a high brow appreciation of deep musicality and idea as it applies to Metal music, “obZen” will work for you – am I making some sense here? This all might seem a bit much to comprehend and if you realize this then you are not alone. Continue reading “obZen” by Meshuggah→
