Meshuggah

Ninjaspy – Spüken Review

By Huck N Roll on April 19, 2017 in 2017, Canadian Metal, Heavy Metal, Mathcore, Progressive Metal, Reviews, Self-released, Progressive Metal, 64 comments

“It is a little-known fact that Canadians are patriotic. Most people think we just apologize a lot (I’m sorry, but it’s true), but just because most of our flags are pinned up in basement windows where we’ve run out of aluminum foil doesn’t mean we don’t love our country. So, when I get promos that might be interesting, often the fact that a band hails from my home country will be enough to tip the scales and get them into my speakers. Thus is the case for Vancouver’s Ninjaspy.” For those aboot to rock, we’re so sorry.

Interview with Dan Gargiulo of Revocation

By Mark Z. on April 6, 2017 in 2017, American Metal, Blog Posts, Interviews, 35 comments

“Between pillaging, plundering, and getting insanely hammered, Mark Z. interview’s Revocation’s Dan Gargiulo.” The first of several plunder publications from this year’s 70,000 Tons of Metal excursion.

Without Waves – Lunar Review

By Kronos on March 21, 2017 in 2017, American Metal, Progressive Metal, Progressive Rock, Prosthetic Records, Reviews, Progressive Metal, Progressive Rock, 17 comments

“Chicago has a busy music scene, and I can hardly be bothered to go to shows even when bands I already like are playing, so there are plenty of cool second city bands that I’ve always heard of but never checked out. One such familiar name is Without Waves, an experimental/prog metal/rock outfit set to release their third album, Lunar, into a crowded field of new music this March 17th.” In a crowded field, is this brutal enough?

Behind the Sun – Post Solis Review

By GardensTale on March 10, 2017 in 2017, American Metal, Djent, Progressive Metal, Reviews, Self-released, Djent, Progressive Metal, 21 comments

“We live in an age where trends tend to follow a very specific curve thanks to high-speed propagation and market saturation. Djent is no exception. The first stage is inception. A creator comes up with an idea, shares it, and becomes ground zero. Sometimes this is subtle and hard to trace back, sometimes it’s Meshuggah.” Consult the Djent Timeline if you will.

Hadal Maw – Olm Review

By Saunders on February 2, 2017 in 2017, Australian Metal, EVP Recordings, Groove Metal, Reviews, Technical Death Metal, Groove Metal, Technical Death Metal, 13 comments

“Melbourne’s Hadal Maw made waves in the Australian metal scene with their Senium debut in 2014. Although the album exhibited the band’s considerable potential through a frenetic blast of noisy tech-death, the compositions and production left ample room for improvement.” Has the improvement room been accessed?

Diablerie – The Catalyst vol. 1: Control Review

By Grymm on January 23, 2017 in 2017, Finnish Metal, Industrial Metal, Primitive Reaction, Reviews, Industrial Metal, 12 comments

“As I grow older, I’ve learned that taking time to make sure your creative output is as sparkly, shiny, and impressive as possible is paramount to a healthy creative life. Music is no exception to this rule. Finland’s Diablerie released their sole album, Seraphyde, back in 2001. With only a couple of EPs since, mainman Henri Villberg returns with the long-awaited follow-up, the ambitiously-titled The Catalyst vol. 1: Control, the start of a planned thematic trilogy of albums.” A trilogy, eh?

Infinite Earths – Into the Void Review

By Mark Z. on December 4, 2016 in 2016, American Metal, Death Metal, Progressive Death, Reviews, Self-released, Technical Death Metal, Death Metal, Technical Death Metal, 5 comments

“In recent years I’ve shied away from tech death. Sure I loved Origin back in their Antithesis era, but these days if I want noodles I’ll just make some fucking pasta. That said, a band name as cool as Infinite Earths was tough to ignore, particularly in how it invoked notions of parallel universes and promises of sweet purple cover art with a cosmic beast devouring a planet or some shit.” Take all you can eat, but eat all you take.

Madder Mortem – Red in Tooth and Claw Review

By Jean-Luc Ricard on November 2, 2016 in 2016, Dark Essence Records, Norwegian Metal, Progressive Metal, Reviews, Progressive Metal, 47 comments

“I was going to begin this review by referring to Madder Mortem as one of Norway’s best kept secrets, but I had no idea if that were true. It’s hard to judge how well-known a metal band is outside of one’s own group of heavy metal compadres, which is probably why I’m so often surprised by the billing of certain acts at certain German festivals (Feuerschwanz, anyone?).” Now featuring a popularity contest!

Meshuggah – The Violent Sleep of Reason Review

By Kronos on October 8, 2016 in 2016, Nuclear Blast, Progressive Metal, Swedish Metal, Progressive Metal, 57 comments

“What does a band do when they’ve spent decades revolutionizing the very fabric of metal? A handful of the early century’s most innovative musicians get their say this fall – and in quick succession, as if ready to pass the torch on to the next generation of darkness. But one of those bands in particular has pitched a radical transformation in how and with what metal is played. Meshuggah, the dark and jagged jewel of Umeå.” The paradigm must now align.

Imminent Sonic Destruction – Triumphia Review

By Huck N Roll on September 3, 2016 in 2016, American Metal, Luxor Records, Progressive Metal, Reviews, Progressive Metal, 18 comments

“Imminent Sonic Destruction like to call themselves progressive super metal. The brainchild of sweater-vest lover (and songwriter/guitarist/vocalist) Tony Piccoli, this group of prog-loving pals could more accurately be referred to as playing kitchen sink metal. As in, everything-but-the. And with influences ranging from Pantera to Dream Theater to Meshuggah to Genesis, that’s a pretty apt term.” You never go full Dream Theater!