Meshuggah

I (Fractured Transmitter)
by Tim Den

After their last disappointment of an album (Nothing), I was beginning to worry about the almighty Meshuggah‘s well-being. After all, here was a band that invented a subgenre (None), only to slowly weaken with each release. And now, a 21 minute EP comprised of one song!? Oh lordy, please don’t let this be a trainwreck…

Well waddaya know, the Swedish machine has redeemed itself. I is a nonstop rollercoaster of accelerated awkward tempos (the band hasn’t played this fast since Contradictions Collapse), tempered by stylish dynamics to create a flowing, well-paced epic. Just when the grinding’s too much to take, the army retreats and the smoke clears for a lone, ghostly guitar melody. Just when the schizophrenic time signatures begin to irritate, the sons-o-bitches break the fuck down and give you whiplash from headbanging. It keeps you guessing, and you never see it coming. All you can do is marvel at how Meshuggah can put together a 21-minute song that works, but not 10 shorter songs of this caliber. Alright alright, enough with the Nothing bashing…

For followers of the mechanical fire-and-brimstone found on “New Millennium Cyanide Christ” and “The Mouth Licking What You’ve Bled,” I is going to rain upon you like a meteor shower. It’s going to last a long, long time, and you’re going to love it.
(www.fracturedtransmitter.com)