Catch 33

Catch 33

Catch Thirtythree is the fifth full-length studio album by Swedish metal band Meshuggah. It was released on May 16, 2005, in Europe and May 31, 2005, in the United States through Nuclear Blast. Catch Thirtythree entered the Billboard 200 chart at number 170.

Although it is printed as a full-length album with thirteen songs, it is actually a single continuous suite. The band themselves have said that even though it is a full-length release, it is still considered to be an experimental piece and not quite a bona-fide album. The musical direction is consistent with the evolution carried on from Nothing and I, utilizing heavy and texturous grooves, leaving most of the thrash elements behind. The album does, however, contain elements of the band's previously utilized jazz fusion elements.

Lyrically, the album is a concept album, revolving around different kinds of paradoxes, hence the title Catch Thirtythree (see Catch-22).

This is also the first full Meshuggah album where the drums are programmed rather than performed by drummer Tomas Haake. They are created using "Drumkit from Hell", a software synthesizer that actually uses Haake's drums and cymbals as samples. The first Meshuggah song to feature programmed drums was "War" from Rare Trax.

Meshuggah released a music video for the song "Shed". The song is also featured on the Saw III soundtrack.