Catch Thirty Three

Of the several Meshuggah albums I have on CD, this is the one I feel most ambivalent about. And that's due to how it was made, primarily on account of the drum parts being programmed, as opposed to performed live (as the band have very consciously chosen to do in their more recent 2016 release, Violent Sleep of Reason). In other respects it's simply 'more of the same', an exemplar of the bands' sound/vibe and musical approach that reflects both the good - their pretty unique sound - and the bad - the narrowness of same.Huge amounts of modern music are so heavily indebted to computerised technology for their clarity and precision, and yet - to my mind/ears - lack any real depth of feeling or humanity, being just so much 'product'. I can see how and why Meshuggah evolved their sound and their technical studio-based approach until they arrived at this point. And at the end of the day it's just a means to an end. But means aren't entirely devoid of connotation. I definitely prefer the organicism of a less 'quantised' or robotic approach.That said, it can get to the point where one can't tell, perhaps as is happening with CGI in film? And then it reverts to being more about content than the delivery. But film is a good example, in my view, as the techno-dependent modern mainstream cinema has become, as far as I'm concerned, a predominantly kinetic and repulsively soulless enterprise. That's the danger this album runs, replacing a beating if erratic human heart with a robotic electro-pulse, regular as clockwork, but inhuman...But truth be told, the music remains typical Meshuggah. Intense, polyrhythmic, dark.

I own all the Meshuggah albums now and I THINK this is my favourite, though it is hard to choose. Obzen is a contender, and Nothing is close by too. Chaosphere also.Anyway, I think this is a brilliant piece of music and I know nothing like it. It takes many listens, I have to admit, but you'll be prepared to do this if you are drawn in from the beginning by the hypnotic grooves. I understand why people complain about it being repetitive, but actually it's developing all the time in different ways, with the riffs getting longer as they cycle, or bits being added to the drumming, and so on and so on.There's a video on YouTube about a guy doing a music PhD who got obsessed with this piece of music and put everything on hold till he could transcribe it note for note. The way he talks about it is fascinating. I'm not as obsessed as he was and still appears to be, nor am I in any way knowledgable about music, but I think this 45 mins approx of art is well worth the patience of getting to know.But three words of warning: 1. don't listen to it too much before going to bed as you will find it hard to sleep. 2. You may also find yourself in general needing to listen to it frequently. 3. Once you hit play, you are likely to be stuck there for 45 minutes listening to it.Serving suggestion: goes well with booze.Enjoy!

Being quite a recent fan of Meshuggah myself (Koloss being the first purchase) i bought catch thirty-three on the basis of the reviews on here as to me, the thought of this immense sonic outfit producing a 'concept album' intigued me. Meshuggah are definately not known for their accessibility and casual metallers may not gain anything from this work if they only go on first impressions as those who are not used to the swedish giant's stylings may feel alienated by the unconventional polyrhythmic grooves on display here for which Meshuggah are most notable for. Repeated listens however bear much fruit and the intricacies of this gargantuan work gradually become more apparent with each listen. Personally, a piece of music that makes you 'work' for it to become enjoyable is very often more rewarding than other, more conventional music that opts for catchy hooks and instant gratification choruses and melodies to illicit appreciation from it's listeners. Those who are long standing Meshuggah fans and who also appreciate similar acts (most recently bands who align themselves with the 'djent' movement will either already own this stunning piece of work and appreciate it already - although there does seem to be a not - inconsiderable amount of uncertainty as to whether this particular entry to the Meshuggah canon is worthwhile. Taste is everything and if you already appreciate Meshuggah then chances are - like me - you will love this if you haven't already bought it. Those who are a little more uncertain about the complexities of this kind of extreme metal may be put off by the effort required to enjoy this to the fullest. In my opinion however, this i an accomplished piece of work that gets more impressive with every listen and is yet another example of why this band is still gaining further momentum

I think this album is one of Meshuggah's best! It just has a certain feel and groove which i appreciate a lot! I like the concept of having the songs fade into each other. It gives a ''complete'' experience, but it can therefore also seem short. Nevertheless this is THE Meshuggah album you have got to own... in fact all of Meshuggah's are :0)If you have grown tired of other Meshuggah stuff fx. Obzen, Destroy Erase Improve, Nothing, then this seem to be a good alternative! It was the case with me + it then freshes up those songs you have grown tired of!

If you want to listen easy music, simple riffs and easy rock'n roll songs... DON'T BUY THIS ALBUM! Meshuggah isn't the band for mainstream list of hit songs. They play very skilled and higl level composed songs. One of the best albums in my collection!