A Snail Along A Straight Razor – Dividing Itself Through Motion

Song: ” I “

Artist: Meshuggah

Album: I [EP] (2004)

… Umeå, Sweden …

This is probably my favourite EP at the moment, its like mechanical sledgehammer lobotomizing you. From the very start of the track you get those blast beats and that one cord repeated over and over again until it all stops for a second then explodes in one long, agonizing scream.

” I “ is composed of one, 21 minute long track. Once again Meshuggah’smathematical precision is astounding and they manage to create a track that is not only colossal in structure but also in sound. From the oddly timed progression to their amazing drumming and rapid fire guitar work, I just cant get enough at the moment.

The track itself was described by Meshuggah “about a self…a psyche trying to decide if he is put on this earth to be a human or the nemesis of mankind.” To me it outlines the fact that we all have the ability to create but more often its our ability to destroy that comes to the forefront.

I Am Just A Worthless Liar

Song: “Sober”

Artist: Tool

Album: Undertow (1993)

…L.A. United States…

Tool’s first full length monster that they unleashed and let scamper out of the hole in which they kept all their secrets in. Dark and menacing the music, even early on has been able to create a landscape which is both forbidding and seductive. But still manages to capture one of tools more powerful messages. That through introspection, in everything that you do, who you are and what you are becoming you can realise your true potential.

To me this track is about an artist who’s true creativity comes through their addiction (alcoholism). The works of art are incouraged by society, wanting more hense fueling the addiction. In the end the artist feels worthless, manipulated and is trapped in a downward spiral.

We’ll Burn In The Sun And We’ll Fall To The Moon

Song: “Water Is Not Enough”

Artist: Neurosis

Album: Given To The Rising

…Oakland, United States…

A return to heaviness but still incorporating the atmospheric elements from the last 2 previous releases. ‘Given To The Rising’ batters the listener one minute with tuned down guitars and guttural vocals, slowly grinding down your inner ear bones to nubs until they open up into a landscape of lush, atmospheric sounds.

“Water Is Not Enough” is just one of my personal favorites.

Sleep On…Fly On

Song: “Ants Of The Sky”

Artist: Between The Buried And Me

Album: Colors (2007)

…North Carolina, United States…

An absolutely exceptional album, diverse, extremely technical and complex with each song having a myriad of influence that bubble to the surface. It is a monster of an album with a ravenous appetite to match.

Ants of the sky is the centre piece of the album, and illustrates perfectly the diversity that this album has created. Whether it be middle eastern or jazz influences or in the case of this song, towards the end, country music (a hoedown, complete with clinking bottles and a good ‘ol time in the background) you find no matter how far they divert, in the end they always return to the central metal sound of the track.

“I wrote this song in an airport. When I listen to music on my headphones, I like to watch the world work and think about what every single person is doing that day. This song is about each one of us creating our own itinerary and flying through our life on one big vacation. Trying to find happiness, perfection, and love.

It’s a “bloody, bumpy” road for most, and others it’s a wonderful journey. We fly away from our problems and towards our solutions (at least what we think are our solutions). We are the ants of the sky…aka the walking dead.”
-Tommy

Lastfm – http://www.last.fm/music/Between+the+Buried+and+Me

Lionize

Song: “Lionize”

Artist: Benea Reach

Album: Alleviat (2008)

…Oslo, Norway…

Heavy and tight, Benea Reach have created an album full of thick, impenetrable sounds. Like a huge wave of metal that looms over you, casting your entire body and mind in shadow and threatening to crush your entire being into a thousand pieces.

With there Mushuggah trademark tempo’s and rythmic playing, Benea Reach construct the programmed sound of a mechanized hammer’s pounding away at the fabric of conventional thought.

Lionize was the first track that stood out for me, so if you want some fibre in your diet I recommend it.

Lastfm – http://www.last.fm/music/Benea+Reach

Cursing Me With Every Glance

Song: “Nectar”

Artist:Opeth

Album: Morningrise (1996)

…Stockholm, Sweden…

This is an absolutely massive album. Epic and sprawling it is composed of just five, ten minute plus tracks. The songs themselves flow smoothly from melodic, acoustic, almost medieval renaissance elements into the brutal, progressive death metal style.

Simplified, Nectar is about not being able to let lost love go. Unable to forget his/her dead lover the song describes the main character seeing their lost love in their dreams and at the very end of the song even indicates that the dead lover is seen while awake.

Plain and Simple its a reflection on what it is like to lose love.

Lastfm – http://www.last.fm/music/Opeth

Do What It Takes To Step Through

Song: “Forty Six & 2″

Artist: Tool

Album: Ænima

…Alternative, Progressive Rock/Metal from Californ-i-a…

This album is the one that probably changed the whole way that I listened to music. Blew me away from the first listen and it still holds up well today.

There are many arguments out there about what the lyrics of this track fully mean. One theory is that its about the evolution of the human species, that we will develop two extra chromosomes for a total of forty six and two (the two being the sex chromosomes). Throw a little Jungian and Melchizedek theory into the mix as well and the song is supposedly self explanatory.

Personally I dont think its that simple. I agree its about evolution, but more the evolution of thought and eventually society. Ther moving of one conciousness to another, higher consciousness. The evolution of chromosomes from 46 to 48 I believe is to be taken not literally but metaphorically. 

In the song Maynard sings about looking into the shadows and discovering who he really is. Also he sings the line “listen to my muscle memories” referring to the fact that the cells hold the memory for life to construct itself again and again in an orderly and efficient manner. Learning from the past and moving up into the higher level of consciousness.

But in the end an astounding song that really gets you thinking, which I beleieve is what Tool has intended all along. Remember believe in nothing, beliefs are crippling to the mind. Explore anything and everything.

Lastfm – http://www.last.fm/music/Tool

You’re Just Here For Me To Use…

Song: “Part Of Me”

Artist: Tool

Album: Opiate [EP] (1992)

…Alternative/Progressive Metal…

I just love the rawness of this early Tool release.

Maynard has said many times that this song is about masturbation, but knowing Maynard and how he likes to fuck with his flock I suspect that there is a deeper meaning.

To me the track is more about our attachment to beliefs and our conscience.

But hey thats just me…I still love the idea that this is Maynard’s love song, his ode to his cock.

Lastfm – http://www.last.fm/music/Tool

Youtube –