Album Rating: 4.0

Yeah, it's become a commonplace.

Album Rating: 3.5

The majority of rock and metal albums have samples blended with the drums these days, but complete sample

replacement a la obZen isn't as common. Though the drums are usually beat detected as well, so it doesn't make a huge

difference whether you blend in samples, replace the original sounds entirely, or just straight up program them - the

results are pretty similar (and completely identical between sample replacement and programming).



It's not like Haake needs it - he apparently recorded Chaosphere without a click, back in the days when none of this stuff

existed. And frankly, I think the drums on Nothing sound way better than the drums on their subsequent albums - and

that's with no beat detection or samples. But apparently Fred disagrees and felt the need to sample replace the drums

on the reissue, killing the awesome feel Haake had on the original album...



The snare sound on Koloss definitely isn't real - as usual, they didn't even bother to edit the velocities. The overheads

may be real, though - it's hard to tell, since they're not very high in the mix. Then again, they're not using any real amps

anymore, either (AxeFX into Cubase VSTs) - they're all about making everything digital these days, which is why it

perplexes me that they keep touting this album as being more 'organic' than the last few.

Album Rating: 4.5 | Sound Off

How do you know what exact techniques they used in the mixing environment? Not saying your wrong, its just not something that is not common place knowledge, or can be found in interviews with the band usually. Also, if sample replacing is done well, with attention to detail, the majority of people would never know the difference.

Album Rating: 3.5

On the contrary, other than my speculation about the drums on this album, all of this has been stated in interviews with the band. They've publicly admitted on numerous occasions that the drums on Catch 33 were programmed and the guitars went through a pod, that the drums on obZen were completely sample replaced, that the guitars on Koloss were put through AxeFX into Cubase VSTs, etc.



And that is true about the sample replacement, but that is very time consuming and Meshuggah has never bothered to do it since they're not aiming for a human sound anyway.

Album Rating: 4.0 | Sound Off

good review

Album Rating: 4.5 | Sound Off

Yeah, most people know about the drum kit from hell and its use on catch 33. It still amazes me to this day that when I have seen Meshuggah play live, they didn't amps. They just plugged into their effects pods and straight into the sound system.



I was wondering how you know specifics about how they recorded and mixed this album? I haven't come across any interviews that speak of specific mixing techniques like drum replacing.

Album Rating: 4.0

I thought obZen was a blend of samples and mics.



Indeed, they don't really care about velocities - this is again as you said, the non-human sound they chase.



"I was wondering how you know specifics about how they recorded and mixed this album?"

He said he didn't know. Only speculation. Most of which I would have to concur with. Particularly the overheads.



Further, not using amps live makes a lot of sense from a reinforcement perspective.

Album Rating: 3.5

Philalethes: You do realize the album is out and the deluxe edition comes with a making of documentary where they talk

about a lot of this stuff, right? I'm speculating about the drums, though. That snare doesn't sound like any real snare

I've ever heard, though - I'd be shocked if that were his actual snare sound.



taylor: I'm pretty sure obZen was completely sample replaced using drumtracker... I could be misremembering, but it

certainly sounds that way.

Album Rating: 4.0

If it was it would explain the monotone drum sound.



And you know listening to it now with it in mind, I'm beginning to think the same as you.

Album Rating: 4.5 | Sound Off

I got my deluxe copy yesterday and just now watched it. Its a pretty cool look into their process of creation. I like that they all collaborated a little more on this one, throughout the whole process.



As I am listening back with mixing in mind, I can definitely hear the sameness of every snare hit. Their is no dynamic change even in any of the snare fills at the ends of phrases. I would almost think this purposeful, rather than laziness, as it is a pretty easy edit to make. To some extent a critique on their mixing technique has to be taken with a grain of salt. It is after all, very aggressive metal music. The aim of this music isn't to achieve an incredibly natural and nuanced sound. Rather, a big, distorted, in your face mix with little dynamics seems rather fitting for their style.

Album Rating: 4.5 | Sound Off

Oh yeah, and watching Frederick's picking technique on Demons had my jaw dropped. The way he was accenting some of those up strokes with his picking hand was ridiculous.

Album Rating: 3.0

Excellent, well-written/thought-out, review.

I think you give the album a bit more credit than it deserves but it is indeed a an accessible album which to me, is the anti-thesis of what meshuggah has always done.

I remain very dissapointed with this release.

Album Rating: 3.0

Great album good review

Album Rating: 3.5

correct rating. [2]

Album Rating: 4.5

the funniest thing is that meshuggah and all of these for lack of a better term "djent" bands are nu metal-ish. take a korn riff and play it like a djent song then voila.

Album Rating: 3.0

Good review, but overrated album.