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| Meshuggah was formed in 1987 in Umeå, Sweden. I do not know anything about the personnel of that time, but guitarist Fredrik Thordendal, bassist Peter Nordin and vocalist Jens Kidman all played on their debut EP of 1989. At that time, Jens Kidman played the guitar as well. U |
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 | Obzen
Released: 2008 |
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Meshuggah was formed in 1987 in Umeå, Sweden. I do not know anything about the personnel of that time, but guitarist Fredrik Thordendal, bassist Peter Nordin and vocalist Jens Kidman all played on their debut EP of 1989. At that time, Jens Kidman played the guitar as well. Umeå has a healthy scene, and a lot of people are involved in rock music. According to Jens Kidman there are a lot of good bands from Umeå, "probably because there is not a lot to do". The fact that there is a university in Umeå might also strengthen the rock scene. A lot of people play in bands, but few of these are known outside the town. The majority of the musicians wanting to get anywhere with their music leave town. Many of the session musicians in Stockholm are from Umeå, according to Mårten Hagström.
It is quite easy to hear some of Meshuggah's early influences on their first release, "Psykisk Testbild" from 1989. (The title translates to something like "Psychological Test-Picture".) I would mention Metallica as a major influence. The music of this EP is simpler and more straight-forward" than their more recent material, but some of their more progressive elements are present in the form of time-changes and polyrhythmics, and Fredrik Thordendal's lead playing stands out.
Tomas Haake joined on drums before Meshuggah recorded their first LP, "Contradictions Collapse," which was released in 1991. The band had signed a recording deal with the German record label Nuclar Blast, which specializes in metal releases. The songs on this record are much longer and more complicated in both structure and rhythmics. The record company did nothing to promote the album, which consequently sold badly. Between this record and the next one, guitarist/vocalist Jens Kidman decided to concentrate on the singing and left the guitar duties to Mårten Hagström. Hagström had played in a band with drummer Tomas Haake way back when they were in the sixth grade! He feels that the song title "Building a Big Building" from that time accurately characterizes that band...
The new lineup recorded the EP "None" in 1994; in my opinion, their best and most focused release. It was not until now that the record label realized that the band had a certain sales potential, but a couple of accidents forced the band to remain silent for the rest of that year. Fredrik Thordendal managed to cut off the tip of his left middle finger (he is a carpenter). The fingertip was sewn back on, and he is now able, to a certain degree, to play with it again. As if this wasn't enough, not long afterwards Tomas Haake mangled his hand in some sort of grinding machine. Several months passed without much practice. The EP "Selfcaged" was recorded in April and May 1994, but the release was delayed by a year due to the accidents.
January 1995 saw the band returning to the public, when they left off for a short European tour organized by the record-label. Shortly after returning back home they recorded the album "Destroy Erase Improve," and then they were off again on a two month European tour supporting the American band Machine Head. Halfway through this tour, bassist Peter Nordin became ill and developed problems with the balance nerve in his inner ear. He was chronically dizzy, and constantly felt like he was falling. He had to go back home to Sweden, leaving the band on tour without a bassist. The bassist of Machine Head offered to help out, but Meshuggah decided to try out as a four-man band again. At some shows, Fredrik played the bass through his guitar rig, at others they went with just two guitars (with Mårten playing through a pitch shifter, shifted one octave down). When Fredrik handled the bass he even played his leads on it, taking care of tapping, etc. "Destroy Erase Improve" was released in May 1995, this time with more proper marketing by the record label. In the autumn of 1995, they did a short tour with Clawfinger throughout Scandinavia and Germany. The first couple of shows were done without a bassist - Peter Nordin had now left the band. A replacement bassist joined the band for the show in Hamburg; this was Gustaf Hielm (formerly of Charta 77). During that fall, Meshuggah also went on a month-long tour with Hypocrisy.
During 1996 Fredrik was busy working on his solo album. He also appeared on the debut album of Swedish super-duo Mats & Morgan. Meshuggah did record a demo in the summer, the tracks on this demo are unbelieveable (as always) - but the tape seems to have gotten lost somewhere...
Early in 1997 Fredrik was still busy on his solo album, which was released in March through UAE in Scandinavia, and in Japan in April. The occasional gig was done, a few of them in their hometown of Umeå. Swedish Television recorded the Umeå gig in February, and one track from the concert was broadcast the following week. In May, the band relocated to Stockholm to live closer to their management and the record industry in general. A new EP was recorded, with one new track, "Sane," and three versions of the opening track, "Future Breed Machine," from their latest album, "Destroy Erase Improve." The "The True Human Design" EP was released that autumn after numerous delays from the label company. Around the same time, Fredrik's solo album, "Sol Niger Within," was released in the USA. Towards the end of the year the planning of the next album started.
Gustaf Hielm joined the band as a permanent member in January 1998 after more than two years as a session member. The fan club that Peter Stöckli from Switzerland started released a cool 36-page booklet with lots of photos and info on the band. Unfortunately, the fan club was not a viable operation, due to financial problems, and it eventually died. In February, "Nuclear Blast" released the repackaged "Contradictions Collapse" album, with four tracks off of "None" added. Quite a bastard product, but at least now new fans could check out the earlier material. Also, rumours of the next album kept popping up here and there from the label company. The title "Chaosphere" was known as early as May, when the recording started. Immediately after recording the album, the guys went to the USA for a short tour. After a few delays (again) "Chaosphere," the Meshuggah masterpiece in brutality, was finally released in November. Tomas Haake's characterization of the album, "DEI was beatiful and gay, while Chaosphere is not!" was the prevailing feeling. Some felt that they had left their dynamic and progressive elements behind, while others thought they were only progressing naturally and focusing on their original sound. Meshuggah did a thorough tour of Scandinavia with Entombed right after the album was released.
1999 started with a booked and later cancelled tour of the USA, but eventually things straightened out, and Meshuggah went overseas with Slayer. Their new album and the live appearances got them a lot of good press in the USA. Guitar, drum and metal mags; Meshuggah was really making an impression. In the summer of that year, there were some gigs here and there in Sweden. Already at the start of 2000, rumours of a new album appeared. But in the summer the reports straight from the band said that the "songwriting isn't that dramatic, but we're getting there slowly." While waiting for the new album, the fans could enjoy the "Rare Trax" album, a collection of demos and impossible-to-find recordings, like the "Psykisk Testbild" EP. This album took nearly a year to get released and wasn't available until the autumn of 2001, so that only meant more waiting for the fans. And again, the label company fumbled and released the CD without the promised video tracks, so the CDs had to be recalled and replaced.
Gustaf Hielm left the band in July of 2001. It is not clear why, or whether he was really kicked out, but it seems it was due to internal issues with the band. In any case, he is still around with them, so this all seems to be more of a technicality. Meshuggah joined Tool for a great tour of the USA, playing for some 100,000+ persons in total. Not until March of 2002 did there seem to be any substance to the rumours of the next album. Three tracks were recorded as a demo, showing the next level in Meshuggah's evolution. The tracks were recorded in Meshuggah's home studios with programmed drums (based upon the impressive Drumkit from Hell, in essence Tomas's entire drumkit sampled). The recording of the actual album started in May, and was finished in 5-6 weeks. Again the guys went to the USA immediately after finishing the recording in order to play with the Ozzfest tour. Meshuggah impressed the crowds, not to mention the other bands at the festival.
The album "Nothing" was leaked by someone close to the production chain onto the Internet in early July. The leak wasn't very well known, so any damage seems to have been quite limited. A month later, the record was released and it displayed a very mature and convincing Meshuggah, now focusing on groove and sound. The production was clear and brutal, beyond anything ever heard. And the new 8-string guitars took the sounds to even deeper levels of crushing brutality. A band constantly evolving, Meshuggah once again divided their fans into the "ecstatic" and the "slightly disappointed". Following the release, Meshuggah once again went on tour with Tool in the USA at the end of 2002.
Written by Espn
Source: http://www.meshuggah.net/bio/ |
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Discussion Topic
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Creator
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None (1994 EP)
1. Humiliative
[Music:Fredrik Thordendal, Jens Kidman;
Lyric:Tomas Haake]
I'M THE CONCRETE LEPER SICKNESS REPULSION
EMBODIED BUT HEAR THE
SERMON ESCAPING MY VERMIN MOUTH YOU MIGHT
EVEN STAY WITH ME
IN THE DIRT I'M SOAKED IN PUTRID SEWAGE
RISEN FROM EMPTY WORDS
TO YOU A LEGION OF NAUSEA I'M YOUR SINS
I'M YOUR CROWN OF THORNS
I'VE SEEN THE BLOOD OF GENERATIONS THE
RAVENOUS MOUTH CALLED
SYSTEM WE'RE ALL SHAPED BY VULGAR HANDS
THE GRIP OF HATE AND
LIES THE SUSTENANCE TO OUR BELLICOSE WAYS AN
IGNORANCE ALMOST
JUSTIFIED AS THE GAP OF HUMANITY FRACTION
GROWS THE SKULL OF
LIFE LOBOTOMIZED HEAR ME I'M IGNOMINY
THERE'S NO RENAISSANCE IN
BLEEDING NO I'VE FLOWN A MILLION MINDS
BLACK IN DESPAIR THE
LIQUIDS OF UNCERTAINTY SPIT INTO THEIR EYES
OUR FLESH EMBEDDED IN
COUNTERS OF INIQUITY IT SEEMS LIKE WE ARE ALL
JUST MERCHANDISE
NOT CIVILIZED NO WORDS WE ADAPT IN OUR
SILENCE PARALYZED TO
CHANGES ERASING THE LAST DENIAL LINES
ATTITUDES CRUCIFIED STILL
WE'RE GOING ON CRAWLING TOWARD SUBMISSIVE
SUICIDE
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Replys
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Listener
| 2. Sickening
[Music:Fredrik Thordendal, M¥rten Hagstræm;
Lyric:Tomas Haake]
NOONE KNOWS THE SOUL OF TEARS AND WHY
CAN'T WE SEE HUMAN
INDIGNITY WHO WILL LAUGH AT THE GROWING
SUFFERING THE BLEEDING
RAPIDLY BREEDING INCREASING THE CLOCK IS
TICKING ON BEFORE US
CONSTANTLY RUNNING HYPNOTIZED ENERGIZED BY
NAIVETY TAKE A PICK
AT RANDOM CHOOSE OUR FUTURE TO BE CRAWLING IN
THE MESS OF
STUPIDITY WE WON'T HEAR WHEN WE'RE DEAD
AND GONE WE TRUST IN
LIES OR A FAKE PARADISE ARE WE BLINDED
TIL' THE BITTER END DECIDED
OR MAYBE VERY MISGUIDED TRAVELLING THROUGH
ENDLESS TIMES
INSIDE OF NOTHINGNESS REACHING FOR A NEW
BELIEF IN VAIN INSANE
OUR MOLDED LIVES AN EVER CATATONIC FLOW
WE'RE REJECTED EVER
MORE BY LUCIDITY WHY STRANGE WHY WHY CHANGE
WHY NOT SUICIDE
NO STRANGE NO NO CHANGE NO NOT SUICIDE WITH
EARS THAT ARE SHUT
TO THE INNER VOICE WE'RE GIVING IN TO THE
SHATTERING TELL ME HOW
CAN WE TAKE IT TELL ME WHY ARE WE HERE
HANGING IN THE BALANCE OF
DECEIT AND BLASPHEMY PARALYZED IN SIGHTLESS
DRAINS IGNORANT
AND STILL NO PANIC IS THERE NO WAY TO BE FREE
NO WHY ME NOT US
WHY NOT BLIND STRANGE BLIND BLIND CHANGE
BLIND SUICIDE DAMN
FAITH DAMN DAMN LIES WHY | riff_master | 3. Ritual
[Music:Jens Kidman; Lyric:Jens Kidman]
I ALONE I FILL MY HEAD WITH EVERYTHING I HAVE
SEE INTO MY EMPTY
FACE SCARRED I KNOW I'LL NEVER BE
YOU'RE ALL THE POWER IN MY
FUCKED UP FEELINGS WORN OUT BY FRAYED OLD
VISIONS I KNOW I AM
YOU TOO SO I WEAR YOUR MISSION MARK MY EVERY
STEP AND I CHOKE
MY LONELY BREATH SO I CAN BEAR MY SEED SLAY
WELL I DO KNOW MY
HAND OBEY I LOOK INTO MYSELF CRAWLING RAGGED
IN MY BRAIN I'M NO
ENEMY TO ME I AM THE HATE YOU MADE OF FLESH
AND BLOOD I AM THE
MAN YOU ATE NOW LEFT TO SOUR EMBARK MY
SOLITUDE FILL UP WITH
PAIN BELOVED ENEMY YOU NEVER BETRAY I KNOW
YOU STILL I PAY SIMPLE
WAY GO INSANE I DON'T BEG NEVER I CHOOSE
WILL I EVER I'M STILL YOU
CHAOS IS THE WAY YOU DRAIN ME INTO BE YOU
LAST TRACES OF THE ME
CONVERTED BY YOUR REIN MERGE INTO AN
INDIGESTIBLE PESTILENT TRIP
SEASONS OF INFINITY INHABITANT OF PAIN
INCORPOREAL SENSE CAN'T
RESIST WHAT I NEED SPIRITS TO RELEASE MY
POWER RECKON I'M BEYOND
RECUPERATION SWALLOW EVERY HOUR HERE I STAND
IN THE MIDDLE OF
MY ENTITY REVILE MY HEAD YOU'RE ALL I HAVE
AND I ASK YOUR FEELINGS
RITUAL RITUAL HAND IN HAND BACK TO BACK
YEARNING TO TO OBEY SEE I
GO INSANE ME YOUR ONLY FRIEND I NEVER RUN
AWAY HATE YOU'RE ALL I
EVER HAVE YOU KNOW I AM SEEING YOUR REALM AT
MY BED OUR LOVE
NEVER ENDING YOU RUN MY HEAD SEE I WAS MADE
FOR YOU ROLL MY
MIND AWAY EMBEDDED IN HATE YOU'RE ALL I
HAVE YOU'RE ALL I HAVE | riff_master | 4. Gods Of Rapture
[Music:Fredrik Thordendal; Lyric:Tomas
Haake]
I FEEL TORN APART A VILE MISFIT FALLEN
DEEP INTO AFFLICTION OF MY HOLLOW MIND
THE SENSE OF SUFFOCATION GROWS INSIDE MY
LUNGS
WHEN I WAKE INTO TRUTH I'M BACK AMONG THE
BLIND
THE TRUTH OF LIES DISENCHANTING MY EYES
HOW CAN I SURVIVE I CAN'T STAND BEING
ALIVE...ALIVE...
GODS OF RAPTURE ENSHROUDING MY EYES I TRY TO
HIDE
THEN SLOWLY I DIE
MY PAST LAUGH AT ME FROM THE OTHER SIDE OF
NEGATION
UNTYING THE LASTING FEW CORDS OF COMMON SENSE
SUBMERGED INTO THE FLOW THE RAPIDS OF
ADDICTION
TOO WEAK TO PUSH IT BACK A WORM WITHOUT
DEFENCE
MY FLESH FADING UNDRESSING THE BONES BEHOLD
ME NAKED
CADAVER EXPOSED THIS MY ABUSE I CAN'T TAKE
IT NO MORE
THE FRAGILE TRUTH SNEERING AT ME WITH TEETH
PRESSED
LIKE THRUSTING NAILS INTO MY HEAD ALL MY LIFE
I REGRET | riff_master | | | |
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