NOTHING

Ah yes, with the release of this album Meshuggah's transformation is complete. With their last release we saw them moving in a less thrashy direction, getting heavier and more complex. Well, the trend is completed on "Nothing". The album has abandoned pretty much all their speed, however is even heavier then Chaosphere, (thanks to their new down tuned 7 string guitars) and they have taken the complexity a whole different level.

As mentioned above, Fredrik and Marten belt out some really slow, heavy, and groovy riffs. One thing I love about this album is a lot of the riffs sound they like are "falling off", (the only way I can describe it). A really cool sound. Of course Fredrik's solo are still here. It would not be a Meshuggah album without his bizarre, jazz fusion inspired solos.

The bass on this album is much less noticeable on this album. Which I am never a fan of. This album also displays some of Haake's best work. He plays some really technical, and complex rhythm's that will just blow your mind.

Jens' vocals have always been harsh but on this album they are stepped up. This is the album where his vocals become more piercing...but it is still tolerable.

Stengah. What a way to begin the album. You are thrown into one of those insanely heavy, slow chugging riffs. Notice hear what I mean with it sounds like they are falling. Then comes in Haake's signature drumming. A slow, groovy song with some nice solos.

Rational Gaze. My favorite song on the album, and actually one of the first I heard from this band. This song has one of my favorite examples of Haake's drumming. His continuous crash cymbal, off beat drumming, and wild bass drum use is so cool sounding. This song also is the best example of the "falling" riffs. At some points it sounds like they are just falling off the face of the planet. Just before the 2 minute mark you can hear some truly insane drumming. Haake must have 3 brains. There is a very dissonant solo later in the song, very cool.

Perpetual Black Second. The opening half minute will blow you away. This song alternates between really groovy riffs and short, staccato riffs. Some great drumming, a wild wild solo, and the outro is just brutal. Warning: The vocals on this song are quite intense.

Closed Eye Visuals. More of the same here. That is one downside of this album. However, it's ok since it all sounds so amazing. Good, but not one of the best on the album.

Glints Collide. A cool intro riff and really superb drumming. Again a good song, but nothing stand out about it.

Organic Shadows. The beginning will explode your brain! It soon goes into another crazy riff and some of the most off beat drumming yet! (Which is a good thing in the case of prog!) One of the better songs on the album, and the vocals are very intense on this one as well. Also, one of the best solos in the album are here.

Straws Pulled at Random. A manic intro and then into what might be the most dissonant, whacked riff on the album, (and THAT is saying something). Haake's drumming is beyond grasp, one of the best examples on this work. This song might be the might technical and completely insane on the album!

Spasm. Great intro. At :30 is some warped drumming and the vocals are quite awesome. They persist through the song and I am glad! They are just great sounding. Good solo, (that should go without saying). Overall the song is...well, spasmic.

Nebulous. A very slow, VERY heavy song. The music is pretty cool but the vocals are too much for me on this one. It's worth sitting through however. Such a massive tone! 2:00 on is just a flat out assault on your mind.

Obsidian. Begins with a slow, kind of creepy, yet beautiful intro. It carries on for a bit but then back to brutal reality. Best way I can describe this song is: This song should be played if the world was ending in a nuclear holocaust. That is what it sounds like.

Overall. WOW. Just wow. A brutal assault on your mind. The combo of heaviness and complexity is mind boggling. While this is a GREAT album it's major problem is all the songs are similar. Granted, they all sound good...but there is not much variety. Same style, throughout. Probably that was done on purpose by Meshuggah. Jens vocals can be difficult at times as well. Anyway, fans of prog/tech metal must have this album!

I give it a rating of 4 stars.