THE TRUE HUMAN DESIGN

EP was was released after numerous delays from the label Nuclear Blast. One new track "Sane" and 3 versions from the previous album`s opening track "Future Breed Machine" + 2 electronic experiments in the end. "Sane" appeared on the following album "Chaosphere" (1998), "FBM-s Mayhem version" is heavy as hell. For collectors.

At first look and listen i was prepared to give this only two stars, but upon a few further listens i have decided that it creeps into 3 star territory because it displays many different sides of the band. here the band provides more of the expected heavy prog metal that many like me have come to love, but also provides the listener with so interesting techno/electronica that is quite a departure, and an acoustic version of one of my favorite MESHUGGAH songs Future Breed Machine

Same is the opener here and is a quality new track from the band, although short, it is jam packed with time changes and powerful guitar passages. Also, crisp production displays the bands skill clearly and cleanly, yet without loosing any of the dark heavy power that this band wields expertly. A wonderful song that would seem perfectly in place on any major release by MESHUGGAH.

Next comes three versions of Future Breed Machine:

---First is the Live version which really shows all that this band can perform their complex material on stage as well as studio, a wonderful performance filled with power and precision. Vocals are spot on and the guitar solo contains not for note precision, so good that it makes this entire disc worth a listen is not a purchase for MESHUGGAH fans

---Next is the mayhem version, which is the only track that looses me on the disc, extremely heavy to the point that the whole track is just a muddy disaster. I don't mind things being heavy and thoroughly enjoy the heaviest of music, but this is so heavy to the point of being unable of being recorded in a fashion that is enjoyable, all the instruments and vocals feel like they are clipping through the entire version and it really leaves a sour taste in my mouth, a track to skip or even better to discard.

---Finally comes the campfire version which is acoustic and possibly one of the most delightfully zany recordings i have heard in a long time, it feels like the band just wanted to have some fun and decided to take their song in the exact opposite direction of the original track. Its a wonderfully fun track that deserves at least one listen.

The album finishes with two highly enjoyable techno/electronica songs. They are slow paced and relaxing with the occasional lyric sample scattered throughout, they are very similar so i wont bother going in to much more detail.

As a whole I thoroughly enjoyed this album and highly recommend it to any MESHUGGAH fan. I feel that this is a nice release and achieves more than I had expected so I will give it a 3 star rating.

"The True Human Design" is an EP release by Swedish technical extreme metal act Meshuggah The EP was released through Nuclear Blast Records in August 1997.

The 35:39 minutes long EP features 6 tracks. "Sane" opens the EP. A song that would later appear on "Chaosphere (1998)". So it´s a kind of teaser for the then upcoming new album by Meshuggah. "Future Breed Machine" from "Destroy Erase Improve (1995)" is up next in a live version. This track is pretty good but lacks the legendary intro from the original studio version which is a bit of a shame. The sound quality on this live version is of high quality. "Future Breed Machine" also appears in a so called "Mayhem" version that lasts 8:12 minutes. This version is in an industrial metal style and it´s a very repetitive take on the original song. "Futile Bread Machine (Campfire Version)" is the next track on the EP and it´s an acoustic track with drummer Tomas Haake singing some really silly sounding vocal parts. The last two tracks on the EP "Quant's Quantastical Quantasm" and "Friend's Breaking and Entering" are techno/electronic tracks with featuring sporadic samples. Probably remixes of Meshuggah songs but I must admit that I can´t hear which ones.

"The True Human Design" is very much a fan release and even fans of the band (which would normally include me) should be cautious and take a listen before purchasing this EP. Don´t expect much of Meshuggah´s trademark tech metal madness here. Only the first two tracks fall under that catagory. My personal opinion about this release isn´t too enthusiastic and a 2 star (40%) rating might even be stretching it a bit. For someone less conservative than me this release might be of some interest though. I prefer Meshuggah when they stick to playing crushingly heavy and complex odd-metered extreme metal.