Syncratic's
Sounds of the Apocalypse
Volume 1:
I-Meshuggah
The image of the apocalypse, the end of our known world, is rather subjective. Each one of us can give one another a unique perspective of the end. Perhaps a meteoroid will collide with the planet and unleash a baptism of earth, water, dust, and destruction upon a helpless humanity. What if an airborne, highly-communicable pathogen spread about our system of living, rendering us fatally unable to combat even the slightest of infections? Maybe, for some unforeseen reason, the dead will rise from their burial plots and reclaim the planet by way of devouring the living? These are but a few of the scenarios presented over the years to symbolize the inevitable fall of humanity. Images conveyed through music can also provide scenes and conjure thoughts of the end of the world. Few pieces of music do this better than Meshuggah's epic, single-track EP
I.
Next to the song
New Millennium Cyanide Christ, all 21 minutes of
I is Meshuggah's best work. It's nothing short of mind-blowing as to how the band pulled this off. This track feels as if the band took the best parts from a full-length LP and transposed it into a single song.
One of these parts, first and foremost, is Jens Kidman's voice. A rather monotone bark, his vocals don't vary greatly throughout the song, which could be either a pro or a con, depending upon your perspective. He might have a limited range, but he uses his voice to its fullest possible effect on
I. Some of Jens' harshest, most painful-sounding and difficult vocals can be heard on this EP. As well, these aren't simple lyrics he's reciting, by any means. He ravenously declares "This is an anomaly" four-and-a-half minutes in, all the while amazing me with the fact that he is able to sing any longer. His most mesmerizing feat of vocal destruction appears two minutes later with a howl of "Re-disintegration," and my favorite line, "I drug these minds into ruin and contempt, the acid smoke of burning souls."
If not for a few select moments of lead playing, I would have to venture a guess that there are no guitars or bass present on this record. Fredrik Thorendal, Dick Lovgren, and Marten Hagstrom seemingly do not appear on
I, seeing as anything remotely resembling said instruments sounds as if they are samples of machinery in the Furnace of Hell Itself. This can be heard in the opening 90 seconds of the track in particular. However, there are also very melodic and astonishing lead passages on the part of Mr. Thorendal. The prime example of this is the solo at 5:40, which could only be construed as the utilization of two-hand tapping, as I'm confident very few humans (if any at all) are capable of playing that fast with one hand on the fretboard. Eight strings certainly help, as well.
Of course, any conversation regarding this band could not be allowed to end without the mere mention of Tomas Haake. Widely-speculated as being an eight-armed entity behind the kit, fans (myself included) simply listen in awe upon hearing his drumming. I refer you to the introduction of this piece, where Tomas, as he does quite often, plays multiple different time signatures, one for each hand and one (or two) for his feet. Here he is playing 4/4 time with one hand, a separate signature with the other, and with his feet is playing something in the ballpark of a 200/16 metric time signature. When discussing this with me, you might as well be speaking Hopelandic, as I have no clue what it means. Another exhibit of Haake's talent occurs near the 11 minute mark, where he synchs-up the bass drum and guitar riffs, in the process creating the pure definition of atonal madness.
Although this album has some extremely heavy, soul-dismantling movements, it also provides the listener with some slow, discordant, overwhelming movements. This can be seen at 16 minutes, with an echoing, random battle of guitar and drums. As well, the end of the track is a jarring, sustained mess of feedback, a fitting conclusion to such a moving, unrelenting album.
Meshuggah's
I is not for everyone. Some will find this to be boring, a bit too long, and to be TOO heavy. However, those willing to give it a chance may just find something that will amaze, confuse, frighten, or transform them into a stammering, unthinking being. In some respects, these same emotions and actions could be felt and experienced during the apocalypse. Just remember, there are only a few things you need to prepare for those pesky undead cannibals and their takeover: a copious amount of food, weaponry, friends/significant others, and this album on heavy rotation.
THE GOOD:
The instrumentation.
A great introduction to Meshuggah and music of this variety.
THE BAD:
The length may turn some off.
The casual listener will perhaps be turned off or overwhelmed by this type of music, namely this EP.
THE RATING:
4.5/5
This Message Edited On 07.28.06
