Meshuggah

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For the Yiddish word "Meshuga", see List of English words of Yiddish origin.
Meshuggah
Meshuggah performing at the Palace Theatre in Melbourne, Australia, on 15 October 2008
Meshuggah performing at the Palace Theatre in Melbourne, Australia, on 15 October 2008
Background information
Origin Umeå, Sweden
Genre(s) Experimental metal
Years active 1987–present
Label(s) Nuclear Blast, Fractured Transmitter
Associated acts Fredrik Thordendal's Special Defects
Website www.meshuggah.net
Members
Jens Kidman
Fredrik Thordendal
Mårten Hagström
Tomas Haake
Dick Lövgren
Former members
Johan Sjögren
Jörgen Lindmark
Per Sjögren
Torbjörn Granström
Niklas Lundgren
Peter Nordin
Gustaf Hielm

Meshuggah is a Swedish five-piece experimental metal band formed in 1987. Meshuggah's line-up has primarily consisted of founding members vocalist Jens Kidman and guitarist Fredrik Thordendal, drummer Tomas Haake, who joined in 1990, and rhythm guitarist Mårten Hagström, who joined in 1994. The band has gone through a number of bassists, but the position has been held by Dick Lövgren since 2004.

Meshuggah first attracted international attention with the 1995 release Destroy Erase Improve for its fusion of fast-tempo death metal, thrash metal and progressive metal. Since its 2002 album Nothing, Meshuggah has used eight-string guitars and downtuned, groovy riffs. Meshuggah has become known for complex, polyrhythmic song structures and precise musicianship. It was labeled as one of the ten most important hard and heavy bands by Rolling Stone and as the most important band in metal by Alternative Press. Meshuggah has found little mainstream success as of yet, but is a significant act in extreme underground music.

Nothing and the albums that followed have all charted on the Billboard 200. In 2006 and 2009, the band was nominated for a Swedish Grammy Award. Meshuggah's most commercially successful album, 2008's obZen, peaked at No. 59 and sold 11,400 copies in the first week and 50,000 copies six months after its release. Since its formation, Meshuggah has released six studio albums, five EPs and eight music videos. The band has performed in various international festivals, including Ozzfest and Download, and embarked on the obZen world tour in 2008.

Contents

[edit] History

[edit] Formation and Contradictions Collapse (1987–1994)

Frontman Jens Kidman in 2007

In 1985, guitarist Fredrik Thordendal formed a band in Umeå,[1] a college town in northern Sweden with a population of 105,000.[2] The band, originally named Metallien, recorded a number of demo tapes, after which it disbanded. Thordendal, however, continued playing under a different name with new band members.[1]

Meshuggah was formed in 1987[3][4] by vocalist and guitarist Jens Kidman,[1] and took the name Meshuggah from the Yiddish word for "crazy".[5] The band recorded several demos before Kidman left, which prompted the remaining members to disband. Kidman then formed a new band, Calipash, with guitarist Thordendal, bassist Peter Nordin and drummer Niclas Lundgren.[1] Kidman, who also played guitar,[3] and Thordendal decided to restore the name Meshuggah for the new band.[1]

In 1989, Meshuggah released the self-titled, three-song EP Meshuggah,[1] which is commonly known as Psykisk Testbild[6][7] (a title that could be translated as "Psychological Test-Picture").[3] This 12" (30 cm) vinyl EP had only 1,000 copies released, sold by local record store Garageland.[6][7] The EP's back cover features the band members with cheese doodles on their faces.[7]

After replacing drummer Niclas Lundgren with Tomas Haake in 1990, Meshuggah signed a contract with German heavy metal record label Nuclear Blast and recorded its debut full-length album, Contradictions Collapse.[8] The LP, originally entitled (All this because of) Greed,[9] was released in 1991.[1] The album received positive reviews, but was not a commercial success.[6] Soon after, Kidman decided to concentrate on vocals,[2] and rhythm guitarist Mårten Hagström,[1] who had already played in a band with Haake when they were in the sixth grade, was recruited.[3] The new lineup recorded the EP None at Tonteknik Recordings in Umeå in 1994 for release later that year.[10][11] A Japanese version was also released, including lyrics printed in Japanese.[12]

During this period, Thordendal, who was working as a carpenter, severed the tip of his left middle finger, while Haake injured his hand in a grinder accident.[1][10] As a result, the band was unable to perform for several months. Thordendal's fingertip was later reattached, and he went on to make a full recovery.[3] The Selfcaged EP was recorded in April and May 1994, but its release was delayed to later in 1995 due to the accidents.[1][3]

[edit] Destroy Erase Improve (1995–1997)

Guitarist Mårten Hagström with a custom built Ibanez eight-string guitar in Melbourne, 2008

In January 1995, Meshuggah undertook a short European tour organized by its record label Nuclear Blast. Afterwards, the band returned to the studio to record the album Destroy Erase Improve[3] at Soundfront Studios in Uppsala, with Daniel Bergstrand as a producer.[6] Shortly thereafter, the band went on a European tour supporting Machine Head for two months.[3] During the tour, Nordin became ill and experienced difficulties with his inner ear balance. Due to the resulting chronic dizziness and vertigo, Nordin was forced to leave the tour and travel to Sweden. Machine Head's bassist Adam Duce offered to cover his absence; however, Meshuggah decided to continue as a four-piece. Sometimes Thordendal played bass, while other times the band performed with two guitars. In this lineup, Hagström would use a pitch shifter to play his guitar at an octave lower than usual.[10]

Destroy Erase Improve was released in July 1995, with positive response from critics for the "heady tempos and abstract approach".[1][13] Kidman described the album cover: "The title fits the pictures we cut out and stole from reference books in the library."[14]

In mid-1995, Meshuggah had a short tour with Swedish band Clawfinger in Scandinavia and Germany. Nordin had to leave the band because of his sickness and was replaced by bassist Gustaf Hielm during the tour.[6][15] In late 1995, Meshuggah went on a month-long tour with Hypocrisy.[6]

During 1996 and 1997, Thordendal worked on his solo album Sol Niger Within, which was released in March 1997 in Scandinavia and in April in Japan. He also hosted Mats/Morgan Band's debut. In 1997, Meshuggah recorded an unreleased demo, toured occasionally, and played a few concerts in its hometown. In May, Meshuggah moved to Stockholm to be closer to its management and the record industry in general.[10]

The EP The True Human Design was recorded and released in late 1997. It contained one new song entitled "Sane", and one live and two alternate versions of Destroy Erase Improve's opening track "Future Breed Machine".[10][16] Thordendal's solo album Sol Niger Within was simultaneously released in the United States, and Meshuggah started to plan its next album at the end of the year.[3]

[edit] Chaosphere and Nothing (1998–2002)

Hielm officially joined the band in January 1998 after more than two years as a session member. Nuclear Blast re-released Contradictions Collapse with the addition of songs from the None EP. In May 1998, the title of the next album, Chaosphere, was reported and recording began. Immediately after recording the album, Meshuggah went on a short US tour, and the album was released later in November 1998. Shortly after the release, Meshuggah toured Scandinavia with Entombed.[10]

In early 1999, Meshuggah joined Slayer on its U.S. tour.[2][6] After the new album and the live performances, Meshuggah was beginning to be recognized by mainstream music, guitar, drum and metal magazines.[8] In mid-1999, Meshuggah performed in several Swedish concerts. The band started to write some new material but reported in mid-2000 that "songwriting isn't that dramatic, but we're getting there slowly".[3] While fans were waiting for the next album, a collection of demos (from the Psykisk Testbild EP), remixes and unreleased songs from the Chaosphere sessions were released as the Rare Trax album.[1][3][17] Hielm left the band in July 2001 for unclear reasons.[10] Meshuggah joined Tool on a lengthy tour, playing for more than 100,000 people total.[2][18]

In March 2002, Meshuggah recorded three-track demos with programmed drums in its home studio, which were based on Haake's sample Drumkit from Hell. The upcoming album was recorded in five to six weeks in May[3] and was produced by the band at Dug-Out Studios in Uppsala and at its home studio in Stockholm.[19] The last-minute decision to join 2002's Ozzfest tour forced the band to mix the album in two days and master it in one.[20] Meshuggah immediately went on another US tour after finishing the recording.[3][19]

The album Nothing was released in August 2002,[21] selling 6,525 copies during its first week in the US and reaching No. 165 on the Billboard 200.[6][22] With this album, Meshuggah became the first band in the history of Nuclear Blast Records to crack the Billboard 200 and also became the first band signed to Nuclear Blast to be reviewed in Rolling Stone magazine.[23] Meshuggah's previous two releases, 1998's Chaosphere and 1995's Destroy Erase Improve, have sold 38,773 and 30,712 copies to that date, respectively.[22] The CD booklet of Nothing has no liner notes, lyrics, or credits, only a hint of one word: ingenting, which is Swedish for nothing. All of this information is available on the CD-ROM.[24][25] At the end of 2002, the band went on another US tour with Tool[3][26] and a headlining tour of its own.[27]

[edit] Catch Thirtythree and obZen (2003–present)

In 2003, Hagström hinted at the direction of the band's next album by saying, "There's only one thing I really feel that is important. We've never measured our success in terms of sales, because we're quite an extreme band. It's more that people understand where we're coming from. I get more out of a fan coming up and saying that we've totally changed their way of looking on metal music, than having like 200 kids buy it. I mean, it would be nice for the money, but that's not why we're in it. So what I'd like to see is that we keep progressing. Keeping the core of what Meshuggah has always been, but exploring the bar, so to speak. Destroy Erase Improve was like exploring the dynamics of the band, Chaosphere was exploring the aggressiveness, the all-out side, and Nothing is more of a sinister, dark, pretty slow album, actually. So honestly, now I don't know where we're going. It might be a mix of all of them."[28]

Bassist Dick Lövgren, who joined Meshuggah in February 2004

In February 2004, bassist Dick Lövgren joined Meshuggah.[6][29] The band then recorded and released the I EP, which contains a single, 21-minute track, released on Fractured Transmitter Records.[30] Meshuggah spent about six months in total on recording the EP.[31] Catch Thirtythree, the only album on which programmed drums have been used, was released the following year in May 2005.[32] Seven thousand copies of Catch Thirtythree were sold the first week, and it debuted at No. 170 on the Billboard 200 chart in June 2005.[33] The video for the track "Shed" was released in June, and the previous album Nothing sold approximately 80,000 copies in the United States to that date, according to Nielsen SoundScan.[34] Catch Thirtythree earned the band a Swedish Grammy nomination.[35]

In December 2005, 10 years after inking its first record deal with the publishing company Warner/Chappell Music Scandinavia, Meshuggah extended its cooperation with the company.[35] In November 2005, Haake said in an interview that the band was not content with the productions of Chaosphere and Nothing, because, being on tour, they had little time to devote to them.[36][37]

A remixed and remastered version of Nothing with rerecorded guitars was released in a custom-shaped slipcase featuring a three-dimensional hologram card on October 31, 2006, via Nuclear Blast Records. The release also includes a bonus DVD featuring the band's appearance at the Download 2005 festival and the official music videos of "Rational Gaze", "Shed" and "New Millennium Cyanide Christ".[38][37]

That year, Meshuggah returned to the studio to record obZen, which was released in March 2008.[1] The band spent almost a year on the album, its longest recording session yet. A significant portion of the year was spent learning to perform the songs they wrote; the recording itself took six months.[4] obZen reached No. 59 on the Billboard 200 chart, selling 11,400 U.S. copies in its first week of release and 50,000 copies after six months.[39][40] With obZen, Meshuggah received more media attention and attracted new fans.[15][41] The release was followed by a world tour, which started in the U.S. and proceeded to Europe, Asia and Australia.[1]

In May 2008, Meshuggah published a music video for the song "Bleed", which was produced by Ian McFarland and was written, directed and edited by Mike Pecci and Ian McFarland. Killswitch Productions said: "It's extremely cool to work with a band who is willing to allow the music and imagery to speak for itself and who does not insist on themselves being the prominent focus of the video."[33][42] In January 2009, the album was nominated for Swedish Grammy Award[43] In February 2009, Haake said in an interview that a concert DVD will be released probably in late spring or early fall of 2009 and a new album possibly in 2010.[44] In April, Meshuggah was forced to cancel its Scandinavian shows in early 2009, due to Haake's herniated disc in his lower back, which is causing problems for him when playing.[45]

[edit] Musical style

[edit] Music genre and typical traits

Fredrik Thordendal performing in 2008 in Prague

When describing Meshuggah's experimentation, stylistic variation and changes during its career, journalists have categorized its sound within several musical subgenres. Heavy metal subgenres avant-garde metal or experimental metal are umbrella terms that enable description of the career of the band in general.[a] Extreme metal crosses both thrash metal (or post-thrash metal) and death metal (or technical death metal), which are at root of the sound of Meshuggah's music.[b] The band is often labelled as math metal (for using elements of math rock) and progressive metal.[c] The music of the band has also been described as grindcore, a fusion of extreme metal and hardcore punk.[d] Meshuggah also incorporates elements of experimental jazz.[1] Rockdetector uses the term hi-tech metal to describe their style.[6] In its review of Nothing, Allmusic describes Meshuggah as "masterminds of cosmic calculus metal—call it Einstein metal if you want".[21] Meshuggah creates a recognizable sonic imprint[46] and distinct style.[47]

Trademarks and characteristics that define Meshuggah's sound and complex songwriting include polyrhythmic structure, odd riff cycles, complex "rotating" time signatures, rhythmic syncopation, rapid key and tempo changes and neo-jazz chromatics.[e] Hagström notes that "it doesn’t really matter if something is hard to play or not. The thing is, what does it do to your mind when you listen to it? Where does it take you?"[2] A trademark of Thordendal is free jazz-like soloing and lead guitar. He is also known for the usage of a "breath controller" device. Haake is known for his precise cross-rhythm drumming with "jazzlike cadence".[f] The vocal style of Jens Kidman varies between hardcore-style shouts[13] and "robotic" death metal vocals.[21][48] Kidman also alters the pitch of his screams to match the instrumental part of the band.[49]

In a typical polyrhythm by Meshuggah, the guitars might play in odd meters such as 5/16 or 17/16, while drums play in normal 4/4.[20] An example of Haake's dual rhythms is a 4/4 and 23/16 rhythm. He keeps the hi-hat and ride cymbal in simple 4/4 time but uses the snare and double bass drums for 23/16 rhythm.[6][30] On "Rational Gaze" (from Nothing), Haake plays simple 4/4 time, hitting the snare on each third beat, for 16 bars. At the same time, the guitars and bass are playing the same quarter notes, albeit in a different time signature, and eventually both sides meet up again at the 64th beat.[24] Hagström notes about the polyrhythms, "We’ve never really been into the odd time signatures we get accused of using. Everything we do is based around a 4/4 core. It’s just that we arrange parts differently around that center to make it seem like something else is going on."[2]

[edit] Early work, Destroy Erase Improve and Chaosphere
"Future Breed Machine" (1995)
"Future Breed Machine" demonstrates the jazzlike soloing of Fredrik Thordendal. He also uses his "breath controller" device on this song.
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The early work of Meshuggah, influenced mainly by Metallica, is "simpler and more straightforward than their more recent material, but some of their more progressive elements are present in the form of time-changes and polyrhythmics, and Fredrik Thordendal's lead playing stands out".[2][3] According to Allmusic, the debut album is a relatively immature, but original, release.[13] Double bass drums and "angular" riffing also defined the early work of Meshuggah.[50]

With the groundbreaking Destroy Erase Improve, Meshuggah showed accurate fusion of death metal, thrash metal, progressive metal and technical polyrhythmic math metal.[6][13][51] Allmusic describes the style as "weaving hardcore-style shouts amongst deceptively (and deviously) simple staccato guitar riffs and insanely precise drumming—often with all three components acting in different time signatures".[13] Thordendal adds the melodic element with his typical lead guitar[13] and uses his "breath controller" device most famously on the opening track "Future Breed Machine".[30][52]

Chaosphere incorporates typically fast,[30] still tempo changing death metal. Allmusic compares the genre also with grindcore fathers Napalm Death.[53][54] Rockdetector states: "Whilst fans reveled in the maze like meanderings, critics struggled to dissect and analyze, hailing Haake’s unconventional use of dual 4/4 and 23/16 rhythm, Kidman’s mechanical staccato bark and Thordendal’s liberal usage of avant-garde Jazz".[6]

[edit] Nothing, I EP and Catch Thirtythree
"Straws Pulled at Random" (2002)
"Straws Pulled at Random" (Nothing rerelease) demonstrating the slow tempos, tuned down, low notes of Meshuggah's eight-string guitars, tempo change and a polyrhythm.
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On Nothing, Meshuggah abandons the fast tempos of Chaosphere and concentrates on slow tempos, tuned down, low, drawn-out notes[30][55] and deep grooves.[20] The album was intended to be recorded using custom-made Nevborn eight-string guitars, but the prototypes were faulty so Thordendal and Hagström used detuned Ibanez seven-stringers instead. This technique, which involved keeping the instruments untuned during the sessions, created additional problems.[56][57] When Ibanez provided Meshuggah with special eight-string guitars with two extra-low strings that worked properly after the initial release, the band re-recorded the guitar parts for Nothing and re-released it in 2006.[6][56] Hagström notes that this allowed the band to go lower sonically and to attain bass sounds on guitars.[58]

The I EP contains a single, 21-minute epic song[46][30] of complex arrangements and was a hint of the forthcoming album, 2005's Catch Thirtythree.[1] The EP, which was never played live by the band, was written and recorded at random during jamming sessions of Haake and Thordendal.[31] On Catch Thirtythree, Meshuggah again used eight-string guitars,[2] but utilized programmed drums for the first time,[59][60] with the exception of two songs from 2001's compilation Rare Trax.[61] The album was self-produced by the band and was recorded at the studio that Meshuggah shares with Clawfinger. Hagström notes, "The eight-strings really have given us a whole new musical vocabulary to work with. Part of it is the restrictions they impose: you really can't play power chords with them; the sound just turns to mush. Instead, we concentrated on coming up with really unusual single-note parts, new tunings and chord voicings. We wanted to get as far away from any kind of conventions and traditions as we could on the album, so the guitars worked out beautifully."[2]

Catch Thirtythree is one 47-minute song divided into 13 sections.[46] It is more mid-tempo guitar riff based, and a more straightforward and experimental full-length album than Chaosphere or Nothing.[51][62] Nick Terry of Decibel Magazine describes the album as a four-movement symphony.[63] Some songs still use Meshuggah's "familiar template combining harsh vocals and nightmarish melodies over coarse, mechanically advancing, oddball tempos", while others explore ambient sounds and quieter dynamics.[46] The first part of Catch Thirtythree centers around two simple riffs.[51] In the song "In Death - Is Death", the band uses a combination of noise and silence, which is in contrast with the atypical melodies on "Dehumanization". On "Mind's Mirrors", Meshuggah used electronics, programming and "robotic voices". "Shed" incorporates tribal percussion and whispered vocals.[46]

[edit] obZen
"Bleed" (2008)
Tomas Haake's drumming on the song "Bleed" from 2008's obZen attracted the attention of music journalists. Adrien Begrand from PopMatters states about the song: "It’s a spectacular display of metal percussion."[55]
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With 2008's obZen, Meshuggah moved away from the experimentation of 2002's Nothing and 2005's Catch Thirtythree to return to the musical style of its previous albums, such as Contradictions Collapse, Destroy Erase Improve and Chaosphere,[64][65][66] while still maintaining its focus on musical and technical innovation. The album loses some of the mathematical-like rhythmal quick changes of past releases and the melodic orchestration of Catch Thirty-Three[64] and uses "angular" riffs,[67] mid-tempo and usual 4/4 beat.[55] The album is generally considered to be a culmination of the band's previous work.[64][68] Meshuggah decided to self-produce because it sought to retain artistic control over the recording and mixing process.[69]

For obZen, Haake returned to the drum kit and impressed music journalists with his performance on the song "Bleed".[64][66] In an interview for Gravemusic.com, Haake stated, "['Bleed'] was a big effort for me to learn, I had to find a totally new approach to playing the double bass drums to be able to do that stuff. I had never really done anything like that before like the fast bursts that go all the way through the song basically. So I actually spent as much time practicing that track alone as I did with all of the other tracks combined. It's kind of a big feat to change your approach like that and I'm glad we were able to nail it for the album. For a while though we didn't even know if it was going to make it to the album."[33] Hagström also stated, "obZen is one of the most highly technical offerings the band has ever put to tape".[69] Revolver magazine confirms this statement: "At first listen, obZen seems less challenging to the listener than some of the band’s other records, and most of the songs flow smoothly from one syncopated passage to the next. However, careful examination reveals that the material is some of the group’s most complicated".[4]

[edit] Influence and reception

Tomas Haake in Stockholm, Sweden on May 20, 2005. Haake was named number one in the "Metal" category in Modern Drummer magazine's 2008 Readers' Poll.[70]

Meshuggah has become known for its technical prowess and innovative musical style that evolves between each release and pushes heavy metal into new territory.[g] Hagström comments: "We try never to repeat ourselves."[2] Rockdetector stated about Destroy Erase Improve: "[T]he band...stripped Metal down to the bare essentials before completely rebuilding it in a totally abstract form".[6] Official Meshuggah biography criticizes Chaosphere with: "Some fans felt that Meshuggah had left their dynamic and progressive elements behind; while others thought they were only progressing naturally and focusing on their original sound"[3] and Nothing with: "[I]t displayed a very mature and convincing Meshuggah, now focusing on groove and sound...Meshuggah once again divided their fans into the 'ecstatic' and the 'slightly disappointed'".[3] The music's complexity combined with aggression can make the music sound cacophonous;[24] the polyrhythms can make it sound like band members are playing different songs simultaneously.[56]

Rolling Stone labeled Meshuggah as "one of the ten most important hard and heavy bands",[59] and the Alternative Press named it the "most important band in metal."[47] Meshuggah has been described as highly skilled, virtuoso or genius-bordering musicians[h] with "incredible abilities recognized by mainstream music magazines, especially those dedicated to particular instruments".[1][19] Tom Service from guardian.co.uk stated about Meshuggah: "There's as much rhythmic obsessiveness and intricacy in the relentless polyrhythms of Swedish metal maestros Meshuggah as there is in Reich or Ligeti – with the difference that Meshuggah use the supreme technical sophistication and overpowering volume of their 5-in-the-time-of-4 patterns to serve rather different expressive ends: Terminal Illusions as opposed to Different Trains".[71] In 2007, Meshuggah earned an in-depth analysis by the academic journal Music Theory Spectrum.[4] Meshuggah has found little mainstream success but is a significant act in extreme underground music[72][49] and an influence for many modern metal bands.[73]

[edit] Songwriting, recording and lyrics

During songwriting, Hagström programs the drums, and records the guitar and bass via computer. He presents his idea to the other members as a finished work. Meshuggah typically adheres to Hagström's general idea and rarely changes the song afterwards.[74] Hagström explains that each member has an idea of what the others are doing conceptually, and nobody thinks exclusively in terms of a particular instrument. Kidman does not play guitar in the band anymore, but he is involved in writing riffs.[2]

Except for when Hagström needs a soloist, he and Thordendal rarely record together. Both play guitar and bass while composing. Haake says about his songwriting, "Sometimes I’ll sample guitar parts, cut them up, pitch-shift and tweak them until I’ve built the riffs I want, just for demoing purposes. But most of the time I’ll just present the drums, and explain my ideas for the rest of the song, sing some riffs."[65]

Approximately once a year, Haake writes most of the band's lyrics, with the exception of finished tracks. His lyrical inspirations are derived from books and films. Although Meshuggah does not record concept albums, the band prefers strong conceptual underpinnings in the background.[2][56][65][31]

Often esoteric[1] and conceptual,[19] Meshuggah's lyrics explore philosophic themes such as existentialism.[21] Allmusic describes Destroy Erase Improve's lyrical focus as "the integration of machines with organisms as humanity's next logical evolutionary step".[13] PopMatters' review of Nothing singles out the lyrics from "Rational Gaze": "Our light-induced image of truth—filtered blank of its substance / As our eyes won’t adhere to intuitive lines / Everything examined. Separated, one thing at a time / The harder we stare the more complete the disintegration."[56] Haake explains that Catch Thirtythree's cover, title and lyrics deal with "the paradoxes /negations /contradictions of life and death (as we see it in our finest moments of unrestrained metaphoric interpretation)".[75]

The main theme of obZen is "human evil", according to Haake. The title is a play on the words "obscene" and "Zen"; in addition, "ob" means "anti" in Latin. Therefore, the title suggests that the human species has found harmony and balance in warfare and bloodshed.[65][76] Revolver Magazine finds the lyrics of the title track from obZen representative of the entire album: "Salvation found in vomit and blood/Where depravation, lies, corruption/War and pain is god." However, Haake claims, "We don't dwell on hate and bad feelings as people. But with these songs, I think we really wanted to paint a picture lyrically that might be seen as a cautionary tale. We're going, ‘Heads up. Here's what some of the parts of being human are about, and this is what we can be at our worst.’ So it’s more about being aware of negative feelings than actually living them all the time."[4]

[edit] Members

[edit] Former members

  • Johan Sjögren – guitar (1987)
  • Jörgen Lindmark – bass guitar (1987)
  • Per Sjögren – drums (1987)
  • Torbjörn Granström – guitar (1987)
  • Niklas Lundgren – drums (1987–1990)
  • Peter Nordin – bass guitar (1987–1995)
  • Gustaf Hielm – bass guitar (1995–2001)

[edit] Discography

For a more comprehensive list, see Meshuggah discography
Albums
EPs
Compilations

[edit] Footnotes

a. ^ Heavy metal subgenres such as avant-garde metal[59] or experimental metal[59][69][77][19][78][73][31] are umbrella terms that describe the whole career of the band in general.
b. ^ Extreme metal[5][77][19][79] covers both thrash metal[59][49][68] (or post-thrash metal)[51] and death metal[59][80] (or technical death metal),[81] which also form the sound of Meshuggah's music.
c. ^ The band is also often labelled as math metal[1][82][76][83][77][73] (for using elements of math rock)[1] and progressive metal.[6][68]
d. ^ The music of the band has also been described as grindcore,[24][59][84][85] a fusion of extreme metal and hardcore punk.[86]
e. ^ Trademarks and characteristics that define Meshuggah's sound and complex songwriting[1][4][21][83][80][48] include polyrhythmic structure,[48] odd riff cycles,[21] complex "rotating" time signatures[24][51] and rhythmic syncopation,[24][30] rapid key and tempo changes[64] and neo-jazz chromatics.[21]
f. ^ A trademark of Thordendal is free jazz-like soloing and lead guitar.[51][30][56] He is also known for the usage of a "breath controller" device.[30] Haake is known for his precise cross-rhythm drumming[13][85][48] with "jazz-like cadence".[56]
g. ^ Meshuggah has become known for its technical prowess[55][13][81][80] and innovative style[47][55][87] that evolves between each release[55][31] and pushes heavy metal into new territory.[13][24][21]
h. ^ Meshuggah have been described as highly skilled,[24][13] virtuoso[48][85][88][79] or genius-bordering[13][42] musicians.

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u Jason Ankeny and Bradley Torreano. "Meshuggah Biography". Allmusic. http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:wvfixq8gld0e~T1. Retrieved on 2008-05-11. 
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Smith, Rod (June 2005). "Cover History: Meshuggah". Decibel Magazine. Archived from the original on 2005-11-29. http://web.archive.org/web/20051129013121/http://decibelmagazine.com/features/jun2005/meshuggah.aspx. Retrieved on 2008-12-01. 
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q Espn. "A short biography". meshuggah.net. http://www.meshuggah.net/bio/. Retrieved on 2007-05-16. 
  4. ^ a b c d e f Jon Wiederhorn. "Meshuggah". Revolver. http://revolvermag.com/content/meshuggah. Retrieved on 2008-09-02. 
  5. ^ a b Ryan J. Downey, with additional reporting by Iann Robinson. "Swedish metal outfit enjoys being the hardest band on the Ozzfest bill.". MTV.com. http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1456313/20020726/meshuggah.jhtml. Retrieved on 2008-07-06. 
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Garry Sharpe-Young. "Meshuggah Rockdetector Biography". Rockdetector. http://www.rockdetector.com/artist/sweden/umea/meshuggah. Retrieved on 2008-07-27. 
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  11. ^ "None overview". Allmusic. http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:0bfpxq9hldfe. Retrieved on 2008-08-28. 
  12. ^ "None -1994". meshuggah.. http://www.meshuggah.net/disco/none/. Retrieved on 2008-05-11. 
  13. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l John Serba. "Destroy Erase Improve review". Allmusic. http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:hpftxquhld6e. Retrieved on 2008-06-10. 
  14. ^ "Meshuggah's 'Destroy Erase Improve' Inducted Into Decibel's 'Hall Of Fame' - Sep. 29, 2006". Blabbermouth.net. http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=59436. Retrieved on 2008-06-08. 
  15. ^ a b "Meshuggah Guitarist: 'We're Always Experimental In One Way Or Another' - July 22, 2008". Blabbermouth.net. http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=101386. Retrieved on 2008-07-25. 
  16. ^ "The True Human Design - 1997". meshuggah.net. http://www.meshuggah.net/disco/tthd/. Retrieved on 2008-05-11. 
  17. ^ Greg Pratt. "Meshuggah Are Breaking the Silence". Exclaim!. http://www.exclaim.ca/articles/multiarticlesub.aspx?csid2=4&fid1=543&csid1=23. Retrieved on 2008-07-05. 
  18. ^ "Archive News - Oct. 5, 2001". Blabbermouth.net. http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/Blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=219. Retrieved on 2008-09-01. 
  19. ^ a b c d e f Jon Wiederhorn. "Jack Osbourne's Favorite Metallists Meshuggah Prepare For Nothing". MTV.com. http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1454009/20020516/meshuggah.jhtml. Retrieved on 2008-08-27. 
  20. ^ a b c Cosmo Lee. "Meshuggah Nothing". Stylus Magazine. http://www.stylusmagazine.com/reviews/meshuggah/nothing.htm. Retrieved on 2008-06-08. 
  21. ^ a b c d e f g h John Serba. "Nothing review". Allmusic. http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:gjftxqu0ldte. Retrieved on 2008-06-10. 
  22. ^ a b "Meshuggah: "Nothing" First-Week Sales Numbers Revealed - Aug. 14, 2002". Blabbermouth.net. http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=5431. Retrieved on 2008-09-01. 
  23. ^ "Meshuggah Breaking New Ground With 'Nothing' - Sep. 8, 2002". Blabbermouth.net. http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=5941. Retrieved on 2009-04-06. 
  24. ^ a b c d e f g h Adrien Begrand. "Organized Chaos". PopMatters. http://www.popmatters.com/music/reviews/m/meshuggah-nothing.shtml. Retrieved on 2008-06-10. 
  25. ^ "Meshuggah Complete Work On "Nothing", August Release Expected - June 26, 2002". Blabbermouth.net. http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/Blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=4399. Retrieved on 2008-09-01. 
  26. ^ "Meshuggah To Open For Tool In The Fall - Aug. 11, 2002". Blabbermouth.net. http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/Blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=5374. Retrieved on 2008-06-08. "Meshuggah Confirmed For Next Leg Of Tool Tour - Aug. 24, 2002". Blabbermouth.net. http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/Blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=5635. Retrieved on 2008-06-08. 
  27. ^ "Meshuggah Prepare For Scandinavian Tour - Feb. 8, 2003". Blabbermouth.net. http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/Blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=9548. Retrieved on 2008-06-08. "Meshuggah, Strapping Young Lad: U.S. Dates Announced - Mar. 11, 2003". Blabbermouth.net. http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/Blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=10424. Retrieved on 2008-06-08. 
  28. ^ "Meshuggah: Off Nuclear Blast, Weighing Their Options - June 24, 2003". Blabbermouth.net. http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=13041. Retrieved on 2008-06-08. 
  29. ^ "Meshuggah Split With Bassist, Announce Replacement - Feb. 19, 2004". Blabbermouth.net. http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/Blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=19401. Retrieved on 2008-09-01. 
  30. ^ a b c d e f g h i Adrien Begrand. "Meshuggah I". PopMatters. http://www.popmatters.com/music/reviews/m/meshuggah-i.shtml. Retrieved on 2008-06-10. 
  31. ^ a b c d e Patrick Slevin. "Meshuggah: Challenges Collapse". The Aquarian. http://www.theaquarian.com/aq/2008/03/12/meshuggah-challenges-collapse/. Retrieved on 2009-01-30. 
  32. ^ "Catch 33 - 2005". meshuggah.net. http://www.meshuggah.net/disco/c33/. Retrieved on 2008-05-11. 
  33. ^ a b c "Meshuggah: 'Bleed' Video Available - May 14, 2008". Blabbermouth.net. http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=96996. Retrieved on 2008-06-07. 
  34. ^ "Meshuggah: 'Shed' Video Posted Online - June 28, 2005". Blabbermouth.net. http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=38654. Retrieved on 2008-09-01. 
  35. ^ a b "Meshuggah Extend Publishing Deal - Jan. 12, 2006". Blabbermouth.net. http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=46738. Retrieved on 2008-06-08. 
  36. ^ "Meshuggah Drummer Talks About Upcoming Studio Album, Possible DVD - Nov. 20, 2005". Blabbermouth.net. http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=44526. Retrieved on 2008-06-08. 
  37. ^ a b Thom Jurek. "Nothing CD/DVD review". Allmusic. http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:jcfixqudld0e. Retrieved on 2008-11-16. 
  38. ^ "Meshuggah: 'Nothing' Rerelease Track Listing Revealed - Oct. 21, 2006". Blabbermouth.net. http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=60691. Retrieved on 2008-06-08. 
  39. ^ "Meshuggah's 'obZen' Cracks 50,000 U.S. Sales Mark - Sep. 17, 2008". Blabbermouth.net. http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/Blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=104986. Retrieved on 2008-09-24. 
  40. ^ "Meshuggah – obZen – Chart Listing For The Week Of IV 05 2008". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/esearch/chart_display.jsp?cfi=305&cfgn=Albums&cfn=The+Billboard+200&ci=3093006&cdi=9715468&cid=04%2F05%2F2008. Retrieved on 2008-11-11. 
  41. ^ Ryan Drever. "Meshuggah @ The Garage, 8 Sep (25 Aug 2008)". The Skinny. http://www.theskinny.co.uk/article/43588-meshuggah-the-garage-8-sep. Retrieved on 2009-01-30. 
  42. ^ a b "Meshuggah “Bleed” Video Hits The Web". Revolver. http://revolvermag.com/content/meshuggah-%E2%80%9Cbleed%E2%80%9D-video-hits-web. Retrieved on 2008-09-02. 
  43. ^ "In Flames Wins Swedish Grammis Award For 'Best Hard Rock' Album; Video Available - Jan. 7, 2009". Blabbermouth.net. http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=112055. Retrieved on 2009-03-08. 
  44. ^ "Meshuggah To Release Concert DVD - Feb. 4, 2009". Blabbermouth.net. http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=113746. Retrieved on 2009-02-08. 
  45. ^ "Meshuggah Forced To Cancel Scandinavian Tour - Apr. 1, 2009". Blabbermouth.net. http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=117325. Retrieved on 2009-04-04. 
  46. ^ a b c d e Eduardo Rivadavia. "Catch Thirty-Three review". Allmusic. http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:fxfwxqqsldae. Retrieved on 2008-06-10. 
  47. ^ a b c Jill Mikkelson. "Meshuggah's One-Track Mind". Exclaim!. http://www.exclaim.ca/articles/multiarticlesub.aspx?csid2=4&fid1=3907&csid1=70. Retrieved on 2008-07-05. 
  48. ^ a b c d e Ben Ratliff. "Meshuggah obZen". Blender. http://www.blender.com/guide/reviews.aspx?id=5033. Retrieved on 2008-06-10. 
  49. ^ a b c Mike Galaboff. "Meshuggah "I"". Western Courier. http://media.www.westerncourier.com/media/storage/paper650/news/2004/08/27/TheEdge/Meshuggah.i-706398.shtml. Retrieved on 2008-06-10. 
  50. ^ "Meshuggah: Prague Concert Footage Available - July 11, 2007". Blabbermouth.net. http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=76586. Retrieved on 2008-06-08. 
  51. ^ a b c d e f Adrien Begrand. "Meshuggah Catch Thirtythree". PopMatters. http://www.popmatters.com/music/reviews/m/meshuggah-catch.shtml. Retrieved on 2008-06-10. 
  52. ^ Ryan Drever. "Meshuggah @ The Garage, 8 Sep (15 Sep 2008)". The Skinny. http://www.theskinny.co.uk/article/43732-meshuggah-the-garage-8-sep. Retrieved on 2009-01-30. 
  53. ^ Mike DaRonco. "Chaosphere review". Allmusic. http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:hnftxqqjldse. Retrieved on 2008-05-11. 
  54. ^ Jason Ankeny. "Napalm Death Biography". Allmusic. http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:3ifoxqe5ldte. Retrieved on 2008-05-11. 
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  57. ^ "Gear". meshuggah.net. http://www.meshuggah.net/gear/. Retrieved on 2007-10-09. 
  58. ^ "Meshuggah Showcase "Ballsier" Sound On "Nothing" - Aug. 6, 2002". Blabbermouth.net. http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/Blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=5262. Retrieved on 2008-09-01. 
  59. ^ a b c d e f g "Meshuggah". Nuclear Blast. http://www.nuclearblastusa.com/bands/meshuggah.html. Retrieved on 2008-06-10. 
  60. ^ "Meshuggah To Return To 'More Traditional' Songwriting Approach On Next Album - May 19, 2005". Blabbermouth.net. http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=36907. Retrieved on 2008-09-01. 
  61. ^ "Rare Trax - 2001". meshuggah.net. http://www.meshuggah.net/disco/rare/. Retrieved on 2007-10-09. 
  62. ^ "Meshuggah: 'Catch 33' Tentatively Scheduled For Release In April - Dec. 14, 2004". Blabbermouth.net. http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=30372. Retrieved on 2008-06-08. 
  63. ^ Terry, Nick (July 2005). "Meshuggah, catch 33, A futurist symphony in the key of Sleep". Decibel Magazine. 
  64. ^ a b c d e Thom Jurek. "obZen review". Allmusic. http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:39fixzejldse. Retrieved on 2008-06-10. 
  65. ^ a b c d Smith, Rod (April 2008). "obZen and the Art of Happiness, Tomas Haake and Mårten Hagström’s experimental wisdom takes Meshuggah to higher ground". Decibel Magazine. 
  66. ^ a b Chris Steffen. "Meshuggah – obZen". Rolling Stone. http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/meshuggah/albums/album/18493454/review/20532937/obzen. Retrieved on 2007-10-09. 
  67. ^ Aaron Burgess. "Meshuggah Obzen (Nuclear Blast)". The A.V. Club. http://www.avclub.com/content/music/meshuggah. Retrieved on 2008-07-05. 
  68. ^ a b c Max Deneau. "obZen". Exclaim!. http://www.exclaim.ca/musicreviews/generalreview.aspx?csid2=846&fid1=30305&csid1=121. Retrieved on 2008-07-05. 
  69. ^ a b c Chris Harris and Jon Wiederhorn. "Meshuggah Chugging Along With 2008 Plans; Plus Queensryche, Papa Roach & More News That Rules, In Metal File". MTV.com. http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1579871/20080117/meshuggah.jhtml. Retrieved on 2008-07-06. 
  70. ^ "Meshuggah's Tomas Haake Is Metal's Top Drummer - June 5, 2008". Blabbermouth.net. http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=98451. Retrieved on 2008-06-22. 
  71. ^ Tom Service, (review on bbc.co.uk). "What do Napalm Death and Mozart have in common?". guardian.co.uk. http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/tomserviceblog/2008/oct/31/heavy-metal-mozart-salzburg. Retrieved on 2008-11-16. 
  72. ^ Jon Wiederhorn. "Rebel meets rebel: Stephen Carpenter interviews Mårten Hagström". Revolver. http://revolvermag.com/content/rebel-meets-rebel. Retrieved on 2008-09-01. 
  73. ^ a b c Jamie Borthwick. "Meshuggah: Destroy, Erase, Improve". The Skinny. http://www.theskinny.co.uk/article/41856-meshuggah-destroy-erase-improve. Retrieved on 2009-01-30. 
  74. ^ "Meshuggah Guitarist On Songwriting, Touring And Influencing Younger Bands - Oct. 6, 2008". Blabbermouth.net. http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=106332. Retrieved on 2008-10-10. 
  75. ^ "Meshuggah: 'Catch 33' Cover Art Posted Online - Feb. 21, 2005". Blabbermouth.net. http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=33194. Retrieved on 2008-09-01. 
  76. ^ a b Greg Pratt. "obZen". Exclaim!. http://www.exclaim.ca/musicreviews/generalreview.aspx?csid2=846&fid1=30229&csid1=120. Retrieved on 2008-07-05. 
  77. ^ a b c "Meshuggah Guitarist On Songwriting Process, 'Math Metal' Tag - Oct. 4, 2008". Blabbermouth.net. http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=106195. Retrieved on 2008-10-10. 
  78. ^ Chris Harris, with additional reporting by Jon Wiederhorn. "Metal File: As I Lay Dying, Meshuggah And Ill Nino In This Week's Hard News". MTV.com. http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1503040/20050526/as_i_lay_dying.jhtml. Retrieved on 2009-01-20. 
  79. ^ a b Wade Kergan. "I EP". Allmusic. http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:gifixqusldje. Retrieved on 2008-11-16. 
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  81. ^ a b Ben Mitchell. "Meshuggah Nothing". Blender. http://www.blender.com/guide/reviews.aspx?id=49. Retrieved on 2008-06-10. 
  82. ^ Rob Ortenzi. "We just like saying, “the AC/DC of math-metal.”". Alternative Press. http://altpress.com/reviews/meshuggah.htm. Retrieved on 2008-09-03. 
  83. ^ a b Burgess, Aaron (October 2004). "Meshuggah, I, Swedish math-metal gods enjoy their temporary free-agent status". Decibel Magazine. 
  84. ^ Mikael Wood. "Meshuggah Catch Thirty Three". Blender. http://www.blender.com/guide/reviews.aspx?id=3311. Retrieved on 2008-09-03. 
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  86. ^ "Grindcore / Genre". Allmusic. http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=77:393. Retrieved on 2008-10-10. 
  87. ^ Adrien Begrand. "Best music of 2002". PopMatters. http://www.popmatters.com/music/features/best2002-begrand.shtml. Retrieved on 2008-07-05. 
  88. ^ "Meshuggah: The Evil Eight-String! - Jan. 11, 2002". Blabbermouth.net. http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/Blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=734. Retrieved on 2008-09-01. 

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Meshuggah
Tomas Haake · Mårten Hagström · Jens Kidman · Dick Lövgren · Fredrik Thordendal
Johan Sjögren · Jörgen Lindmark · Per Sjögren · Torbjörn Granström · Niklas Lundgren · Peter Nordin · Gustaf Hielm
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