Rating: 3.5 Skulls
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Rating: 3.5 Skulls |
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Death's Review (5/1/03, The Palace, Hollywood, CA):
photos by HelThis was a Meshuggah/Strapping Young Lad show but we missed Strapping Young Lad. I grabbed a beer to compensate. Walked around a bit with Hel, and then settled in front of the bar where I proceeded to drink and talk with friends while soundboard, between set music provided the soundtrack. I was skeptical of Meshuggah live, having previously experienced them in the live setting and finding the experience a touch droning after a while - I figured I was good for a bout four or five songs max, and this promised to be a full length, hour-plus headlinging set. I didn't know how up for it I'd be. Anyway, I was with some people who were real fans, so as the lights went down I tried to follow their lead.
The band did immediately come off better than I had remembered, moving around a bit when having the whole stage to work with. Surely Meshuggah are not strangers to big stages and the notion of having to convert new audiences through the power of their live performance (having opened for Tool and played the second stage at Ozzfest, as well as playing a couple of New England Metal and Hardcore fests) is nothing new to them, and the experience shows. No "underground" metal act has had the touring opportunities Meshuggah has had the last couple of years, and from this performance it was clear they've come out on the other side of all that a tighter musical force for having acquired the experience.
Still, after a while, I got bored. Maybe six songs in I started to get "Meshuggah fatigue" (some of you have to know what I'm talking about), but then I looked over and saw a couple serious fans getting into it, singing along and pounding their fists perfectly in time with the music. This energy focused my attention back on the band and got me through another two songs before I had to start wandering around to check out the rest of the venue to stay entertained. I met up with Hel and went to check out the merchandise.
Picked up a cool free Dark Angel - 'Darkness Returns' sticker from the merch booth (must have been left there because Gene Hoglan is playing drums of course for Strapping Young Lad), and sat there and thought for a minute about how it was too bad that Jim Durkin wasn't go to be a part of the Dark Angel reunion (instead he is preparing new material for Dreams of Damnation), deciding that I'd still be interested to hear any new Dark Angel material or go to the gig, 'cause even though my expectations are low, I soooooooo liked albums like Time Does Not Heal and Leave Scars and so want to see Gene play stuff like "Cauterization" or "Ancient Inherited Shame" live that I'd have to attend even if it was just him drumming along to Dark Angel songs on tape. Anyway, then I remembered that I was at a Meshuggah show, and that they were still playing. I had tuned out long ago.
Hel's Review (5/1/03, The Palace, Hollywood, CA):
Surprised to learn that I completely missed Strapping Young Lad? You must be new here. Yes, dear readers, the Los Angeles curse of early start times continues, and this time the victims were Hevy Devy and his notorious crew. Every few years, one particular band stands out for me as the one I just can't seem to catch their entire set, no matter how hard I try. Unfortunately, these days, Strapping Young Lad has captured that extremely dubious honor. By the time we arrived at the venue, they were completely packed up and off stage.
So, yeah, I was pretty annoyed. I could console myself with thoughts of seeing them at the New England Metal and Hardcore Festival, but of course, in retrospect, I now know that wasn't going to soothe my pain, since there they only played a short twenty minute set. I don't know how long the Palace allowed them to play on this night, but for the sakes of those who were actually there to see them, I sure hope it was more than twenty measly minutes.
Fine, so I have to let it go. Meshuggah would be up next, and even though I felt like I had just seen them live, there really isn't anything wrong with that, now is there? While the new record will never be my favorite, the remainder of their catalog is still near and dear to my heart, and I am always excited to see great music played live. The new songs stood out in their inferiority, but otherwise, the set was all that I hoped it would be.
The night was over quickly, as shows at the Palace are wont to do. I actually didn't last through Meshuggah's entire set, since missing Strapping Young Lad really took the air out of my sails, but I did last through most of it, a true feat, as anyone who has seen this band live can attest. The incessant time changes that I love so dearly require strict attention, and anything less is just, well, tiring. It would have been much more worth the trip if I'd managed to arrive in time for Strapping Young Lad, but who am I kidding? I always enjoy a great live show.
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