I was not impressed with Meshuggah, until the end, when I began to feel some energy coming from them. Before that, it just didn’t carry enough healthy rhythm for me, I thought I was hearing good beginnings, but then faltering endings, like the band just sort of got into it for a moment and then gave up and moved on. I felt that the singer’s constant moves for “looking evil” with his grins and head twists didn’t really appear frightening and cool so much as kind of funny.

As for the stage set, I liked it, and I considered it very “industrial” and a good move, since I’ve seen one too many band members get hit by something. In some instances, I think it’s expected that the band is up close and personal, and in others, I like the separation, it makes the band more of a representation of something untouchable, something unobtainable, and you’re simply left to watch. Then again I could just be an idiot and I missed the point.

Regarding the setlist, I love the hits that everyone else does, of course, it’s why they’re hits, but I like it when bands play less popular things. To me, it’s like the band plays whatever they choose to play, and I think that the fans should like it anyway simply because you’re there to see a band play it’s music, not play just the songs you know or like, that’s rather an insult to the band, I would think. Lets say you put out a lot of work on such and such song, and no one gave a damn because it wasn’t a hit, that wouldn’t be fair.

However, I do believe that at least a nice handful of popular tracks should be played, just to keep the crowd comfortable with what they know and love, and of course, ending with a song the crowd shouts for more than any other I think is virtually a necessity to a great show. And because of this, I will agree with you there that they didn’t do enough of the hits that I think most people would have liked and ending with a cover wasn’t the best idea, but it wasn’t that bad, was it?

I liked the covers. However, I could have done fine with just one, not three.

As for Burt Bell, it was a nice surprise I thought, but I did have to frown that he sang “Just one Fix” instead of Al.

I wasn’t surprised or bothered by Al’s behavior. I found it funny and typical of him, so it didn’t faze me much at all.

But I know that being a long-time fan of Ministry and having seen them before, obviously influences my opinion in a certain direction, which is probably why I’ve disagreed so much. I don’t mean to come off as condescending or rude to other opinions, and I hope that I didn’t make that impression here. Different strokes for different folks, as they say.

But seriously, good review! You were really thorough and to the point, something I think some reviewers lack often.