BRINGING ALL SHITS TOGETHER, RIPPING UP 2012.
Alright, Doomsday is over and seems like I’m still alive. Wait. What? What does that supposed to mean? I mean, am I an alien? Superman? Will Smith? NO! FUCK NO! So what about the Mayan theory? Just a Troll? Fake? Piece of shit? Well, that’s rude! Maybe reading a new article of mine was just your fucking dream and it’s just the eve of 21st and you are still in your fucking pits, dreaming all of this. Hmm. Do you really think so? Yes?? Well, fellas, grow the fuck up now! Just deal with your brilliant life you are heading. And if you were horrified and shit b’coz of that crazy theory, it’s time for you to fucking dance.
Others, lets get started! [Well you can dance too, I never said dancing is offensive!]
2012! I walked on RAMP! Fuck yea. Well, it’s not that cool as it sounds like. I became Radio Jockey of my college radio station, recorded 1 show, which was never aired. My project won a huge prize money from IEEE, which we haven’t received yet. And many more awesome things happened to make this year a quite good one and a depressing one at the same time. Talking about good things, 2012 has been a brilliant music festival. And, above all, the best thing happened this year is this blog I made to keep my shits together. Hey wait, do you remember, 4 months ago I wrote this : Shits which came out this year and has shown NO MERCY ?? If not, then stop fucking around and go subscribe this blog :D.
Considering how many bands and subgenres exist these days, and how many albums were released in this great music year, it’s hard as fuck to make a list of a handful of albums and tag them as my “favorite albums of 2012”. I made it anyway. And just for the sake of being sane, the list is in no ranking order. I love all of them.[Yea I know I’m a big time diplomatic scumbag].
So if you haven’t heard anything new this year, this is gonna make your life a bit easier. And if doesn’t, I don’t give a shit. If you are horrified by the things I have chosen, then I don’t apologize at all. Because, whatever, I’m not forcing you to buy anything and you are not fucking paying me for this.
Okay, here we go.
- IGORRR – Hallelujah [AlienCore]
This is the album for which I’ve been waiting for so long. Otherwise I would have written this article weeks ago. Well, the wait was worth it! Igorrr is the most unrestrained, most sick, most crazy composer I’ve ever known. Screw my “no ranking order list”. Igorrr is on top of all. No period. You think you can find me an artist more insane than him? Then I tell ya, you can get on your knees and start kissing anything which even remotely resembles an ass.[Those who watch DEXTER, would have caught me there. If not, go watch the season finale again.] I have hallelujah’s digital version for now and will get my hands on the CD very soon.
- MESHUGGAH – Koloss [Extreme Metal]
Meshuggah needs no introduction. And I’ve said enough about this album in my very first article of this blog : Meshuggah – The Metallica of Present Time.
- SYLOSIS – Monolith [Thrash/Death Metal]
I discovered Sylosis with Edge Of The Earth (2011), which I highly appreciated. Monolith relies on the power, heavy rhythms, melody and beautiful aggression, moving to various areas, mainly Thrash, Death and but also Heavy and Metalcore, including clear vocals, catchy riffs and prog touches well fed. Needless to say that the sound is huge and perfectly balanced!
- GOJIRA – L’Enfant Sauvage [Technical death metal]
Any GOJIRA album is a good GOJIRA album
- KATATONIA – Dead End Kings [Death/Doom Metal]
Since their inception, Katatonia has been pure, intimate, thoughtful and truly accomplished. Those who have never put an ear to the music of Swedish, may fall immediately in love with their mix rock / metal dismal. This new album with the magnificent voice of Jonas has definitely taken precedence over everything else. The atmosphere that emanates from the music is highly reminiscent of their previous albums. There is so much to learn from this group that I cannot refrain from recommending you to listen to their entire discography.
- TESTAMENT – Dark Roots of Earth [Thrash Metal]
Testament. Enough said! Check out the album review I did a few months ago: TESTAMENT – Dark Roots of Earth
- THE TALLEST MAN ON EARTH – There’s No Leaving Now [Indie/Folk]
When people ask me who is my favorite music artist, I don’t hesitate in saying that he is a non-metal artist. And sometimes I fall short of words in admiration of this tallest man. Like Today. Fuck. Anyways, all I wanna say is, I Don’t Wanna Go Heaven, coz I Am Graced Already.
- LIMIT ZERO – Gravestone Constellations [Progressive Metal]
Metal acts in India have been increasing exponentially since past 1 year. Limit Zero is a progressive metal act from Bangalore, India. Limit Zero have a sense of melody and gratify us with some great combination of clean and heavy vocals, beautiful passages, majestically accompanied by well-integrated electro sounds, which inject the compositions, an almost chaotic. Riffs are destructive and wicked and their whole music mixing style is highly impressive and awesomely devised. The group has learned the best of all for us to concoct an explosive report. Watch the playthrough of “Portals” they released last month. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rer2p7mJEhw. Looking forward to see them live very soon.
- THE TONY DANZA TAPDANCE EXTRAVAGANZA – Danza IIII: The Alpha – The Omega [Djent/Grindcore]
Joshua Travis is the man! When I heard their name for the first time I was like “WTF title”. But when I put on my earphones, I realized very soon that this band is no imbecilic business. This is not an ordinary Djent act. TTDTE is huge-ultra-technically-royal-brutally-violent metal band, rightfully portraying the terror of their name. I won’t be surprised if Travis turns out to be an alien one day.
- THE HAARP MACHINE – Disclosure [Tech Death Prog Metal]
It took 5 long years for the mastermind of this project, Al Mu’min, to present this beautiful album. It is basically a concept album based on “socioeconomic policies on our society’s sick capitalism”. Disclosure is full of technical death prog metal virtuoso riffings and clear vocals. Overall, the group members have nailed the album with their varied skill from all the venues of technical death realm.
The Haarp Machine Facebook Page
- NEUROSIS – Honor Found in Decay [Post/Sludge Metal]
Lemmi be straight. This is neurosis. I don’t find myself human enough to critique them. Enough said!
- CONVERGE – All We Love We Leave Behind [Metalcore]
Converge! Enough said.
- CAR BOMB – w^w^^w^w [Mathcore]
Car Bomb is the incarnation of Mathcore pushed beyond its limits. Their official biography says: “Car Bomb combines the polyrhythmic and mathematical madness of Meshuggah and Dillinger Escape Plan with the rage and energetic fury of Coalesce and Converge.” I don’t think I have anything else to say which can make it any more comprehensive. This new album is immensely enjoyable, highly addictive and mathcore–ly groundbreaking.
- THE CHARIOT – One Wing [Mathcore]
Call me a retard piece of shit, but this is the best album cover on 2012. This album has some new ideas, the divine sweetness of the female voice in “your”, some western styles, brutalness, catchiness, openness, punchiness, craziness all over it.
- Yo-Yo Ma, Stuart Duncan, Edgar Meyer and Chris Thile – The Goat Rodeo Sessions [Classic / Bluegrass]
I’m extremely sorry for not including this album in the original post. This is the group of Gods of strings. It’s totally different from anything I’ve mentioned above. A totally unique album I’ve had in a long long time. Just look at the title “The Goat Rodeo Sessions”. This title is the funniest title ever. Epic too. And So is the album. It’s been playing pretty much constantly on my ZUNE since I have it. I’ll advise you just stop whatever your doing, go get your hands on this album as soon as you can.
Other Albums Worth Mentioning:
- Periphery – Periphery II – This Time It’s Personal
- Wintersun – Time I
- The Algorithm – Polymorphic Code
- Napalm Death – Utilitarian
- A.I.(d) – Solar Feelings
- Between The Buried And Me – The Parallax-II- The Future Sequence
- Monuments – Gnosis
- The Faceless – Autotheism
- Ihsahn – Eremita
- Stillborn Messengers – Sightless
- August Burns Red – Sleddin’ Hill, A Holiday
- Rings Of Saturn – Dingir
- Intervals – In Time
- Dissipate – Tectonics
- Deftones – Koi No Yokan
- Twelve Foot Ninja – Silent Machine
- Cloudkicker – Fade
Merry Christmas.!!
50 reasons why I love THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER
1. They are called The Black Dahlia Murder .
2. The name came from the 1947 unsolved murder of Elizabeth Short, often referred to as “Black Dahlia”.
3. They started with this name and never gave any thought of changing it. Never ever!
4. They play Melodic Death Metal for mass destruction.
5. The font they use in their band logo.
6. Their first demo album was, “What a Horrible Night to Have a Curse.”
7. And it had no song called “What a Horrible Night to Have a Curse.”
8. But well, they went sane for a while and released it in their 3rd album, “Nocturnal”.
9. Every band member is cool.
10. No kidding, they are among the coolest bastards i‘ve ever seen.
11. The vocalist, Trevor Strnad.
12. Inspired by Carcass, Trevor screams in two completely different voices. The low one is Bill Steer, and the high one is Jeff Walker.
13. Trevor Strnad’s first tattoo was inspired by Carcas’s ‘Tools Of The Trade’ cover art. He was 19 when he got those tools inked on his right forearm.
14. Trevor would like to have “we are the world” to be played at his funeral.
15. Trevor’s words: “I like that hardcore has a sense of community without the competition you see in metal.”
16. Second founding member, Brian Eschbach on rhythm guitar.
17. Brain is fucking hilarious when he takes up the mike.
18. Brain has 4 cool cats and a cool moped which he drives whenever he thinks “it’s a cool time for a cool ride”.
19. Shannon Lucas, the drummer.
20. Okay, it’s no cool to call him just a “drummer”. B’coz he is a fucking drum machine.
21. Shannon started playing guitar when he was 12 but then he got his crush switched over and became the beast behind the drums.
22. Ryan Knight, Lead guitarist.
23. Every solo work of Ryan’s. All of them!
24. Max Lavelle, the new guy on bass.
25. I still miss Bart on bass but Max is no wrong decision. His recent live performance are being appreciated and he is a great guitarist. Band’s bass is in safe hands.
26. Bart still helps the band in songwriting.
27. Just to remind you, they are called The Black Dahlia Murder.
28. Every Black Dahlia interview.
29. Specially when Brain and Trevor sit and talk shit together.
30. This video -> BLACK DAHLIA MURDER 10 Questions About Weed.
31. Lyrics. More or less.
32. Cover art of Deflorate.
33. This
Wait. What is Cannibal Corpse doing here?
Okay. Sorry. This sexy sarcastic humor of mine. Can’t help it. 😛
34. Let’s get back to Black Dahlia Murder. They performed at Wacken.
35. They headlined the 2008 Summer Slaughter Tour with Kataklysm, Cryptopsy, The Faceless, Born of Osiris, Whitechapel, etc.
36. They played on Hot Topic Stage in Mayhem Festival 2009.
37. The song, “Moonlight Equilibrium”.
38. This song is horny as fuck.
39. The song, “Everything Went Black”.
40. The music video of “Everything Went Black”.
41. The song, A Vulgar Picture.
42. The song, Statutory Ape.
43. The Ape 
.
44. Every song that brain writes.
45. Every song that Ryan writes.
46. Every Black Dahlia track is a fucking crushing machine that deports its own identity. No period!
47. The fact that they don’t take shit from no one.
48. The fact that they are still called THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER.
49. The fact that me saying this name again and again might be annoying the shit outta you.
50. Fact that, FUCK YOU. I love this name.
[Album Review] TESTAMENT – “Dark Roots of Earth”
When we talk about thrash metal bands from 80’s, the “Big Four” are the first to come into everyone’s mind. I have no doubt about the stakes of Slayer and Megadeth in Big Four. I love them and I don’t fucking care about anyone’s opinion. Talking about Metallica, their first 4 albums were great (though I hear them quite seldomly). But after that, they were not as good anymore. But I respect Metallica a lot and I don’t have any problem in placing them into the Big Four. But when it comes to Anthrax, it’s difficult to say, you might call me a big con, but Anthrax is nothing great in the Big Four. I mean, unlike the other three bands, I don’t find Anthrax music amusing. But there are few other thrash metal bands which born in 80’s and are nothing less than the Big Four. Survived the 90’s and still continue to release albums that can tear the hair, the beautiful losers: Exodus, Testament and Overkill.
Testament, the American thrash metal band formed in 1983 by guitarist Eric Peterson, the only constant member of the band. And since early 90’s, Testament faced numerous changes in their line-up. Finally in 2008, after being in a dark hole for 9 years, they released their 9th studio album, solid and reassuring, “The Formation of Damnation“, with a line up carrying two of their original band members, who left the band in early 90’s, Alex Skolnick(guitar) and Greg Christian(bass). Later, it was named as fourth best album of the year 2008.
Well, I am not here to arouse the Big Four or The Formation of Damnation. I am here to talk about Testament’s latest album, Dark Roots of Earth. The only change in line-up this time is over drums. Since Paul Bostaph had some serious injury, Gene Hoglan filled in as a drummer. When I saw its album cover for the first time, I was dumbfounded. The album cover is totally satisfactory. 10 of 10 for sure.
From the beginning, it pulls the hair with a pretty good force. Rise Up is not genius, but it is fast, catchy, and cut to the scene with its big chorus, “When I say rise up , you say war “, may have a lot of success in the mosh-pit. The title track shows clearly how the group is so comfortable in their thrash, and particularly reassuring. Chuck Billy still has a great voice and Gene Hoglan provides a beast behind the drums.
But this is an aperitif, as the group presses the accelerator with the following title, Native Blood. This track is breathtakingly horny, fat in fat, heavy and has melodic passages between the sudden accelerations. With the brutal course, True American Hate, Ultra-fast, pulling the death into pure killing. Undoubtedly, these two are the best tracks of the album! A Day in the Death and especially Man Kills Mankind, has interesting and effective refrains.
Afterwards, of course, there are the titles of fillings, but lacks a bit of juice, especially towards the end of the album. With too long Throne of Thorns, that tapes for seven minutes, really, nowhere near to Native Blood or True American Hate. I am not saying it’s disgusting. But the group is capable of much better.
Plus the bonus with the CD / DVD gives us four more titles, Dragon Attack (QUEEN cover), Animal Magnetism (SCORPIONS cover) and Powerslave( IRON MAIDEN cover), and an extended version of the already too long Throne of Thorns .
The album is darling but not inventive. Definitely not the Trash of the year. In short, Dark Roots of Earth, endorses the approach taken by their previous albums, a good vintage Testament, good thrash, melody, the correct dose of beatings and solos pretty well knitted. A little on autopilot anyway, but reassuring and comfortable.
4/5
Shits which came out this year and has shown NO MERCY
First I thought of making a list of best albums of 2012 so far. There is hell lotta shits came out in this year, some of which stuck in my mind for weeks. But then I came to realize that I am quite reluctant in making lists. So I decided, I will post those 2012 albums which I have been listening recently. Because I don’t wanna get killed by someone whose favorite album is not in the list. To make things clear, this is not any kinda “top albums so far” or something. This list may turn out to be a little different if you ask me tomorrow. 😛
And yea, this is not in any particular order. I made this list pretty quickly, wrote whichever album came first in my mind. So, here we go. Holy fuck! That “so” rhymed with “go”. I am a fucking poet. 😀
Okay, sorry for that 😛 . Here,
1. IHSAHN – EREMITA – [Progressive Metal]
Former Emperor frontman, Ihsahn, a genius musician, crafted his solo album titled “Eremita”. Groovy riffs, Emperor-era blasts with keyboards, Jorgen Munkeby’s saxophone adding layer of brilliance and beautiful chorus melodies. This is scary, heavy, beautiful and ugly, making this weird shit worth listening.
2. STILLBORN MESSENGERS – SIGHTLESS – [Djent Metal/Hardcore]
Stillborn messengers is a french Hardcore, Metalcore, Djent metal act. They released their first EP this year. Sightless has astonishing guitar riffs, heavy drums, amazing and intense vocals, heavy, brutal and beautiful at the same time.
3. MESHUGGAH – KOLOSS – [Progressive/Tech Metal]
Here, GO! -> Meshuggah – The Metallica of Present Time.
4. AHAB – THE GIANT – [Nautical Doom Metal]
Ahab is a nautical doom metal band from Germany. It is difficult to find a band as dark, as slow, as strong, as brutal and as ridiculously heavy as Ahab. If the link is not dead yet, listen full album here.
5. THE TALLEST MAN ON EARTH – THERE’S NO LEAVING NOW – [FOLK]
Apart from other albums, this one’s no metal. Here GO! – > I Don’t Wanna Go Heaven, coz I Am Graced Already – THE TALLEST MAN ON EARTH
6. TESTAMENT – DARK ROOTS OF EARTH – [Thrash Metal]
Testament! Enough said.
7. GOJIRA – L’ENFANT SAUVAGE – [Technical Death/Thrash/Groove/Progressive Metal]
Here, GO! -> Any GOJIRA album is a good GOJIRA album
8. PERIPHERY – PERIPHERY II – THIS TIME IT’S PERSONAL – [Progressive/Groove/Djent Metal]
American Metal band Periphery, popular with their Djent sound, released their second album last month. Periphery II is a lot heavier and catchier than their first release. Many would say “vocalist sounds gay”, “their sound’s no heavy” and blah blah blah.! But, I love Periphery and I love Periphery and I love Periphery and I think you’ll like them too.
SHITS I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR [Upcoming Releases]:
SWANS – THE SEER KATATONIA – DEAD END KINGS SYLOSIS – MONOLITH
here, hear…
In this section I won’t write anything. Not because I am a work-shy or something. It’s just I don’t find myself master enough to grade such corking music. Because sometimes, music wants you to just stop doing whatever you are doing and simply listen. The list below is not
In any ranking order. It’s completely random. So, let’s get human and listen to some good music. Hear, hear..
[Genre: Post-Rock/Atmosphere/Ambience]
1. Grace Cathedral Park
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VVFW-wG0KLU&w=300&h=200%5D
2. El Ten Eleven
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jcuqRSoFUmA&w=300&h=200%5D
3. Powder! Go Away
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UOB4NXhKoUg&w=300&h=200%5D
4. Long Distance Calling
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XRQJ453dpmw&w=300&h=200%5D
5. Moonlit Sailor
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pCr9rKFj2Kc&w=300&h=200%5D
Any GOJIRA album is a good GOJIRA album
Well its Gojira’s new album. Yea, GOJIRA’s NEW ALBUM. Okay enough said. Show’s over. Go home. Wait wait! Let’s talk about this new album. Its almost autumn and if you are here with me then I suppose you are in a desperate need of a good metal album. Aren’t you? Hang with me for 2 more minutes and you will get your martini.
Usually I don’t find French metal bands appealing. But when I heard Gojira for the first time, I was balled over. I still remember the day when I heard Gojira’s “global warming” from the album “From Mars To Sirius”. That killed me. That starting guitar riff. God, I was floored. If you haven’t heard this track yet, stop whatever you are doing, listen global warming, then come back. It was “From Mars to Sirius” in 2005 and “The Way of All Flesh” in 2008 which made Gojira to come into metal picture. And since then, Gojira has consistently received praise from both critics and fans and now that they are getting global recognition, getting what they deserve, makes me feel more happy.
After a long tour of three years for their chaotic album “The Way of All Flesh,” Gojira returns with a great new album, as intense as its predecessor, their debut album on Roadrunner Records, titled ‘L’Enfant Sauvage’. “When you become a musician, you don’t have a boss telling you what to do so you have to be very responsible,” said Joe Duplantier, singer/guitarist/songwriter of Gojira, exuviating a little light on the title and its meaning. “With freedom comes responsibility, so I’m asking myself, ‘What is freedom? What does it mean to me?’ ‘L’Enfant Sauvage’ reflects on that. There’s no answer though. There’s just life and questions.” Lyrically, this is what the album is all about.
Vocally, Gojira hasn’t lost anything. Joe is a bit more melodic this time. And emotions in his voice are still the same. Some say he has a robotic kind of voice but I feel his singing became a little better. A bit more human this time. Personally, I always like joe’s voice and it perfectly fits into their sound.
The first single of the album, the title track ‘L’Enfant Sauvage’ was released on this 27th April. In this, Joe describes his relation with society, indulging power with emotions. I heard it the day it was released. Mario Duplantier’s drums at the start. They knocked me out. I mean they will immediately hit you. Because they are for real. Mario is a much underrated artist but he is a great drummer in the metal world. Then on 4th june they released their 2nd single of the album, titled ‘liquid fire’. Catchy guitar riffs. Lyrically awesome: “The second I was born I found a shelter deep in my own. I ventured further out on the edge of the glacier. This is how we talk to the world”. Finally, album released on 26th of June. Here is the track by track album brushup:
Explosia. Bloody Explosion! Awesome track to start off an album. A pretty long track for your vein prolusion. Total chaos.
Axe. Starts with astounding guitar riffs. “I’ve been a victim to the blade against myself. Bloodletting all of my soul”. “All ghosts dwelling in, inside, in the heart I see them all, release their shadow”. Basically ‘Axing’ your suck-up life.
The Wild Healer. This, in the middle of the album, very much different than other tracks, inducing repetitive guitar riff, with some flirting in between, creates a full atmosphere of the track.
Planned Obsolescence. Very thrashy at start. But in the middle of the track somewhere, becomes completely different from what it had begun with, open and screamy at the same time.
Mouth of Kala. Describing river of time, which goes so fast, changing over and over, terrorizing youth and humanity. The music is awesome too, rightfully portraying the terror.
Gift Of Guilt. Guilt is filled with every aspect of the society. Either you can die with shame or sorrow or cause devastation with your power. Musically, it’s the proper ‘Gojira’ version of The Wild Healer.
Pain is a Master. Plainly, it has Pain, Life, Survival. Slow intro, which apparently goes heavy afterwards. Manifestly experimental music throughout.
Born in Winter. Nice, calm, post-rock type music with toppings of Joe’s melodic voice [Yea there is ‘Gojira’ in between but just for a while 😉 ].
The Fall. Well, to keep it simple, the album started with a chaos and ends with chaos with some romancing in between :D.
Overall, the album is a masterwork. I expected much from this album and it has over-lived up to my expectations. It is rare to find an album so drove, yet so darling. I hope your martini tasted good! 😉
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IV8z3H-9Dy0&w=300&h=200%5D
I Don’t Wanna Go Heaven, coz I Am Graced Already – THE TALLEST MAN ON EARTH
With the debut recorded in various living rooms, making a minimalist music with roots in an ancient tradition by the name The Tallest Man On Earth, Kristian Matsson, the young Swedish songwriter, hidden behind his sorcery spirits, puts his guitar on and gets off the magneto. Once asked why he chose such a big name, he said, “It’s great to have a huge name for one of these “small” music.” Well, I tell you, you won’t win listening his “small” music, but will remain a little double-locked in his log cabin.
He has a very uncanny voice, as if his throat is curled a bit at the end, and when you hear it for the first time you will probably not like it (I know I didn’t) but take my word for it and let the music grow on you for a day or two. Once that happens, the same songs will sound like the best you have ever heard, makes you shudder at the thought of impatience to hear the album in its entirety. Because sometimes when you listen to some good music, you don’t really care what’s going around.
Three albums in the space of six years is a brisk pace for an artist. However, what separates the grain wheat of Kristian Matsson from the rest of the melodic chaff is his consistently high quality of all the guitar pluckings and his sandpaper voice, in a direct line from folk virtuoso, Dylan, sounds more polished than ever.
His third album, There’s No Leaving Now, is mostly recorded at home over a stint of 5 months. There are some small refinements in this new album. With the addition of woodwinds, drums, and additional fingerpicked guitars to the mix, giving his songs a fuller sound, making it even more difficult for the listener to defend himself. There’s No Leaving Now is an adventure close to home, the sound of someone exploring a nature trail in his own backyard. Every song has a different gait, still picturesque. Lyrically, the album is a chef-d’oeuvre. To cherry-pick 3-4 songs is the hardest part. Still, my personal favorites are: “To Just Grow Away”, “Revelation Blues”, “1904”, “Bright Lanterns”, “There’s No Leaving Now” and “Little Brother”[6 out of 10. Almost the entirety :P. In this album, every track is a gem]. “Little Brother” was the first song I heard. “Why are you drinking again little brother. When your ramblings the hard part of loving you. You say the creek and the fogs wanna drown you. But there are deeper wells where we’re going to”, was enough for me to fall in love with this tallest man :P.
Excerpt from the cosmos of Matsson, There’s No Leaving Now is a beautiful gift to us, proves that his songwriting has not aged a bit and is still as gently touching.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=36f-tN9F264&w=350&h=220%5D
Meshuggah – The Metallica of Present Time
When knowledgeable people begin to talk about progressive/tech-metal, Meshuggah is always one of the first bands to be spoken of. Meshuggah unequivocally needs no introduction. Spanning their 22 year career, inventors of “djent”, inspiration of almost every djent metal band out there, this Swedish band is doing something more diverse, making all these wannabe Meshuggah bands obsolete.
Djent (silly word for “sounds like Meshuggah”) is one of the most dominant sounds in metal today (at least for me :P), and it’s a sound Meshuggah pretty much created. After releasing ObZen in 2008, they have been quite low whistle. Now they have returned to their rightful throne with 10 new tracks in their latest studio album titled “Koloss”, blended with poly-metric jazz fusion and death metal aggression. If you love djent sound and if your veins were animated when you listened to “ObZen”, it is so impossible NOT to listen Koloss.
A little more than a month ago Meshuggah were happy enough to release the tracks “Break Those Bones Whose Sinews Gave It Motion” and “Don’t Look Down” to the world as a sneak peek preview of what Koloss is gonna be like. These two tracks with nerve thrashing riffs and with Tomas Haake’s lyrics over it is the perfect combination for the fans and enough to build fury and hunger for the full length album release. The album opens with “I am Colossus”, sheer anxiety, exhausted, but unstoppable. “The Demon’s Name Is Surveillance” and “The Hurt That Finds You First” are the fast ones, absolutely vicious. And then come the gems of Koloss – “Marrow” and “Demiurge”. When I heard them, I was like, yeah this is it. This is Messuggah. This is some serious shit. This is heaven. This is kick-my-ass-every-damn-time-I-hear-them. 😀
I don’t know if Koloss is the “best” album Meshuggah has ever made, but it’s by far the damn craziest, and is surely an early contender for the best album of 2012. A kid today, hear the songs “Morrow” or “Demiurge” or “Do Not Look Down” or “Break Those Bones Whose Sinews Gave It Motion” and might think, “ohh, this sounds like ..[a djenty band].,” but someday day he will realise this is a trillion times better, especially after they’ve had the album stuck in their head for weeks.
“Koloss” was one of my most anticipated albums of 2012, and after digging through every nook and cranny I could find, I was absolutely justified in feeling that way. In short, Koloss is everything it needs to be — a treat for fans like me and a bible for the bands just getting into the genre. Okay now enough said, Meshuggah lovers will seek out for Koloss, and to those who don’t, the “Koloss” will come seeking..
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PBmCaRP_oDk&w=320&h=220%5D
Resolute Whimsy 