Koloss

Koloss
Studio album by Meshuggah
Released March 23, 2012
Recorded Umeå, Sweden
Genre Extreme metal,[1][2] technical metal,[3] experimental metal[2]
Length 54:47
Label Nuclear Blast
Producer Meshuggah
Meshuggah chronology

obZen
(2008)		 Koloss
(2012)		 Pitch Black
(2013)
Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
Allmusic [4]
Alternative Press [1]
The A.V. Club B+[5]
Decibel 8/10[3]
Drowned in Sound [6]
Exclaim! favourable[2]
Spin Magazine 9/10[7]
Sputnikmusic [8]

Koloss is the seventh album by Swedish metal band Meshuggah, released on March 23, 2012, in Germany, on March 26 in the rest of Europe, and March 27 in North America, by Nuclear Blast.[9]

Reception

Koloss has received widespread critical acclaim. Kory Grow of Spin Magazine stated, "[Koloss is] the first real contender for the genre's album of the year".[7]

Background

Tomas Haake stated, "As always, we try to take our music in a slightly different direction with each album and with Koloss, we feel that we really nailed what we were going for. Organic brutality, viscera and groove all crammed into a 54-minute metalicious treat, best avoided by the faint of heart!!"[9]

Release

The album was released on March 23, 2012, in Germany, March 26 in the rest of Europe, and March 27 in North America. It was released as a standard compact disc, as a digipak version featuring a bonus DVD, as a limited edition boxed set "magic cube" (a mock-Rubik's Cube featuring the album artwork, available only through Nuclear Blast mail-order), and a double-LP pressed on brown vinyl.[10]

The album debuted at number 17 in the United States, with first week sales of 18,342 copies, the band's and record label's highest position on the charts.[11] Koloss also debuted at number 27 on the Canadian Albums Chart.[12]

Track listing

No. TitleLyricsMusic Length
1. "I Am Colossus"  HaakeHagström, Thordendal 4:43
2. "The Demon's Name Is Surveillance"  HaakeThordendal 4:41
3. "Do Not Look Down"  HaakeHaake, Hagström, Thordendal 4:44
4. "Behind the Sun"  HaakeKidman 6:14
5. "The Hurt That Finds You First"  HagströmHagström 5:34
6. "Marrow"  HaakeHaake, Hagström, Thordendal 5:37
7. "Break Those Bones Whose Sinews Gave It Motion"  HaakeHagström 6:57
8. "Swarm"  HaakeHaake, Hagström, Thordendal 5:28
9. "Demiurge"  HagströmHagström 6:16
10. "The Last Vigil"  (instrumental)Hagström 4:33
Limited edition DVD
No. Title Length
1. "Konstrukting the Koloss" (Making of "Koloss") 25:00
2. "Meshuggah in India" (Live in India) 26:25

I Am Colossus EP

"I Am Colossus" was released as a two-track EP. The stop-motion video for the song was compared to similar videos created by the band Tool.[13]

No. Title Length
1. "I Am Colossus"   4:43
2. "I Am Colossus" (Engine-EarZ & Foreign Beggars Remix) 4:44

Personnel

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Schreurs, Jason (March 26, 2012). "Alternative Press – Reviews – Meshuggah – Koloss". Alternative Press. Retrieved March 27, 2012.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Falzon, Denise (March 25, 2012). "Meshuggah – Koloss – Metal Reviews – exclaim.ca". Exclaim!. Retrieved March 27, 2012.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Stewart-Panko, Kevin (April 2012). "Towering Achievement". Decibel Magazine (090).
  4. ↑ Heaney, Gregory. "Koloss - Meshuggah – Allmusic". Retrieved March 29, 2012.
  5. ↑ Heller, Jason (March 27, 2012). "Meshuggah: Koloss – Music – Music Review – The A.V. Club". The A.V. Club. Retrieved March 27, 2012.
  6. ↑ Smith, Patrick (March 23, 2012). "Meshuggah Koloss". Retrieved April 13, 2012.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Grow, Kory (March 26, 2012). "Meshuggah, 'Koloss' (Nuclear Blast) – SPIN". Retrieved March 29, 2012.
  8. ↑ Thomas, Adam (March 20, 2012). "Meshuggah Koloss". Retrieved April 13, 2012.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 "Meshuggah Drummer Says 'Koloss' Is A '54-Minute Metalicious Treat'". Blabbermouth.net. January 16, 2012. Retrieved August 28, 2013.
  10. ↑ "Meshuggah: New Album Cover Artwork, Track Listing Revealed". Blabbermouth.net. January 17, 2012. Retrieved August 28, 2013.
  11. ↑ "Meshuggah's new album, Koloss, has given Nuclear Blast USA their highest sales and Billboard 200 debuts ever". lambgoat.com. April 4, 2012. Retrieved April 15, 2012.
  12. ↑ http://jam.canoe.ca/Music/Charts/ALBUMS.html[]
  13. ↑ Rosenberg, Axl (April 4, 2013). "'I Am Colossus': Meshuggah Release Toolish New Video". Metal Sucks. Retrieved June 3, 2014.

Further reading