Meshuggah: Koloss (CD + DVD)

Released in 2012, Koloss is Meshuggah at their most crushing. Following the extraordinary technical assault of obZen, the Swedish masters shifted the emphasis slightly towards enormous grooves and slower, suffocating rhythms without sacrificing the complexity that had made them one of the most influential metal bands of their generation.

“I Am Colossus” is a perfect introduction. Slow, mechanical and impossibly heavy, it establishes an oppressive atmosphere before “The Demon’s Name Is Surveillance” accelerates into one of the album’s most relentless performances. Tomas Haake’s drumming remains almost frighteningly precise, locking into the guitars of Fredrik Thordendal and Mårten Hagström through constantly shifting rhythmic patterns.

Then there’s “Do Not Look Down,” one of the most immediately memorable tracks Meshuggah have recorded. Its central groove demonstrates exactly why so many modern metal bands have attempted to imitate Meshuggah’s rhythmic approach, usually without coming anywhere close.

The second half contains some of the album’s strongest material. “Marrow” is wonderfully disorientating, “Break Those Bones Whose Sinews Gave It Motion” moves with enormous mechanical weight, and “Swarm” is pure controlled chaos.

And then comes “Demiurge.” Built around one of the most devastating riffs in the Meshuggah catalogue, it has become a modern classic and an essential part of the band’s live performances. The atmospheric instrumental “The Last Vigil”provides a surprisingly restrained conclusion after nearly an hour of rhythmic punishment.

The Limited Edition CD + DVD adds two substantial video features. Konstrukting the Koloss runs for approximately 25 minutes and examines the creation of the album, while Meshuggah in India provides another 26 minutes of footage. Meshuggah’s official discography confirms both features as part of the CD/DVD edition.

For anyone exploring Meshuggah beyond obZen, Koloss is essential. It’s technical without becoming inaccessible, brutally heavy without relying entirely on speed, and contains some of the finest riffs the band has ever recorded.