TRACKLISTING

1.- I

 

   A few time ago, I listened with a lot of respect Meshuggah's latest LP, "NOTHING" (2002). It was a mature mindfuck, so to speak. The band opened a path that only the band could invent. Parting from a much more violent effort, which was Chaosphere (1998), "NOTHING" took back a few steps to a slower rhythm, but making precise machine-like patterns, sounding more solid than ever, even more than in "Chaosphere". What I mean is that Meshuggah made a less random effort, more thoughtful than the chaotic force that has been trademark since the origin of the band. What in Chaosphere was saturated enviroment, in "NOTHING" it's more calculated, colder, due to a cleaner production and to thicker riffs and, although background thin guitar work accompanies still heavy bassing, the material was not as aleatory as in the previous. The very proof of the rapid evolving of the band is undoubtedly "I". Meshuggah completes now with this release the trendline that "NOTHING" began. "I" releases a much more violent band, for one. In "NOTHING" the violence was lessened but here the tempo has been increased, and still all the eclectic elements which "contaminated" "Chaosphere" have been removed. No sound of harcore or any other metal branch. It still is the machine-like coldness that sounded in "NOTHING". What there is to praise from this release is the complexity of the track. Meshuggah could have well made a LP out of the material exposed. Some bands have tried to sound repetitive and instead ended up being a sorry, boring attempt. Other bands have tried, out of pure decadence of the genre, a very changing, and therefore, very poor, metal. Meshuggah reached its perfection with this album, the proverbial wise middle. Although featuring the arid landscape of their eight-string guitars, they manage to vary and reinvent their music throughout the track. Every minute is useful. Blasting at the beginning, a pair of clear double bass drumming. Then, a pair of agonizing moments where they pound at an almost grind speed. At last the track properly begins, and all this happened in just two minutes. And it doesn't stop at all, except maybe for the ending, which will bring us to mind the ending of "NOTHING". This chamaleonic track reminds me of the Tool technique, using a element without wearing it out. Perhaps Meshuggah learned something from their touring together? I don't know, but certainly since "Chaosphere", and I concede this to this LP, Meshuggah boys didn't use a expand-and-change fussion.

 

   Whatever legacy Meshuggah has created inside the metal is nothing compared to Meshuggah itself. Some other reviewer said that Meshuggah invented its own genre, and they are the first to take the steps for others to follow. Please, don't support Meshuggah imitations. Hear "I" first. It will convince you.

100 out of 100