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.
sane
Meshuggah Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A master of deception, user of an untrue smile
A rapist of the truth, adapting it to fit my cause
I'm the human lie, a sad composition of all things vile
Come and read my tainted lies. Lies.
Come see my wretched, tainted mind
What ever enemy - I'll disable with mendacity
I make my way, extend my ground, I clear my future-path
When it comes to joys, manipulation is my game of choice
How I shine. I ...
The perfect freak. Confide in me
Me... Believe in me
My intentions soon you will see
The sway of my scheme, imposed upon all
Come follow me, my puppets to be,
I'll attach my strings, manipulation begins
SANE ME
SANE ME
SANE ME
SANE ME
I'm the way, I'm the truth
Gather with me, I'm the future guide
SANE ME
SANE ME
SANE ME
SANE ME
Gather with me, Join my ministry
I'm the way, the future guide
I'm the self-acclaimed god of wicked games
Sinister, repugnant bringer of pain
The lyrics of Meshuggah's song "Sane" delve into the mind of a manipulative, deceptive person who preys on others for their own gain. In the first verse, the singer describes themselves as a "master of deception" and "a sad composition of all things vile." They admit to twisting the truth and using an "untrue smile" to trick others. The second verse goes more in-depth about their tactics of manipulation, including burying and repressing information and disabling their enemies with lies. They also admit to enjoying the power they gain from this control, saying, "When it comes to joys, manipulation is my game of choice."
The chorus of the song, which repeats the phrase "Sane me" four times, can be interpreted in a few different ways. It could be the singer's inner plea to maintain their own sanity despite the twisted games they're playing. It could also be a demand from those they've manipulated for the singer to stop and become "sane."
Overall, the lyrics of "Sane" are a commentary on the damaging effects of manipulation and deceit on both the manipulator and those around them. It portrays the manipulator as a fundamentally broken person who gains a sense of power and control through their actions.
Line by Line Meaning
Come and hear my twisted lies, the way I bend and falsify
I am a skilled liar and manipulator who distorts truth to serve my own purposes
A master of deception, user of an untrue smile
I excel at deceiving others and hiding my true intentions behind a fake smile
A rapist of the truth, adapting it to fit my cause
I violate the truth by changing it to support my own interests and goals
I'm the human lie, a sad composition of all things vile
I embody falsehood and wickedness, made up of all the worst qualities a person can have
Come and read my tainted lies. Lies.
I invite you to listen to the falsehoods I tell, because they will benefit me
Come see my wretched, tainted mind
I want you to look inside my twisted mind to see the extent of my wickedness
Bury, cover up, repress. I betray the people I "possess"
I use deception and secrecy to betray and harm those who trust me or who I consider mine
What ever enemy - I'll disable with mendacity
I will use lies and deceit to defeat anyone who opposes me or might expose me
I make my way, extend my ground, I clear my future-path
I advance my interests and eliminate any obstacles or rivals that get in my way
When it comes to joys, manipulation is my game of choice
I take pleasure in manipulating others and using their weaknesses to my advantage
How I shine. I ...
I am proud of my abilities to deceive and manipulate
The perfect freak. Confide in me
I am an expert at being an aberration and an outsider, so trust me because I can relate to you
Me... Believe in me
I urge you to trust me and rely on me, even if my intentions are not good
My intentions soon you will see
Soon you will realize my true intentions, which are likely to cause harm or deceit
The sway of my scheme, imposed upon all
I will enforce my plan and make everyone follow it, even if it is unfair or wrong
Come follow me, my puppets to be,
I want you to submit to me and follow my orders like a puppet without questioning them
I'll attach my strings, manipulation begins
Once you are under my control, I will use subtle tactics to manipulate you even further
SANE ME
SANE ME
SANE ME
SANE ME
I am asking for you to help me maintain my sanity and not reveal my true, harmful self
I'm the way, I'm the truth
I want you to believe that I am the only authority and source of truth you need
Gather with me, I'm the future guide
I want you to follow me into the future, as I see myself as your leader and guide
Gather with me, Join my ministry
Be a part of my plan to manipulate and control others for my own benefit
I'm the self-acclaimed god of wicked games
I arrogantly consider myself a powerful and divine figure who can play evil games to advance my goals
Sinister, repugnant bringer of pain
I am evil, disgusting, and enjoy inflicting harm and suffering on others
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JENS KIDMAN, MAARTEN HAGSTROEM, MARTEN HAGSTROEM, M�RTEN HAGSTR�M, TOMAS HAAKE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind