2008-05-24
"OBZEN" The 13
th album from Swedens very own
MESHUGGAH, can be described in two words, "complete devastation". If there is a quantum mechanics to music then these guys are the creators of the leap into that void. Listening to any of their releases makes me ask myself the question "how does this band even exist?" Alternative Press magazine has been quoted as saying that "Meshuggah is the number one most important band in metal", and i have to say i dont disagree. This music isnt mainstream or familiar to the average listener, this stuff is serious, mathematical, extreme, jazz fusion, thrash, and impossible metal rolled into one giant megalith. The members, creators and caretakers of this peerless inovation are as follows:
Jens Kidman - Vocals
Fredrick Thordendal - Guitars
Marten Hagstrom - Guitars
Dick Lougren - Bass
Tomas Haake - Drums
The band differs not only in content but in the ability of the members as well as the different instrument approaches they take.Thomas Haakes drum kit and playing are actually what makes up the hugely popular drum program " The Drumkit From Hell" which is used by millions of studios and musicians worldwide. His technical abilities and unique style place him light years ahead of any other percussionist on earth and smashes the boundaries of drumming as well as raising the standards for generations of other drummers. The guitars and bass are driving and genious in both riffs and solos, most think of a 7 string guitar as something ahead of the 6 string variety, well the boys from meshuggah use 8 strings!! And they use them very very well i might add. The vocals of Jens Kidman are of the Al Jorgenson styling that was made popular in late 80s industrial movement,although not a clone whatsoever,it has that lightly distorted screaming effect that works well with the rest of the machine. Next i will list the studio albums and EPs from to 1989 to 2008 all under the
Nuclear Blast Label
1)Meshuggah-1989
2)Contradictions Collapse-1991
3)None-1994
4)Selfcaged-1995
5)Destroy Erase Improve-1995
6)The True Human Design-1997
7)Contradictions Collapse - None Reissue-1998
8)Chaosphere-1998
9x-2001
10)Nothing-2002
11)I-2004
12)Catch 33-2005
13)Obzen-2008
The following is a track listing for "OBZEN"
1)Combustion
2)Electric Red
3)Bleed
4)Lethargica
5)Obzen
6)This Spiteful Snake
7)Pineal Gland Optics
8)Pravis
9)Dangers To a Discordant System
If you want your illutions of musical boundaries smashed, and your concepts of music in general completely rewired, then "Obzen" really is the best place to start, as are all of this bands albums period,but i have to warn u that this stuff is decades ahead of other material and takes more than one listen to comprehend what is possible or not. Welcome to the world of
Meshuggah!!
Lee Mackay
