This is the rhythmic machine that is Meshuggah’s 9th studio album, and it is as unrelenting as all of its predecessors. Their ability to use all instruments as percussion to create rhythmic patterns and grooves (that other bands can only dream about) is breathtaking at times. The whole djent movement stole from Meshuggah (unashamedly) to pay homage to their heroes, while creating a whole new sub genre.
I defy any of you to try and count along to keep time, it’s just impossible as you can have four different time signatures in four bars that follow each other. Drummer, Tomas Haake, is just incredible as he holds all this together with the most physically demanding drum patterns you will hear. Guitarist, Fredrick Thordendal, returned for this album but he just plays leads, so Martin Hagstrom is alone in supplying the relentless chugga D-tuned riffs.
My favourite track is Light The Shortening Fuse, which highlights the rhythmic elements of this band to the max. My favourite album of Meshuggah is Obzen which is just brutal – this doesn’t quite reach the heights of that, but its still jaw dropping at times. I urge every metal fan to own at least one Meshuggah album as their technically and ability is off the charts – it sets them apart from other bands.
9/10 from The Grooveman.
