Meshuggah - Academy 2 - Thursday 11th September 2008

Disappointingly this one had been switched from the main stage to the smaller Academy 2. Disappointing in the fact that avant-garde metal can only summon up enough fans to fill the smaller room in the country's second city and spiritual home of heavy rock. That's got the gripe out of the way, on with the show...

Trigger The Bloodshed have been getting a lot of exposure in the nationals lately. Tonight's display made you wonder why. Admittedly they got one of the worst sounds I've heard this year, combine sludgy and wading through treacle and you are about half way there. Mix this with uninspired old school death metal and you have a recipe for a very ordinary opening set. They are good enough musicians (especially the bass player who played a blinder) but only looked or sounded convincing in the slower breakdown sections. On the basis that the sound really was that bad I'll give them the benefit of the doubt - they'd better be amazing next time though!

Shortly before Meshuggah came on stage there was an uncharitable, but very funny, chant of "three cheers for Meshuggah for turning up"! Rock fans don't forget... Or maybe they do, as minutes into their set all was forgiven as all hell broke loose. Violent is nowhere near adequate to sum up the intensity of the pit. It didn't let up at any point during their hour-long stint either.

Meshuggah tick all the boxes for me; technical, progressive and brutal in just about equal measure. How many bands can you name where the bass player uses a five string and both guitarists favour eight strings? I can't think of another one either. This was a staggering display and quite frankly they are unmissable whenever they tour. The intricacy of their songs defies belief - time signatures are bizarre and should clash but they don't. There's more complexity in a single riff from these guys than many bands achieve in a career. So we've got Opeth or Dream Theater levels of complexity coupled with extreme metal ferocity - do I really need to ramble on any more?! Nope...

Disappointing as the switch to the Academy 2 was initially, at least it made for a packed venue and the savagery of the pit would have been lost in a sparsely populated main arena. Trigger The Bloodshed were very ordinary, but maybe they can convince me otherwise with a better sound. Meshuggah were incredible; as a recent convert to their abilities I'll be checking out their back catalogue soon. The only bands I've enjoyed more this year were Morbid Angel, Death Angel, Opeth and Iced Earth, so exalted company indeed. Absolutely stunning, hopefully it won't be long before they visit again.