CATCH THIRTYTHREE

Meshuggah are one of the most original bands I have ever heard in my life. "Catch 33" is my first full length album I own from this band and it is truely incredible. This album manages to get a 5 star rating because not only is the music played to perfection but it is one of the most original, interesting and mind blowing pieces of music that lies in my vast collection.

"Catch 33", I think, is definetly a prog album. Don't expect any kind of similarities to the likes of YES and GENESIS for you will not find any. In fact most lovers of prog could find this difficult. "Catch 33" will go down amazingly well with fans of extreme heavy metal and fans of very technical and interlectual music (baring in mind that the whole prog genre is full of this, yet this album takes it to a different degree!).

The framework and structure of this album is incredibly interesting and is something i have never come across in my whole life. Meshuggah stand alone in their own field of progressive "math metal". This album is full of much varied tracks times yet this is certianly just one big 47 minute epic that has been broken down into different tracks. I would not say that each track is an individual movement within a suite, that is just not the case here. The first 6 tracks are based around one solid riff that travels through different tracks, building up more power, speed and brutality. The album then progresses into a state of relaxation before it bursts into even more sonic brutality.

"Catch 33" starts off with one thundering riff, proving that Meshuggah's long year gap's between each album is worthwhile for getting all the ideas in. The use of odd time signatures and detailed shifts make each part of the huge opening riff that travels across different tracks completely mind blowing and very interesting all the way. Every time I hear a Meshuggah riff in their unique style I feel completely mezmerized and blown away. Hearing them live at Ozzfest this year was truely incredible.

The first 6 tracks are a journey of growing brutality. "Minds Mirrors" offers an incredible release. This track is essentially placed in the middle of the album to offer a great moment of relaxation. Almost an ode to space rock, the vocals here are echoic and uplifting. There is a still an aura of curiosity and darkness lurking in this track as it starts to go back into even more brutality than when the album began!

The rest of the album shows off less repetitive riffage and songwriting. Highlights are the two "In Death" tracks, "Shed" and "Sum". The later being a breakdown from chaos to order. As the album finishes you will hopefully feel drained by all the incredible complexities in this album (in a good way), and completely blown away.

Meshuggah prove themselves to be an unstoppable force. One of the heaviest and most original bands out there. This album is a masterpiece as it is not only one of the strongest metal albums I have ever heard, but it is one that can help spark off new ideas for future metal bands. 70s symphonic proggers beware, prog metallers... Meshuggah are your new gods!