Koloss Explained

Koloss
Type:studio
Artist:Meshuggah
Cover:Meshuggah Koloss.jpg
Studio:Fear and Loathing Studios (Stockholm, Sweden)
Label:Nuclear Blast
Producer:Meshuggah
Prev Title:obZen
Prev Year:2008
Next Title:Pitch Black
Next Year:2013

Koloss is the seventh studio album by Swedish extreme metal band Meshuggah, released on 23 March 2012 in Germany, on 26 March in the rest of Europe, and on March 27 in North America, by Nuclear Blast.[1]

Background

Tomas Haake stated, "As always, we try to take our music in a slightly different direction with each album and with Koloss, we feel that we really nailed what we were going for. Organic brutality, viscera and groove all crammed into a 54-minute metalicious treat, best avoided by the faint of heart!!"[1]

The Koloss album was different from others in terms of cooperation and making music together. Fredrik and Mårten worked together in creating a couple of songs together. Jens Kidman who retired from guitar playing since the album Contradictions Collapse composed "Behind the Sun".

Release

The album was released on 23 March 2012 in Germany, 26 March in the rest of Europe and on March 27 in North America. It was released as a standard compact disc, as a digipak version featuring a bonus DVD, as a limited edition boxed set "magic cube" (a mock-Rubik's Cube featuring the album artwork, available only through Nuclear Blast mail-order), and a double-LP pressed on brown vinyl.[2]

The album debuted at number 17 in the United States, with first week sales of 18,342 copies, the band's and record label's highest position on the charts.[3] Koloss also debuted at number 27 on the Canadian Albums Chart.[4]

Reception

Koloss received generally favorable reviews. Kory Grow of Spin Magazine called it "the first real contender for the genre's album of the year".

Track listing

I Am Colossus EP

"I Am Colossus" was released as a two-track EP. The stop-motion video for the song was compared to similar videos created by the band Tool.[5]

Personnel

Charts

Chart (2012)Peak
position
Japanese Albums (Oricon)[6] 88
UK Albums (OCC)[7] 93

References

Further reading

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Meshuggah Drummer Says 'Koloss' Is A '54-Minute Metalicious Treat'. January 16, 2012. August 28, 2013. Blabbermouth.net.
  2. Web site: Meshuggah: New Album Cover Artwork, Track Listing Revealed. January 17, 2012. Blabbermouth.net. August 28, 2013.
  3. Web site: Meshuggah's new album, Koloss, has given Nuclear Blast USA their highest sales and Billboard 200 debuts ever. lambgoat.com. April 4, 2012. April 15, 2012.
  4. Web site: CANOE -- JAM! Music SoundScan Charts . July 17, 2014 . usurped . http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20050417041937/http://jam.canoe.ca/Music/Charts/ALBUMS.html . April 17, 2005 .
  5. Web site: 'I Am Colossus': Meshuggah Release Toolish New Video . Axl . Rosenberg . Metal Sucks . April 4, 2013 . June 3, 2014.
  6. Web site: 伏魔殿 メシュガー. Koloss Meshuggah. Oricon. November 16, 2021.
  7. Web site: Meshuggah full Official Chart History. Official Charts Company. 16 November 2021.