Nuclear Blast is one of the gayer labels around these days, much like those corporate money-grubbing whores, Earache Records (FUCK YOU!!!). Sure, Nuclear Blast still has a few killer bands--Dismember, Sinister, Hypocrisy and Meshuggah--but what happens when one of those bands doesn't sell enough "units"? Then it's time to say good-bye. Well, my point is, back in the day, Nuclear Blast released some killer shit, much of it from the aforementioned bands. Even though 'None' isn't from WAY back in the day, it's still an album from when Nuclear Blast kicked ass.

Uh. . . okay, Meshuggah. This is my favorite Meshuggah release after the incredible 'Destroy Erase Improve' album. Meshuggah is one of the few bands that I will listen to that groove all the way through a song like most lame '90s thrash bands. This EP was kind of a transition release between the 'Contradictions Collapse' and 'Destroy Erase Improve' albums, sort of preparing fans for the newer style. The five songs that make up 'None' are still somewhat similar to the 'Contradictions Collapse' style, but there are touches of that "off-time" sound that would permeate the later material. And Jens's vocals are still kind more sung and not quite as harsh as his vocals later became. The mixture is perfect on this EP! The first time I heard "Humiliative" I shat myself, it's so heavy. What's great about this is that all the songs kick ass and it's just an EP. I could do without the extra crap at the end of "Aztec Two-Step", but it's there, so I can live with it. Sweden rules.

© 1999 goden