Meshuggah's Tomas Haake Breaks Down Band's Writing Process

[@daz_graz]

I misread the title and thought this video would involve a lot more crying.

[@LegitBuiscuts]

Daz Graz Meshuggahs Tomas Haake Breaks Down 😂😂😂

[@verydroll8545]

yeah I was about to start masturbating too

[@makelelemakelele]

I lol'd

[@damienro0]

3 years after your comment and you made me laugh dude, thanks

[@P3rm4frost]

🤣🤣🤣

[@ragemodeon3441]

" This is Jupiter, a planet. It's pretty heavy, I use it as a crash." -normal Tomas Haake

[@cassianowogel]

"That guitar bend you heard? It's actually a disturbance in time-space caused by the gravity surrounding the guitar."

[@t-man5196]

Yeah right

[@Brave_New_Tube]

Its comforting to know that God is actually a pretty chill and down-to-earth Guy.

[@baseddepartment6486]

I'll take that as a compliment.

[@verydroll8545]

+God if god was one of us... I'd stab the prick

[@protestssopeacefulweneedad2017]

I met him at Ozzfest along with the rest of Meshuggah and they are all incredibly down to earth and cool to their fans. Martin Hagstrom stood and talked with me for like 20 minutes straight.

[@GameSpyDarkAge]

But he borrows Satan's drum kit

[@rubaidaallen2764]

😂😂😂😂 love that

[@everything.is.random]

I work as a touristic guide in my country (Portugal). One time my company was organizing an event for a Swedish company, and I was doing like a catering service for their employees. I like to make random conversation with them, and this one group I started talking about music, (being a musician myself) and specially metal music. One guy heard this topic and came to talk with me, and immediately I asked if he liked Meshuggah. He said yes, and he starting telling me a story about Thomas Haake. He and his son lived in the same street as Thomas. And one time, I cant remember how, they got to know Thomas, and this guys son was also a drummer. Basically Thomas was such a nice guy that he showed up at their house and give this guys son some drumming lessons completely free. Some details are probably missing since I cant remember the whole story. But he was just saying how such a nice guy Thomas is. It kinda blew my mind that day to hear that story, wasnt expecting to encounter a Meshuggah fan working for a very formal company.

[@apophis9356]

David Sousa That's a really cool story. Tomas seems like one of the most down to earth guys in metal.

[@everything.is.random]

@@apophis9356 yes! He really does. And it's very good to see people that break the "stereotype" like him and many other amazing metal musicians. I mean we are all in debt with Meshuggah for creating one of the most amazing soundtracks to life there is!

[@apophis9356]

David Sousa Agreed!

[@manfredlundmark3267]

Thats true. I live in the same town(Umeå) , and he is super chill. The cool thing is only metalheads know Meshuggah so it like hes just a "Nobody". But i get starstruck everytime i see him out in the town drinking beers. And hes really nice to randoms who just want to say HI.

[@Trenitti]

I have met and talked to him a few times, and i can confirm that he is a really chill and humble guy!

[@6slayer6sam62]

it's crazy to think these guys formed only 6yr after slayer and metallica formed...I love listening to him talk, you can tell he is a VERY intelligent guy...i could listen to meshuggah all day. so pumped for this album

[@sleepfriend9229]

Its been wild seeing the rise of meshuggah in recent years, especially with the grammy nom.

[@cashprinter5000]

Took em 20 years to score some kind of exposure.....unfortunately the world wasnt ready back then

[@Dragonstache]

meshuggah.. a band of old men, making better music than all us kids. i love it

[@Bloodist123]

better music than any djent core shitty band

[@MartinMillerGuitar]

Interesting defintion of "old"!

[@PARKARSGAY]

isn't Meshuggah djent

[@Dragonstache]

Dent was coined by kids.. meshuggah might be considered as such, but that title was forced on them..

[@TemplarOfTheWolf]

"Old men"? :-D How old are you? Five?

[@MisterButterfingers]

The dude's hair is immaculate.

[@someguy7526]

Agreed, he looks like a modern viking

[@alk3603]

@@someguy7526 he basically is being swedish and such a badass

[@someguy7526]

@@alk3603 Truth

[@Archaeopteryxgordo]

I come from future to say you've almost predict the name of their new album: The dude's hair is "immutable".

[@MicahRunning]

I was thinking the same thing, like he gets this weird curved black bill that juts out in front of his face, then almost like a bowl cut. Strong hair glue maybe?

[@KoopySandwiches]

"We throw darts at a dartboard twice and that's our time signature for a song."

[@ianfromspace4740]

Every Meshuggah song is in the time signature of 4/4 or 6/8 (which is also 4/4). Did you mean the isorhythm? haha

[@ianfromspace4740]

there aren't multiple ways to interpret the time signature. the time signature is 4/4. the isorhythm, on the other hand. xD

[@ossibossi100]

6/8 and 4/4 is not the same, dude.

[@josephbrandenburg4373]

I guess 12/8 is 4/4 in triplets, but that's something else.

[@B3Band]

Even Electric Red is in 4/4 I couldn't believe that shit until I counted it myself in Guitar Pro.

[@trismurray]

Been playing drums for 25 years and this guy blows me away. You can hear by the way he talks he’s intelligent and knows exactly what he’s doing behind the kit - and what the music is doing.

[@Isaac-eg3um]

He speaks English better than me

[@breno4659]

4:21 Just watch Tomas' hands and hear the great conversation. A come on, it can't be just me.

[@6695John13]

He air played Bleed for a few seconds there

[@zebes2694]

"we just drink a couple of beers and 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000"

[@rvega8038]

HAHAHAHHA I laughed at this more than I shud have hahaha

[@magnuswiklund7557]

Zebes 26 HAHAHAHA!!

[@P0wer2R0ll]

That Opeth logo under the bass cab/Thomas hands :)

[@Zyborggian]

P0wer2R0ll That's the Book of Opeth m8

[@huskopeshroud8682]

i'm tomas haake the living metronome of meshuggah

[@tony_brasco]

The Davy Jones of Meshuggah

[@ericholmberg7785]

Haake is the Gandalf of metal drumming!

[@isaacdissonance3967]

Eric Holmberg a true wizard!!!hahaha

[@chubydukskruber7969]

Gandalf is the Haake of LOTR

[@MyCatFooed]

Does he realize that literally MILLIONS & MILLIONS of people worldwide absolutely WORSHIP this band? Their SKILLS in METAL?!? They're one of the VERY FEW who are STILL around making some of the very best METAL MUSIC IN THE WORLD?? Are they aware of these things as a band??? Much Love from Pennsylvania, USA!! Domari Nolo PA III

[@VillainTss]

At this moment, one of the best drummers in metal industry.

[@NooDLES411911]

6 years later, same

[@reanimated6]

Thomas Haake has taken metal to another level of skill. I'm gonna be like my grandpa who only liked classical music - bacuase of it's skill and complexity - but i'll be professing meshuggah for the same reasons...

[@Bruddahwill]

His leg is always moving haha. Same my guy.

[@eyemoeba]

so gentle in spirit and softly spoken. right - Demiurge.

[@solidground2024]

So this explains why programmed drums sound like Tomas Haake

[@pioner8614]

how tf you managed to leave a comment 11 years before the video was posted

[@mayalansky]

It’s part of their username, sly dog.

[@Ledjent]

"15 note segment" Born in Dissonance! :D

[@OlliLappalainen]

That getting the flow of the song is actually something I've been thinking lately.. it makes playing much easier

[@mattwatson1744]

this interview should've been seen much more far and wide. The deeper and more detailed songwriting process of Meshuggah is mind-bending and interesting to hear about. Thanks for the interview and for sharing.

[@HVTFIELDOFFICIAL]

It's really cool to see Toby Mac Interview Fabio.

[@FrostyFeet2018]

I appreciate the Opeth logo in the background

[@Mayonnaisesucks730]

I'm sorry but he is one beautiful man especially his hair and smile

[@TheRealNathanBusch]

I love how he’s one of the drummers nobody can ever pronounce his last name right and he doesn’t even clarify the pronunciation when he introduces himself lol

[@slycordinator]

Nathan Busch I've also never heard of Neil Peart correcting people saying his last name as "purt" rhyming with hurt (it actually rhymes with near/rear with a p at the start plus a t)

[@alejandroberrios4756]

That’s a god-tier head of hair

[@solidground2024]

Most of these comments do not know polyrhythms lol. Meshuggah is all about 4/4 with some guitar groove happening in some other time signature. Tomas just plays the bass drum to the guitars for simplicity's sake. I saw them play live, and its true...Tomas is in fact a robot.

[@BoyOfLol]

Three things: 1. 5:30 half speed 2. Opeth \m/ 3. Meshuggah \\\\\mmm////// can't wait for the album release tomorrow.

[@CartmanBrah]

Damn this interviewer is so much better and way less awkward than that other dude.

[@fertaly1]

Bill Burr's favorite drummer.

[@LiquidSpartan117]

great interview.

[@Omer698]

Is that the Butcher of Blaviken?

[@DMatt343]

Oh man. He does kinda look like Geralt. Makes me love Meshuggah and The Witcher even more.

[@Thrashtildeath19]

I'm actually very surprised they don't even jam together for writing songs

[@kevincarlisle9959]

most bands don't anymore, unless it the first album

[@Salomon_G]

It's not really a style you can 'jam out'

[@Thrashtildeath19]

it can b a jamming out style if u like playing the style of metal that they play in

[@gaunten]

I played for a few years in a band that was heavily influenced by, among other things, Meshuggah and Indian folk music and was tricky in general when it came to rhythms, patterns and time signatures. We never really jammed out any of our stuff, because when you have ideas for a polyrhythmic part it sometimes takes a good while to really wrap your head around it and be able to play it properly. I believe presenting such ideas while jamming would be very inefficient. We always wrote entire parts or songs in guitar-pro and sent it around and everyone worked together optimizing the composition and once we had enough stuff we'd learn it and then meet when everyone knew their parts. It worked pretty good, many times when we played a new song together everything just worked, and from there it was easy finishing up the last touches.

[@StromboliKicks]

Gotta love the internet. This is priceless stuff.

[@unknowncowman]

But does it Jens?

[@White2098]

@Vow of Volition - this is how you actually write like Meshuggah 👍

[@1982AntonioC]

Love Tomas...Love Mashuggah....simple....

[@holygroove2]

Lol EVERY interviewer thinks their music changes meter. Love it!

[@michaeljoefox]

“It’ll be an idea like, and we all use the toontrack product, whoever like....” He’s so humble and polite, he’s just tryna say they fake mushrooms and lsd until something sticks, like the rest of us.

[@damnedbelowjudas_]

Damn you wouldn't even be able to tell that his first language isn't English

[@JobForAMaxboy]

4:15 very open discussion being had

[@m3t4ldood]

IIII LIIIIKE JUIIIICE!!!

[@ilikejuice5384]

🌚

[@OEpistimon]

+I Like Juice Hahaha roflmao

[@B3Band]

It's a true filtered vitamin substance.

[@Mrcastleskeep]

AND SHARP SHOES! FILTERING THAT SUBSTANCE!

[@djentlover]

FINISH YOUR JUICE

[@Jiladah]

thanks for explaining how you write and in the end hear the music, I was always asking myself if you listen to the 4/4 beat, the section or as you state the "whole song". When I learned to play your songs, actually I tried to hear all three aspects and eventually I think it is even a mixture of all three, isnt it?

[@Shawner1000]

They recorded Violent sleep of Reason live in the studio, well live takes anyways to get that band feel back and it sounds really good.

[@horseradish4046]

I always assumed their writing process was very mechanized rather than the traditional "building off a jam" style of writing. They would never be able to achieve the kind of complexity and still have it all work together so well without writing it all out MIDI first

[@Ecclesiastes11718]

Fan fact: Kolloss means ass in Greek.That is to say,it's BADASS

[@NarMattaru]

why this swedish people speak english so perfectly. fucking love it *-*. and the best thing is... is not with british accent.

[@daleweber2579]

Sounds like he's from Ohio.

[@jfo3000]

@@daleweber2579 No kidding, I'm from Ohio too.

[@PatrickHoran85]

How come Mr. Haake is the only one promoting the band? Where is the rest of the band? I understand Tomas is technically the leader of the band but if I were discovering Meshuggah for the first time, I would be under the impression that the album is a solo project. "What's the deal with Meshuggah" (in a Jerry Seinfeld voice)

[@1997slayerfan]

I dont know it for sure, but his girlfriend lives in New York, so maybe he is often in tne US and therefore available for Interviews. But its just speculation.

[@karenhernandez7056]

Patrick Horan i know i read somewhere that of all members He is more fluent with english, so that could also be a reason..

[@kreepthedestroyer]

interesting and valid point.

[@PatrickHoran85]

Understandable. I've been trying to learn german for 2 years now and I still can't hold a deep conversation. Shit is arduous if you are not able to immerse yourself.

[@Egoblivion]

+D'karen Coletti Well, there's being fluent in a language, and then there's having a high command of the language while being practically a genius when it comes to writing lyrics. Haake is a lyrical, rhythmical, art-concept beast (rather conveniently for Meshuggah).

[@Ashton666]

In other words: "We have to learn how to play or own songs that a machine recorded" Yeah, makes sense after listening to their songs

[@MrOliverTube]

awsome thanxx

[@CosmicAnimosty138]

"Why does everything take so long to come out?"

[@Dev_UI]

Tomas is a drum programmer \m/

[@temporarymomentary]

All of them are.

[@DiminishingAugmentation]

His English is so damn good.

[@theonapoloni]

And he never mention Thorendal ?!

[@MrEffervescent]

Is that a religious candle with Axl Rose ?lol

[@GabiBrooks]

Ok is it weird that I've just noticed it at the same time as reading your comment?🤣🤣🤣

[@Alostwanderer88]

​@@GabiBrooksO MY GOD SO WEIRD!!!!!!! 🤪🤪🤪🤪🤪🤪🤪🤪🤪🤪

[@tristanmurraydrums9706]

“Sure, so the next part comes out and then out…” (Interviewer thinks he’s worked out the process) “Kind of.”

[@infamous387]

very talented drummer. very intellegant man. writes music around The drums. probably have to say me dream band would include him as a drummer and writer. I can't write for Shit but I'll do my best to belt them vocals out.

[@seamusmcsorley7638]

Wow I didn’t know Thomas wrote the lyrics

[@lskyrocker1]

Anyone know what drum program he uses to organize songs?

[@rulliosan]

Se no me bagna, me sciuga! (Veneto-Italia) (Se non mi bagna, mi asciuga) If it doesn't wet me, it dries me

[@tibi2674]

band's writing process :-dude! gore ! -duuuuuuude!

[@GhANeC]

Is that Tomas' own studio/space? Can anyone see the Opeth symbol behind him? AWESOME! :-)

[@kabisikletamba142]

Overall they are thr Band which they understand each other no ego or any other selfish act for intruding their relationship in music, cool band.

[@SamAndrew27]

The *drummer* writes the lyrics...!? OK, but damn...very different!

[@user-oy7gz5bf2h]

Rush, Mastodon..

[@isaaczaladar1174]

Julien Valois Dobbie ulcerate, car bomb...

[@TedLaceyGuitar]

TheEndTrend dream theatre

[@sgameirojr]

THE WIZARD!

[@supersantoshpandit1498]

Is Leo his son?

[@Sandemose]

Mashaggah?

[@christopherwilliams1059]

Lol he makes it sound so simple

[@TheMasonator777]

You really just needed a photo of a calculator. Kidding.

[@epidemika5054]

He's God.

[@hyokaryoka]

Didn't know Zeus drummed for Meshuggah.

[@Leman.Russ.6thLegion]

I'm not a fan of their vocalist. but THIS BAND MAKES GREAT MUSIC!!!!

[@isaaczaladar1174]

1115WOLF why??

[@scarface575]

Yo

[@jgando111278]

mushugganuh rules

[@christopherst.pierre3569]

Iron Maiden is looking over his shoulder...

[@mikloshubay8615]

Dumbledore exists :D

[@oliverpasztor788]

Drumbledore*

[@isaacdissonance3967]

Tomas "I'm not that great drummer" haake

[@smokejc]

um um um um um um

[@lkpgcrew5781]

Ill be dead before meshuggah releases a new album. Im 16 btw

[@gauravphukan90]

The natsi zombie of metal drumming. Period

[@BigWill2k]

Djent bands are frantically scribbling notes..

[@SirHiggalot]

Love these guys but damn that actually sounds kind of sad. Never jamming with your band mates? Just writing songs on your own and programming it in a computer then basically learning the songs? Idk to me as a musician I love making music with other people. Their method just sounds so clinical and calculated. Whatever works I guess.

[@spoompls42069]

Girlish Goat For this upcoming album, they have recorded together live. They just haven't done that since Chaosphere.

[@NoisyB22]

I think it depends on how many people have control of the creative process.... At least I find it easier to come up with ideas alone at home...

[@kreepthedestroyer]

yea I'm the same. i find it difficult to make a song in a jam as every one has different ideas and takes to long to structure it. plus I suck at remembering what I play in a jam. even when recorded it's hard to listen to what I'm exactly playing as i don't have the money to isolate each band member.

[@bicboi1930]

I dont think that way at all i think they can get more diverse ideas and more authentic ideas for what each bandmember wants. Some people cant get in their creative headspace with a bunch of people around. Theyre pretty much introverts so thats what you can expect imo

[@bicboi1930]

whats even cooler is theyre a tight group of guys anyways and get each other because they obviously like each others ideas when they bring them to each other. So in a way theyre psychologically synced or i dont think this method would work at all. Its just a preference for each group's personality/dynamic

[@MeanDeeds589]

this is funny not even he can explain it ha

[@kevinmcgrady237]

Welcome to the Matrix!

[@josiahyancy8962]

GET IVAN MOODY!!!!