Artist: Meshuggah
Title: “Born In Dissonance” (Single)
Label: Nuclear Blast Records
Release Date: 8/25/2016
Genre: Experimental Metal
Rating: 4.5/5
Meshuggah has returned, well, at least they will return with a full album entitled “The Violent Sleep Of Reason” in October and the fans of the band are now able to get their first aural exposure to the works with the debut single “Born In Dissonance”. So how is it? I must admit that it’s a little tricky to first explain something by Meshuggah to anyone who hasn’t really followed them before and I’ve usually had more success with this after hearing the full body of work.
Continue reading “Born In Dissonance” (Single) by Meshuggah →
Rejoice and let the jubilation that is the raging power of Extreme Metal music course throughout your very physical form because the mighty Meshuggah have announced a twenty fifth anniversary tour entitled “25 Years Of Musical Deviance” and it will visit North America for a limited run in a few short months. I’ve copied the press release from the Nuclear Blast Records folks and then have added in some of my own thoughts for good measure. Scroll past the poster to continue.
The Press Release: Witness history with thine own eyes. The ninth wonder of the unnatural world, Sweden’s technically intoxicating extreme metal quintet MESHUGGAH, are returning to North America this summer to celebrate their 25th year of musical deviance with festival appearances, Canadian dates, and clubs that will fill to capacity. Opening for them (on all but the two festival dates) will be North Carolina’s Between The Buried And Me. MESHUGGAH aim to play a very special 25th Anniversary set by performing selections from their entire discography & possibly include some rare songs that haven’t been played live in many years. Fans have the opportunity to vote for the songs they want to hear via MESHUGGAH’s online song poll: www.facebook.com/meshuggah/app_151503908244383. Plan to take time off your busy gaming schedule. Reacquaint yourself with what the outside world looks like. Drive to one of the following places. Get teleported into another universe. Enjoy the sounds, the sights, and the weightlessness of your newfound euphoria. You’re welcome.
Continue reading Meshuggah Will Celebrate “25 Years Of Musical Deviance” In 2014 →
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: Meshuggah
Title: “Catch Thirty-Three” – Listening Party
Venue: CBGB’s Gallery (New York, NY)
Label: Nuclear Blast Records
Date: 4/1/2005
Genre: Technical Death Metal
Once again I trekked down to the Bowery for the famed CBGB’s Club. Actually we were downstairs in the roomy lounge of the adjacent building in a space known as the CBGB’s Gallery. This atmosphere is more suited to a party like this since you are out to network with the band and enjoy their latest work. The reason for the trip this evening was to meet a couple of the guys in the one and only “Meshuggah”. The band had come to town to give the Media a sneak listen on their latest effort entitled “Catch Thirty Three”. It was great to be included in the festivities like this, since getting to talk to the Artist before an actual release can be a special thing and assist in getting the word out on it. Nuclear Blast Records was in full presence as reps from the label entertained folks like my colleague Pete Pardo (from www.SeaOfTranquility.org) and many others. It’s pretty cool that the label does this kind of thing and also that they picked this particular venue to showcase the album. Recently, CBGB’s has been in the news over their fight with the owners of the building over unpaid rent and it looks like the doors may soon close on the birthplace of Punk Rock. It’s a landmark club whether you love it or hate it, and a lot of memorable music has come from it so I hope it gets resolved to a positive fashion.
Continue reading Listening To Meshuggah’s “Catchy Thirty Three” in NYC (4/1/2005) →
Where Heavy Music & Pop Culture Collide
