The Violent Sleep of Reason
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The Violent Sleep of Reason Image
Metascore
83

Universal acclaim - based on 6 Critic Reviews What's this?

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8.6

Universal acclaim- based on 30 Ratings

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  • Summary: The eighth full-length release for the Swedish metal band was produced with Tue Madsen.
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Top Track

Clockworks
Dismantling the clockwork that makes me the cynic Pallet, wheel and click The properties of mg indifference Reverse-engineering what makes it... See the rest of the song lyrics
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Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 5 out of 6
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 6
  3. Negative: 0 out of 6
  1. Kerrang!
    Oct 12, 2016
    100
    It's reliably puzzling and brain-meltingly good. [15 Oct 2016, p.52]
    All this publication's reviews
  2. Exclaim
    Oct 12, 2016
    80
    The band's evolution on The Violent Sleep… keeps them one step ahead of all those who have been trying to catch up, making Meshuggah as powerful and proficient on the cusp of three decades of existence as they always have been.
  3. AllMusic
    Oct 12, 2016
    80
    On The Violent Sleep of Reason, Meshuggah set out simply to capture the energy of their live shows in the studio. They accomplish that in spades, and reaffirm why they don't need to worry about innovation: their writing and playing accomplish that in their very nature.
  4. The Wire
    Nov 8, 2016
    80
    Once this inward looking tendency was a strength; now it seems safe. [Nov 2016, p.68]
    All this publication's reviews
  5. Pitchfork
    Oct 24, 2016
    65
    The Violent Sleep of Reason galvanizes most when Meshuggah rise to the challenge of writing music that matches the urgency and global scope of its subjects. All too often, though, even as they’re captured playing together in a room for the first time in ages, Meshuggah sound a tad more comfortable than agitated.
  6. Sputnikmusic
    Oct 12, 2016
    60
    While the instrumental mastery still impresses as always, the end result remains enjoyable but ultimately missing a key aspect of what made the driving, mechanical sound of Meshuggah so worthwhile in the first place.

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 5 out of 5
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 5
  3. Negative: 0 out of 5
  1. zakster90
    Jul 3, 2018
    10
    I'm a professional audio engineer and a lifelong musician. Meshuggah is probably the only band that manages to not only keep my attention, butI'm a professional audio engineer and a lifelong musician. Meshuggah is probably the only band that manages to not only keep my attention, but allows me to think about music from a different perspective. Considered to be the godfathers of Djent, which is a super progressive style of metal with low tuned, extended range guitars with beautiful melodies laid over and groovy and often complex drum beats. But being the gods they are, Meshuggah turns everything up to max and ripps the knobs off.

    Obzen changed my world when I first heard it. I'm sure anyone that has heard the song Bleed, knows exactly what I'm talking about. Even on that album songs like Pravus were so beyond anything I had ever heard before and I thought, "Damn, I wonder what they do next." Then came Koloss, and that again, blew my mind. More dark, with some fatter riffs and more relentless playing style than Koloss which was more about the technicality. (but lets face it, Meshuggah should probably translate to modern English as, "Technical as fuuhck"

    But this album, The Violent Sleep of Reason is an entirely different beast due to the fact this whole album was live tracked. That simple fact alone tells you just how insanely talented these men are. That they can go into a studio and whip this stuff out like its just band practice or a walk in the park. In the studio, I've seen drummers that cant even manage a simple 4/4 without screwing up every fill and falling off tempo. Meanwhile, drummer Thomas Haake is over here playing some of the most rhythmically complex and precise drumming known to man.

    Lets talk about this album.

    Right off the bat, Clockworks punches you right in the balls with some of the most progressive, mind bending music that Meshuggah has ever created. It is literally the most astonishing feat of musicianship and technical prowess that they have ever done outside of "Bleed". I mean hell, the guy they have right now filling in on tour for lead guitarist Fredrik Thordendal, is a man named Per Nilsson who has a super high IQ and is a member of some super elite IQ club. So to even fill in for Meshuggah, you basically need to be some sort of mathematician to even understand their music, much less play it in real time, night after night. Its madness.

    I feel these are the areas most people don't comprehend when listening to Meshuggah. Their music is so far advanced, that it tends to go right over most peoples heads, probably due to modern day lack of attention span. They are like aliens from another planet that have opened our eyes to the real possibilities of what humans are capable of playing without the aid of backing tracks. I actually live a daily life with a rather tough case of OCD, (the legit kind), and Meshuggah's music has been quite therapeutic for my brain activity and fidgeting. Anytime I find myself getting off track, i just think of one of their riffs, and I'm back on point.

    The whole album is a mindfuuk, constantly spinning you around and making you think, "Are you serious? Those are people playing that?" The song "Nostrum" is another track thats just balls to the wall. I'd highly recommend you check out the studio video for "Nostrum" too where you see in the background, bassist Dick Lövgren wearing giant sleeping slippers, just tapping along to the 4/4 beat, but not the rhythm. Its mesmerizing.

    Simply put, as Bill Burr once said about them, "If you have not seen Meshuggah live, you are doing yourself a disservice as a human being, its life altering".

    They will go down in history as the most forward thinking band that has ever walked this earth.    … Expand
  2. Nanogon
    Oct 29, 2016
    10
    Meshuggah never fail to impress - no other words needed. They're ones of a few who can provide their signature style and update it with everyMeshuggah never fail to impress - no other words needed. They're ones of a few who can provide their signature style and update it with every new release too.… Expand
  4. oDjento
    Oct 24, 2016
    9
    Probably meshuggahs best and most rounded album. Got so many great riffs and tomas haake has outdone hinself on drums. Another high note withProbably meshuggahs best and most rounded album. Got so many great riffs and tomas haake has outdone hinself on drums. Another high note with extra shuggah… Expand
  5. TheHutch
    Oct 13, 2016
    9
    Brutal and unrelenting, unapologetically heavy as hell, ladies and gentlemen, I give you - Meshuggah! The long awaited 8th LP from theBrutal and unrelenting, unapologetically heavy as hell, ladies and gentlemen, I give you - Meshuggah! The long awaited 8th LP from the swedish metal juggernaut released officially and to the hardcore fans of this metal pioneer, the wait was indeed worth it. Meshuggah has been around for almost 3 decades now, and with this being 'only' their eighth album, fans are ravenous for any new material. To that end, 'The Violent Sleep of Reason' does not disappoint and is a worthy admission into their esteemed discography. With song structures more resembling that of a jazz outfit, and odd rythms and mind numbingly complex guitar solos, this is not a mass appeal type of band. I don't know that this album will garner many new fans, but fans of bands in the 'Djent' genre should be put on notice. Bands like Sikth, Periphery, and Veil of Maya would not exist if not for Meshuggah. Now it depends on your taste in metal as to wether thats a good thing or not but regardless this is the forbearer of the entire Djent movement. Chugging rythms thanks to the always outstanding drummer, vocals that sound like Slayers' Tom Areya gargled sandpaper and 8 string guitars leave the listener bruised and f#*@ing hostile. There is a theme to this offering, which is not always the case with past Meshuggah releases. The albums' title is a riff on an etching by the spanish artist Goya called 'The Sleep of Reason Produces Monsters'. Basically the message is if we turn a blind eye to the evils of the world, it may consume us all. This album deals along those lines of thinking. Lyric videos are out there for 'Nostrum' and 'Born in Dissonance' if you want to get to the meaning of the lyrics quickly. Highlights of this album are the aforementioned 'Born...', the 1st track 'Clockworks', and the title track. The album is noteworthy for another reason as it was the first one in 20+ years to be recorded 'live', with all the members of the band playing along side each other. This has given the music a more organic, looser feel that makes it feel more accessible than their last couple (great) albums. The bottom line here is, if you love Meshuggah, this is a must buy! If, however, you are not familiar with Meshuggah, I suggest streaming this (and other albums in their storied past) before deciding. My guess is you will not be disappointed. Past albums that are essential are 'Destroy, Erase, Improve', and 'Chaosphere', as well as 'ObZen'. Enjoy!… Expand
  6. Geffen
    Jan 31, 2021
    9
    A great continuation of the band's discography. The Violent Sleep of Reason is just as harsh and technical as much of Meshuggah's previous work.

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