SOL NIGER WITHIN

The original 1996 version of this album featured 26 tracks spread over 40 minutes, all being sequel to eachother making the album into a 40 minute long song. The version 3.33 released a couple of years after featured two bonus tracks.

How to describe this album? Well, imagine Meshuggah in their "Destroy Erase Improve" period mixed with avant-garde and a "slight" hint of insanity and you might get an idea how this album sound like, It's kinda like "Fantômas meets Meshuggah on a bad day". This definietly NOT easy listening metal with other words! Technically, it up to pair with some of Meshuggah's works, with very polyrhythmic use of time-signatures, similar to the ones on "Destroy Erase Improve". The guitar solo's are typical Thordendal solo's, very well played and atmospheric, sometimes even backed up with Fusion-like music ("Zeta 1 - Reticuli"). Vocals are done by Meshuggah drummer Tomas Haake and are for the most of the album presented in a bitter and half-screaming voice, probably mixed with an voice effect machine. There's lot's of influences from various genres here, notably jazz and avant garde/experimental, and together with the bizarre though effective and original songwriting, Thordendal and Co. makes an unique album! This album is extremely well-done in overall, everything is just perfect it seems, and the production is excellent too. There are no really weak spots on this album, all of the music is just so good. It is because of that it is so original? Is it because of that it is so heavy and complex? Is it because it is so weird and downright sick? Well, all three options for me, plus that you can add that this album is so unique and interesting. You'll never find an album like this again, I can guarantee you.

Interested already? Give it a shot, you'll not regret if you are a Meshuggah or Fantômas fan! I can't help it but give "Sol Niger Within" a perfect 5 star rating! Extremely recommended for everyone who want to try something different. It is a bit hard to find these days, but you should do whatever you can to get it! 5 stars.