Meshuggah celebrates its thirty-fifth anniversary with a bang
Meshuggah is a Swedish-based extreme metal group that has been around since 1987. Over the last thirty-five years, Mushaggah’s use of extreme metal has garnered the group a great deal of success. Meshuggah has won two Metal Hammer Golden God Awards in 2005 and 2018 and was nominated for a Grammy in 2018 for their song “Clockworks.”
Meshuggah’s success can be credited to its consistency in production and in its lineup. The group’s authentic musical style has developed through a consistent roster that has not changed much in nearly forty years. The current lineup consists of Jens Kidman as lead vocalist, Fredrik Thordendal at guitars and backing vocals, Tomas Haake at drums, Mårten Hagström at guitars and Dick Lövgren at bass.
The release of Immutable in March of 2022 marks Meshuggah’s ninth album release. Immutable is the group’s first album release by Meshuggah since The Violent Sleep of Reason released in 2016. As the ninth album released by Meshuggah, Immutable is a combination of well-crafted production and metalcore vocals.
Immutable creates an incredible sound reminiscent of futuristic metal that remains true to the traditional metalcore style. The drums and bass create an epic fusion that captivates the listener into experiencing a journey of extreme metal. The lyricism and vocals compliment this style exceptionally well, matching the intense acoustics throughout the album.
The lyrical themes are dark in Immutable but provide an odd charm to the album. Several songs make for something special that is appealing to all metalcore fans. “Broken Cog” kicks off the album with a bang. The drums and bass shine, making for a song that is both dark in its theme and sound.
“Light The Shortening Fuse” seems to lean heavier on its drums than “Broken Cog” which creates a familiar yet different sound. This heavier emphasis on drums complements the dark feeling created by the lyrics through passionate, almost emotional beats.
Like “Light The Shortening Fuse,” “Ligature Marks” also uses its drums more than the bass for much of the song. Both songs maintain their charm when emphasizing drums over bass by incorporating slight use of the bass. In doing so, it adds a nice electric touch that creates a sense of speed to the song.
Immutable is an incredible addition to Meshuggah’s already impressive resume. The beats are reminiscent of what makes Meshuggah’s music so enjoyable without sounding repetitive. Immutable can keep every sound fresh from song to song, making for an exceptional way to celebrate the group’s thirty-five-year run.
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