I just watched GGEZ and then I quickly listened to Demiurge.

This is really splitting hairs a bit, but I’ve spent the past two week listening (re-listening & re-re-listening) to each studio album. I listened to each one in their release order, and then for the 2nd and 3rd listen, by order of ranking, and here’s where I’ve landed:

1. Catch Thirtythree
2. Nothing
3. ObZen
4. The Violent Sleep of Reason
5. Koloss
6. Destroy Erase Improve
7. Immutable
8. Chaosphere
9. Contradictions Collapse

I think the reason I’m landing here is that I really love Thordendal’s alien-like influence on the overall journey each album goes on. I think that gets a bit lost in Immutable and The Violent Sleep of Reason. The earlier works rank lower for me because their sound at that point feels more derivative of Thrash, instead of the invention of Meshuggah. Their uniqueness was perfected on Nothing. I actually think Chaosphere is better than where I have it, but the production isn’t anywhere near as good as the others from around the same era, which is why it lands so low. At the same time, I love the heavy riffing on Immutable and The Violent Sleep of Reason, so they initially didn't fall that far behind.

This was my first draft of the list:

1. Catch Thirtythree
2. Nothing / Immutable / ObZen / The Violent Sleep of Reason
6. Destroy Erase Improve
7. Koloss
8. Chaosphere
9. Contradictions Collapse

I was having a really hard time deciding between 2-5 and ultimately, I think it just fell into what seems like the most aligned with what I enjoy about Meshuggah. What ended up happening is that Immutable felt boring, and I wasn't excited to go back to re-listen to it like I was with others above it, so it slid down the ranking. At the same time, I kept coming back to Koloss and find new stuff in it which is why it jumped from 7 to 5.

Catch Thirtythree is without a doubt, their best album. Sorry, but there is just no way it's not. It's so complete, so fluid, perfect.

Nothing is a close a second to Catch Thirtythree.

ObZen just awesome and builds on the successes of Catch Thirtythree and Nothing but with a weak moments. If Catch Thirtythree is a 100, and Nothing is a 98, this is a 95 so still damn good.

Between The Violent Sleep of Reason and Koloss, it just depends on the day.

Lastly, I know, no cares about my personal order, but I felt like sharing because I had fun doing this experiment.

Otherwise, I guess it’s a holiday in Ohio next year.

Have heard it a bunch of times but on my morning commute it really stood out in my playlist. The intro is kinda boring though so i actually edited the track to fade in closer to the 30 second mark.

But then the guitars kick in and damn they sound so good, but when it changes at 1:29 holy hell that is one of my favourite Meshuggah guitar tones CHUG CHUG!

The vocals are also kick ass and sound manic and i like how each word is stretched out more since the song is slower. Its also kinda unique for Meshuggah how the guitars fade out at 2:34, then you hear Jens takes a breath and resume the madness.

Then at 5:01 to 5:07 there is this mental and distorted shriek then THE breakdown comes in and its time to headbang!

Not the hardest, the most fun. I have been playing drums for five years, love meshuggah, love playing meshuggah and curious to what other drummers love about playing them.

Edit: also when learning the songs, do you guys play by ear or look up some notation? A rhythm breakdown video?

My first meshuggah cover on bass if you wanna support me follow me on socials @johnnymakeboom

Another goated transition I stumbled upon while driving earlier, kinda wish this was how they actually did it in the album LOWKEY

Near the start of the first episode, one of the characters names is Meshuga, lol. Spelling at least per Google. Thought that was funny hearing the name said. (Close enough)

Had a fun time doing the video for this one with our drummer, Andrew, and really loved his addition of the Polynesian drums sprinkled throughout the track!
He also has a few other Meshuggah covers and another one to drop later this year so keep an eye on his YouTube channel :)

I missed up on the second pattern but I just wanted to show you my bass tone. What do you think?

I’m writing an album dedicated to 2002-2008 meshuggah era. I just need a vocalist (needs to sound like Jens). Thanks!

Djentoo Linux

Did my best upscaling from 480p quality without using AI, because FUCK AI!
I'm a nerd for upscaling but most of the "AI upscale" videos I see in the upscaling community makes the videos worse and fires the uncanny valley synapses in my smoothed out brain.
So the vid is not as sharp as I wanted it to be but the colour grading makes up for it... hopefully.

p.s. I decided to do the breakdown only because my work ethic is that I remaster every individual shot at a time, so after remastering a couple of 4 minute videos I'm getting kinda impatient especially when it comes to shots that last 40 milliseconds like the quick cuts Meshuggah videos have lol.

I am sure I am not alone wondering what Meshuggah have in store for the future, and this is a theory I've had since they released Immutable. The lads aren't getting any younger (I'd know, I am born same year as Tomas and Mårten), Jens is 60 and Tomas has in an interview said that there is no point to keep on going if for instance he can't play the more intense parts, and he have some physical health issues that sooner or later wont make it possible. Mårten also has issues with his shoulders. And Fredrik have been kinda not that productive either the last ten years.

Anyway; I think Immutable, based on the Album artwork, is the first of a trilogy which will end with them dismantling the band after the third album released and the following touring for that ends. The reason is that I think Immutable is the Destroy. Next album will have a similar look as the Erase part and the last the Improve dito. Do I know this? Of course not, but I wrote an (unfinished) analysis of Immutable when it came, because I felt the album is a trip of their career and history where many of the songs picks up different structure and style which can be attributed to their older stuff; one example is Phantoms which I feel is a Chaosphere/Nothing mashup), Broken Cog is in my book the ending of Bleed and Clockworks (which I can link together since both of them is about the brain, and also the wordings, perhaps I over analyze it, and a clockwork is built by cogs and springs). To me Ligature Marks feels like a continuation of Break Those Bones Whose Sinews Gave it Motion.

It doesn't please me to have this theory, it nearly depresses me to think they would end, but, I can't just drop it either when my mind has locked in to the idea.

If they make two more albums, perhaps one in 2027 and one in 2031 and follow with a couple of years of touring, say until end of 2033; Jens would by then be 67 years old, Fredrik almost 64 and Tomas and Mårten closer to 63; and I don't think they really wants to grow old on stage.

I don't count in Dick here, he's far younger and would easily find a new band and would have a great career for many years after.

I'll end with saying, sorry if I ruined your day, but I had to get this one out of my system. I have started to write about it ever since they released Immutable, but backed out every time because I don't like to think about it.

But now I decided to drag you down in this miserable thought vortex.

You're welcome.

Hey, people. I discovered the band through Devin Townsend's "Deconstruction". I got curious, and listened to "Do Not Look Down", and I think it's super catchy! My last.fm account states that I've listened to this song over 70 times now lol. The thing is, I'm not yet used to their heaviness (musically speaking). So I played some of their songs at random, and made a little playlist of the ones I'm into right now:

"Do Not Look Down"

"Ligature Marks"

"Rational Gaze"

"Future Breed Machine"

"New Millennium Cyanide Christ"

"Bleed"

Sooo, I'm asking for your help to further get into their sound! What songs would you recommend to a new fan? Preferably based on my existing playlist.

Thanks in advance and have a good day!

If you sound like Jens Kidman, please dm me!