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.
ObZen
Meshuggah Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Equilibrium obtained
Pure in devotion to all things unwell
This sweet Zen of our ill condition sustained
A new belief-system salvation found in vomit and blood
Where deprivation, lies, corruption, war and pain is god
Harmony found in the sickly, the vile
Unflinching eyes, joyous and gleaming
Intense in their need to watch things die
A new belief-system
Salvation found in vomit and blood
Where deprivation, lies
Corruption, war and pain is god
Decay
Disgrace
Disgust
Our state of Zen
The grime of contempt and degeneration
Sticky, foul and pungent
The sediment of our creation
We flourish in this blood-red soil
The lyrics of Meshuggah's "ObZen" reflect a thought-provoking concept of finding inner peace and contentment in what is generally considered vile, corrupt, and painful in society. The first verse expresses a state of perfect balance and equilibrium in a filthy and repulsive atmosphere, where the devotees derive spiritual gratification from the unwell and sickening aspects of society. The second verse introduces a belief system that offers salvation through violence, disease, and suffering. The followers reject conventional morality and instead embrace the despicable elements of life as their gods, including deprivation, lies, corruption, war, and pain.
The chorus "Balance, Harmony found in the sickly, the vile / Unflinching eyes joyous and gleaming / Intense in their need to watch things die," describes the state of bliss and satisfaction that the followers of this belief system experience in their perverse perception of the world. The final verse ends with a powerful imagery of the filth and degradation that nourishes their existence, as the sediment of society in which they thrive is described as a blood-red soil.
Overall, "ObZen" presents an insightful commentary on how individuals can find meaning and purpose in an otherwise decaying and corrupt world. The lyrics suggest that the happiness and contentment that people seek lie not in denying or avoiding the unpleasantness of life but in embracing and celebrating such aspects as well.
Line by Line Meaning
A state of perfection, immersed in filth
The perfect state has been achieved despite being surrounded by impurity and uncleanliness
Equilibrium obtained
Balance has been achieved
Pure in devotion to all things unwell
Devotion towards everything that is considered unhealthy and sick is pure
This sweet Zen of our ill condition sustained
We sustain our peaceful state of mind through our unhealthy condition
A new belief-system salvation found in vomit and blood
We have found a new belief system where salvation is achieved through vomiting and shedding blood
Where deprivation, lies, corruption, war and pain is god
In this belief system, deprivation, lies, corruption, war and pain are worshiped like a god
Balance
A state of equilibrium
Harmony found in the sickly, the vile
Harmony is found in things that are usually considered disgusting and unhealthy
Unflinching eyes, joyous and gleaming
Eyes that don't move or blink, radiating happiness
Intense in their need to watch things die
Desiring to see things die with strong emotions
A new belief-system
A newly discovered set of beliefs
Salvation found in vomit and blood
Salvation can be achieved through vomiting and shedding blood
Where deprivation, lies,
In a place where there is a lack of basic necessities and truth,
Corruption, war and pain is god
Corruption, war, and pain are worshiped like a god
Decay, disgrace, disgust, our state of Zen
Our peaceful state of mind is achieved through decay, disgrace, and disgust
The grime of contempt and degeneration,
A layer of filth that represents the disdain and degradation we experience
Sticky, foul and pungent
It is thick, unpleasant smelling, and sticky
The sediment of our creation
The residue left behind from our creation
We flourish in this blood-red soil
We thrive in this environment that is full of blood and is reddish-brown in color
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Fredrik Thordendal, Jens Kidman, Tomas Haake, Maarten Hagstroem
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind