Swedish metal legends Meshuggah are returning to North America later this 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. Our next guest column features Nick Burks of Savage Master and Stormruler discussing how he was introduced to Meshuggah.
I discovered the brilliance of Meshuggah around 2005 when I was in High School. My school’s library had a copy of the I EP & Catch 33. I was really into Rush and Yes, so I had to check out anything prog-related. Needless to say, it left a lasting impression.
I put both the LP & EP on my iPod and would go on long walks around my neighborhood after school. I couldn’t really bang my head to it or understand where the beginning or end of the riff would start or stop. It made zero sense to me. I felt challenged and determined to understand this new alien language.
Little did I know, Catch 33 and the I EP are probably the worst place to start an introduction to their catalogue. I later discovered songs like “New Millennium Cyanide Christ” (best lyrics about becoming a robot savior?), and when I was 15 years old, my coworker at the music store I worked at showed me Fredrik Thordendal’s Sol Niger Within.
I had no idea Thomas Haake was using programmed drums on Catch 33, or it was just one long song (much like the I EP). It makes sense why I was drawn to it. Much like Neil Peart, on top of being one of the best drummers on the planet, they both adapted to the newest technology available at that time and implemented it in their music, for better or worse.
For me, Catch 33 is a fearless artistic expression that might be forever misunderstood. It shows a band willing to always take chances and never do the same thing twice. I think that’s one of the bravest things you can do as an artist. To go where your ear takes you and have no desire to please critics or fans.
