The Ophidian Trek North American Tour feat. Meshuggah – REVIEW

The Ophidian Trek North American Tour came though Chicago like a ton of bricks at the House of Blues. The tour featured performances by Meshuggah and Decapitated. Our review of the show can be viewed after the break.

With every year that passes, a few bands always seem to take metal to heavier, darker, and more technical places. I had the pleasure of seeing two of these bands at the House of Blues Chicago on Tuesday, 15 May, 2012.

Polish tech-death group Decapitated performed and destroyed. I had heard these guys in the past, but I guess I never had an ear for it. Following in the huge footsteps of deceased drummer Vitek, pummeling double-bass and impossible blast beats were played with precision by drummer Kerim “Krimh” Lechner as musical mastermind Waclaw “Vogg” Kieltyka ripped out some of the most insane guitar work you had ever seen/heard.

While Decapitated was more on the chaotic side of the term “technical,” none are more on the controlled and down right heavy side as Swedish monster Meshuggah. The five of them on stage, the backdrop of the “Koloss” artwork, the light show, everything was simply incredible. The thing that I loved about seeing these guys live is realizing that no matter how complex the polyrhythm they are playing, 90% of the time it will be over either 3 or 4 so that you can headbang in “half-time” the entire show (which I certainly did). No need to go through the “stars” of this show, the entire band performed as one, never missing a beat even on the most complex parts of their music.

That night on my way home, all I could think about was picking up my 8-string guitar and writing some polyrhythmic tech-death. As a truly inspiring evening to me as a musician, I can’t imagine the awe that some of the non-musical fans experienced that evening.

Information about the review…
Tour: The Ophidian Trek North American Tour
Bands: Meshuggah and Decapitated
Reviewer: Vincent Ippolito
Date: May 15, 2012
Venue: House of Blues in Chicago, IL