Fredrik Thordendal's Special Defects

Fredrik Thordendal is a Swedish guitarist best known as a founding member and the guitarist of Meshuggah; Fredrik Thordendal's Special Defects is his solo project responsible for the album Sol Niger Within.

Sol Niger Within is a solo album by Fredrik Thordendal's Special Defects praised in the provided reviews for its experimental structure, stream-of-consciousness flow, and fusion/jazz influences. Reviews note that the album was presented both as a divided-track edition (reports of around 30 short tracks) and as a single-flow version later released as Version 3.33. Contributors mentioned in the reviews include drummer Morgan Ågren and Thomas Haake (contributing vocal inserts). The album is repeatedly compared to and placed in context with Meshuggah's work and described as avant-garde and technically virtuosic. The reviews reference literary citations (Dante, Hesse, Plato) and highlight polyrhythms, industrial tones, and free-jazz elements.

DeBaser hosts two strongly positive reviews of Fredrik Thordendal's solo project album Sol Niger Within. Reviewers emphasize the album's experimental, stream-of-consciousness structure, advanced polyrhythms and fusion influences. The work is praised for Thordendal's virtuosity and for contributions from Morgan Ågren and Thomas Haake.

For:Fans of experimental/progressive metal, advanced guitar technique, and avant-garde fusion.