Title: Meshuggah is the greatest band of all time. Post by: cyan on April 28, 2008, 10:05:11 pm Holy shitfuck...I saw these guys the night before last in Baltimore, and can finally say, now that I've seen them live, that there are no robots involved, no alien technology, and no four-legged Goro-like abominations sitting in front of this drum set. And the best part is, the venue was about the size of my apartment, so I was a good 6 feet from the stage, and 0 feet from the pit.
Tomas Haake (and company) are actually playing this ridiculously complex music themselves, and they appear to be normal human beings. Though I never truly thought otherwise, seeing it in person is something else entirely. The man plays one rhythm with his feet and one hand (on cymbals, for example) and a completely different time signature with his other hand on the snare and toms. Nevermind the fact that his drumkit sports about a dozen cymbals/hi-hats. It's almost as though he has muted his right brain to play one beat, while the rest of his body follows the guitars on a different beat. "crazy" indeed. Just sitting in my chair and attempting to kick out a 4/4 with my foot while simultaneously beating a 23/16 with my hands is like that old trick where you tap your head and rub your stomach at the same time, multiplied by a thousand. This man has two fucking brains, I swear. (See: 'Stengah', 'Bleed', 'New Millennium Cyanide Christ', or the entire 'Catch Thirty-Three' album). If you ever have the opportunity to see these fellows (or download some of their stuff), do it! I dream of the day Harmonix puts Meshuggah tracks in a Rock Band game, and simultaneously destroys the lives of a million wannabe drummers who will never in their lives accomplish a 100% score on Expert on those tracks. Title: Re: Meshuggah is the greatest band of all time. Post by: Dave Gray on April 28, 2008, 10:57:14 pm Horrible. That guy sounds like a barking dog.
To me, all of that sounds very difficult, but unfortunately not very good. ....not to crap all over your tastes. I think that kind of music just isn't my thing. Title: Re: Meshuggah is the greatest band of all time. Post by: Guru-In-Vegas on April 29, 2008, 12:18:13 am All I gotta say is...Holy HELL!!!
This guys a MONSTER! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U5YEqmIIdj8 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U5YEqmIIdj8) Title: Re: Meshuggah is the greatest band of all time. Post by: cyan on April 29, 2008, 01:59:07 am Horrible. That guy sounds like a barking dog. To me, all of that sounds very difficult, but unfortunately not very good. ....not to crap all over your tastes. I think that kind of music just isn't my thing. Well, not all bands can "sound as good" as Nickelback, or whatever else gay shit 'regular jackoffs' listen to. Anyway, that's not even Meshuggah's drummer...it's Morgan Agren from Thordendal's 'Sol Niger Within' solo album. Here's a better video of Meshuggah drummer (and songwriter) Tomas Haake: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5prrbihsb3g And that's one of their extraordinarily sloooooow songs. Are you saying THIS (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N4TNmEACWCw) and THIS (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kkqH_s63ZbA)sounds like a barking dog?? What kinds of dogs do they have down there in florida? Sounds to me like a barking God. Oh man, game over. Title: Re: Meshuggah is the greatest band of all time. Post by: Dave Gray on April 29, 2008, 02:55:19 am So I figured I may have clicked on a abnormally canine song, so I checked your first link.
Holy hell. It's a guy screaming. I can't believe people like this shit. Title: Re: Meshuggah is the greatest band of all time. Post by: Guru-In-Vegas on April 29, 2008, 03:41:14 am I like it. I've never heard of them before. I'm gonna go kick Ms. Guru's son in the face now...
Title: Re: Meshuggah is the greatest band of all time. Post by: Househead on April 29, 2008, 09:13:06 am I know the guy can play his stuff....but I grew out of that angst filled music when I graduated HS.
Title: Re: Meshuggah is the greatest band of all time. Post by: Phishfan on April 29, 2008, 09:29:27 am I'll give the drummer credit for doing something difficult, but can't say anyone else is doing anything complex. All I heard was four chord metal crap. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy some music with angst, but this doesn't appeal to me either. To be honest it sounds like two different drummers that are not on the same beat, kind of like a second song coming through that shouldn't be there.
Title: Re: Meshuggah is the greatest band of all time. Post by: cyan on April 29, 2008, 10:05:04 am but can't say anyone else is doing anything complex. All I heard was four chord metal crap. There's not an emoticon on this site for that comment. 'Four chord metal crap' isn't usually played on 8-string guitars with rhythm changes every 12 seconds. You don't have any idea what you're talking about. Listen to the solo in Stengah (first red link above), or the entirety of the video Guru posted and then reconsider the fact that you just said you don't hear complexity in anything other than the drums. Nevermind the fact that the polymetric patterns he's playing are difficult enough to transition to and from without the distraction of playing alongside a drummer who's playing in a completely different time signature. Many guitarists couldn't play this stuff in a soundproof room by themselves. And He does it with a mangled 2nd-fret finger. He cut the tip of that finger off years ago in an accident and it never fully healed. Househead...Jens Kidman is speaking English in these songs, believe it or not. There's nothing angsty about any of this lyrical content. Korn? Certainly. Meshuggah? Not in the least. Their vocal content is best-described on the band's wiki page as: Abstract commentaries on the self, society, mendaciousness, contradictions, transhumanism, life / death duality, the human condition, and spatial/4th dimensional concepts. Or do you just mean any music with loud, screaming vocals is "angst-filled"? I can scream the words to "Close to You" by The Carpenters...that doesn't make them 'angst-filled' Title: Re: Meshuggah is the greatest band of all time. Post by: Sunstroke on April 29, 2008, 10:12:02 am I got about 12 seconds in...before dashing to the cabinet for some aspirin. Wow... Title: Re: Meshuggah is the greatest band of all time. Post by: Househead on April 29, 2008, 10:55:35 am I admit not really listening to the substance of the vocal content. However, screaming supported by heavy drums and guitars just does not it anymore for me. Not too long ago a wiped off the dust of an old slayer and sepultura albums and wondered how I could even listen to this stuff when I was younger...but whatever, everyone has their own taste and who am I too judge. Most people don't like, appreciate or understand my music too and view it as monotonous beats and don't comprehend the depth and subtlety of it.
Title: Re: Meshuggah is the greatest band of all time. Post by: bsmooth on April 29, 2008, 11:36:37 am Househead...Jens Kidman is speaking English in these songs, believe it or not. There's nothing angsty about any of this lyrical content. Korn? Certainly. Meshuggah? Not in the least. Their vocal content is best-described on the band's wiki page as: Abstract commentaries on the self, society, mendaciousness, contradictions, transhumanism, life / death duality, the human condition, and spatial/4th dimensional concepts. Or do you just mean any music with loud, screaming vocals is "angst-filled"? I can scream the words to "Close to You" by The Carpenters...that doesn't make them 'angst-filled' Good god man get over yourself. That desription is the biggest line of horseshit I have heard in a long time. It is deathmetal, it is all about being dark, and angry. At least you can understand some of his lyrics unlike a lot of screamers. SOAD has a lot more to say about social commentary in their songs than the examples you and Guru have put up for us to partake. Also take your elitest view and shove it. Just because you do not like anything else does not make your views more valid. He is a great drummer, but I do not think he is a level above Portnoy, they are both elite drummers. Title: Re: Meshuggah is the greatest band of all time. Post by: Dave Gray on April 29, 2008, 12:07:49 pm Quote Lacerating pains of degeneration speed through your trembling mind Still, in machine-like strife you gain another mile The temporary elusive goal: To reach the solace, to feed once more upon the synthetic reaper of loss. No matter the outcome. No matter the cost Cold and stinging needs tearing through the halls Of your defiled, flesh made temple with its closing walls Still you claim the worshippers pose and you bow. You kneel Control: once superior, now a docile pet at chaos' feet Pulling the leash as it trails the scent to where all hurt recedes Your past a blurry patch in mind, your future once; now thin dreams filed Toward the lights of need you strive - to drink into your vein the shine Beaten to the unforgiving ground. Lashed into submission - By the inner starving demon. By its unrelenting hand Still you claim the worshippers pose and you bow. You kneel to the syringe Answering only to authorities of sedation. Their calls the only ones heeded A worn out soldier touched by their contagion. A battered drone at their feet You're the one betrayed. An outcast set afire by your inner war Your burning self so far astray. A combustion fanned from within your core These are the lyrics to the first song that you posted, Cyan. It sure reads angst filled to me. ...not that I care that it's angst filled. I just think it's bad. I have friends who like this kind of music, and are always trying to get me to appreciate it, but I just can't. I see that it's difficult, but I don't see that it's worthwhile. I like the Beatles. Could Ringo play this stuff? Not likely. ...but I also don't think think that he should. Title: Re: Meshuggah is the greatest band of all time. Post by: cyan on April 29, 2008, 08:21:42 pm Good god man get over yourself. That desription is the biggest line of horseshit I have heard in a long time. It is deathmetal, it is all about being dark, and angry. At least you can understand some of his lyrics unlike a lot of screamers. SOAD has a lot more to say about social commentary in their songs than the examples you and Guru have put up for us to partake. Also take your elitest view and shove it. Just because you do not like anything else does not make your views more valid. He is a great drummer, but I do not think he is a level above Portnoy, they are both elite drummers. No, it isn't. At least bring valid arguments to the table, especially to back up personal attacks like "get over yourself" and "elitist." Meshuggah has never been called 'Death Metal' by any metal afficianado or journalist. They've been experimental/mathematical/avant-garde since day one. In fact, the very definition of Avant-garde metal calls attention to it's dissimilarity from Death Metal: "Avant-Garde Metal cannot be treated like other genres, such as Black, Death, Doom, Thrash, etc..." - Metal-observer.com Grouping them all together is like saying The Beach Boys and Nirvana are "all the same" because they're both Rock groups. If you're going to go out of the way to show how little you know about Meshuggah's music, why not just limit your comments to "I don't like it", rather than trying to justify them? I never said I didn't like anything else, nor did I say Haake was better than Portnoy. And besides, when the fuck did I say anything remotely elitist or self-appreciative? I said I like them. That's pretty simple. I never called anyone stupid for not liking them, and I never said anyone "didn't get it" (though I just as easily could have). In fact, the only thing remotely "elitist" that I said was that other stuff like Nickelback was "gay." However, as we all know, Nickelback is gay, and they suck major fucking ass. So for someone to point that out is not elitist, it's common sense. If you're referring to the "you don't know what you're talking about" comment...again, not elitist...statement of fact. To say this music is easy to play, or not technical is false. Even those in this thread who don't like the music have acknowledged that fact. Title: Re: Meshuggah is the greatest band of all time. Post by: cyan on April 29, 2008, 08:23:59 pm These are the lyrics to the first song that you posted, Cyan. It sure reads angst filled to me. ...not that I care that it's angst filled. I just think it's bad. I have friends who like this kind of music, and are always trying to get me to appreciate it, but I just can't. I see that it's difficult, but I don't see that it's worthwhile. I like the Beatles. Could Ringo play this stuff? Not likely. ...but I also don't think think that he should. That reads loud and clear to me like a song about addiction, not angst. but I guess that's one of the great things about music, you can interpret it however you want. Title: Re: Meshuggah is the greatest band of all time. Post by: Dave Gray on April 29, 2008, 11:54:24 pm I was thinking about this earlier today.
Honestly, I think that the music I've heard from this band is beyond awful. It's almost painful to listen to. ...like, the worst music I've ever heard in my entire life. It sounds like the members of the band are all playing different songs over each other. So, it's kind of amazing that you can think they're the best band ever. Not that you're not right...it's opinion. But that opinions can range so much is pretty interesting in itself. Title: Re: Meshuggah is the greatest band of all time. Post by: Dave Gray on April 30, 2008, 12:01:23 am Meshuggah has never been called 'Death Metal' by any metal afficianado or journalist. They refer to themselves as Death Metal / Experimental on their Myspace page. Title: Re: Meshuggah is the greatest band of all time. Post by: Guru-In-Vegas on April 30, 2008, 01:52:50 am I like heavy shit. To be honest though, I know most people don't and when they get in my car I don't play it. I play the "gay" shit they play on the radio, just to be courteous.
On a side note, using the term "gay" for purposes other than its actual meaning is banned from now on in my vocabulary. Its almost as stupid as using the term "elitist". But back on topic. I like this band. I've only heard what Cyan has posted but so far its good. I like metal and any variation of it, when it invokes emotion. Granted, most of the time its a "punch the wall and bang my head in" emotion but its fun. I like all kinds of music such as ass shaking booty grinding music...when the time is right. I like classic rock when I'm at home in my underwear kicking back. I like disco songs when I'm in an extra goofy mood. Its all in the taste. I love whisky. On the rocks. Nothing else. That is pretty tough to swallow for most. Just like this stuff. Title: Re: Meshuggah is the greatest band of all time. Post by: cyan on April 30, 2008, 12:56:27 pm I love whisky. On the rocks. Nothing else. That is pretty tough to swallow for most. Just like this stuff. Holy cow, apparently there's some sort of correlation here, because that's the only thing I drink. Maker's Mark is my drink of choice, but I drink Jameson's occasionally too. I started carrying a flask recently. I guess metal caters to aspiring alcoholics. So, it's kind of amazing that you can think they're the best band ever. Not that you're not right...it's opinion. But that opinions can range so much is pretty interesting in itself. They certainly can...and if you are prone to hating metal music in general, it stands to reason you'd also hate, nigh despise, the most extreme examples of it, such as this. I hate country music, so I'd probably think the most redneck of all country music was the worst music ever made too...but I'd never subject myself to the torture necessary to find out. So my hat's off to you sir, for even giving it a chance. That being said, within the realm of metal music, Meshuggah is some of the better stuff out there. They've got six studio albums; 2 of them scored 4.5 stars from AMG, three of them scored 4 stars, and the other (their debut) scored 3 stars. Not many bands have maintained a 4-star average score over a 20-year career. Metallica's average over their career is 4.06. Iron Maiden, arguably the greatest metal band of all time: 3.71. Sabbath, one of the founders of metal: 3.30. In fact, find me a metal band, or any band for that matter, that's more critically acclaimed than Meshuggah. There are few of them. So if you can imagine a day where you woke up and miraculously loved metal music, you'd probably think these guys were pretty swell. As for them listing themselves as Death Metal on their MySpace...despite the fact that the band doesn't maintain their own page, I stand corrected. Title: Re: Meshuggah is the greatest band of all time. Post by: Dave Gray on April 30, 2008, 12:58:49 pm Do you like Lamb of God? They're another band that when I hear it, I feel like I need to go to church.
Title: Re: Meshuggah is the greatest band of all time. Post by: cyan on April 30, 2008, 02:11:18 pm Do you like Lamb of God? They're another band that when I hear it, I feel like I need to go to church. Fuck yes, Lamb of God is incredible. Some metalheads actually put them in the pantheon of the 3 greatest ever. I certainly don't, but they're still awesome. And if you didn't feel like you needed to go to church, their music has failed you. I'd say they are the greatest metal band except slayer that makes their bread on going out of their way to be sacreligious. I mean, fuck...their original name was "Burn the Priest" And, for the sake of comparison, their AMG average is 3.7...With three 4-star releases. They got a Grammy nod too. Let's just make it official...you don't like metal. Title: Re: Meshuggah is the greatest band of all time. Post by: Phishfan on April 30, 2008, 03:57:36 pm Holy cow, apparently there's some sort of correlation here, because that's the only thing I drink. Maker's Mark is my drink of choice, but I drink Jameson's occasionally too. I started carrying a flask recently. I guess metal caters to aspiring alcoholics. I throw off that theory. I enjoy a metal a little, but have drank enough Maker's to float a battle ship. Title: Re: Meshuggah is the greatest band of all time. Post by: Guru-In-Vegas on April 30, 2008, 09:00:17 pm Quote Holy cow, apparently there's some sort of correlation here, because that's the only thing I drink. Maker's Mark is my drink of choice, but I drink Jameson's occasionally too. I started carrying a flask recently. I guess metal caters to aspiring alcoholics. I like Crown. I also like Glen Levit and Macallan. Incidentally, Ms. Guru is the bar manager at her restaurant, and she brought me a bottle of Macallan aged 30 years. Thats like almost 800 bucks! By no means am I a whisky connoisseur, but it sure is nice to have! ;D |