Chaosphere
Meshuggah · 1998
47 min · 8 tracks · progressive metal
A relentless barrage of polyrhythmic intensity and dissonant melodies that push the boundaries of extreme metal.
Top tracks — play these first
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Concatenation Start here — establishes the sonic palette early
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New Millennium Cyanide Christ — This track exemplifies Meshuggah's signature sound with its complex time signatures and aggressive vocals, setting a benchmark for modern metal.
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The Mouth Licking What You’ve Bled — With its intricate guitar work and unsettling atmosphere, this track showcases the band's ability to blend brutality with nuance.
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Elastic — 'Elastic' features an extended composition that captures the band's experimental spirit, incorporating shifting rhythms and haunting melodies throughout its lengthy runtime.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album's complex rhythms and dissonance define its sound, marking it as a key release in progressive metal.
What we noticed
- The album features complex polyrhythms that shift frequently, creating a sense of relentless momentum.
- Dissonant guitar riffs are layered with aggressive drumming, resulting in a dense sonic texture.
- Vocals are delivered in a harsh, guttural style that complements the chaotic instrumentation.
- Composition 25% of the score
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8/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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9/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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7/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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9/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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6/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Significant within its genre. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- steady relentless rhythmic complexity
- immersive journey through chaos
- haunting melodies with angular riffs
- focused exploration of soundscapes
Maybe skip if you
- seekers of instant gratification
- prefer melodic simplicity
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Critical Peak — Significant evolution in sound, widely acclaimed for its innovative approach to rhythm.
- Themes
- polyrhythmic chaos· djent evolution
- Career context
- Released in January 1998, 'Chaosphere' was Meshuggah's fourth studio album and marked a significant evolution in their sound, following the critically acclaimed 'Nothing'. At this point, the band was solidifying its identity within the burgeoning djent movement and exploring complex time signatures and heavy riffs that would influence countless artists in the genre.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Gojira· Tesseract· Between the Buried and Me
Tracklist
- 1 Concatenation Start here 4:17
- 2 New Millennium Cyanide Christ 5:35
- 3 Corridor of Chameleons 5:02
- 4 Neurotica 5:19
- 5 The Mouth Licking What You’ve Bled 3:57
- 6 Sane 3:48
- 7 The Exquisite Machinery of Torture 3:55
- 8 Elastic 15:30
If this landed
Records by other artists that run on the same instinct.
Calculating Infinity
The Dillinger Escape Plan
Shares chaotic energy and complex structures with intense polyrhythmic shifts.
From Mars to Sirius
Gojira
Explores heavy riffs and intricate rhythms while blending atmospheric elements with aggression.
One
Tesseract
Delivers intricate djent rhythms and layered melodies that resonate with the same progressive intensity.
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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