Tomas of MESHUGGAH on Aging in Extreme Metal, Elvis Presley's Influence, Latest Health Update & More

[@beerinoculum]

hes literally the most down to earth wizard ever

[@ToxicTerrance]

So down to earth, he has become a mountain.

[@hidaroot2282]

wizard? he's a god

[@ljp31009]

Meshuggah itself is a limb on the evolutionary tree of metal. Thank you Tomas for your part in music!!!

[@ayandey137]

Such a great interview, and kudos to the interviewer for not interrupting even once

[@CaptainoftheH]

What a hero and just absolutely nice human.

[@TheCryptoGinger]

Thank god this man found pillows and cookie jar lids to jam out on as a child leading him to become one of the best drummers out there. Meshuggah is legendary!

[@MachineHeadDissent]

Monster Drummer… One of the best drummers alive today!!!…🤙😎🤘

[@ir0n_bb170]

My favorite drummer💥

[@danecanterbury2850]

My all time favourite drummer. He seems like such a rad guy 😎

[@sullimd]

“Over the bar line”. Such a smart way to describe Meshuggah, and exactly what they do.

[@milimaximus1624]

It’s the white wizard of drumming: Drumgalf 🤘🏻

[@AlvoJAM]

Of all the interviews I've seen of Tomas, this might be my favorite. He's such a down to earth, inspiring, humble and interesting man.

[@Avliv_Satan]

As a Norwegian guy, I only have one thing to say: Hail Sweden

[@jason1888]

Hey us Norwegians have Baard Kolstad. Hail Sweden and Norway!

[@Avliv_Satan]

Joda, men i dette tilfellet så ville jeg legge vekt på Sverige 😛

[@fredrikjensen3771]

Hail Norway

[@charlottekrasny]

And Hail Darkthrone 😈🤘also fucking love Red Harvest! Greetings from Vienna 🇦🇹

[@kent6619]

Loved hearing some stories about the formative years of the guys who always be on top for me! Every time I go to see Meshuggah, it seems as though I have made a journey to Mt. Olympus.

[@BeBopScraBoo]

i first saw Meshuggah live on the Nothing tour, very soon after discovering them, and i just could not believe they performed so tightly and accurately to the recordings.

[@kent6619]

@@BeBopScraBoo Yes, it’s like a conscientiously planned apocalypse of precise execution. It took me until Chaosphere to hear of them, and it didn’t grab me at first. Then I started listening more....and more.... :)

[@DruNature]

Thomas Haake, there is no best in anything, but man Thomas is as close to the best as you can get!! A true legend, an inspiration and frankly one of the coolest people ever!

[@diesel3333]

Yeaaah 80's was pure GOLD! Nothing nowadays like Depeche Mode, Alphaville, Erasure, Tears For Fears, A-ha, Duran and so on... Totally amazing knowing that from this master! 🤘🤘🤘

[@ZakkiLowe]

Tomas is such a wholesome dude....I mean wizard.

[@rob-2037]

very unlikely you'll read this tomas, but i recommend you get hold of some "Berga-salvan Kådsalva". my mum is swedish so she got me some and whenever i've had any kind of skin problem it clears it right up. it's only got oliv-olja, ullfett, grankåda, bivax och honung in it. the one thing we are often missing in the modern world is connection with nature and natural ingredients. obviously diet will help too, but if the problem persists give than salva a go dude.

[@alexyorkshots]

So pleased that his new treatment seems to be working. As a fellow drummer with psoriasis, skin conditions are no joke. Huge respect to TH! Can't wait to see them live this spring!

[@danielcortez88]

Tomas Haake.....you're my inspiration for groove....you're the reason I still believe in metal

[@eyemoeba]

i have recently been lucky enough to have had two of rock's greatest ever drummers perform within a hundred miles of where i live. after two years of lockdown, to witness Tool and then Meshuggah, not only back on the road, but sounding as good as ever _and both putting on unbelievable shows- has restored my faith in the world and art's place within it. i saw them together in 2001 but it has taken me 21 years to fully get Meshuggah, who are wAy more metal sounding, particularly in the vocals, than anything i thought i'd ever be into. tomas and his cohorts have slowly, almost inexorably, finally beaten me into submission. hats off forever to both bands.

[@jaumepp1975]

Thanks for existing, Tomas.

[@sirefromtheshire]

Great interview. Its refreshing to see sincerity, a sense of calm, and intelligent conversation during and interview.

[@bbmotorsports1976]

Discovered Meshuggah back around 98 or 99. Still Love it. Definitely one of my favorite bands of all time. Keep Rocking 🤘

[@nofood1]

I was into metal since the 90s and didn't find out about Mesh' until 2010, my whole life was flipped upside down when I did. I was so disappointed to find out about them so late, must be because I'm American! The crazy thing is there's still a ton of metal heads who've never heard of them even in 2022!

[@DoinStuff4Life]

I saw this GOD play at BB Kings in NYC, he did the set, was amazing, and then I saw them wheel him off in a hand truck like the kind you use to move a fridge. Turned out his back was majorly messed up but he did the show, didn't miss a beat and yet...couldn't walk off the stage. Tomas is a god.

[@rythmicwarrior]

I'm also going through a revival of the 80s music. I appreciate it more now than back then.

[@calebbernstein5163]

YOU GOTTA WANNA!! All the old heads in my life have told me this is the secret to life. Period. Can't believe I just heard Tomas say that!! In his second language! Full circle.

[@anonymouskirbyfeet5457]

I love this Interview. Who else keeps it's this real.

[@tborke]

Awesome interview and its truly great to hear that his condition is getting better. Tomas truly is an amazing musician and amazing human being, same goes for the entire band! Can't wait to blast the hell out of the new album tomorrow!

[@madmaxx010]

"Building a big building"...I literally laughed my ass off! 🤣 that's priceless

[@shanegriffin2215]

An incredible drummer. And a humble down to earth guy.

[@erikb776]

My hero. And, the album is amazing. Thank you Meshuggah

[@rhino202]

Always an incredible interview. To think I saw them last year and he played Abysmal Eye, Future Breed Machine, and Bleed almost back to back. He is an absolute machine!

[@wcg66]

It's easy to be a Depeche Mode and Meshuggah fan. Tomas is a great dude!

[@thomasche]

He is a tough and humble man. Am glad his hands are healing.

[@andrewb9603]

Saw them last night for the 4th time, and they played "Bleed" and may I say, it was glorious.

[@filetmignon4446]

wow, i thought he would of had more of a Swedish accent! There are social studies on American entertainment and influence over other cultures. Canada has faced this HEAD on and we are losing our own culture, accent and entertainment to American branch plant and industries. love meshuggah!! wow! Ty for the interview!

[@alexanderchemel5963]

Big thanks to Thomas for answering questions about eczema treatment methods and tips on avoiding injury to the skin of the hands while playing the drums . I was very worried when I found out that Thomas has similar problems, because I am a big fan and I love this music so much. I have been healing dehydrosis of the skin on my hands for more than 10 years. A three-component cream based on betamethasone, gentamicin, clotrimazole, made my hand skin very weak. Never knew about q10. I will consult with my dermatologist...who knows, maybe I’m be able to play death metal again. I sincerely wish Thomas good health and great success with the new Meshuggah album!

[@dandan4092]

Big up fella. Hope you’re out there slaying it

[@Shred_Rocket]

Perfect! Tomas is my kind of guy, a badass drummer!!

[@TunnelJumper]

"Building A Big Building." Wow, that absolutely sounds like it could have been the working title for Ligature Marks.

[@jasonlongo612]

Great Interview! I hope his hands get better.

[@krenwregget7667]

Great interview. Tomas is easily one of the best ever metal drummers, a true pioneer, an inspiration and a truly great guy.

[@hamsandwich6685]

Meshuggah is my all time favorite band. I'm excited about the new album, which is odd for me because I rarely get excited about much. How Mr. Haake describes his evolution as a musician and all his inspirations and influences, is incredibly insightful and relatable. True artist who is in love with his craft.

[@YuNo232]

And? How do you like the new album? I've listened to it for hours now and I am very fond of it. It is just pure Meshuggah essence.

[@hamsandwich6685]

@@YuNo232 I listen to it a lot, it's not what I was expecting and yet I'm not disappointed. It happened that with 2016 violent sleep of reason, had to grow on me over time and now has become one of my favorite albums, so I think I need to digest this new album longer. It didn't blow me away, but I suspect that over time I'll pick up on more and possibly like it better. So far broken cog is my favorite song, and then ligature marks, followed by abysmal eye. Anyway, thanks for asking hahaha

[@gravityfreaksmusic]

That's how you do it, kids! Be nice and blow minds! Great interview.

[@neonblack6762]

This man changed the entire game.

[@TheLoneNoob]

The guy almost sounds American hehe.....really just great English (not that it really matters tbh heh). Love the band, love the drummer....great interview!

[@midwesteigensheaf]

Excellent interview. Interesting questions, perfect flow, genuine curiosity, etc. And of course Thomas is just an awesome guy.

[@goodafternoongoodeveningan5773]

They are sounding better than ever on tour currently

[@masonkiller1]

so finaly church turned into something good :-) this is how a drummers life start, love drums , and still is fascinated while talking about it. real love

[@necroticpoison]

Great to hear that he's on the upturn with the recovery, can't wait to see Meshuggah if / when they come to Australia next. Tomas seems to have well rounded and healthy perspectives on things, it's great to have people like that in the community and creating music for all of us to enjoy

[@picshh]

Nice Interview ! Hope you recover soon and we will see you live again ! I liked how people are open about non alcholism these days and for Thomas to be open about it.

[@DenEz_TV]

Tomas is the president of math metal. Great to hear from him!

[@Magnapict65]

Great interview 👍 😎🥁🧠🤘🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@beedeviled1896]

Great interview. Love that Meshuggah holds fast to the approach of writing cohesive albums and not just singles. This is awesome for those of us that collect records, which is also seeing a surge in popularity.

[@LoudnessJP]

Good interview, thanks. Haake: YOU RULE

[@allencarey7336]

That's awesome I think every drummer has the pillow story! I definitely do!

[@joeking9760]

Awesome interview. Thanks!

[@23ograin53]

I started the same way as a kid, playing chairs and sofa cushions and then coffee cans and large potato chip cans with plastic lids.

[@deadSalesman_GD]

The opening was so heartwarming

[@TarynnElizabeth619]

Irony that Thomas is talking about growing up and being out all day on BMX bikes, that’s all we did in San Diego, California then Boca Raton, Florida. Obviously a lot different than Brooklyn as well. My parents grew up in Brooklyn and then Long Island after that. And it was so much different even for them back in the day in Brooklyn. A lot safer back when they were kids.

[@blppt]

Every time i hear an interview with Haake, only occasionally can I tell that he's not from the United States. He sounds like a California Surfer Dude.

[@Belznis]

Nice interview.

[@IAmTrashhy]

It would be amazing to meet this man.

[@YmiDnmE]

I have been a fan since Destroy Erase Improve and I have a theorie about the album cover

[@someone3662]

Enters to watch the interview. Sees morbid angel dominate shirt. Pauses interview. Listens to morbid angel dominate album. Watches the interview.

[@eyeexaggerate7687]

Music class in school: we didn’t have a real music class, we had a concert every year for those of us who were musicians called “boîte a chansons”. The singers would pick their songs and we would learn them. Anywho, one year a master key was handed to some of the students so that they could go and practice during spares in the “music room”. That key was handed down year to year. During our year we totally abused the key privilege and would go into the crawl space and disrupt classes through the vent covers under the banks of cabinets on either side of the teacher, it was actually pretty funny. We never went into the canteen to yoink M&Ms, though, never 🤞🏼-oh, and we definitely didn’t use the key to get in on gate night, either.

[@bugzbunny109]

Luv this guy! ❤️

[@GodlessFiend]

Been a fan since late 2010s, started off on chaosphere and went from there

[@thebigledomski8008]

Great interview, thanks :)

[@elevenAD]

That hair is effin awesome!

[@rubaidaallen2764]

Such a super cool dude. One of my fave drummers along with Danny Carey of Tool and Brann Dailor of Mastodon 🔥🔥🔥

[@shamanglower5668]

Very cool interview !

[@drummer7557]

Gandalf The Hawke!

[@forever3797]

With regard to Tomas aging and still playing, my understanding is that they play to a click track in Cubase which runs their guitar patch changes and some of their lighting changes. I also understand that Tomas's biggest challenges are with the health of his foot/feet and that the kicks are the most demanding part of the drumming. Tomas could take some of his kick patterns and simplify the parts he plays live, having the more complex kick sections sequenced and played off Cubase. If it means he can keep playing even 50% of the kick patterns and 100% of the hands I'd have no problem. I'd have no issue with him even having to do 100% of the Bleed kicks sequenced if it meant the band could still play the song. I doubt most people would either. In case Tomas is reading this please show your support for this idea if you agree.

[@josephthornburg5244]

Fucking legend. We all get old bro! You wont be forgotten

[@garrettcopeland8136]

Einstein's Dreams! Love that book so much!

[@reezlaw]

I love him so much, I don't know what I'd be doing if it wasn't for him and he doesn't even know lmao

[@LEXxTALIONS7913]

You inspire me so much. Thank you very much for sharing your talent whit the world... I'm a better drummer since I dedicate myself to play Meshuga songs. And as far was I know and looks like you're a awesome human being 🤘✊️🎶🎼🥁

[@Neuri]

I want to hear "Building A Big Building" so bad..

[@johnmellor932]

I remember watching Meshuggah in Bradford England in a shit hole club called Rio's in 1995. I can't remember who they were playing with but I remember the drummers Kit sharing. Like watching the Beatles before they broke big. They were touring Destroy Erase Improve.

[@hamsandwich6685]

Am a guitarist. Can confirm that we write inhumanly unplayable stuff a lot. Especially in guitar programming software

[@goodluck2597]

This was nice

[@stevenhotdogpelfulcro8522]

We all agree that White Haake, is better than the previous Brown and Gray Haakes, right?

[@sendasalamy]

Santa Haake!

[@ryukan250]

It's almost like Mr Haake is channeling some primal code that he can transpose to a modern day drumkit. Think, if he was born and lived in an era before the invention of the modern day drumkit, what would he be seeking to destroy? The T1000?

[@diesel3333]

🙏🙌🙏

[@swedesarewhite5984]

Cookie jars rules big time, Hail Meshuggah!

[@cmd_f5]

Wow I didn't know about the hand issues he was having. Glad to hear he's on the mend and keeping it positive. Great interview man! Meshuggah are gods among men.

[@rhino202]

They postponed their US tour about 6 months d/t health reasons

[@AmitDas-wp4vp]

Age isn't an issue for tomas because he is an immortal norse god

[@THERAMMSTEINFAN490]

Its pronounced Haake. Like its spelled haha. Not Hayk. Haak'e Like anderson paak - 'e [Hākeh] i guess

[@moonpeach4684]

🙏

[@giorgiogirardi4661]

What a coincidence, a endocrinologist just prescribed me a cocktail of vitamins and minerals which include Q10. Best of luck Master Haake!

[@imperial1371]

I have this skin thing too ,i play drums too Its a nerve thing .Is that you get cuts as soon as you touch sonething often, them cuts are deep and hurt . I have nerve problems so i developed trist condition .

[@mynasmusic]

sick!

[@holygroove2]

LOL, Catch 33 was an afterthought. That explains why it's by the bottom of my list for them. People seem to divide into camps - Chaosphere, or Catch 33, or Destroy Erase Improve. All amazing albums, but I put Catch 33 on the bottom.

[@elevenAD]

Saxon hell yeah!

[@johnnichols8553]

I love what he says after 50:00. I recently became a Billy Joel fan after seeing him live, and can appreciate the genius of his songs. Then I'll turn him off and put on Obzen.

[@Futmasaji]

The interviewer is definitely NOT Al Madrigal, right?

[@kurukq]

The Josh Brolin of drums... I really only say that cuz I feel like they could be brothers.

[@Aguywithsticks]

this is content omg

[@smokejc]

I wouldn't say Bleed is necessarily the song everyone is always expecting them to play. Maybe Rational Gaze.

[@TunnelJumper]

I think the more casual fans expect Bleed.. Whenever I tell other metalheads who gravitate towards different subgenres that I love Meshuggah, they all respond with "yoooo, that song Bleed!" *Cue Bill Burr impression* I try to not expect anything and just be pleasantly surprised--though still patiently waiting for the day they bring a modern, slightly slower Concatenation to the setlist (Misha Mansoor actually answered my prayers and released a cover of it yesterday).

[@smokejc]

@@TunnelJumper I love the remix of Concatenation.

[@KingCrimson82]

40:53 can someone please translate that? what is he eating?

[@-darrell]

Look up CO-Q10 softgels or gummies

[@KingCrimson82]

@@-darrell ok thanks