The Swedish kings of technical math-core death metal are biding their time before the release of their next full length album with the release of I, a 21-minute long single song EP, that just might be a revelation to many listeners unfamiliar to their brand of extreme metal, or a solid stopgap for fans who can't wait to get their hands on their next full-length platter of metal mayhem.
For my money, I'd love to see Meshuggah take the theme they have started here and expand on it. I is one long extended trip into a progressive metal nightmare, complete with spooky & atmospheric interludes, crushing diplays of doomy might, and of course, plenty of Meshuggah's trademark technical ferocity.
The lyrics? Well, there are printed in the booklet, but you try and figure them out. I gave up after a few passes. It's not that lyrics are overly important to this kind of music, with Jens Kidman growling and spitting all over the place you don't really feel the need to sing along or understand what he's ranting about. Guitarists Fredrik Thordendal and Mårten Hagström as always impress mightily with loads of heavy & fast riffs, wild & technical lead lines (from Thordendal) that recall Allan Holdsworth on speed, and eerie sound effects. Drummer Tomas Haake flails his kit like a man possessed, especially on the complex ""YYZ" influenced instrumental section about a third of the way into the track.
Complaints? None really, other than I would have liked to hear a full album from the boys here that continued on with this more accessible and proggressive style. If Meshuggah is going to continue on with this epic songwriting slant, then their next opus could very well set the progressive extreme metal scene (is there such a thing?) on its ears.
Track List
1) I (21:00)
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