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.
New Millenium Cyanide Christ
Meshuggah Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Human flesh instead of written letters
I rearrange my pathetic tissue
I incise, I replace, I'm reformed
I eradicate the fake, pre-present me
Elevate me to a higher human form
The characters I am
Self inflicted fractures
I replace my bones with bars
Aluminum bleeding oxide
The drug of Gods into my pounding veins
My receiving eyes exchanged with fuses
Blindness induced to prevent destruction
Ceramic blades implanted
Past my ribs to save me from the dues of inhalation
I tear my worldly useless skin
Staples to pin it over my ears
Non-receptive of ungodly sounds
I disable the audio generators of fear
Hexagonal bolts to fill my mouth
Sharpened to deplete
The creator of all violence
Without speech there will be no deceit
Baptized in vitriolic acid
A final touch, a smoothing of features
Completion of the greatest art
To cast the godly creatures
Humans, once astray, made divine
Stripped of congenital flaws
We're incandescent
Revelations in a world of darkened forms
Disciples, come join with me
To save a failed humanity
Follow the God of cyanide
Into the new eternity
Behold a sacrificial erase
A cleansing worshiping of pain
The new millennium Christ
Here to redeem all from lies, lies
In "New Millennium Cyanide Christ," Meshuggah addresses the theme of transforming oneself from an imperfect human to an elevated, god-like being through radical self-mutilation, replacing bones with metal bars, tearing off useless skin, filling one's mouth with bolts, and using vitriolic acid to achieve a smooth, perfected appearance. The lyrics suggest that this transformation is necessary to create a new norm and lead humanity to a better future, so that instead of being deceived, betrayed, and limited by language, fear, and violence, people can reach their full potential and live in a world of incandescent revelations and divine beings.
The song portrays a nihilistic, dystopian vision of humanity that is desperate to break free from its limitations, to erase its past and start anew, no matter what the cost. The distorted, aggressive instrumental style matches the intensity and urgency of the lyrics, creating an overwhelming sonic assault that induces a sense of chaos and catharsis. The refrain of "Follow the God of cyanide into the new eternity" echoes the apocalyptic tone of the song, suggesting that the only way to escape the current state of affairs is to embrace a radical, self-destructive ideology that promises salvation through destruction.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm a carnal, organic anagram
I am a human being, composed of flesh and blood, whose form can be rearranged and changed.
Human flesh instead of written letters
My physical form can be altered much like words made from letters in writing can be rearranged.
I rearrange my pathetic tissue
I change my physical form in order to become something new and improved.
I incise, I replace, I'm reformed
I cut and remove certain aspects of myself (physically or otherwise) and replace them with something new and improved.
I eradicate the fake, pre-present me
I get rid of the parts of myself that are not true or authentic to who I want to be.
Elevate me to a higher human form
These changes will bring me to an improved and superior version of myself.
The characters I am
The different aspects and qualities that make up who I am.
Made into a word complete then I'll be the new norm
Once all of these aspects are combined and reformed, I will become the new standard or norm to aspire towards.
Self inflicted fractures
I willingly cause physical harm to my body in order to change and improve it.
I replace my bones with bars
I change my physical structure in a drastic and painful way in order to become stronger.
Aluminum bleeding oxide
The substance I am using to improve myself (presumably a drug or supplement) contains a type of metal that can cause bleeding.
The drug of Gods into my pounding veins
The substance I am using is highly potent and powerful, like something that might be used by gods.
My receiving eyes exchanged with fuses
My eyes, which are usually used to take in information, are now going to be used as a tool for destruction.
Blindness induced to prevent destruction
I am purposely making myself blind in order to avoid causing harm or destruction with my new abilities.
Ceramic blades implanted
Sharp objects have been surgically implanted inside my body in order to give me an edge and make me more powerful.
Past my ribs to save me from the dues of inhalation
These sharp objects have been placed inside me in a way that will protect me from certain types of harm, like inhalation.
I tear my worldly useless skin
I am removing the parts of myself that are not beneficial or helpful in order to become something improved.
Staples to pin it over my ears
The removed skin is being used in a different way, such as a covering over my ears for protection or enhancement.
Non-receptive of ungodly sounds
Because of these coverings, I am able to isolate myself from negative or harmful sounds or influences.
I disable the audio generators of fear
I am taking control of my fears and emotions so that they cannot have power over me.
Hexagonal bolts to fill my mouth
Objects have been inserted into my mouth to exert more control over myself, such as preventing me from speaking.
Sharpened to deplete
These objects are meant to harm or deplete me in some way, rather than enhance or improve.
The creator of all violence
The thing that causes violence and chaos in the world is most likely language or communication.
Without speech there will be no deceit
If I cannot communicate or deceive others with words, I will be free from lies and manipulation.
Baptized in vitriolic acid
I am undergoing a baptism-like ritual, but instead of water, it is acid that will transform and cleanse me.
A final touch, a smoothing of features
This acid will serve as a final step in transforming and improving me, making me more aesthetically pleasing.
Completion of the greatest art
All of these changes and transformation are an art form, and I will be the ultimate masterpiece.
To cast the godly creatures
By transforming myself into something new and improved, I will be able to cast aside those who are weaker or less godlike.
Humans, once astray, made divine
Through these transformations, humans are elevated and improved to become something godlike or divine.
Stripped of congenital flaws
These transformations will remove any flaws or weaknesses that a person may have been born with.
We're incandescent
We are now glowing or radiant with our new-found power and godliness.
Revelations in a world of darkened forms
Our transformation and enlightenment is a message of hope and change in a world full of darkness and despair.
Disciples, come join with me
Come and join me on this journey of transformation and self-improvement.
To save a failed humanity
These transformations are necessary to save humans from their own weaknesses and failures.
Follow the God of cyanide
The substance or power that is facilitating these transformations (the 'God') is highly dangerous, powerful, and possibly deadly.
Into the new eternity
These transformations will allow us to exist in a new state of being, something beyond 'normal' human existence.
Behold a sacrificial erase
These transformations are a sacrifice of our old selves, a form of erasure so that we may become something new and improved.
A cleansing worshiping of pain
This process of transformation is painful but necessary, and contains an element of worship or devotion.
The new millennium Christ
This improved and godlike version of ourselves can be seen as a new version of Christ, a savior for the future.
Here to redeem all from lies, lies
Through these transformations, we will be able to redeem ourselves and others from the lies and deceit of the past.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: FREDRIK THORDENDAL, MAARTEN HAGSTROEM, MARTEN HAGSTROEM, M�RTEN HAGSTR�M, TOMAS HAAKE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Jaed_Marauder
First time i heard this song was back on 2001, on a pirate tape a friend got for me.
:( I went fucking nuts cause i couldn't get an original copy anywhere, until i got the disc on 2009.
I even started making music because of this song, i never got the chance to buy a guitar, but i had a shitty casio keyboard!! and made some random electronic songs with just a cheap ass midi cable and free software, hoping to be metal songs someday.
I never thought I would have the chance to watch you guys live, and 15 years later you are here, just 100 feet away !!
I screamed every song at the top of my lungs, i can barely talk right now.
(I don't have much money, and I never go to concerts, probably this was going to be the only chance i had to watch you guys live! so
thank you for coming to Chile last saturday and make my existence a little better!) :D
@allenreinhardt552
It's about self improvement and confidence.
"I eradicate the fake pre-present me
Elevate me to a higher human form"
- Self-improvement eradicates the 'me' that you don't want to be, elevating you to a higher human form.
"Self inflicted fractures
I replace my bones with bars
Aluminum bleeding oxide
The drug of gods into my pounding veins"
- Self improvement is hard and hurts but it's also 'the drug of gods' - it makes you feel better in the end. Runners high, completing a piece of art, etc.
"Non-receptive of ungodly sounds
I disable the audio-generators of fear"
- You stop listening to negativity from others, gain confidence in yourself.
The New Millennium Cyanide Christ is yourself. It's self worship. Lavey's Satanism is all about taking control of your own destiny, so it's kind of a reference to that, I think.
@felixnilbog4517
That pen must be scared as shit.
@julswolf7895
✒😠
@MyGutFeelsOdd
+Felix Nilbog haha thats gold
@joebob502
lmao
@jondoe9119
Made my day
@Jaundice__
Felix Nilbog I thought it looked like a slimjim?
@franciscojaldin9457
Unlike today's bands, they play their actual air instruments.
@AnindyaChakraborty-rr8ep
exactly
@brianr5975
Brilliant! 🤣
@Cindy-mg6ut
I don’t think anyone realize how cool it was.