Review: Meshuggah – Obzen
The band that I deem to be the heaviest band in music today is back. Picked up the album at lunch, listening while I do data entry.
This is definitely a Meshuggah fan’s record but it has enough new stuff to gain some new fans too. This record has it all, its as if the band has saved songs from Destroy, Erase, Improve all the way to Catch 33 and vamped them into one cohesive monster. It has the poly ryhthms of DEI, franticness of Chaosphere, the pummelling heaviness of Nothing and the unabashed creativity of Catch 33. Some how mixed all together, like a best without any new songs. There’s nothing that really stands out, no song above another, which really makes the album as a whole flow better. Some tips they picked up in their last two endeavours I’m sure.
But there are some new/old elements the band is using here as well. You can hear some thrash coming through, which is what started this band to begin with, ala Contradictions Collapse/None. Also some more tradition metal riffing. Reminiscent of Iron Maiden or even Lamb of God as a more modern example. Plus, tehy finally seem to have some real production behind them, nothing and even Catch 33 to degree seemed muddy and this is really clear and crisp, just making it sound more heavy!! It really seems like the band is enjoying themselves on this one. Just songs, no agenda, nothing to prove. This makes this record sound less forced, more natural and shows. I think as band, they’re better for it.
This album is punishing from start to finish and heavy in many different ways. This is an album that is diverse enough to keep you interest all the way through and the band has incorporated new tricks that make this one of the most listenable Meshuggah albums in a long time. Once again Meshuggah delivered a punishing metal record that elevates them over the majority of bands in the metal genre and met the hype surrounding the record that started as late as 2006. That said, though this is a very, very good Meshuggah record, it’s not their best. However, if they keep with this formula and try not to make “concept” records and such, the next one very well could be.
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