TRACKLISTING

 

1.-Stengah
2.-Rational Gaze
3.-Perpetual Black Second
4.-Closed Eye Visuals
5.-Glints Collide
6.-Orgainc Shadows
7.-Straws Pulled At Random
8.-Spasm
9.-Nebulous
10.-Obsidian

  

   Meshuggah is a strange band, certainly not for everyone. And of course, like any other special band, their new release is an event in itself. NOTHING is slow album, with relentless riffs, a bass that follow those riffs closely, helped by the custom-made eight strings guitars, making a numbing sound that lasts throughout the whole album, strange guitar solos and a voice that reminds us the vocalist in Powerman 5000, if only more deep in its growling. All put together sounds like Fear Factory slowened up a little bit with a more powerful bass and without the excesive use of double-bass in the drums, with more twists in the song structures. But still, not for every metalhead out there. Why? well, for one, the album is hard to grasp. The slurry riffs drag themselves tortuously and if the ear is not trained enough, the songs will sound the same, making a boring listen. Believe, it is not. I sort of liked the album in a first listen. but still, it didn't convince me. I had to force myself to hear it again and again. At last, making out the riffs in every song, I could finally understand the Meshuggah style. And I won't lie: I've come to appreciate this album. Classified (or may I say simplified?) as a "metal" band, Meshuggah refuses to be labeled, using interesting riffage, without imitating any other classic but with unmistakable power nonetheless. Without trespassing beyond reach their limits, they experiment with their peculiar sound, varying those grinding beats. At the very beginning "Stengah" exemplifies clearly what is about to come. A slow, sterile intro that gives way to the raspy-toned vocals. Unusual guitar solos after that. And here we found the first flaw. The structure in the songs, clearly innovating once, loses its originality, for they reuse it a lot after that. "Spasm" "Straws Pulled At Random" and "Obsidian" may be the only tracks that aren't built around the same basis. But still you will have some gnawing to do on the songs, trying to figure out every turn in the rhythm. Standout tracks are "Closed Eye Visuals", featuring a beatiful guitar solo, "Nebulous" being brutal, just like "Straws Pulled At Random" or "Glints Collide".

  

   Not so much of a mainstream band, Meshuggah delivers their strange sound in NOTHING, which I'm sure will be devoured by their fans. I, for one, was converted in a devoted fan after hearing the crunching tracks. One thing I still wonder: what the heck is Meshuggah doing by touring with Tool?

 

84 OUT OF 100