Meshuggah - Catch 33 - In Death-Is Death - 2:55 to 3:56

[MFJ]

I haven't heard Mnemic besides that show.... I really don't like that sort of "chugga-chugga" metal anyway, but they didn't seem too bad for what they are at the time. Besides, they put on a great show and that's what mattered to me (being there only for Dark Tranquillity and Hypocrisy of course). Soilwork, now that is another story. I cannot stress how much I hate Soilwork. The sad thing is that they are all incredibly talented (nix the Vocalist) and could be doing magical things. Oh whatever, that's the story of 1521673737356235 bands in existence anyway.

 

[NAD]

Good call on Soilwork, that pretty much nails my interpretation. Only time I've heard them was when they opened for Hypocrisy and I thought "damn these guitarists rule but this shit is boring."

Meshuggah aren't a chugga-chugga band, they are surgeons of music. They just don't use a lot of melody.

 

[MFJ]

Meshuggah aren't a chugga-chugga band, they are surgeons of music. They just don't use a lot of melody.

Eh, I'm talking out of my ass. I'll check them out someday, but I still don't think that I'll be able to get into them. Worth mentioning as well is Soilwork's drummer, damn that guy knows what he's doing!

 

[unhinged]

listened to 'I' today, don't have the new one yet
its not blowing me away at all
it'll either click in eventually or become boring
still miles better than nothing though

chasophere still does it for me though

 

[General Zod]

Meshuggah is math metal, and it's not an easy listen by any stretch.

Meshuggah strikes me as being technical for the sake of being technical. It's not my thing.

For the same reason, I can't get my head around Zero Hour. There is something so clinical and sterile about these bands, just because they're so damn technically proficient.

Zero Hour didn't click for me until a day or two before thier ProgPower performance. However, I don't like them because of their technicality. I like them because of their songs, and their lyrics. I think Erik Rosvald is one of the best damn singers in Metal. His incredibly lush voice, over the Zero Hour's style of music just works.

Zod

 

[MFJ]

Meshuggah strikes me as being technical for the sake of being technical. It's not my thing.

Yeah, that is absolutely my problem with them!

 

[J.]

Meshuggah strikes me as being technical for the sake of being technical. It's not my thing.

Dat's da troof. Same here. Yeah, so you can play out of rhythm. Big whoop. Play me a good tune instead.

 

[NAD]

I don't like bands that use distortion just for distortion's sake, they need to have some deep philosophic consequence for using such an effect.

Why are metal bands slammed for being technically proficient nowadays? I'll bet Rush, King Crimson, and Frank Zappa were never told "hey you guys are too good, try and tone it down a bit" but groups like Meshuggah, Steve Vai, Cynic, all those dudes get shit on by certain aspects of the metal realm.

I DUN UNNASTAN.

 

[J.]

Cynic? You know them and Atheist are hailed as innovators, and that the few people in this forum that dislike them are in the super small minority, right? Overall, Cynic are adored. As are Dillinger Escape Plan, and Vai....

THe metal world does not share this forum's outlook in most respects. They all love those bands you listed.

But just for the record, I dont like any of those bands/people you listed, though I haven't heard Vai or Zappa.

 

[NAD]

That's why I said "certain aspects of the metal realm." But I've never seen a band get slammed for being technical proficient, except from the metal community (not as a whole, just members/portions/etc. from within).

It's just odd to me, I don't see how it could possibly be a bad thing.

 

[Demonspell]

It's the whole argument that technicality is inversely proportional to feeling and anything that eschews simplicity is pretentious, I don't make excuses for people who do indulge in musical masturbation at the expense of emotion, but overall I think that theory is bullshit.

 

[Nate The Great]

I just read an interview in Decibel magazine with Meshuggah. The guitarist says that they don't set out to be techinical when they write a song. They simply try to do something that challenges them and is unique in the metal world.

 

[dill_the_devil]

NAD - Mnemic really aren't that bad at all - in fact, some of the guys on here who are hating on Meshuggah for not having tunes might be able to get into Mnemic, 'cos they're like Meshuggah with choruses and Fear Factory-esque synth effects. There are some mp3s on their site, they're worth checking out.

http://www.mnemic.com

 

[matt99_crew]

I find Mnemic to be pretty dull. Check them out for yourself though.

 

[General Zod]

Why are metal bands slammed for being technically proficient nowadays?

I don't think they're being slammed for being "too technical". I think they're being slammed for being technical, and nothing else. Writing a song, should be about the song first, and the artist's technical prowess second (or third). In listening to Meshuggah, they sound like they care more about flouting convention than writing quality songs. I like a good number of technical bands. Zero Hour would probably be the most technical of those I listen to with great frequency. But I think Zero Hour does it right. They play with great skill, but also write songs that I want to hear with regularity. I think the biggest difference may be the vocalists. Zero Hour use a melodic singer, while Meshuggah opt for Death vox. The latter fail to inject any melody into the music, and as such, it just comes across as unlistenable.

To me, the real challenge for a technical band should be to write a track as technical as possible, while still operating in the framework of a memorable song. Meshuggah's completele disregard the second part of this equation leaves their music completely pointless to my ears.

By the way, did Meshuggah actually set out to write a song that was 33 minutes in duration? If so, that's about the lamest thing I've ever heard.

Zod

 

[Crimson Velvet]

@En Vind av Sorg

While we're on the subject of new releases; I see that you have the new Deathspell Omega as your avatar. Have you heard it? Is it as soul-crushingly fantastic as the "Si Momentum"? Or are you just as inpatient as I am?

 

[NAD]

I don't think they're being slammed for being "too technical". I think they're being slammed for being technical, and nothing else. Writing a song, should be about the song first, and the artist's technical prowess second (or third). In listening to Meshuggah, they sound like they care more about flouting convention than writing quality songs. I like a good number of technical bands. Zero Hour would probably be the most technical of those I listen to with great frequency. But I think Zero Hour does it right. They play with great skill, but also write songs that I want to hear with regularity. I think the biggest difference may be the vocalists. Zero Hour use a melodic singer, while Meshuggah opt for Death vox. The latter fail to inject any melody into the music, and as such, it just comes across as unlistenable.

To me, the real challenge for a technical band should be to write a track as technical as possible, while still operating in the framework of a memorable song. Meshuggah's completele disregard the second part of this equation leaves their music completely pointless to my ears.

By the way, did Meshuggah actually set out to write a song that was 33 minutes in duration? If so, that's about the lamest thing I've ever heard.

Zod

Too many rules man, too many rules. This is art, not the DMV.

 

[J.]

I don't think they're being slammed for being "too technical". I think they're being slammed for being technical, and nothing else. Writing a song, should be about the song first, and the artist's technical prowess second (or third). In listening to Meshuggah, they sound like they care more about flouting convention than writing quality songs.

To me, the real challenge for a technical band should be to write a track as technical as possible, while still operating in the framework of a memorable song. Meshuggah's completele disregard the second part of this equation leaves their music completely pointless to my ears.

THREAD WINNER!!!!!! :Spin:

 

[NAD]

A lot of bands I listen to can't even be considered "song writers" because it's either jam, free form, or just sort of there. Look, I have a 4-CD set by King Crimson that is ALL IMPROVISED. It's like 4 hours of music, not a single song contained within. Sometimes you gotta think outside the box and realize that some band don't work inside your limited definition of what art should and should not be.

Bah, go back to your verse-chorus-verse bullshit and leave the good, forward thinking, progressive bands alone.

 

[En Vind Av Sorg]

Yea I think Meshuggah has memorable songs as well. "New Millenium Cyanide Christ", "Future Breed Machines", "Spasm" and "Sickening" are all songs that come to mind with memorable riffs, parts, and chorus-esque peices.