Review by Shadowdoom9 (Andi) for Meshuggah - Contradictions Collapse (1991)
Ah Meshuggah, the inventors of djent, a genre that is extremely laughable by the metal community. Some of those people don't think it's a valid genre, let alone a metal genre. Even the Metal Archives don't consider djent metal enough to be on that website, and the only reason this band is in that site is because of this album. EXCUSE ME!? Djent is a direct descendant of progressive metal! Are down-tuned guitar chords, syncopated riffs, and poly-metric soloing "not metal" to you? Or is it because of the majority of metalcore bands (instead of progressive metal) using the djent sound? I don't know... But for this album, Contradictions Collapse, the band did not invent djent yet and had more of a technical thrash style. I never really consider Contradictions Collapse the worst, it's actually a pretty fun listen. Creative solos, cool lyrics, and heavy moments that can be achieved without having to use breakdowns. Some of the most fun 90s thrash I've heard in a while!
Within the upward spiral-bound sound is the vocal style of Jens Kidman (NOT to be confused with that hot YouTube guitarist Lens Kidman, A.K.A. Elena Verrier). Shouting is kind of a necessary benefit in the rougher side of metal, and Jens does a really good job keeping his shouts in the same level as a drill sergeant and the Pantera singer Phil Anselmo. With Jens getting a lot better at shouting and hardcore-screaming, if the band moved on without any of the djent they invented, they would pretty much just be a technical death/hardcore band. Jens' vocals at that time really accompany the album really well. They're not totally bad, but the album's old-school feel can really cover up anything that would go wrong in a newer album. He can still hold up his screams well. Not bad, not bad...
"Paralyzing Ignorance" kicks off the album and the band in a catchy start, with charging riffs and an explosive chorus. "Erroneous Manipulation" is another infectious piece with literally the last minute of it being a triumphant harmonized guitar melody, one more shouting verse, and a glorious scream to end the song. But the lyrics there are absolutely ridiculous, and they're not even what is actually being sung. Lots of absurd animal metaphors!! What do they even mean!? But the lyrics in "Abnegating Cecity" are way better, having some possible references to heroin. The solos in that song along with "Internal Evidence" really establish a unique guitar blueprint, even back then.
"Qualms of Reality" has a perfect acoustic break, a smooth move before leading into the explosive mosh-inducing finale with more gang shouts. "We'll Never See the Day" has a killer headbanging riff in the first 30 seconds that can hit harder than a battering ram in the b*lls. But that sitar near the end though, like WHAT!?! "Greed" is an OK song, but it almost served as the album's title track, because the album was originally going to be titled "(All This Because of) Greed" before settling on its current name.
The acoustic intro in "Choirs of Devastation" sounds a little out of place, along with the spoken monotone of drummer Tomas Haake. But at least that's a more experimental song than the others here, with what may be some of the earliest examples of the djent sound that was yet to come. "Cadaverous Mastication" is a great final track, re-recorded from the band's 1989 demo EP. A thrashy example of proto-extreme metal, viciously hacking in with gang shouts and hammering riffs before a melodic ethereal solo. Then more speed and aggression picks up and finally the main melodic riff keeps playing until the song fades out. Probably the best Meshuggah song from that era!
Good vocals, bass, and guitars, with the drumming almost reaching its pinnacle! Mixing is a little grimy, giving the album more somewhat industrial production. Lyrics are good, but more lyrical assembly required. Overall, not a totally bad record at all! It's the thrashy calm before the djent storm....
Favorites: Paralyzing Ignorance, Qualms of Reality, Cadaverous Mastication