MESHUGGAH – “KOLOSS”
NUCLEAR BLAST (2012)

Metal Church - The Present Wasteland

My introduction to the Umea-based experimental metallers Meshuggah was what many would consider an adventurous one, as it included a very…challenging trip back from a prestigious UK Metal festival in my small car during which certain members of the band decided to use the M1 motorway for unspeakable things…and we’ll leave it at that! That was back in 2005 when the Swedish quintet released its then latest studio effort “Catch Thirtythree” – an album that was promoted as a thirteen track release but which, in reality, was more like a single continuous suite. Since then, many things have changed both in the way the band is perceived by the media and the way they themselves perceive their compositional skill as there in no better testimony to the ten songs of their latest offering “Koloss”.

Massive sounding discordant riffs and aggressive/screaming vocals have characterised the band’s music since their inception back in 1987. So what about these ten new compositions –quite different and bound to have varied effects on the band’s audience. The first few spins left me somewhat confused, but I persevered and began decoding the band’s musical formulae, so I am now in position to claim that I am both impressed and fairly hooked with this album. Jens Kidman’s scream vocals combine very well with the predominantly groovy riffs, courtesy of the duet Hagstrom/Thordendal, but it is the latter’s outstanding lead guitar work throughout the album which adds both atmosphere and character. Let me explain further…

The band’s ‘take no prisoners’ approach become very clear quite early on, as the opener “I Am Colossus” is introduced with a massive repetitive/discordant riff and cleverly arranged supporting leads which put the listener in a certain state of trance. By the time the bombastic riff of “The Demon’s Name Is Surveillance” is introduced, there should be no doubt as to how heavy Meshuggah’s music can be and the catchy grooves of “Do Not Look Down” show a side to the band’s character that some of the band’s old-school fans may not necessarily be used to. “Behind The Sun” is a song with a very challenging rhythmical structure but its solid riffs will suffice to win anyone’s attention, while the great combination of up-tempo Thrash riffs and atmospheric groovy themes towards the end help portray “The Hurt That Finds You First” as one of the stand-out tracks of the album. Fans of Prog ought to really warm to songs like “Marrow” and “Swarm”, whereas “Break Those Bones Whose Sinews Gave It Motion” displays various quality atmospheric themes. Following a short and unusual intro, “Demiurge” reminds of a Sepultura-influenced riff “Chaos A.D” era and is infused with more atmospheric leads, while “The Last Vigil” provides a dreamlike ending to this quite impressive release.

“Koloss” is quite a demanding album as it not only demands the listener’s undivided attention but also requires a fair amount of time before it starts revealing its secrets. That means that if you have a short attention span you will probably ‘stall’ quite early on, however, if you treat music as an intellectual challenge, rather than purely entertainment, then this album is certainly for you. There is a good reason why Meshuggah are enjoying the support of fans and media around the globe and as a result are considered to be among the leaders of their genre. I am absolutely convinced that with “Koloss”, this innovative band will inspire both existing and new fans alike.

John Stefanis

Rating: **** (4.0/5.0)

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