Swedish metal legends Meshuggah are returning to North America next month for a headlining tour with special guests Cannibal Corpse and Carcass. With such an incredible lineup, this is a trek you won’t want to miss. The tour kicks off on March 28 in Quebec City, QC, and runs through April 24. For a full list of tour dates, check out this location.
As the tour approaches, Metal Insider will celebrate Meshuggah’s masterful catalog by featuring various artists sharing their five favorite Meshuggah tracks. Each week leading up to the tour, a different artist will reveal their top picks. Kicking off this guest column is Blaine Gordon of War Curse, sharing his favorite Meshuggah songs.
01) “Humiliative”
This was the first track I ever heard and fell in love with. I learned the song on guitar. I was so intrigued by dividing time signatures that I had to learn how, haha. The sludgy but organized intro all the way to the break down. But that whole outro adventure had me addicted from the go.
02) “Choirs of Devastation”
The second track I strangely enjoyed. The acoustic intro to the warped reversed vocal verses was cool but just plain different to me. The musical breakdown and solos grabbed me for an aggressive Metallica-vibe. Hence as with the whole contradictions collapse album.
03) “Future Breed Machine”
This one has pure aggression, speed, and technicality that hooked me. The timing of the intro riff was just fun to learn how to play and bend musical timing. Most called them math metal in which they ending defining an entire sub genre of metal all together. The shuggah wave was happening.
04) “New Millennium Cyanide Christ”
This is the grooviest and by far the most interesting song yet. This was around a time when I was really getting into drumming a lot, so I was purely intrigued to learn this thing from start to finish. I enjoyed it so much. And still to this day so, I have fond memories of discovering and learning these incredible mathematical patterns! The hilarious Winnebago music video was an extremely great touch too haha!
05) “Bleed”
This musical pattern is just something fierce and smooth technically. The band just keeps pushing what was humanly possible (not sure they’re human). This unlocked not only a new guitar-picking technique but drumming as well! This song kept me occupied and fascinated.
Warning: Meshuggah may not be for everyone but for the ones that get it; I see you! More or less, I loved the boundaries this band constantly pushed. Especially being so young from the start and entirely innovating/spawning a new genre is pretty fascinating!!
