Meshuggah - I
Fractured Transmitter Records - FRT001 - 14/07/2004
By Paddy Walsh
With this stop gap EP, Meshuggah are no doubt aiming to appease those of you who were left underwhelmed by their last full length Nothing. I not only does this, but reaffirms the bands position as leaders of the technical metal field. Or whatever you want to call it.
Comprising one, twenty-one minute track, I initially seems like a daunting listen. Do I really want to hear twenty-one minutes of this kind of thing without so much as a second to breathe? Thankfully Meshuggah manage to keep things engaging. This is not achieved by any drastic songwriting changes - quite the opposite actually. The Meshuggah we all know and love is present and correct. All of those pulverising guitars, odd drum patterns and shouted vocals are here. Their habit of repeating a riff ad-nausea is here too, which of course has been known to turn off many a budding listener. However, the band seems to have a knack for knowing exactly when weve had enough of a particular riff, changing it just in time, or even just adding a nice jazzy solo into the mix.
What at first appears to be a cut and paste the riffs together and make a long song type affair, I nevertheless is a captivating listen. Mainly because the group are on absolute top form, have returned to thrashing it up Chaosphere style as opposed to the slowed down Nothing. There is not a poor moment on this EP. In fact, like most of Meshuggahs work, there are parts that make you go what the hell is he doing there?, and that can only be a good thing. The EP length actually works in their favour, creating a piece of music that doesnt overstay its welcome, but while its here makes itself known in no uncertain terms.
8.5/10
Meshuggah's Official Website
Fractured Transmitter Records' Official Website
Fractured Transmitter Records - FRT001 - 14/07/2004
By Paddy Walsh
With this stop gap EP, Meshuggah are no doubt aiming to appease those of you who were left underwhelmed by their last full length Nothing. I not only does this, but reaffirms the bands position as leaders of the technical metal field. Or whatever you want to call it.
Comprising one, twenty-one minute track, I initially seems like a daunting listen. Do I really want to hear twenty-one minutes of this kind of thing without so much as a second to breathe? Thankfully Meshuggah manage to keep things engaging. This is not achieved by any drastic songwriting changes - quite the opposite actually. The Meshuggah we all know and love is present and correct. All of those pulverising guitars, odd drum patterns and shouted vocals are here. Their habit of repeating a riff ad-nausea is here too, which of course has been known to turn off many a budding listener. However, the band seems to have a knack for knowing exactly when weve had enough of a particular riff, changing it just in time, or even just adding a nice jazzy solo into the mix.
What at first appears to be a cut and paste the riffs together and make a long song type affair, I nevertheless is a captivating listen. Mainly because the group are on absolute top form, have returned to thrashing it up Chaosphere style as opposed to the slowed down Nothing. There is not a poor moment on this EP. In fact, like most of Meshuggahs work, there are parts that make you go what the hell is he doing there?, and that can only be a good thing. The EP length actually works in their favour, creating a piece of music that doesnt overstay its welcome, but while its here makes itself known in no uncertain terms.
8.5/10
Meshuggah's Official Website
Fractured Transmitter Records' Official Website
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