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.
Paralyzing Ignorance
Meshuggah Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The earth is gasping for air
Sneering at this thoughtless ravage
If we don't wake we'll massacre ourselves
Sneaking skullduggery
Slaughter the lungs of humanity
Spreading devastation through this world
Dethrone the impassive governments. No more of this
DUPERY
Pollution of environment
STOP THIS NOW
Before it's too late
Mouldering world
you're dying slowly piece by piece
All the riches you've created
will soon be laid destroyed
Dethrone the impassive governments. No more of this
DUPERY
Pollution of environment
STOP THIS NOW
Before it's too late
People
OBEY YOUR EYES
We can't repair when it's all destroyed
no way
DUPERY
Approaching death
TOMORROW FALLS
Why?
People
OBEY YOUR EYES
We can't repair when it's all destroyed
no way
DUPERY
Approaching death
TOMORROW FALLS
Why?
Paralysed by ignorance
The cemetery plans continue
A tremendous trepidation
Perfidious annihilation-all in vain
The lyrics in Meshuggah's song "Paralyzing Ignorance" address the disastrous consequences of human ignorance and irresponsibility towards the environment. The opening lines "Hear the mourners, the earth is gasping for air" depict the image of a planet on the verge of collapse, while humans continue to disregard the warning signs of ecological destruction. Meshuggah also refers to our exploitation of the earth's resources; the lyric "All the riches you've created will soon be laid destroyed" suggests that humankind's greed will eventually lead to destruction.
The song condemns the governments that remain apathetic towards environmental concerns and refuse to take action. Meshuggah urges the listener to not be complacent and instead take responsibility by "obeys your eyes." The lines "Approaching death, tomorrow falls. Why?" act as a warning that if we do not take action, then it will be too late.
Meshuggah uses the hook "Paralyzed by ignorance, the cemetery plans continue" to symbolize the apathy of humankind towards the gradual destruction of the planet. It depicts the metaphor of the earth as a dying being with no hope of resurrection. The song's message highlights the critical significance of taking care of our environment before it's too late.
Line by Line Meaning
Hear the mourners
Listen to the sounds of those who mourn
The earth is gasping for air
The planet is struggling to breathe
Sneering at this thoughtless ravage
Disapproving of the reckless destruction
If we don't wake we'll massacre ourselves
If we don't become aware, we will cause our own destruction
Sneaking skullduggery
Secret and dishonest behavior
Slaughter the lungs of humanity
Destroying the vital organs of the human race
Spreading devastation through this world
Causing widespread destruction on the planet
a price we never can pay
A cost that we can never undo
Dethrone the impassive governments. No more of this
Remove the emotionless ruling powers. Put an end to this behavior
DUPERY
Deception and foolishness
Pollution of environment
Contaminating the natural surroundings
STOP THIS NOW
Put an immediate end to this behavior
Before it's too late
Take action soon or face dire consequences
Mouldering world
The decaying state of the planet
you're dying slowly piece by piece
The planet is slowly and gradually deteriorating
All the riches you've created
All of the resources that humanity has cultivated
will soon be laid destroyed
Will soon be completely eliminated
People
The collective human population
OBEY YOUR EYES
Believe what you see with your own eyes
We can't repair when it's all destroyed no way
It will be impossible to fix when everything is ruined
DUPERY
Deception and foolishness
Approaching death
The looming end of life
TOMORROW FALLS
A future that is doomed to fail
Why?
Questioning the reason behind our destructive behavior
Paralysed by ignorance
Being rendered helpless due to a lack of knowledge
The cemetery plans continue
The destructive policies persist
A tremendous trepidation
A great fear and anxiety
Perfidious annihilation-all in vain
Dishonorable destruction that serves no purpose
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: FREDRIK THORDENDAL, JENS KIDMAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind