Meshuggah - Alive (live DVD/CD)

While I've been inundated with updates on Blabbermouth about Maynard Keenan releasing a DVD about his wine producing exploits, one of the other major players of cutting edge prog metal , Meshuggah, were putting together something that actually got me excited - a live DVD and CD, with footage taken from the bands first ever world tour supporting the sublime "Obzen" album.

Some fans may be puzzled at the omission of any "Destroy Erase Improve" tracks, but its refreshing to see a band not rest on its laurels and try and move on from past glories (anyone else think Metallica have rinsed playing Seek and Destroy live?). Meshuggah on-stage apperance is fitting for the music that they play - Fred and Mårten with their unreal 8-string guitars, Jens with his skull positively pulsating as he torturously unleashes his vocals, and the entire band dressed in an uncompromising monochromic black.

The music is faultlessly tight - not a single beat is missed and those insane stacatto polyrhythms retain all their wierdness perfectly. Although to be honest, you cant help thinking whilst listening to it that you'd rather be hearing the better-sounding studio versions of the songs, since Meshuggah are not the band to jam and alter stuff majorly live (with the exception of Fred, who does some amazing improvs for solos).

Highlights include the massive slab of lushness that is "Rational Gaze", Haakes extra-bewildering drumming on "The Mouth Licking What You've Bled", and Fred's solo on the outro to "Straws Pulled at Random", which still ranks as one of the most beautiful pieces of music that i've had the pleasure of hearing.If you're lacking in the funds you'd be better off buying the re-release of Nothing, since it has a bonus DVD with amazing footage from Download 2005 on it, and you get an unbelievable album included too obviously.

'Alive' will sit pretty in my Meshuggah collection (only the seventh album I have by them, clearly not enough!), and has served as a nice reminder of how awesome they really are.

Jack

Fear Factory, Manchester Academy 2, 16th Feb 2010

One of the more interesting developments in the metal world last year was the surprise reformation of Fear Factory, this time with founding member Dino Cazares on guitar. The cynical side of me thought that this was just Dino realising that Divine Heresy was never going to give him enough metallic/financial satisfaction, but the nostalgic side said fuck it, this is a chance to hear some of the most moshworthy metal around. Regarding the lineup changes, no-one can question the new members. If Gene Hoglan was good enough for Chuck Schuldiner back in the early 90's and Devin Townsend for the best part of ten years, then based on tonight alone he most certainly is capable of filling the void left by the departure of Raymond Herrera.

Luckly enough for us, the gig was in Academy 2, a wonderfully intimate venue for such as prestigious act. Greeted with a swarm of sweaty Mancunians chanting "you fat bastards" the band launch into the first song off the new record, a typically monolithic affair which has us warming up our neck muscles in anticipation. The set consists of songs spanning the bands entire career (don't mention Archetype and Transgression!), including gratuitious plugging of new album Mechanize, which grated after a while to be honest, even though its all pretty good stuff.

The vast majority of the crowd who probably came just to hear the old stuff were treated to a awesome rendition of "Resurrection", one of the band's most popular softer numbers (lighters in the air and all), but what really got the circle pits moving was the five song suite off Demanufacture - sounding as vital as it did back in '95. I defy any metalhead not to get goosebumps upon hearing that opening riff to albums title track.

Based on tonight's performance, Fear Factory's legacy won't be rendered 'Obsolete' any time soon. Fingers crossed Burton and Dino don't throw their toys out the pram again eh!

Jack