Meshuggah is widely acknowledged as an influence on many modern metal bands from Textures to Tool. They are regarded as pioneers by critics and musicians alike.
Discography
Psykisk Testbild (EP, 1989)
Contradictions Collapse (1991)
None (EP, 1994)
Selfcaged (1995)
Destroy Erase Improve (1995)
The True Human Design (1997)
Chaosphere (1998)
Contradictions Collapse and None (1999)
Rare Trax (2001)
Nothing (2002)
I (EP, 2004)
Catch Thirty-Three (2005)
Nothing (Re-Release With DVD) (2006)
obZen (2008)
Alive (2010)
Koloss (2012)
Pitch Black (2013)
The Violent Sleep Of Reason (2016)
Immutable (2022)
Band history
Meshuggah was formed in Umeå in 1987; two years later, the band released their first record, an EP entitled Psykisk Testbild (which can be roughly translated as "Psychological test image". This recording displayed a straightforward thrash metal influenced sound, with some strains along the lines of Metallica's concurrent releases. There were also hints of more complex music in the songwriting. As the group grew older, they further refined the technicality of their musicianship and songwriting. This led to a harsher sound, utilizing strong seven string guitar (and later eight string guitar) rhythms, manic sounding vocals, and a combination of jazz fusion elements as well. This caused the band's style to border on the lines of an esoteric feel. This style has shown to be hard to appreciate by some but it is widely embraced by Meshuggah fans.
While the band's music is extremely intense and aggressive, the members often demonstrate a strong sense of humour: their video for "New Millennium Cyanide Christ" consisted of the five band members sitting inside their tour bus headbanging and air guitaring to the song. Promotional photos of the band often include comical grimacing.
In late 2005, Meshuggah were nominated for a Swedish Grammy for the album Catch Thirty-Three.
Bands such as Dream Theater, God Forbid, Deftones, Textures , Lamb of God, The Safety Fire and Tool have cited Meshuggah as an influence.
Style
Among the band's most recognizable qualities are lead guitar player Fredrik Thordendal's abrasive, chaotic and dischordant solos, singer Jens Kidman's vocals, which resemble manic screams and shouts; the churning, dissonant rhythm guitars and the polymetric drum beats. In a typical Meshuggah song, drummer Tomas Haake plays two separate rhythms: a standard 4/4 beat with his hands, and a completely different metrical subdivision with his feet. The guitars mostly follow the bass drum work, creating an awkwardly pulsating rhythmic pattern to work as the basis of the song.
To give an example, the main riff of the song "New Millennium Cyanide Christ" from their 1998 album Chaosphere follows the aforementioned blueprint. Haake beats a rather slow 4/4 rhythm with his hands, while the bass drums and guitars play a repetitive 23/16 rhythm pattern on top of it. As the subdivided pattern is repeated, the pattern's accents shift to different beats on each repetition. After repeating the 23/16 pattern five times, a shorter 13/16 pattern is played once. These patterns sum up to 128 16th notes, which equals exactly 8 measures in 4/4 meter.
The band has evolved through a number of stylisitic periods. Contradictions Collapse and None have a sound similar to Metallica's concurrent albums. Destroy Erase Improve and Chaosphere have a more distinct off-time influence along with the thrash metal sound. Nothing and Catch Thirty-Three have a sound close to the vein of groove metal, consisting of droning and slow grooves.
While live drums were obviously not abandoned, a unique decision was made to use programmed drum patterns using Toontrack's "Drumkit From Hell" (developed in co-operation with Tomas Haake and Morgan Ågren) sample library on the latest album Catch Thirty-Three, not only providing a more precise and mechanized drumscape, but also making drum beat creativity a more collaborative effort amongst all of the band members. It cemented the album as one of the band's most complex works to date. The band members have, however, stated in several interviews that the decision to use programmed drums was due to the lack of time given by their label to produce the record.
On all records since Nothing, guitarists Thordendal and Hagström use custom-made Nevborn, and custom Ibanez eight string guitars. These guitars add two low strings to allow the crushing, heavy riffs to be played in even lower registers. They currently use Line 6's Vetta II Amps.
In regards to lyrics, the main lyricist of Meshuggah is drummer Tomas Haake, who uses complex, but precise, vocabulary and metaphorical styling. Through abstract descriptions, Haake's lyrics discuss such topics as the self, society, mendaciousness, and the human condition, all with an overarching theme that intertwines with metaphysical concepts relating to the psychedelic experience. While Haake tends to write the majority of the lyrics, guitarist Mårten Hagström also contributes to some songs.
Internal Evidence
Meshuggah Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
to enjoy how life can be
But instead I wake up in myself
look down ashamed to understand
what we ignore insanity
We wait for the problems
to solve themselves
NOTHING
Slovenry...
DAMN SAVAGERY
REACT
We're slowly drowning in our own mistakes...
DEEPER
Drowning...
BREATHING UNDERWATER-DEATH
HELP...
I wish I felt much better
Feels like I'm dying inside
By murdering this world
we'll all commit...SUICIDE
Search my mind for reasons
to this uncured depression
This void of emptyness prevails
What the fuck happens here
NOTHING
Slovenry...
DAMN SAVAGERY
REACT
We're slowly drowning in our own mistakes...
DEEPER
Drowning...
BREATHING UNDERWATER-DEATH
HELP...
WILL SOMEONE HELP ME
You know it yourself, nobody gives a damn
WHY
Because our dreams are left behind
WAKE
Numbed PAIN, I'm NULL, feeling ILL...Internally
Truth GONE, lies HERE, Crushed LIFE...Don't interfere
I'm TRAPPED, Wiped OUT, I'm DEAD...Eternally
Mind CLOSED, Torn SOUL, Life ENDS...I'm dying here...
What am I doing here on this earth. Why am I still awake, has
someone heard. What brought me here to this false humanity,
Why am I bound to this deranged deformity?
I'M DYING HERE
The song "Internal Evidence" by Meshuggah is a commentary on the current state of humanity and how we have become numb to the problems in the world. The lyrics start with the realization that it could have been a good day but instead the singer wakes up feeling ashamed and understanding that we ignore insanity, waiting for problems to solve themselves. The repetition of "what the fuck happens here" and "nothing" creates a sense of frustration and hopelessness. The lines "search my mind for reasons to this uncured depression, this void of emptiness prevails" shows that the singer is struggling to find meaning and purpose in the world. The idea of drowning and breathing underwater-death adds to the sense of suffocation and hopelessness.
The singer then makes a plea for help, wishing they felt much better, but realizing that the world is committing suicide by murdering itself. The line "you know it yourself, nobody gives a damn" speaks volumes to the complacency and apathy that exists in the world today. The second verse repeats the first with slightly different phrasing, highlighting the frustration and desperation in the singer's voice. The song ends with the repeated declaration "I'm dying here," emphasizing the theme of hopelessness and despair.
Overall, "Internal Evidence" is a commentary on the state of humanity and the problems that plague us. It highlights the complacency and apathy that exist in the world today and speaks to the frustration and hopelessness that many people feel.
Line by Line Meaning
This could've been a good day
Today had potential to be great
to enjoy how life can be
To appreciate life for what it is
But instead I wake up in myself
I awake feeling trapped inside my own mind
look down ashamed to understand
I feel embarrassed to realize the truth
what we ignore insanity
We choose to overlook madness
We wait for the problems
We procrastinate addressing our issues
to solve themselves
Hoping for problems to go away naturally
What the fuck happens here...
What's going on here?
NOTHING
There's nothing happening
Slovenry...
An exclamation of disgust
DAMN SAVAGERY
Damn this barbarism
REACT
Take action
We're slowly drowning in our own mistakes...
We're gradually sinking under the weight of our mistakes
DEEPER
Sinking further down
Drowning...
Suffocating under the pressure
BREATHING UNDERWATER-DEATH
Breathing underwater is fatal
HELP...
I need help
I wish I felt much better
I yearn to feel better
Feels like I'm dying inside
I feel like I'm suffocating internally
By murdering this world
By destroying the world
we'll all commit...SUICIDE
We'll all kill ourselves
Search my mind for reasons
I'm searching my mind for answers
to this uncured depression
For the cause of this untreated depression
This void of emptyness prevails
This emptiness consumes me
WILL SOMEONE HELP ME
Can anyone give me a hand?
You know it yourself, nobody gives a damn
You're aware that nobody cares
WHY
Why is this happening?
Because our dreams are left behind
Our hopes and aspirations are left unfulfilled
WAKE
Wake up and take action
Numbed PAIN, I'm NULL, feeling ILL...Internally
I'm numbed by pain, feeling empty and sick inside
Truth GONE, lies HERE, Crushed LIFE...Don't interfere
Truth is absent, lies prevail, life is ruined - stay away
I'm TRAPPED, Wiped OUT, I'm DEAD...Eternally
I'm trapped, exhausted and languishing forever
Mind CLOSED, Torn SOUL, Life ENDS...I'm dying here...
My mind is closed, my soul is shattered, my life is fading away
What am I doing here on this earth.
What's my purpose for being alive?
Why am I still awake, has someone heard.
Is someone aware that I'm still struggling?
What brought me here to this false humanity,
What led me to this fake notion of civilization?
Why am I bound to this deranged deformity?
Why am I trapped in this mental illness?
I'M DYING HERE
I'm dying inside right now
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: FREDRIK THORDENDAL, JENS KIDMAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind