I

It seems that all the best progressive or progressive-influenced bands have their best tracks (or at least really awesome tracks) clocking around the 20-minute mark. Dream Theater had "A Change of Seasons," Yes had "Close to the Edge," and now Meshuggah has "I". I am new to Meshuggah, just buying both "I" and "Destroy Erase Improve" about 3 weeks ago. I enjoy "DEI" quite a bit, but I almost like the one song "I" better than the entire "DEI" album, which is saying alot. How do I describe it? Let's just say that the first two minutes is like the beginning of a roller coaster: a heavy low-tuned and distorted one-note riff is chugged in various patterns over double-bass for about a minute-and-a-half, which can be equated to the beginning ascension of a roller coaster: you're tense and scared, but excited for the drop (the double bass almost sounds like the tracks when you go up, too!), and the "fall" comes at the end of the minute-and-a-half mark. With a quick slam of the snare, there is an EXPLOSION of riffage, drumming, feedback, and screaming of one letter, "I......" The first couple times I heard it I was so stunned it FELT like going down a roller coaster. Then I guess you could say the rest of the song is like the rest of a roller coaster ride: thrilling, powerful, scary, but in the end amazing and making you want to go again: A two-second pause, then the main part of the song begins. To tell the truth I was wondering how a very rhythm-focued band like Meshuggah could make a 21-minute epic, but I had to try it out and it was worth it. It has some of the most jaw-droppingly awesome and heavy riffs I've ever heard, and they make sense musically: this is NOT just mindless noise, though I can understand why some might think so if they don't listen carefully or like loud music. A good example of this is the kick-ass riff that explodes right after the end of the one really slow, creepy solo: it sounds like something Korn WISHES they could write, but couldn't. The rest of the song is just as good: there are two AMAZING fast guitar solos, that one slow one, a really dark and low-tuned slow arpeggio near the end, tons of amazing riffs, the BEST drumming I've ever heard (at one point he's hitting the snare so fast and STILL keeping beat, its insane), and the end feedback gives me chills because it sounds like the end of the "stargate" sequence from "2001 A Space Odyssey" (I would NOT be surprised at all if this is what they were trying to make it sound like). Overall, it seems one song CAN be worth $9.99. If you like fast, heavy, and complex music with logical slow parts and interludes, you will love "I". It is amazing.