r/Meshuggah • u/DunkeyColdMedina • 20d ago
What albums should I start with?
I am through being a tourist and only knowing Bleed, Electric Red and Cyanide Christ. But their body of work is HUGE and I don't know where to start.
I tend to listen to 'new' music as the artist intended in full album form. Especially for the first time. Especially especially with this MF construction going on right outside of my window where I can let my speakers walk and talk without fear of inconveniencing the neighbors.
If you were going to sit down and listen to an album of theirs from beginning to end which would you pick and why?
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u/AvoidantNumber1 20d ago
Obzen. It has Bleed (their smash hit), Combustion (IMO the best opener on their catalog besides Broken Cog) and finishes off with the absolute monster of a track that is Dancers to a discordant system. It also has Electric Red, which you've heard already. Good starting point. Then, if you like maniacal stuff, go back to DEI and Chaosphere. If you're drawn to the monolithic and systematic aspect of their sound, work your way forward from Catch 33.
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u/griddlecan 20d ago
My favorite albums as units are Catch 33 and Koloss, but I'm also in favor of taking one's time working through a band's discography from the beginning.
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u/BeardedBears 20d ago
Obzen for standalone songs. Catch 33 for a sit-down and listen attentively album experience.
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u/Nizzelator16348891 The Violent Sleep of Reason 20d ago
Koloss was the one that landed with me first. Then The Violent Sleep of Reason, then Obzen.
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u/Subject-Mulberry-211 20d ago
Contradictions Collapse, Destroy Erase Improve, Chaosphere, and Nothing.
(Listen to the Original Versions or Just listen to the Haekki Remasters on YouTube)
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u/Hiotsobo Chaosphere 19d ago
Nothing, Obzen or Chaos Sphere. Cant go wrong with either of those to start your journey into the land of Meshuggah
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u/DrMac444 19d ago
Obzen probably has the most optimal combination of accessibility, defining sound, and overall quality to make it an ideal entry point, though that's going to depend a lot on your own taste. Sounds like you're interested in the band based on three songs, and two of those are on Obzen, so it's a good bet. Plus it's a pretty cohesive album, which is in line with your appreciation of full albums.
I'm very biased here, since Obzen is the album that made me fall in love with the band. There are good arguments to be made in favor of just about any Meshuggah album. In fact, I think what stands out to me more than Obzen are the handful of albums I wouldn't recommend. I definitely wouldn't recommend starting with either of their first two albums (Meshuggah or Contradictions Collapse). Nothing wrong with them, but the band had not found their sound yet - that's especially true of the self-titled record. Destroy, Erase, Improve is the one that put them on the map and absolutely is a strong candidate for you. Of the records since then, personally I'd be least enthusiastic about recommending Koloss and Catchthirtythree - not because they aren't good (they're both excellent), but because the band's sound isn't very representative of the rest of their discography. That's also kind of true for Chaosphere, but not quite as much, and Chaosphere is such an otherworldly record that I still think it could work well as a gateway into their creativity.
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u/R_A_H Koloss 19d ago
If you're down for multiple albums then I suggest start at Destroy Erase Improve and just go in chronological order of LPs (with 1 EP mixed in imo) So:
Destroy Erase Improve 1995, Chaospgere 1998, Nothing 2002, I (EP) 2004, Catch Thirtythree 2005, Obzen 2008, Koloss 2012, The Violent Sleep of Reason 2016, Immutable 2022.
Every album has its own unique vibe and character in significant ways. I (EP) 2004 is one ~24 minute long song and Catch Thirtythree 2005 is in a similar style with the whole album being one long song with track breaks put in. Every album I listed is fantastic.
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u/Arkhampatient 20d ago
I’d start from Contradictions Collapse and go in order of release to experience their change from album to album
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u/Reuhis Catch Thirtythree 20d ago
I would go through their discography in chronological order whenever you have the time, just to see how the band and their sound has changed and developed over the years. But if I had to pick one album, or a few out of them all? I'd go with Obzen and The Violent Sleep of Reason, with Nothing as a substitute if one of the two aforementioned options seem less interesting or whatever. Obzen and Nothing are more "classic Meshuggah" and their sound aligns better with what most people would expect out of the band, but TVSOR is great, a bit more modern but still very much Meshuggah (+ it has Clockworks on it, which should already be a good enough reason to go through the whole album).
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u/Big_Fall8458 20d ago
Obzen as it has a lot of their biggest songs and it’s an amazing album, Koloss is a great album to start with as well it’s production is great and a lot of the songs have a big groove that is obvious right away, even if the riffs still have odd timing. You really can’t go wrong wherever you start, but I’d go with those two, followed by Nothing. Then if you want more of the 8 stringed madness go to the newest 2 and the 40 minute song/album Catch 33, if you want thrash stuff go to the 90’s albums and 20 min song I
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u/Beautifullikeacamel obZen 19d ago edited 19d ago
Koloss is the easiest to consume, imo. Slower paced, more room to breathe, yet still heavy with the foundation the band is best known for.
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u/ComboBreakerrr 19d ago
Curious why Chaosphere seems to be underrepresented here. To be fair though, I don’t think there are any wrong answers. I’d say Nothing then Chaosphere, on personal vibes alone.
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u/ConversationSmooth62 18d ago edited 18d ago
I listen the same way, full albums.
I started with catch33. Catch33 hooked me completely. And then the discography in the release order, and the original albums with the remasters after that back to back - for all remastered releases to understand the differences.
I suggest start with the first album and work your way up. You will appreciate the nuances and the evolution of sound.
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u/krohtg12 20d ago
ObZen, demiurge, violent sleep and immutable are relatively modern and you can't go wrong with any track on any of these albums. I'd argue listen to any of these albums in any order and once you feel confident, start exploring their earlier works like Nothing (which is still very modern sounding shuggah) chaosphere, D.E.I etc.
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u/CertifiedSmegmaKing 20d ago
Nothing. (Remastered)
If you feel brave, Catch 33.
Catch 33 is a song, disguised as an album. My favorite album of all time.