Meshuggah - Nothing
2002 Nuclear Blast
by Skin Splitter

Quick Summary:
After a Few EP's, re-releases and a "Rare Tracks" album, Meshuggah sits themselves down in the studio for their longly overdue new album.  Good News right?  WRONG!  Meshuggah goes into the studio without a bassist and trade their Ibanez 7-strings (tuned down 1/2 step) for Nevborn custom made 8-strings.  Sounds like a great idea.  Too bad the album didn't turn out that way.

What's wrong with this album you say?  I'm glad you asked!  Biggest problem, they slowed down!  (note: For a detailed description of Meshuggah's sound I suggest reading my review of Destroy Erase Improve).  The drummer continues his style of playing 4/4 time with his hands and 13/8 with his feet like he should, but at a slower speed.  The slower drums leads to slower guitars (including bad solos) and leads me to boredom (or the fridge).  Where's the fury that I know and love?  Combine slowness with Jens style of singing/screaming/grunting intensity and you have a singer overpowering an album and a bad combination to boot.  It would be like blasting Slayer's "Reign in Blood" while driving a pink Ford Fiesta.  It's just wrong!  Not only that, the songs don't change tempo or change at all really.  Therefore, if you listen to a song for 15-30 seconds, you heard the whole thing!  Why listen to the rest?  You just heard it all in 1/15th the time!  At least there is some validity in the title of this release.  They knew what they made and how much you should pay for it.  When you're done listening to it, do me a favor.  Put it in the microwave for ten seconds.  The result will be far more entertaining and make you feel warm and fuzzy inside better than this album ever could.

Website:  www.meshuggah.net

Song Summaries:

1. Stengah - Start you car up in the morning on a cold day.  Then get out a scream at it a little.  You got the song.  C-
2. Rational Gaze - Second best song on the album.  If you don't like this song, I suggest you start drinking (hard alcohol) now.  C+
3. Perpetual Black Second - More of the same.  Take a shot during this song.  D
4. Closed Eye Visuals - Sounds like the first three songs.  Boring as well (drink).  D-
5. Glints Collide - Different sound!  Still too slow and not entertaining (drink).  D
6. Organic Shadows - Somehow this song is slower and more boring then all the previous ones (hope your still drinking).  F
7. Straws Pulled At Random - An Intro and a good one!  (could be the alcohol talking)  Ahh crap intro is over and the song is back to the same boredom as above (keep drinking)!  C
8. Spasms - Good low hell bowel guitar intro! Jens changed his vocals!  A song that works!  Best song on the album.  This could/would be the slow song on a GOOD Meshuggah album.  B-
9. Nebulous - If you made it this far it means three things.  You either skipped ahead, are a glutton for punishment, or by this time if you've been doing what I told you from song one, are drunk (if it's the third, the album isn't so bad now is it).  D-
10. Obsidian - Outro song that literally makes you feel hung over and dirty.  Is that the microwave beeping cause the popcorn is done?  I hope so because I have something new to put in it for about ten seconds.  F

Average Song Rating:  D+
Overall Album Rating:  D

Also be sure to read:
Meshuggah - Destroy Erase Improve by Skin Splitter
Meshuggah - I by Skin Splitter