
Meshuggah has become one of the most respected bands in metal. Truth be told, each and every one of their releases has been (at least in our opinion) worthy works of art. They are a group that combines technical prowess with aggression and a broad musical knowledge, paving the way for the creation of new subgenres, such as Djent. Over their more than 30-year career, these Swedes have solidified themselves as a project worth listening to closely and analyzing.
In 1995, Meshuggah surprised with their second album, “Destroy Erase Improve,” featuring a style that practically no one had dared to create. It was possibly a risk at the time, as there were no commercial foundations for the masses to grasp, but it turned out to be a success, particularly for those who appreciate music with progressive technical aspects.
What can we hear?
A relentless heavy style permeates throughout, featuring guttural vocals, distorted guitars, and drums that emphasize aggression at every turn. The album is rich with progressive elements, showcasing an innovative abundance of rhythms in a single song. Meshuggah, at the time, was groundbreaking in incorporating passages that were 100% percussive, utilizing guitars, bass, and even vocals as percussive elements. Additionally, the band draws significant influence from Thrash Metal, incorporating moments of speed combined with highly progressive rhythm changes.
It’s noteworthy that the guitar solos on this album are highly experimental, featuring dissonances, jazz influences, and futuristic effects that make the guitar sound otherworldly. The guitar and bass tunings are low, incorporating the use of 7 and even 8 strings in this album, contributing to a devastating sound in both the distorted and clean passages, as heard in “Vanished.”
The rhythmic complexity throughout the entire album is impressive. At times, you might find yourself wondering, “How do they remember how to play so many songs with these intricate rhythms without sheet music in a live performance?” This is especially true for the drumming of Thomas Haake, who consistently maintains the rhythmic foundation through his double bass drum technique. The precision he executes is remarkable, considering the challenging compositions he faces.

The album's influences
We hear an interesting combination of influences that resulted in the creation of “Destroy Erase Improve.” Among the identified influences are Death Metal, Thrash Metal, Progressive Rock and Metal, Jazz, and even some elements of Avant-Garde, as heard in songs like “Sublevels.” The prominent use of distorted bass, likely borrowed from Death Metal, stands out, remaining consistently present and providing a foundation that reinforces the heaviness of the guitars and the bass drum.
Following the release of this impressive album, the band has largely maintained its style based on it, successfully creating their own sound. This sound would later influence a wave of bands categorized under the “Djent” genre, including Tesseract, Periphery, Skyharbor, among many others, considering Meshuggah as the genre’s founding fathers.
Although “Destroy Erase Improve” is not considered a commercial success, it has endured as a cult album. Many fans of intricate music consider it a masterpiece due to its impactful nature. Even in 2023, the album sounds fresh, as Meshuggah efficiently landed a futuristic sound that continues to make an impact. The years may pass, but the album doesn’t lose its strength.

A mathematical album...
You really have to pay close attention to ‘Destroy Erase Improve’ to fully appreciate its brilliance. Currently, at The Rock Review, every time we listen to it, we discover aspects to which we hadn’t paid enough attention in our previous listens. This album is highly mathematical, coldly calculated to delight the listener with a collective precision. On a mass scale, it’s aggressive, but when you listen to each instrument, you realize its beauty.
Bands like Meshuggah or Cynic have kept the current state of Metal alive. These are groups that dared to explore new sounds, serving as influential forces for hundreds of bands we listen to today. This is truly appreciated!
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