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Devour the Domination
Not yet familiar with the bands hosted at Global Domination? Now's definitely the time to check 'em out. And what could be a better place for it than their Myspace-pages? Links below...
Class 6(66)
Meshuggah: Destroy, erase, improve
09/04/05 || Global Domination
Released: 1995
Introduction
Few bands can honestly claim to have spawned a sound and style of their own, but Meshuggah have surely earned that right. While their first album was like a heavier version of ”...And Justice For All”, the followup, “Destroy, Erase, Improve” was an altogether different kind of beast. Precise staccato riffs, machinelike drumming, odd time signatures and harsh monotonous vocals; these are all staples of what adds up to the Meshuggah sound. To this day “DEI” stands as the best work Meshuggah has ever done, and the band, just like Neurosis and Opeth, have become an established sound reference used to describe other bands. That is probably the epitome of “unique”.
Songwriting
9. What makes this album better then any of their more recent albums (good as they are) is that a lot of time has been spent on the songwriting and composition of each song. Never brutal for brutality’s sake, Meshuggah knows when to let go and when to keep pummeling you with those riffs. Just listen to the soft bridge in “Future Breed Machine” that slowly builds up to a absolutely punishing staccato riff.
Production
8. Recorded in Dug-Out studios. This means that the drums sound fantastic; thick, heavy and everything is audible. The bass could probably be a bit louder in the mix but I’m not sure, maybe it is and I just can’t hear it because it mimics the guitars almost all the time.
Guitars
10. The duo of Thordendal / Hagström is unreal, it really is. Not only do they play the most fucked up, weirdly constructed guitar patterns I’ve heard, but they’re also tighter then your little sister before she met me. Thordendal’s solos are a story in itself. Unique is the only fitting word.
Vocals
7. Abrasive, violent and with the subtelty of a battering-ram, Jens Kidman uses his voice just like a percussive instrument, placing more emphasis on the rhythm than the melody. He can get a tad repetitive sometimes, though.
Bass
6. Mostly the bass follows the guitars (no small feat on its own) and rarely does it get to shine by itself. Then again, this is metal played on 2 seven-string guitars, it’s not like the bass makes an enourmous difference.
Drums
10. Tomas Haake is a god.
Lyrics
8. Surprisingly good lyrics for a metal band actually. They deal with a lot of the same topics as Fear Factory; namely the man/machine dilemma of who controls who etc. Quite abstract and wierd lyrics at times.
Cover art
4. Ties vaguely in with the album title, still not very good-looking though.
Logo
5. Meshuggah’s had the same logo since the first album to this day. Stylish but not immediately recognisable like say, Morbid Angel or Iron Maiden. It does the job.
Booklet
Whatever. ?/10. I lost the booklet at a party many years ago and never bothered to buy a whole new CD just because of that, but I think there were some lyrics, some pictures and I’m sure a very long and boring thank you list (note from Tash: not to mention the ultra-odd acknowledgment of Earth, Wind & Fire as an inspiration/influence!!).
Overall and ending rant
Not a bad fucking song on the entire album. An incredibly unique approach to making music. A band that know exactly what they want and how to achieve it.
Why don’t you own this album already?
9/10