The new Meshuggah album "obZen" (see yesterday's mp3 post) is now streaming at myspace: http://www.myspace.com/meshuggah

MP3: Meshuggah - Pravus

Meshuggah, at this point in their career, has lost the element of surprise. However, they continue to impress as they remain the world's greatest math-metal champions. I suspect that if anyone even attempted to challenge them, they'd be written off as mere imitators no matter how good they are because, let's face it, Meshuggah has the market cornered for hyper-syncopated metal. They wrote the damn book. So taking this into consideration, it's hard to give a fair assessment of the band's new album "obZen". It sounds like Meshuggah as only Meshuggah does. Personally, I find that it hearkens back a bit towards "Chaosphere" in that there's a fairly consistent mid-tempo 4/4 beat in the drum pulse. They mix it up a bit of course, but it's those deceptively simple riffs that are often their heaviest and most memorable and that's why I've chosen "Pravus" as today's mp3 selection. All the Meshuggah trademarks are present, including Fredrik Thorendal's signature discordant leads, though the best part though comes after the solo section in what I guess you could call the breakdown. When they settle into a groove like that, they're unstoppable. And the subtle melodic counterpoint is absolutely killer as well. It's great, but it's also exactly what you'd expect, so it's a bit tougher to get excited about it.

Meshuggah - Pravus

Celebrate the 21st anniversary of Mellotronen with the Melloboat Baltic cruise festival March 8-9. Acts confirmed include Anekdoten, Opeth, Mats & Morgan All Star Team ft. Fredrik Thordendal (Meshuggah), Ia Eklund (Freak Kitchen) and Lasse Hollmer (Samla Mammas Manna), Bo Hansson, Promise and the Monster, Comus, Katatonia and more. Go here for more details: http://www.myspace.com/melloboat

MP3: Benea Reach - New waters

Benea Reach are a frustrating band. One minute they'll neck-deep in metalcore cliché, but then all of a sudden they'll turn it around completely with a riff that'll blow your mind. You get both in the first 30 seconds of "New waters". It opens with a plodding stomp riff and then it opens up into pure epicness, replete with harsh screams and weirdo syncopation. It's those moments that redeem the band and elevate them above the rabble. Otherwise, it's nothing but tedium and generic e-chug Meshuggah riffs. They do the polyrhythmic thing well, but it's such a tired exercise at this point in time when you consider that "Destroy erase improve" came out over 10 years ago. There's so much uncharted melodic territory that's far more worthy of exploration. I hear it in bands like Mare (RIP) and Kayo Dot, but only in moments of Benea Reach. Perhaps it won't be until the next album when they completely abandon the mosh to embrace their progressive side. So much potential!

Benea Reach - New waters

Here's the playlist for this week's radio show:

01. Niccokick - The poet
02. TALK 1
03. Montys Loco - Farewell Mr Happy
04. David Sandström - Apropå det här med att finnas till
05. Mew - Why are you looking grave?
06. TALK 2
07. C.Aarmé - Rhythm
08. Dieter Schöön - Lot's of free Shoes but nowhere to run
09. Meshuggah - Pravus
10. TALK 3
11. Elin Ruth Sigvardsson - Antidote
12. The Bear Quartet - Volksblues
13. Ljudbilden & Piloten - Wedding
14. Lack - Naked girls
15. TALK 4
16. Don't Be A Stranger - Lonely together
17. Namur - Marching
18. NEI - Trip to Luleå
19. TALK 5
20. Printer - All right
21. Moto Boy - Beat heart
22. Christel Alsos - Come back to me
23. TALK 6
24. Promoe - Headache
25. Mustasch - Dogwash
26. Montt Mardié - Too many songs unwritten
27. Pascal - Smärtstillande
28. TALK 7
29. Pan Sonic - Virta 1
30. Pekker - Ass electro
31. Regulations - Police siren
32. TALK 8
33. Deud - Lördag
34. Linus Larsson & John Roger Olsson - Beyond the south tunnel
35. Barra Head - Undermine
36. TALK 9
37. Aerial - Kallisti
38. Paris - Office killer
39. Lukestar - The shade you hide
40. TALK 10
41. Jazkamer - Metal music machine

Umeå-based tech-metallers Meshuggah have a new track up on myspace: http://www.myspace.com/meshuggah

Meshuggah will be touring the US as support for Ministry:

03/25 - Big Easy Concert House, Spokane, WA
03/26 - The Whiskey, Calgary
03/27 - Croatian Culture Center, Vancouver
03/28 - Commodore Ballroom, Vancouver
03/29 - Showbox Sodo, Seattle, WA
03/30 - Roseland Theatre, Portland, OR
04/01 - The Filmore, San Francisco, CA
04/02 - The Filmore, San Francisco, CA
04/05 - House of Blues, Los Angeles, CA
04/06 - House of Blues, Los Angeles, CA
04/07 - House of Blues, San Diego, CA
04/08 - Marquee Theatre, Tempe, AZ
04/09 - House of Blues, Las Vegas, NV
04/11 - The Great Salt Air, Salt Lake City, UT
04/12 - Ogden Theatre, Denver, CO
04/14 - Sunshine Theater, Albuquerque, NM
04/15 - La Zona Rosa, Austin, TX
04/16 - Cain's Ballroom, Tulsa, OK
04/17 - Palladium, Dallas, TX
04/18 - Verizon Wireless Theatre, Houston, TX
04/19 - House of Blues, New Orleans, LA
04/21 - Revolution, Ft. Lauderdale, FL
04/22 - House of Blues, Orlando, FL
04/23 - Jannus Landing, St. Petersburg, FL
04/24 - Tremont Music Hall, Charlotte, NC
04/25 - The Masquerade, Atlanta, GA
04/26 - Rams Head Live, Baltimore, MD
04/27 - Palladium, Worcester, MA
04/29 - The Filmore at TLA, Philadelphia, PA
05/01 - Irving Plaza, New York, NY
05/02 - Irving Plaza, New York, NY
05/03 - Metropolis, Montreal
05/04 - Koolhaus, Toronto
05/06 - Agora Theatre, Cleveland, OH
05/07 - Emerald Theatre, Detroit, MI
05/08 - House of Blues, Chicago, IL
05/09 - House of Blues, Chicago, IL

The band's new album "obZen" will be out on March 7.

Meshuggah's new album "obZen" is now officially confirmed for international release on March 7.

Meshuggah will support Ministry on tour in the US next March: http://www.lambgoat.com/news/view.aspx?id=9752

Meshuggah has revealed that "obZen" will be the title of their next album, due out in early 2008.

Meshuggah explains the cancellation of their anticipated European tour with Dillinger Espace Plan: http://www.lambgoat.com/news/view.aspx?id=9388

The playlist for my radio show this week:

01. At the Gates - Suicide nation
02. TALK 1
03. Moving Oos - Stronger
04. Eskju Divine - Hold on
05. Mechanical Bird - Sunday
06. TALK 2
07. Mixtapes & Cellmates - Quiet
08. DS13 - Thrash lifestyle
09. Montt Mardié - Metropolis
10. Junior Senior - Can I get get get
11. TALK 3
12. Niccokick - Love & neon lights
13. Kristofer Åström - I collect knives
14. Death Breath - His protoplasmic worship
15. TALK 4
16. Mob - Ghost track
17. MZ412 - Unhealing wounds
18. Ugress - Manhattan sapphire
19. TALK 5
20. Shining - Låt oss ta allt från darandra
21. No Hope for the Kids - Rainy day
22. Moneybrother - Det blir ingen dans
23. Amandine - For all the marbles
24. TALK 6
25. Familjen - Det snurrar i min skalle
26. Last Days of April - Aspirins and alcohol
27. M:40 - När bomberna faller
28. TALK 7
29. Espen Jørgensen - The immaculate conception
30. Motorpsycho - For free
31. The Carny - Man under the sun
32. TALK 8
33. Karin Ström - Klaustrofobi
34. Badun - Pulsen
35. Meshuggah - Future breed machine
36. Värttinä - Mero
37. TALK 9
38. Randy - Better than art
39. Closer - Open casket
40. Alog - Buffalo demon
41. TALK 10
42. On Trial - Speaking of witch

Meshuggah's next album is reportedly on track for a September release.

Stylus reviews the US release of David & the Citizens "Until the sadness is gone": http://www.stylusmagazine.com/reviews/david-the-citizens/until-the-sadness-is-gone.htm
Also reviewed today is the reissue of Meshuggah's excellent "Nothing" album: http://www.stylusmagazine.com/reviews/meshuggah/nothing.htm

Swedish tech-metal nutjobs Meshuggah (I mean that in the most affectionate way possible) are reportedly starting work on a new album: http://www.lambgoat.com/news/view.aspx?id=7796