14. Meshuggah - Nothing (Re-Release) (2006)
Notable Tracks: Rational Gaze, Glints Collide, Perpetual Black Second, Organic Shadows "Mesh...What the hell is their name?" Yes, I thought the exact same thing when I was first introduced to this band. This Swedish Heavy Metal band (that employs English lyrics) feels about as hard and heavy as taking a cast-iron skillet to the face. But such brutality, in this case, is as rewarding as possible. If you genuinely don't like heavy metal then your best bet is to stay away, but if you would like to experience masterfully played eight-string (yes, you read that correctly) guitars for even a few minutes, then give Rational Gaze a listen. One thing you may notice immediately while listening is the strange, off-beat rhythm they utilize. To some, the sound is unbearable, to others, it's a gift of heavenly metal for your ear canals. I challenge you to listen and not nod your head even once to the rhythm (go ahead, I'll wait). If you pass this challenge and you deem this band to be too brutal, do yourself a favor and at least research the lyrics. While some lyrics take a no-holds-barred approach (similarly to their sound), most of the lyrics encourage dissection and deep thought to properly experience the band's intransigence. If you did in fact listen to a few songs, let me ask you one question: Do you like juice, too?