Meshuggah - I (Guitar cover by Sam Mooradian)

Recorded with:
Ibanez RG2228a w/Lundgren M8 calibrated pickups
Focusrite Scarlett 2i2
Logic Pro X
Positive Grid Bias FX
Canon T3i
Edited in Premiere Pro
All music rights go to Meshuggah and Nuclear Blast USA.
Interview with Tomas Haake taken from Meshuggah's Alive DVD.
Thank you to all who support me and what I do, in any way big or small.

[@FlawedbyDesign777]

Frik the song, you need to be studied.

[@chadmarx7718]

Fredrik* ;)

[@newhorizonsforfifty2833]

I downloaded his music just for that purpose. Sam's, not Meshuggah's.

[@KevonLovelace]

Its interesting how everyone goes nuts over “Bleed”, but no one gives “I” the recognition it deserves. This song is like the guitar equivalent to climbing Everest haha! Massive praise to this guy for accomplishing the feat!!

[@TheSquareOnes]

I think it's because Haake said Bleed was one of the toughest songs for him to learn and record, so for people who don't really know the band that well Extremely Technical Band + Hardest Song For Dummer = Hardest Song. Of course that completely ignores that Haake is more known for his insane coordination and groove than his speed and endurance so obviously Bleed would be more difficult for him since it's based around his weaknesses (at which he's admittedly still much better than almost every drummer in the world). Plus it feeds into the usual "lots of double bass notes means more difficult" standard that most metal drumming is evaluated by.

[@jlae111]

I've always thought that too. I absolutely love Bleed and feel that it gets a lot of attention for its "groove". But for me, I and Catch 33 are their best works; those two pieces of art are Meshuggah to me.

[@AbrasionUK]

This isn't the most accessible song to be fair.

[@cultofleda]

@@AbrasionUK Neither is Bleed tbh

[@GlintzKollide]

I completely agree. It’s a masterwork. It was my first Meshuggah record, too! They’ve been my favourite ever since.

[@oatmeal710]

Someone should play this at a talent show to fuck with everyone.

[@Kerry_kit_slayer]

It's actually haunting to watch this happen. It's almost beyond understanding to see a human reconstructing this.

[@SamMooradian]

bleep blorp I am a robot

[@thomaseek1132]

reverse engineering almost

[@grindsmore]

Holy shit, someone covered it.

[@nobrkt]

1 dude played the whole I track on drums. You can find it on KZbin.

[@JBthree24]

Jack Daniels wrong. He didn't "cover it" he picked up signals from another galaxy

[@aaaa6824]

I would but I DON'T HAVE THE STAMINA.

[@williamcozart9166]

My old band used to cover this for practice, also War, sounded shit, but hey, it's fucking 'Shuggah.

[@NoEasyFeet]

he did it... the son of a bitch did it...

[@aleksandargeorgiev9572]

Nobody knows how "I" goes. Besides this guy!

[@call9114]

Aleksandar Georgiev винаги е приятно да видиш българин

[@rhino202]

😆

[@BoWeava]

He is the One.

[@Fredrikliljemark32]

🤣

[@judahatkins6069]

So I'm a new fan of Meshuggah, so let me get this straight, around 15 years ago they wrote this 21 minute completely randomized song, understandably forgot how to play it, and this dude just came outta nowhere and recreated it perfectly? That sounds like some shit out of viking folklore right there, this is the song of legend. Even if it's not your style it's still probably the most challenging song ever from the sound of it. Damn, and here I am still trying to wrap my head around Periphery's "Insomnia"... gotta start somewhere I guess

[@SamMooradian]

Judah Atkins dude, Insomnia FUCKS me up. Misha is a beast. Keep at it!!

[@judahatkins6069]

@@SamMooradian Will do chief, it's a little hard to practice a song like that without a noise gate though lol.

[@mattmccarthy1984]

Or your a hack

[@jonathansefcik473]

Id imagine the hardest part of learning/playing this song is the endurance. The song doesn't look that technically demanding, and the crazy song structure and time changes would come down to rehearsal. But 20 straight minutes of nonstop trem picking? This dude has a forearm of steel.

[@hazardeur]

@@jonathansefcik473 not demanding....so you think 6:20 is not technically "demanding"?

[@KyleDanielson42]

The section from 00:01 - 21:40 is my favorite part.

[@Omeggia]

Someone actually did this... 11 years no one had the balls but now it has been done. I don't know what to say other than well done man, hope you get all the praise you deserve for this.

[@mayonice3577]

+Omeggia He studied it for 11 years.

[@SamMooradian]

+Official Redpanda 2 years, actually!

[@mayonice3577]

U wot m8 :D

[@MrMollytov]

+Planetary Pieces no

[@Omeggia]

MrMollytov ok

[@erikprantare696]

You should team up with that guy who covered I on drums

[@SamMooradian]

I may or may not have something in the works. ;)

[@WernerErkelens]

This deserves waaaaaaay more views man. I just can't get over the fact that you were able to learn this whole fucking beast of a tune.

[@SamMooradian]

Thanks Werner! Help me share this beast!

[@bangasou12]

+Sam Mooradian where did you get the m8 pick ups, was it hard to install and do you think it made a audible difference in the sound?

[@saitenhexera]

we all do! i just noticed the lundgren... :D after viewing this 10k times

[@saitenhexera]

i guess you can regulary place an order by now :D and yes, they do,. it depends on how you like the difference :D

[@spencegunn9162]

Dude I literally never thought to check out a cover of this... for fucks sake the band can't play it lol. You put on some work brother.

[@Consural]

"No one knows how I goes." Didn't know Tomas Haake started doing gangster rap lyrics.

[@metalheadblues]

Mumble rap

[@behindthen0thing525]

Hahahahaah ebonics

[@johannrajan3279]

He a lyricist after all.

[@sunnysurfer101MA]

the best final boss music

[@suoreoni]

now this is epic

[@luthfizaennuri5409]

Dark Souls

[@dmytrotsvyntarnyi799]

No final boss deserves this music

[@kiambraleflore7537]

​@@dmytrotsvyntarnyi799No final boss is this awesome.

[@NathanJamesJerritze]

This man isn't built different. He's built better.

[@stayrosgre]

Fredrik needs to see this video !!!

[@SamMooradian]

Thank you! Help me share it to get it to him!!

[@stayrosgre]

I just posted your video on their Facebook page. Hope someone will see it !!!

[@ZolFox]

I can happen. I covered Ra - Do You Call My Name on my channel and the lead guitarist commented and said Great Job. But he also corrected a mistake I was making :/ lol.

[@ZolFox]

Sam Mooradian btw this is incredible. I made an attempt at this awhile back and got nowhere near completing the whole thing. And I wasn’t even planning on being able to figure out the solo but with your video...and my increased skill since then...there could be a chance...

[@sattyammane8432]

Post it to Stevie t's page

[@xkmmx2132]

The real reason they don’t play “I” live is because the riff at 11:16 would cause the earth to crack open and buildings to crumble if it was played at live volume.

[@TheMonkeyBloke]

I get major Strapping Young Lad vibes from that section! Heavy as a... Really heavy thing! \m/

[@KyleDanielson42]

This.

[@JeremyHale141]

Cool profile picture

[@tobydude100]

It has long been said, If you complete this song in it's entirety, it willl open up a portal to another dimension. Sam Mooradian: "Challenge accepted!"

[@kennygates1192]

Haha, I was just about to say, I wonder if Sam opened that portal to that alternate dimension, and found immortal god powers?

[@bobloblaw477]

No. He found Walternate Bishop

[@bW9ydGhvbg]

it's calles the "portal of I"

[@willstanbury9725]

Martin Schwein Hey! Thats a NeO thing! I know that!

[@TheTsekou]

you can unlock dimebag

[@myself3209]

Non musicians will never understand how insane this is

[@xXHURPADURPXX]

I cant believe you've done this

[@nivedan8]

I read it in that voice 😂

[@brunodinis7454]

@@nivedan8 my jaw hurts

[@7AKV7]

Oh fuck...

[@OrtizIndustries]

how do you even understand the solos fredrik creates, then manage to replicate them... @6:19 amazing

[@kabes1776]

Yeah wtf

[@Supervideo1491]

"Now, I know fans probably asks this all the time, will you ever play 'I' a lot?" "Uh... I've always said no.. and most likely never will 'cause that whole track it's... it's all random. No one knows how 'I' goes..." and then Sam comes to make an exception with his EPIC ADVENTURE!

[@UnendingGrimness]

well kind of? def give this dude props for the cover but who knows if this was all done in one sitting. This may have edited for perfection which if you look, just the simple fact he layers for the solos means hes taking breaks. I think thomas misspoke in that interview. They most certainly could play this live but its 20 mins. non stop and to get 5 guys together the whole time during a polyrythmic song then have to play the rest of a 1-2 hr show would literally kill them \m/ Fuckin love em tho and this cover is awesome regardless \m/ HaiLZ \m/

[@MrBonokyra]

He is forced to take breaks because you cant really play a main rhythm and a solo at the same time... you just can't look at that like he did something bad to fake how freaking awesome this vid is.

[@VegasLoungeAct]

Of course he stopped and restarted when a new section of the song started. Tomas knows they can't do it live because it's too much to remember and play in one sitting without preparing for each new section. Just because this guy would stop and edit doesn't take away from the fact that he did an awesome cover.

[@UnendingGrimness]

+TRIPxCORE I agree. u basically just said what I said for the most part.

[@NeesyPlaysGuitar]

he isn't forced to take breaks. He can simply record the rhythm guitar in one take and the solo in one take. he didn't though, because that would require learning the song from start to finish and it makes MUCH more sense from his point of view to master sections and record them, mash them, and present them. Not to take away from what he did, but it's most definitely not a continuous cover by any stretch of the imagination.

[@WernerErkelens]

Just watched this again for the 10th time or so. It's crazy how you nailed this.

[@deadsquirrel6378]

11:13 that riff is one of the heaviest shit ever! Nicely done bro your cover rules! Hands down!

[@tryhardtrynot]

Accompanied by the obligatory stank face🤘

[@xymbolix]

@@tryhardtrynot How could you fucking not, you know? That riff is next to stank face in the dictionary. LOL

[@Ismael-kc3ry]

*immediately cuts to two ads* Fuck KZbin

[@navedalam9333]

To the person who said this is the guitar equivalent of climbing Everest, more people have climbed Everest than covered I

[@jonathansera6134]

your picking technique has extraordinary stamina and precision. 10/10 man. would you go see you play live.

[@Vassey82ABN]

I dont even listen to "I" anymore on my ITunes or on KZbin. . . I always go back to your video, slaying the cover whenever I wanna hear it. Great job, man.

[@SamMooradian]

Man, that means a lot!

[@HardKore5250]

What is the song about?

[@behindthen0thing525]

@@HardKore5250 it's about me

[@agayfuzzypandabear3769]

@@HardKore5250 It's about the letter "i" If you think this song's crazy, wait 'till they release "j" ;)

[@metfan4l]

Wow most impressive thing I've seen in a long time, good job dude!

[@SamMooradian]

Thanks so much!

[@HerbalistGuybrush]

thats what she said ;)

[@phildo4prez]

I am fucking speechless.

[@Jacemacleod13]

Savage. Abso-fucking-lutely savage.

[@WernerErkelens]

+Perry Gowdy Brutal, Savage, Rekt. Absolutely taken down.

[@nescaudrummer]

You deserve a medal

[@AlexGordonMusic]

A Metal medal even! \m/

[@bluegatorade358]

Mr. John he deserves the metal medal made out of metal that has a piece of Fredricks guitar (like a string or something because it's made out of metal)

[@AlexGordonMusic]

You might just inspire several Swedish dudes to practice their memorization skills with this one, dude.

[@bosimmons2626]

Alex Gordon Only 5 Swedish dudes need to be inspired :p

[@AlexGordonMusic]

thats what I was alluding to :p

[@alvaroluke99]

I'm discovering this video 8 years late but man, this is incredible. Super clean sound and execution, learning this must have been hell

[@jonmiller9925]

the pendulum swings

[@EinFelsbrocken]

semi-attached

[@crued6754]

At 9:25 that was the face that i pulled when i first herd this song

[@TakeMyShots]

ahuahuahhahauha me too

[@arando4359]

Kenny 2:13

[@Sbeve802]

Dude when I first heard that part I was jamming out so goddamn hard I almost transcended space, time, and reality.

[@SamMooradian]

I couldn't leave well enough alone. Full band cover of I: kzbin.info/www/bejne/aHbMf5p_bMlol9E

[@ryrkra8096]

Sam Mooradian fucking awesome....

[@badgerbush3556]

No.... fuckin...... way.......... Unbelievably well done

[@ThonyBurns]

I can't believe i finally saw a cover. Man you're awesome

[@SamMooradian]

Thanks!

[@musicsucks5843]

Dear God, the Stairway to Heaven of Djent songs

[@pikkukimble]

This is totally the most unbeliavable, insane, epic, and all the rest of the praise words available in the world added to this post, thing I've ever seen! O_o I thought no one knows how I goes?

[@jesuislepluscool]

WHAT THE FUCK DID YOU JUST REALLY...?

[@TonyAllain]

You aren't human. Worship this man!

[@jowjjoeksidnwosjxnalwosmbl5476]

*carpal tunnel has left the chat*

[@Ubarberet]

5 years later this still blows my mind

[@6slayer6sam62]

:D at "take that Fredrik" that was great! (well all of it was pretty great)

[@roccos2311]

The solo at 6:20 is like getting sucked through a black hole on a bad acid trip. This is an impressive cover brother

[@declanoconnor7991]

Mate watching you execute the solo at 6.20 literally made my week. Well done man, you nailed this entire song. Very impressive.

[@liamyates5544]

ok.... i heard the solo pretty damn clear..... props bro, fucking hell!!! hahahaha nice

[@fatboymachinegun]

6:40 very melodic.

[@VegasLoungeAct]

I think my right hand would fall off just by attempting the opening riff. lol

[@MrTubularBalls]

Fap more.

[@timboslice9071]

9:20 - 12:33 is my favorite part of any Meshuggah song. Chopped it up with Audacity as I (Short) when I don't have 20 minutes for a song... it's so, so heavy and brilliant.

[@janvs666]

"Chopped it up with Audacity as I (Short) when I don't have 20 minutes for a song..." duuuude wtf

[@timboslice9071]

@@janvs666 Don't be that guy.

[@cameronsexton7759]

Sam, as a man who has been listening to I for well over 5 years (it has been my favorite meshuggah song since then) I can say that this genuinely made my day upon watching it. Seeing somebody play this song and recognize it for the masterpiece it is. I’m currently in the process of workin on it. Gonna use a guitar hero chart for the most part lmfao. Amazing cover. Keep it up man 🥂

[@davecrupel2817]

You are actually fvcking insane for daring to attempt tackling this almighty composition. And even moreso for managing to succeed at it. Like, I do not have the words....

[@itrey1]

Watching 8 years later and youre still the only cover ive ever seen

[@visionofdisorder]

the end where jens says "i" is so badass

[@DearFreja]

Holy fucking shit someone actually did it. I am IN AWE.

[@RikaMaiden]

Just perfect!

[@Eam0ndo]

This is insane! Thank you!

[@valentinrobert7100]

Awesome dude!

[@SarkagianGaribaldian]

Just, wow. Thank you for doing this. Well done sir. I hope Meshuggah sees this, I really think they would dig it.

[@jaumepp1975]

So amazing!

[@stefanjr]

MASSIVE respect!

[@dexxpredwarior9033]

Finally someone made the guitar cover of this extremely long composition! Fantastic sound, great playing, beautiful 8 string Ibanez RG! Amazing job, bro! I'm really enjoy all of this 21 minutes!

[@alexlanza79]

I reviewed the EP when it came out and honestly I've never thought there could be anyone that insane to cover it and do a great job as you did, awesome dude!

[@cristianortiz5276]

FENOMENAL

[@nondualdynamics2098]

Absolutely stunning!

[@tooolt2y]

it's fucking amazing dude, seriously congrats! I'll definitely share it.

[@flawl3sslogic]

You're a fucking legend man! Mad props to the hard work and discipline it must have taken to nail this.

[@igorprlja]

Wow, man. Just wow...

[@gregdesmurs7236]

Amazing !!

[@Scape452]

Me and my mate used to play little bits from the song but would never even entertain the thought of a cover. Very well done good Sir! Absolute madness! Love it!!!

[@gillesiachelini2082]

WOW. Just wow. Thats one ballsy move, Sam. This video should be part of every schools education to demonstrate devotion & dedication. *claps hands hysterical*

[@Rasul5743]

Simply, speechless.

[@NikkeK]

Amazing!

[@mythosspecialist1352]

The best part of the song is from 12:41 to 14:47. I also love the two riffs before the first solo (1st riff: 4:34 [when the lead comes in, the pattern changes, so this riff is different from 4:15] to 5:12 [pattern changes slightly when vocals come in after the lead], 2nd Riff: 5:32 to 6:19 [awesome breakdown]) - so tough

[@TeufelFaust]

I've tried to learn I before, and it's always the last five minutes and that intro section that stunt me. Just think. You've been an absolute hero and learned this song, here's hoping Meshuggah contact you and say can you do it live with us! Haha

[@oddsessive]

This is awesome man, great job!

[@tanfizhussain3785]

Dude this is awesome!

[@Squiggly-zg8zc]

You should jam with Meshuggah for this

[@LucasLeCompteMusic]

nice job!

[@SamMooradian]

+Lucas LeCompte Thanks Lucas!

[@alaincharles8263]

Best cover so far ! this is killer dude

[@AsAugustSleeps]

Pure awesomeness. This deserves way more views.

[@rowanb4395]

that first one... f*&k. nice work! 6:20 and the sweeps later :D

[@takiclintonharness4066]

a new meshuggah wonder....

[@GodisGracious09]

This is incredible. Very well done mate.

[@looseunit9180]

Awesome

[@williamsvensson9808]

It seems we will have 10 more vids just like this... No let me correct myself, BETTER than this since we can clearly see that 10 people disliked this piece of art. Im looking forward to see their efforts too :)

[@Fredrikliljemark32]

Word!

[@j.dhawkes5134]

As soon as I get an 8 string I'm going to learn this entire song

[@aldomares1887]

J.D Hawkes so...did you?

[@behindthen0thing525]

Did you do it

[@asukalangleysoryu6695]

Did you?

[@Vinter2805]

Legends says he never left His room since for "I" is always demanding his spirit.

[@CH-ml4rz]

How abt now?

[@rajivrm9868]

Wow this is amazing.... Respect man!

[@mylesglover578]

amazing, congratulations dude, this is ridiculously impressive

[@mihalyhajdu102]

Awesome, I've played some meshuggah myself too, and it's a complete catatonic mindfuck. This 21 minutes must involve an insane amount of work and focus. Catch 33 awaits! :)

[@Nplasma17]

6:57 Take that Fredrik!

[@lord_foob]

This is genuinely insane man!! Memorizing all of that is incredible.

[@majkl9978]

Masterful cover!

[@theeaterproject3666]

Best cover of the heaviest song ever by the dankest stank-face ever! Well done, brotha'!

[@kumquatmagoo]

Unbelievable. Watched it all, mouth agape. Apart from that, I can't get over the ghost face in your shirt - the button and label make two eyes! [8]

[@aldomares1887]

kumquatmagoo "I" actually​ is a summon spell, that's really why they never play it live

[@saberwolfe6363]

this performance is pure.

[@proffeserdude]

that's awesome, man! great cover

[@bobloblaw477]

The riff from 9:30-10:00 insane!

[@josephridley7832]

Yup.

[@thordiesel6.7]

6:57 LMAO Epic man \m/

[@brunodinis7454]

Perfect. Good job

[@roemusic7013]

Amazing cover! It's great to see someone finally do the whole thing, well done friend.