Meshuggah – The Ophidian Trek

The Ophidian Trek is Meshuggah’s 2nd live DVD and it comes in celebration of the band’s 25 years of existence.

This CD/DVD package brings the band’s biggest hits from the past and present like “New Millennium Cyanide Christ”, “Bleed”, “Rational Gaze”, “I Am Colossus” and many others.

The taped live experience starts with “Swarmer” which features organic, yet industrial, insectile noises from beginning until the end. Followed by “Swarm” and “Combustion”, songs which start with soft and slow riffs seep into the unprepared ears of the audience who were expecting something heavier, until the softness is pierced with violent guitar. This effective musical “drama” doesn’t fail its purpose in terms of making it sound even more brutal than it would without it.

“Rational Gaze” follows, having first been released on the album, Nothing (2002), the song employs guttural vocals from the very inception. The instrumental pieces start heavy and as the song continues, the song progressively adjusts a balance between savage and tame.

The intro to “obZen” gets the spotlight as the bass becomes a  which makes an awesome compilation of bass and guitar riffs+drumming.

“Lethargica and Mind’s Mirrors, In Death – Is Life / In Death” are the trippiest songs you can get from Meshuggah. “obZen” is a close second, as we journey to a better place before the anger manifested comes along.

“Do Not Look Down” can be compared vocally and instrumentally to a few new bands whose music style is similar (for instance, Islander). This song is definitely not their usual music style. It sounds like a reach, but the final product is definitely worth listening to and once you do, prepare for the headbanging.

In “On The Hurt That Finds You First” and “Bleed” the drummer’s potential is definitely tested in this fast atmosphere song with almost no breaks for slower and easier turns.

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“I Am Colossus” is lyric focused, and when the riffs fall in, they never overpower, giving the vocalist more freedom to say what he wants to say.

The beginning of “Demiurge” sounds like a Siren call, attracting your attention. It’s soft and executed with vocal perfection. The pure and almost innocent atmosphere is soon corrupted by an eminent revolt. This brutal song is one of the most addictive songs to listen to on a daily basis.

“Dancers To A Discordant System” brings the energy that new bands have and a fresh chaos only seasoned bands who have been on this path could bring.

“New Millennium Cyanide Christ” from the time signature, to the lyrics and the guitar+drums all in conjunction make this one of the most aggressive songs featured on this album!

The last song is “The Last Vigil” and this soft all-instrumental song ends the album perfectly, calming the excessively destructive environment created by the show. This song can also be compared to “Lethargica’s and Mind’s Mirrors / In Death – Is Life / In Death – Is Death”’s trippy style, but this time, with no anger manifested afterwards.

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by Victoria Oliveira,  RockRevolt Magazine Journalist