The Swedish Mathcore metallers are back, well, not yet. This album is sceduled to release on the 28th of Feb, 2008. I, fortunately got my hands on a promo copy, and here I am, reviewing it.
So what does obZen have in store for you?
To make things clear at the offset,let me say this is nothing in the vein of Destroy Erase Improve or Chaosphere. Meshuggah have opted for a more streamlined sound here; in fact some of the songs could be simply categorised as modern Thrash. The unusual time signatures, the chaotic rhythm and sounds have all been done away with, well, for most of the songs that is. Does it mean that the music has suffered?Well..yes and no.
If you liked Meshuggah for their unique blend of agression and technicality, if you liked Meshuggah for their unique sound...then you'll be a tad disappointed...yes. The music on this album, however, is nothing you could call mediocre. The vocals are as harsh as ever, and the chaos is still there, albeit with a lot of restraint....as I said earlier...more streamlined. The weird/chaotic solos are still there. Album opener Combustion clearly demonstrates the skills of all band members. This one is a worthy headbanging opener and would have gelled quite well with the tracks in Chaosphere. The second track Electric Red, after the 20 sec mark, starts sounding like the first track, which is a big turn off! The third track, and possibly the best on the album, Bleed, is the Meshuggah we all know and love....it's madness! Lethargica follows the Destroy Erase Improve pattern with a weird sounding rhythm and crunching atonal riffs..just about average stuff though. The title rack obZen starts off in a very Metalcor-ish manner...uhh!, but comes back to form for some more mid tempo thrashiness. The next couple of songs are not worth mentioning, they just follow a simple done to death modern thrash formula. The last song is Meshuggah's attempt at the Epic! Clocking more than 9 minutes, this is also another song where you get to hear the virtuosity of every Meshugaah member.This song grows on you after a couple of listens.
So, overall, not really great... but a commmendable effort from Meshuggah.
Rating: 6.5/10
33 comments:
Man, this review sucks...
"So, overall, not really great... but a commmendable effort from Meshuggah."
Are you insane, or just plain evil? Meshuggah delivers one of the best metalalbums ever made! Brilliant, brutal og groovy...
Vandalf
Thanks a lot Vandalf :),
Yeah, I'm plain evil...you got that right.Enjoy the album...cheers!
I strongly disagree with this review. This album is insane. The solos, the speed, the dynamics, all is back. This album totaly makes justice to the None, DEI and Chaosphere eras. My 2 cents here.
Now that's a constructive comment David. I'm glad you liked the album so much, I didn't so much, but that's what music is about..we all sail in different boats. Atleast you're not spewing venom here like the first commentor. Thanks
I don't konw serioussam, but it can take some time, even for experient ears, to digest some albums. My advice is to listen carefully to elements like the solos for instance.
Beside that, good point on the Beneath the Remains review.
Hey I also disagree with your review pretty much completely serioussam. To say that the unusual time sigs, chaotic rythms have been done away with in any way is just plain wrong! Just listen to the polyrythm the count-in hit-hat makes with the guitar riff at the beginning of the album. This album has not disappointed me at all. It's has elements from all of their previous works throughout the album as well as some weird new sounds (like the opening riff). It's an excellent album 9/10.
David,
Thanks for your comment. I've been giving it a lot of re-listens, believe me.and I' not saying it's a bad album(you an see that in the review), it's just that I don't find it all that engaging..ceratinl not on the level of DEI or Chaosphere.
Supermot,
Hi..thanks for the comment. There's nothing more to say here except what I've already said to David. As for the unusual time sig et al;please read that line again--"The unusual time signatures, the chaotic rhythm and sounds have all been done away with, well, FOR MOST of the SONGA that is"--this is what I said :). But it's nice to have so many dissenting voices, and I'm glad so many Meshuggah fans are still alive and kicking in the digital world. Cheers!
Even I would have given it a similar rating, maybe even less. This aint nothing like DEI or Chaosphere, I'm not saying you shouldnt progress but this album gets boring somewhere in its length. Good review, you could have talked a bit about individual songs though. Thanks
Alex
Aah!..finally. Thanks Alex. I was beginning to feel like a moron with all the comments..lol. I actually had to reject the last 2 comments, they were so venomous!Anyway, I still maintain that the album is not bad as such, but it's nothing great. DEI, Chaosphere and Nothing trump this hands down!
Ok, So I couldn’t help but grab the leak offline... First of, I am no critic, I am a biased Meshuggah fan…The first thing about it when I listened, is that it BLEW MY MIND!... I’m not going to pick apart song after song, but I will say that this is what I would have imagined, or was hoping a new Meshuggah album would sound like, which is a good thing!.. I am a musician who has been obsessed with this band for years now, and 99% of all new music out there now is like a bad dose of heroin for me. This record gave me a fix that I have been craving for a long time! Great production, tight as ever performances. Haakes drum parts are executed so effortlessly, packed with polyrhythmic signatures that will have drummers worldwide obsessed for years to come. Although thrown into a 4/4 time will make them seem like less than they are, they aren’t!.. And lets talk about riffs from hell, which in my opinion have evolved and matured from the bands discovery of the "playing bass with guitars" crunchy tone from the Nothing era. They are WAY more interesting than in catch 33.. I loved it! My hats are off to these guys. ObZen shows the evolution of Meshuggah. They are without a doubt before there time... So in my biased opinion, 10/10:)... And please please PLEASE, if you are so inclined to have somehow acquired ObZen a little, errrr, early,,,, go buy the record when it releases and give these guys the respect they deserve……Yeah?yeah?Yeah?yeah?Yeah?yeah?Yeah?yeah?Yeah?yeah?Yeah?yeah?Yeah?yeah?Yeah?yeah?Yeah?yeah?Yeah?yeah?Yeah?yeah?Yeah?yeah?Yeah?yeah?Yeah?yeah?Yeah?yeah?Yeah?yeah?Yeah?yeah?Yeah?yeah?
Anonymous,
10/10 is really stretching it too far :), but I'm glad you liked the album so much. BTW, I mentioned this in the review itself, but here goes again...the obZen I have is a promo copy with beeps every 30 seconds. And as u can see, I didn't really enjoy the album...so no point in buying it either. Cheers
9 out of 10 i think, it'll probably go higher though, i've been anticipating this for awhile.
Dancers to a discordant system is so fucking awesome. What did you think about the drumwork - there are real drums on this album again, not programmed like on c33, and i think they are really fuckin good.
I actually think the second half of this album is stronger, which is a shame you didn't review it, but anyways there is NOTHING about meshuggah which follows a "simple done modern thrash formula," i really want to know exactly what you mean, because that is a pretty bold claim. You make it sound like they soldout or got washed out on drugs and lazy, and the plain truth is that they are as technical, avante garde, and fucking brutal as ever.
- Jamonbread
Hi Jamonbread,
Yes, the drumwork was good on this track indeed, as it always is in Meshuggah offering. Good..that's about it..nothing extraordinary. Regarding my "modern thrash formula" statement; you see I can't write a thesis about how many bands I listen to and the relativity factor in judging what was presented in obZen. It just depends on how varied and extended one's tastes are. Even if we talk about the technicality aspect; many many bands, including but not limited to Death, Cynic, Atheist were churning out much more technical stuff at a time when Meshuggah were still in their nascent stages. In fact, in the DEI insert booklet, you can see that Meshuggah cite Death and Cynic as their influences. Now there's nothing wrong in being influenced, and Meshuggah were always a very good band, with a distinct style of their own. The most unique aspect of Meshuggah, for me, were the dissonant guitar riffs and the heaviness! which was created not by sheer noise but by the weird atmosphere.Things which peaked in Chaosphere...obZen, frankly, is neither anything new nor anything muscially extraordinary to my ears. Why? As I've said earlier, it would take too much of a time to explain here. Understand that this review is not against Meshuggah, it just expresses disappointment towards the album(why people take this so personally is beyond me). As for being brutal, well, again...as I said earlier....this does not even come close to souding brutal in my ears :). Every review is written from an individual perspective, and whether one likes it or not...every reviewer is biased too...so am I. So this was MY perspective. Evidently, many many people think this album is incredible..that's fine...I'm not going around the net and asking for explanations..am I? A little bit of argument is ok..and healthy too...but one should not overdo it. I cold say..hey it's my review..take it or leave it..but I don't..all I say is..read it..don;t agree..fine..you can voice you disagreements, but I'm not here to be bombarde with extended Q&A sessions :) I hope you understand..and I hope this comment of mine will serve as the final answer to all who disagree and want to curse me..lol. Disagreements are always welcome, very few comments have been pleasing to the eye in this thread, ncluding David's and yours too actually :)Anyway..cheers..and I hope I've explained myself more than enough now.
Yes I got the album leak too, although as always I'll buy the album out of support for this great band.
Definitely disagree with your review, I'm sorry but "unusual time signatures, the chaotic rhythm and sounds have all been done away with"? These songs are as complex as ever. "Metalcor-ish", "done to death modern thrash", what exactly are you referencing this to? Sure ObZen has a breakdown, but it's done in totally different context to the way metalcore bands use it. And call me stupid but I can't see at all how the modern trash formula fits those "couple of songs not worth mentioning".
Trust me I don't mean to insult you but perhaps you should listen to more of the genres you're attributing this album to, and also degrading it for. There's big differences. I won't say that a thrash element isn't there, but they did start life as such a band and typically those early influences can be found in most if not all of their albums.
I think their sound still remains exceptionally unique, in comparison to other bands and also other albums of theirs. If anything Obzen has the most different sounding songs they've released in ages, and its refreshing to listen to considering Meshuggah have been riding very similar styles between albums since Nothing (not to say they were bad). There's still all the trademark elements but Obzen has a strikingly different feel to it. And it's fucking brutal at that.
While Chaosphere is still my favourite and 'I' coming in close second, this is a fucking awesome effort. 9/10
Man! what did I get myself into? LOL.
Anonymous,
Thanks for the comment and thanks for being civil. I'll say this again, to make you aware of how many genres and bands I listen to would take a lot of time..andI don't intend to bore you with that :). And I just can't understand why the 'modern thrash' statement is pissing off people so much. Ok, will 'technical, experimental,modern thrash' do? Meshuggah ARE!! a modern thrash band basically, and they infuse elements of jazz, prog, math rock and several other styles in their music...that's why experimental. If you, or anybody else who thinks otherwise, then it's time to sit down and put yourself under the microscope. Sorry for the offhanded comment, but this is going too far! And please oh please don't tell me to go and 'listen to all those genres'...lol...I wold have gone ahead and prepared an excel sheet categorizedinto bands and discographies if I were not confident with myself. Anyway, some guys are reacting as if Meshuggah put food on their tables. Get over it people...if you really think this review so much...just ignore. Wait a minute...here's a better idea. Why don't all the venom spewing guys put up their own reviews...huh? Of course...I'm not putting you in the categor of enom spewing guys. Thanks for the comment....and sorry for my reply...but I ad to do it. Cheers
Yes, the chap who posted at 11:07, conveniently said everythign i wanted to say, more politely and specifically, thank you.
Also I wouldn't require a spreadsheet, that would be interesting i guess but if you listen to death and cynic you must be awesome. SO yea, thanks for answering all of my questions. I guess i just thought the review was too vague, but I'm sorry that my hasty response offended you, that was quite inappropriate because its not like i know any of you, i feel terrible to have disrupted the sanctity of this forum.
jamonbread
Jamonbread,
You don't have to be sorry, you're one of the very few people who have made sensible and civil comments here..and I'm glad you feel I've answered all your questions. CHeers!
For those who like more Chaosphere than Nothing, this work is for you. Not a masterpiece maybe, since there's nothing which breaks with the past, not another fast forward in the music. But this stuff is so...YEAHH! Groovy, still fresh, in your face...If you can catch it.
One of the few metal bands which can still tell something in music
Really obscene album, I love it.
6.5/10... What the?
I couldn't disagree more. Obzen may be the best metal album ever -- DEI & Chaosphere included.
You just peed in my face with that review. Right in my face. Nice.
whathte,
Sorry for that. it was not my intention :). Im glad you liked it, but he best metal album ever!!..really? Oh well..to each his own.
i also disagree with this review i believe this is one of meshugga's best efforts, 9/10 for me
Well, as many here I felt quite surprised with this review. The first time I listened It felt so fresh, brutal, pure madness, a beast out of control! You already named the best songs, bleed,...
dancers, obzen, but at the time I'm writing this, I'm sure that this record has to be studied for some time before deciding. It bleeds originality (or a projection of it over the meshuggah subspace). Something is very clear, once again(re-nothing, c33), meshuggah delivers its pure on/off high intensity, low frecuency blast, almost out of (normal)audible range. I think this one of the best albums ever made by meshuggah. I can't imagine seeing this album played live (bleed?..ahhhhahhaa)
I strongly recomend to listen to this record just before sleep, paying attention to gutural textures(c33) of the 8 string
filling the blank space with these complex patterns . 6.5? not so, I would give them 9 or very close to it. It's hard to compare this release against chaosphere or dei.
Sebastian,
Nicely articulated comment, cheers! And I'm glad you're not calling me names for having a different opinion than most here. Enjoy the album! :)
Hi!, after I wrote the last post, I spent the day tracking every single detail about this album, a few things,
1. Now it's quite clear that this record has born from the merge of several previous releases, most clearly dei and chaosphere, but under the c33 re-Nothing architecture. Heavy async ritms followed from above by three or four tones guitar melodies at the begining of a couple of songs. The jazz oriented Fredrik solos following the groovy progression, just like Close eye visuals or Future Breed Machine(one of the best songs ever made along with the previuos mentioned)
2.If we go back to originality, I would object that they include such three or four notes in more than three songs. A very small detail that instantaneously vanishes behing the montrous apparatus of each song.
3.Electric Red
why they didn't keep playing the massive riff at 3:30 with Jens raging some more!?
4.Dancers.
Nice if it would be a little longer.
rating, 9.95
5.Thumbs up!! For the length of each song, longer than re-nothing for ex.
5.The Spiteful, Pineal Gland, Pavrus.
They should be mentioned, althought they don't have a superb begining(ex Pravus), the all have their peculiar moments that makes you stand up and try to hit you head against the wall!
6.Wouldn't be great to have some kind of bass solo riffs, or something that would make Dick L. appear from behind this solid wall?
7. The begining and the entire solo section of Bleed, its memorable. Bravo!
it remainds me Close e. v.
8.Lethargica, get dizzy and let yoursef be carried by the wave.
9.obZen:
track 3 from chaosphere is back, or at leat at the begining.
10. I consider this record a much solid release than I or even Chaosphere(they sould make a 8st version-too much maybe- or remaster it.)
11. Everything agrees with the new policy that the band is following, very atractive releases (re-nothing+dvd, obzen+t-shirt), more clear defined riffs that would capture new listeners(more normal ones),a fresh brutal look. This record flows as a natural extension of the principles postulated from c32,re-nothing,chaos, dei.
I feel that the band is growing ,expanding within this abstract space without lossing their intrinsic properties.
A rerefied gas, worst, a degenated quantum gass!!
How would you describe meshuggah?!!
By this album, nothing, c33, and chaosphere.
Rate, still vey close to 9!
Final note, -----
one should tell Fredrick to make Special Defects Sol Niger Within 2!!!! Morgan Agren wake up!
Are you with me on this!!?
f+ck yeah!
Man!!..Sebastian...dude!!You have given this some serious thought and listens too :) I'm thinking of adding this as an addendum to the post. Sort of an alternate review, maybe the cursers will be pacified a little. Anyway, good job my man...although I still don't agree, but that is one heck!! of a list of observations.
I agree with Serioussam's review and commend him for holding a minority view. Maybe we are the only one's who feel this way. To me this album is disappointing and it feels like the character is gone. It is obviously Meshuggah but feels less distinctive than Catch 33 and "I" did. It is a step back to me. But I guess I am the minority, who up until this point, thought the albums were getting better and better. Catch 33 and I are the best Meshuggah albums to me, far beyond any other album. As Serioussam said, though complex time sigs are still there, they are more disguised and also less frequent. Also that primal drive from Catch 33 and parts of I (are gone). The song on this album I am liking so far is Bleed.
Thanks Noah :), you made my day...cheers!
Have you ever encountered an album that on first listen you dont care for but you know theres something special about the music but you end up putting the album away & years later you listen to the album again & realize its stunning & about 10 years ahead of its time?
Well here is that album & this reviewer has made this mistake...Big time!
Man!, the brickbats just keep comin don't they :)
Hi Vernon, first of all..thanks for the comment. You love the album..evidently! That's great, enjoy it.....but!..regarding your '10 years down the line' statement, I think I still got about 9 years and 9 months left..yeah? :) So you can come over here and beat me to death in 2018 if ObZen is thought of as a classic. Fair?
Cheers!
Ozben sounds like someone putting a plastic ruler on a tablecorner and hitting it randomly through distortion and farting on it. Awesome!
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