New Meshuggah - Obzen.

Benjamin Strange · #1 03-11-2008, 02:48 PM

Sweet! I just picked it up at my local music emporium. I haven't made it all the way through, but so far I'm really impressed. They're using real drums again, and playing actual riffs rather than just grooves. It seems that this album is borderline catchy. The first track (Combustion) could be a hit single in an alternate universe.

You can even hear the bass every rare once in a while. Pretty cool.

I'm seeing these guys open for Ministry at the House of Blues in April. Two of my favorite bands in the world, on the same stage! Woot.

Meshuggah is the best metal band on the plant. If you disagree, you must obviously have a different opinion than I.

Beast · #2 03-11-2008, 02:52 PM

Just wait till you get to "Bleed". Pure metal-pound-your-face-in-riffage.

Love the album.

knarleybass · #3 03-11-2008, 02:53 PM

I have my copy on order, and it's in the mail, I as well will be seeing them open for Ministry, I think it's a strange pairing if you ask me.
Meshuggah is one of the best if not most important metal band to date.
I saw them years ago when they were touring for Destroy Erase Improve, they were incredible, I think they were opening for Slayer, we were so blown away we decided to go home after Meshuggah.

Phantopeth · #4 03-11-2008, 02:53 PM

obZen is great, so far I am very pleased with it. You're right about the first track. I read an article on the album in the latest Decibel, and they were saying how they intended that song to be that much more straight-forward than we were typically used to hearing from them. They also said that it was one of the hardest to pull off in the studio! I guess they're too used to their polyrhythms and all that.

I cannot wait to see them again. I saw them once back probably almost 10 years ago, with I believe System of a Down.

Mark Latimour · #5 03-11-2008, 02:55 PM

I haven't listened to much Meshuggah - I have an early album and also Chaosphere, but they are on very low rotation. So far I think this album is a pretty solid and listenable effort. I will wait till a few more listens through to cast judgement, but not too shabby.

Deluge Of Sound · #6 03-11-2008, 02:56 PM

It's on my list of things to pick up, and I've only heard good things.

jsbass · #7 03-11-2008, 05:41 PM

What's a meshugga?

MoD_Scotty · #8 03-11-2008, 06:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jsbass

What's a meshugga?

In Yiddish it means "crazy."

Benjamin Strange · #9 03-12-2008, 10:22 AM

Here's what The Onion has to say about it:

Quote:

Meshuggah's dense, polyrhythmic roar elevates math-metal artisanship to such insane heights, the Swedish group often builds new ceilings just to smash through them. With 2005's Catch Thirtythree, the band delivered a suite of sampled drums and multi-tracked guitars so complex that it couldn't replicate the album live. With the follow-up, however, Meshuggah revisits its core tools to push even harder.

Returned to the drummer's chair, Tomas Haake puts his sampled kit to shame throughout obZen. He sends beats ricocheting against Fredrik Thordendal and Mårten Hagström's angular guitar interplay in "Combustion," punctuates "Bleed"'s riff barrages with bass-pedal exclamation points, and works a hi-hat in slow motion while his other limbs thrash the kit in "Pravus." Even the album's rare subdued moments (the Red-era King Crimson-ish "Dancers To A Discordant System"), as well as Jens Kidman's terminally unsubtle vocals, serve a rhythmic higher power. The result challenges brain and body, sure (just try headbanging to obZen), but it also dares any other metal band to write a more ferocious album

Jeramaya · #10 03-12-2008, 12:12 PM

It is so rare that anyone who writes for the Onion praises the metal.

Obzen is growing on me quite a bit, after first being kind of neutral about it. I like that.

Marson · #11 03-12-2008, 12:20 PM

WOOOOOO for going to see meshuggah and ministry at once so I'm stoked and obzen is pretty rippin man good choice

TheInsane · #12 03-12-2008, 02:29 PM

I think Meshuggah has made a more direct and straight cd this time around. My personal favs are nothing and catch 33 so I think this one is a step down for them. Its not bad but I want more grooves and more complex riffing. I understand why they wanted to do an album like this though. It is nice with real drums fro a change. It gives some more dynamics to the songs.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Benjamin Strange

You can even hear the bass every rare once in a while. Pretty cool.

All Meshuggah albums I have heard has VERY audible bass. This includes "destroy erase improve", "chaosphere", "nothing", "catch 33" and the new album "ObZen". Meshuggah is one of those extreme metal bands where I can always hear the bass loud and clear in direct contrast to stuff like Nile (good band but not a whole lot of bass).

Linkert · #13 03-12-2008, 04:50 PM

I hope they ain't going "mainstream media prostitutes". I dubt it, but money is a magical thing.

Matt Till · #14 03-12-2008, 06:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Linkert

I hope they ain't going "mainstream media prostitutes". I dubt it, but money is a magical thing.

I think they'd have to make some MAJOR changes to their sound if they are going to be considered mainstream at any point.

They are one of those bands that manage to sound different album by album, but still maintain their original vibe.

neurotictim · #15 03-12-2008, 07:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheInsane

All Meshuggah albums I have heard has VERY audible bass.

I've been pretty interested in this band's music for a while, and I just got through Obzen last night in one extended blast session. I was very impressed.

I thought, though, that they had at some point switched to 8 string guitars and ditched the bass altogether...? I don't remember where I read it, but I'm pretty sure that I saw that in a magazine at some point.

Jeramaya · #16 03-12-2008, 08:03 PM

Dick Lovgren has played with them for a little while now. I noticed he thanked Warwick basses in the credits of "Obzen." Does anyone know his setup?

Benjamin Strange · #17 03-12-2008, 08:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeramaya

Dick Lovgren has played with them for a little while now. I noticed he thanked Warwick basses in the credits of "Obzen." Does anyone know his setup?

He's using a black Warwick Dolphin. I imagine that he's using a Line 6 POD, since the rest of the band is using Line 6 stuff live with no amps.

andrewd · #18 03-12-2008, 10:34 PM

I think for at least one album there was no bass player, probably when they first got the 8 strings.

Deluge Of Sound · #19 03-12-2008, 10:35 PM

I'm pretty sure the bassist is just a touring player, though I could be wrong with that.

Benjamin Strange · #20 03-12-2008, 10:39 PM

Dick Lovgren is a full time member, and has been with them since 2001.