CATCH THIRTYTHREE

Those who have followed Meshuggah over the years will have noticed how they have slowly spiralled away from what is immediately accessible and conventional. Ever since the stunning "Chaosphere" in 1998, the band have separated themselves from every other band on the planet - there really is no other band who creates the same kind of dark and chaotic metal as Meshuggah. "Catch 33" is about to push the Swedes even further from the norm.

There were a lot of rumours flying about as to what "Catch 33" would actually be. Some claimed it was going to be a live album, and others said it was going to be one, solitary riff played repeatedly for an hour. Thankfully, it's neither. What this is in fact is much like an extended version of "I" - a fifty-minute, continuous piece of brutal music, yet this time it has been indexed into thirteen parts, all of which slip seamlessly into one another. The album revolves around one particular riff which the band dip in and out of as the "Catch 33" progresses.

The band spend no time messing around with any intro of any sort and jump straight into the opener "Autonomy Lost", which runs on a basic, pounding riff that runs into the next two sections. Jens Kidman soon kicks into his unique screaming vocals to add to the structured-yet-chaotic drumming and deep, time signature-destroying guitar. The result, even to Meshuggah fanatics, is the sound of pure madness - to begin with. With each listen, "Catch 33" reveals the bands incredible ability structure songs in the most original ways possible. It is this that has driven the inspiration behind bands like Dillinger Escape Plan and The Locust and no doubt plenty more bands in the future.

There are few moments when the album stops for breath and tones things down a bit. When it does, dark, haunting, single string guitar melodies fill up the audio space to perfectly contrast the chaotic mess you heard just a few seconds before.

"In Death - Is Death" is what I feel the best section of the album. Kicking off straight into a mix of seemingly random guitar notes and gravel-throated vocals, the track ventures across one-note stabs and brutal yet brilliant melodic lines, before closing in a selection of chilling and beautiful clean guitar riffs. Absolutely stunning.

I don't doubt at all that Meshuggah will spook a few fans with their latest release. But, as put by Marten Hagstrom, "If we wanted to make money, we wouldn't be playing this. This is satisfying ourselves". This perfectly captures the point that too many bands are looking for the crowd-pleasing hooks that will gain them millions, and it is the music that suffers.

This is Meshuggah's most daring and compelling release to date - period. If you want an energetic, completely original band that shocks and astounds with every release, these are the guys for you. No music even comes close to crossing the boundaries this band have. An absolutely essential purchase that never becomes boring or tired.