Swedish metal titans Meshuggah took MGM Music Hall by storm on the Boston date of their Immutable Tour, joined by fellow nationals In Flames and Whitechapel.
Many fans made their way down Lansdowne early on to make sure to catch Whitechapel’s earlier set, who came out to a packed room. Kicking things off with “Let Me Burn”, the Knoxville metal band set the room on fire with a high-energy set. From furious riffs to Phil Bozeman’s bone-chilling vocals, the crowd was treated to a fast and intense performance, setting the tone for the rest of the evening.
In Flames would take over after a short intermission, emerging from the shadows as “The Beginning of All Things That Will End” blasted through the speakers. The Swedish band brought up the energy several notches as they kicked off with the title track of their latest release, Foregone. With frontman Anders Fridén at the helm, In Flames’ intensity was contagious, as the audience moshed and crowdsurfed constantly; Fridén made sure to strongly encourage the crowd, asking them to “open that shit up” several times. From “Darker Times” to the closer “Take This Life”, In Flames put on a high octane show that kept the adrenaline flowing across the entire venue, while also making sure to candidly interact with the audience. The band was excited and grateful to be back, as they took a moment to thank the fans for making everything possible.
Another short break flew by, when the ambient music shifted onto soft rock classics, and the crowd was loving it: from singing along to Rod Stewart’s “Do Ya Think I’m Sexy” to lighting up their phones to Chicago’s “You’re The Inspiration”. The love for music was pretty clear despite the change of pace. As Wham’s “Careless Whisper” softly played, the lights came down and the stage lit up in burning red. This was Meshuggah’s introduction, as they slowly took their spots in front of the light panels, turning them into mere silhouettes. The ominous sight gave way to “Broken Cog”, off their most recent release Immutable, being eerily still on their spots during the entirety of the song. With a flash of light, the band rushed to the front of the stage to “Rational Gaze”, as the room erupted.
Meshuggah’s impressive musicianship was evident, with intricate arrangements and menacing riffs; the band is loud and terrifying, in the best ways possible. Flashes of light would reveal their faces in between the moments of darkness, and fans were just as electrified as they made their way to the front of the stage. The constant moshing and crowdsurfing continued in the center of the room, although many others were standing on the sidelines in awe of Meshuggah’s performance. Their stage presence is cinematic and powerful, and the entire show was filled with adrenaline. After a long stage exit, the band returned to the crowd chanting “Bleed, Bleed, Bleed”, clamoring for the band’s iconic hit. The violent intro ignited the largest circle pit of the night, as chaos ensued. “Demiurge” brought the evening to a monumental close, with Meshuggah gifting the fans with yet another stunning live show.
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