Sunday, November 4, 2012

ITP V.012 (CLASSIC) REVIEW: MESHUGGAH: "I" (EP)


BAND: MESHUGGAH (UMEA, SWEDEN) GENRE: PROGRESSIVE/ "DJENT"/ THRASH METAL                                       LABEL: FRACTURED TRANSMITTER RECORDS                               PRIMARY LABEL: NUCLEAR BLAST RECORDS                  RELEASE DATE: 7/13/2004

PREVIOUS RELEASES (CATALOG): KOLOSS (3/23/2012-NUCLEAR BLAST RECORDS), 
ALIVE (DVD-2/5/2010-NUCLEAR BLAST RECORDS), THE SINGLES COLLECTION (COMPILATION-2009-NIGHT OF THE VINYL DEAD RECORDS), OBZEN (3/7/2008-NUCLEAR BLAST), NOTHING (RE-ISSUE-10/31/2006-NUCLEAR BLAST RECORDS), CATCH THIRTY THREE (5/16/2005-NUCLEAR BLAST RECORDS), NOTHING (9/16/2002-NUCLEAR BLAST RECORDS), NOTHING/RE-ROUTE TO REMAIN (SPLIT-EP-IN FLAMES/MESHUGGAH-2002-NUCLEAR BLAST RECORDS), RARE TRAX (COMPILATION-
8/20/2001-NUCLEAR BLAST RECORDS), CHAOSPHERE (11/10/1998-NUCLEAR BLAST RECORDS), THE TRUE HUMAN DESIGN (8/19/1997-NUCLEAR BLAST RECORDS), MESHUGGAH/HYPOCRISY (SPLIT EP-1996-NUCLEAR BLAST), DESTROY, ERASE, IMPROVE (7/25/1995-NUCLEAR BLAST RECORDS), SELF CAGED (EP-2/15/1995-NUCLEAR BLAST RECORDS), NONE (EP-11/8/1994-NUCLEAR BLAST RECORDS), CONTRADICTIONS COLLAPSE (1991-NUCLEAR BLAST), MESHUGGAH (EP-1989-GARAGELAND), 
EJACULATION OF SALVATION (DEMO-1989) 

BEST RELEASE(S): "I" (EP-2004), DESTROY, ERASE, IMPROVE (1995), CHAOSPHERE (1998), OBZEN (2008)


TRACKLISTING: MESHUGGAH "I" (EP): 
1: "I"-(21:00) 


ITP RATING: *****
PRODUCTION: **** 
SONGWRITING: *****
PERFORMANCE: *****




FROM WIKEPEDIA: "DJENT":
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Djent
FROM ITP V012: ITP V.012 EDITORIAL (3/2012): THE ART OF DJENT:
http://spak-individualthoughtpatterns.blogspot.com/2012/03/itp-v012-editorial-art-of-djent.html

Swedish progressive, thrash metal warriors MESHUGGAH need no introduction do they? If you have NOT heard of MESHUGGAH, then you aren't listening to extreme metal, and not a f**ck was given about YOU.

MESHUGGAH, formed in 1987 in UMEA, SWEDEN (JENS KIDMAN-vocals, FREDERICK THORDENDAL-lead guitars, drummer THOMAS HAAKE and current bassist DICK LOVGREN) and
 are a groundbreaking progressive thrash band of epic proportions. 

MESHUGGAH seamlessly meld progressive thrash metal with jazz fusion elements via a cauldron of "exquisite" musicianship. MESHUGGAH are extreme metal innovators, using down tuned 8 string guitars, poly metered song structures and poly rhythms.

After unleashing 7 full length releases, countless EP's, compilations, and performing many international tours and festivals, MESHUGGAH have coined the term "DJENT", described as a digitally processed power chord, syncopated, palm muted guitar riffs and virtuoso soling.

While it has been debated if DJENT is a metal sub-genre, MESHUGGAH's musical innovations have inspired many clones and bedroom PRO TOOL musicians.

ITP V.012 has gone back into MESHUGGAH's catalog for a review of an unconventional and personal
favorite extreme metal juggernaut,  all 21:00 minutes of the one track EP,"I" (2004).

MESHUGGAH's "I" kicks off with 1:34 seconds of down tuned, poly rhythmic chugging until.....
JENS KIDMAN (MESHUGGAH's vocalist) evokes out a horrific scream, accentuated by the band, as MESHUGGAH roll into a similar poly metered groove combined with an excellent Indian inspired lead riff.

MESHUGGAH's "I" segues into some tasty and powerful thrash, (3:34) complete with tight as FVCK poly
rhythms, powerful bass, and just tasteful progressive thrash, enough to open up any pit, crowd surf, and fucking headbang. MESHUGGAH's syncopated measures would confuse even the mathematically inclined, as you wipe the drool from your face. \m/ \m/

MESHUGGAH's "I" evokes the momentum of a space ship blasting off (4:53) , as the band segues into a faster tempo of AWESOME technical thrash brutality, complete with blast beats as you raise your horns \m/ \m/ at the point of your metal gasms.
MESHUGGAH's "I" (6:20) evokes thrash breakdowns to an epic and orgasmic thrash/speed climax as by now you should be moshing and wrecking your room in an epic progressive tech/ thrash wall of death throw down. Lyrically,  MESSHUGGAH's irony would have the most cynical in stitches of hilarity.

"A snail along a straight razor-dividing itself through motion
I charge this feeble product of god
Laughing, drenched in the bile of millions
Chewing on the stinking flesh of the crown of creation'


The first half of MESHUGGAH's "I" (7:47) ends on softer edge of downtuned guitar picking,the calm before the storm , as you pull your self up from the pits floor, and climb into the apocalypse.

The second half of MESHUGGAH's "I" segues majestically from soft to HEAV-EY progressive thrash instrumentation (8:40). MESHUGGAH's "I" evoke tasteful, progressive riffs and in repetition you NEVER want it to end.
 MESHUGGAH expand and segue diverse riffs and breakdowns into truly progressive and awe inspiring  moments of godly musicianship. Heads should be spinning (and banging) with these incredible syncopated, mathematical measures as the bass is right in the pocket with HAAKES drumming. Windmilling your long hair is mandatory. MESHUGGAH's drummer THOMAS HAAKE evokes a GODLY drum roll (9:18) that will bring you to a metal orgasm.

 MESHUGGAH's "I" segues into a pompous, cocky groove, (10:33) of fist pumping riffage into (12:01), a syncopated groove of math metal inspired tech genius. MESHUGGAH's "I" (14:08) takes a
dip into the abyss of doom, trading progressive thrash genius for atmospheric, acid doom.

 MESHUGGAH's "I" slows down to a mid pace, evoking sludgy and epic progressive doom into
 the Apocalypse of humanity's dismal existence.


"Progress finally, emergence of doom complete
Here only to reverse the flow of life"


MESHUGGAH's "I", is a far more ambitious and enticing predecessor to the bands latter full length
"Catch Thirty Three", a perfect collage of riffs culled from a spontaneous jam session, flawlessly performed and executed into the most progressive of musicianship, truly inspiring.

MESHUGGAH's "I" seamlessly segue progressive/technical thrash into a riff o ramma of enough break downs to send you to the psych ward, taking one into an epic journey of progressive thrash eargasms and prog extreme metal genius.

Notable are the performances of MESHUGGAH drummer THOMAS HAAKE, guitarist MARTEN HAGSTROM and former bassist FREDERIK THORDENDAL. HAGSTROM performs amazing technical solos and former bassist/guitarist THORDENDAL employs underrated unconventional prog influences.
MESHUGGAH's over all musicanship is stunning, progressive and innovative.


"I" LOVE IT, as 8 years later, MESHUGGAH's "I", in all it's repetition never gets boring and perhaps is the sleeper nod of one of my favorite (top 100) extreme metal songs of all time.

MESHUGGAH's "I" shatters the stereotypes of extreme metal, and expands the possibilities of progressive
extreme metal's potential, truly ground breaking and challenging art..

MESHUGGAH peaked creatively as "I" exceeded ambitions, enlightened to quality song writing, awesome riff selection, combined with awe inspiring technical musicianship. MESHUGGAH's "I" combine all these elements into a cohesive cauldron for a technical progressive thrash masterpiece, one for the ages.





ITP RATING: *****
PRODUCTION: ****  
SONGWRITING: *****
PERFORMANCE: *****





Thanks-Stay Metal, Stay Brutal, STAY DJENT-\m/ -l-