Riff Analysis 046 - Meshuggah "I Am That Thirst"

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Riff Analysis 046 - Meshuggah "I Am That Thirst"

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Күн бұрын

"MORE RIFFS THAN YOUR BODY HAS ROOM FOR"
- Jerome Burns
Warning: jank level approaches infinity in last riff
Seriously might have rapidly become one of my favorite Meshuggah riffs...
Richard Cohn's article: Cohn, Richard. 2001. “Complex Hemiolas, Ski-Hill Graphs and Metric Spaces.” Music Analysis 20 (3): 295-326.
That Soul Glo interview: www.brooklynve...
My video about hidden tacti: • Metal Tropes 2 - Hidde...
My Meshuggah intro video: • Introduction to Meshug...
Patreon, where you can support the channel, get exclusive videos, your name in the credits, all the diagrams I make for these, and input for my rapid fire riff videos: www.patreon.com/metalmusictheory
My music: www.bandcamp.com/floridekstasis
My website, which has all my videos and academic work nicely organized: www.calderhannan.com

Пікірлер: 140

@metalmusictheory5401 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you to the illustrious Guy Capuzzo for pointing out that my quick note about 046 pc sets and octatonic collections is confusing; 046 sets are abstract subsets of octatonic collections, contrary to what my note implies.

@lucasbet2639 2 жыл бұрын

This channel deserves at least 100x more following as it is the most complete, realiable and educational channels about extreme metal in general.

@CartoonKidOLLY 2 жыл бұрын

Yes I couldn't agree more

@gunshow86de 2 жыл бұрын

This channel definitely throws ass.

@Breakbeat90s 2 жыл бұрын

Guitarists are not good at theory in general, no offense but metalheads are probably the bottom of the barrel so... no wonders

@CartoonKidOLLY 2 жыл бұрын

@@Breakbeat90s that is so not true...hahahahaha. where did you get that idea from???

@Breakbeat90s 2 жыл бұрын

@@CartoonKidOLLY Just ask a guitarist what the third of a G minor chord is

@kellanstec 2 жыл бұрын

I like both the weird black/death and Meshuggah. Carry on!

@zombiecandy570 2 жыл бұрын

Same here! Keep it up!

@franlovelsimic8421 2 жыл бұрын

same!

@metalmusictheory5401 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you so much!

@AidanMmusic96 2 жыл бұрын

I love that Meshuggah have pushed their own boundaries by disguising the tactus in this way - more heavy lifting for the listener! Broken Cog gives me a headache too.

@drewbairdummel 2 жыл бұрын

It refuses to stop slapping

@sagittila 2 жыл бұрын

I dig your channel! My personal favorite moment of Meshuggah juxtaposing dotted notes with triplets is in the 7/4 bridge of “Future Breed Machine” where: the first time through the rhythm is 3 Quarter Note Triplets, Half Note, 3QN3’s, Quarter Note; then the second time through it changes to 4 Dotted Eighths (aka Quarter Note Quadruplets), Quarter Note, 4 Dotted Eighths. This makes the riff feel like it’s slowing down - which it IS rhythmically speaking, but not tempo-wise. It’s so grindy and it RULES

@metalmusictheory5401 2 жыл бұрын

Oh yeah nice catch! That section is so good, so straightforward but subtly trippy enough that it could only be Meshuggah

@h.p.dominocus 2 жыл бұрын

14:39 lol. That was me, nonstop after I heard this song the first few times. I literally couldn't stop thinking about this outro section for days.

@L01c69 2 жыл бұрын

The best outro ever.

@franlovelsimic8421 2 жыл бұрын

I describe the outro riff mayhem like aggressive falling down the stairs hahaha. It's like the song is barely holding together at times and I absolutely love bands that can do that, Shuggah of course being one of the best at it. Great video as always and very happy with Immutable thus far! Ligature Marks, Phantoms, this slapper, Kaleidoscope, The Faultless, God He Sees In Mirrors, Army Of The Preposterous... so many essential-feeling songs, crazy.

@metalmusictheory5401 2 жыл бұрын

A classic!

@EdenPorterMusic 2 жыл бұрын

thank you for enunciating the riff yourself around 7:30 lmao, i feel so represented

@kirbypufocia 2 жыл бұрын

ahahaha came here to say this, it helps me keep track of their rhythms

@gauterosvold324 2 жыл бұрын

That’s your best outro music yet

@joseph-zoramcbride4029 2 жыл бұрын

Haven't seen any other of these but that outro makes me grin and chuckle every time, ... and join in. New album is a masterpiece of course!

@Meshuggapeth 2 жыл бұрын

I had little trouble feeling the hidden tactus throughout That Thirst, but that’s because Meshuggah has totally rewired my brain over the last couple decades. Great video!

@milkwalkerjones633 2 жыл бұрын

With a lot of their tunes with hidden tactus you can actually fish it out of the vocal line. Not so for Thirst. It’s really a brain melter.

@Meshuggapeth 2 жыл бұрын

@@milkwalkerjones633 I can understand why my rhythmically un-gifted metalhead friends dislike the Shugg. They can’t latch onto anything; to them, it sounds like chaos, but for me it’s the order rather than chaos that draws me in

@777malkavian 2 жыл бұрын

Still more approachable than Car Bomb

@hecksnek6158 2 жыл бұрын

I'm mostly here to learn about strange rhythmic techniques, learning about metal music is mostly a bonus.

@miseklukov7236 2 жыл бұрын

Yeah, that last part blew my mind when I heard it first time

@TheDrifteffect 2 ай бұрын

This is one of my favourite Meshuggah songs! And not in small part due to that outro ... It's really the icing on an already really tasty cake! Love your channel BTW. Especially all the work you've put into the meshuggah analysis!

@Randallr94 2 жыл бұрын

when he started scatting in the outro... I felt that

@miseklukov7236 2 жыл бұрын

Just heard the album. @Metal Music Theory, you're gonna have your hands full, cos this album is a fucking MASTERPIECE

@davidanselgruber2312 2 жыл бұрын

Wow. just wow. I'm a drummer and I love the rolling beat from that song but I just couldn't wrap my head around the end part, which you explained so very well. You are a very intelligent person! Thank you for doing this! peace

@metalmusictheory5401 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you so much!

@stephen6691 2 жыл бұрын

I agree, one of Meshuggah's evilest tracks. I love it so much.

@claudiasolomon1123 2 жыл бұрын

I like Black Metal & Meshuggah. you cannot disappoint me.

@ZaKKsQuaTcH1 Жыл бұрын

Maybe I'm biased, but I love anyone who can argue the intricacies and more advanced theoretical elements of metal when I lack the jargon. I'm a guitarist and musician general of 15+ years, but lack the academic background to label elements of rhythmically sophisticated metal tracks. Thank you for helping me attach words to the concepts and moments I've been struggling with and motivating me to continue learning.

@Ch3k0v 8 ай бұрын

The "throwing a**" comment is so accurate😂. Almost 100% of the time I dance to Meshuggah I'm swaying my hips and gently bobbing my head.

@deadSalesman_GD 2 жыл бұрын

A triplet quarter compared to a dotted quarter is the same rhythmic ratio as a triplet quarter nested inside a triplet quarter. A quarter note is 2/3rds of a dotted quarter and a triplet quarter is 2/3rds of a quarter so a triplet quarter is 2/3rds of 2/3rds of a dotted quarter. A nested triplet is 2/3rds of a triplet which we’ve already determined is 2/3rds of a quarter so again 2/3rds of 2/3rd.

@BlackFriday242 2 жыл бұрын

Waiting for the Colors 2 breakdown video ;)

@metalmusictheory5401 2 жыл бұрын

All in good time1

@kumquatmagoo Жыл бұрын

I just put down the guitar after sitting and figuring out most of the song, and good god is it satisfying once you get it. Great vid, and great outro - I can't help but sing the weird bits to myself either 👌👌

@meters_and_madness 9 ай бұрын

Metal Music Theory: "So, there are six rotations through the static and variable parts, with the variable parts growing longer each time (except on the 5th!)" Meshuggah: "We're just like.. hangin out n' stuff and ya know.. playin some rock N roll man" I love how little they actually address the details of their music publicly (structure/concept/rhythmic shapes & geometric riffs/etc), constantly downplay their abilities, and de-emphasize the technically mind-melting nature of their music. Also, I'm going to see them on Saturday and I could not be more stoked \m/

@OurFreeReflections 2 жыл бұрын

I LIKE BOTH - KEEP GOING WITH BOTH! LETS GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

@peepeepoopoo3324 2 жыл бұрын

I love your channel so fucking much man. Metal Music Theory is so hard to find and you cover it so well.

@robbledot7290 2 жыл бұрын

Dude I have been listening to this song all day transfixed. Crazy fucking coincidence.

@fromthesky1050 2 жыл бұрын

One day away from listening to a ten minute instrumental song by Meshuggah \m/

@josephbuscarino8264 Жыл бұрын

Very impressive video! Love this Meshuggah album, the best since Koloss imo 🤘🏻

@FreepowerUG 2 жыл бұрын

Tremendous stuff! I totally understand getting whomped with something you have to go dig into and make a video on, that gets me about once a year 😅

@midnightcrisis7710 2 жыл бұрын

Good sir plz upload again

@FreepowerUG 2 жыл бұрын

@@midnightcrisis7710 I am really looking forward to it but day job and Elden Ring have eaten all my time. I promise there will be more, but not when it will happen.

@mikes7707 Жыл бұрын

Thanks for this! It’s my first time seeing your channel. Great work

@Frozmoh 2 жыл бұрын

Fucking amazing walktrough. I just played it and never thinking about whats happening.

@joshsteffen 2 жыл бұрын

Dude, you're just great! I appreciate your hard work

@jail2634 2 жыл бұрын

Cool to see you here Josh😎☝🏻

@matthewpowell2527 2 жыл бұрын

Meshuggah fan here: this is sick

@yeptoo1148 2 жыл бұрын

I am mostly a modern, free jazz fan. But love Meshuggah, Dream theater and Death. The New album Immutable is great especially the First half until after the instrumental "THEY MOVE BELOW".

@yeptoo1148 4 ай бұрын

@baiseduezcke2295 do you know the masterpiece by Cynic "Focus".

@ckokomo808 Жыл бұрын

Good thing I’m a fan of both! Thanks for the video!

@Gabobow 2 жыл бұрын

Dude you're the only one that could shine some light on their first releases, Contradictions Collapse is so underrated and has a lot of completely fucked up riffs. Same thing goes for None and Destroy Erase Improve even though they're more groove oriented ofc

@joseph-zoramcbride4029 2 жыл бұрын

Only thing that keeps me from contradictions is the vox, which isn't fair, they're good they're just a little raw. But meshuggah ain't released a bad album. Totally agree on destroy and none, under-appreciated. Beneath, for instance, is fucking awesome. Talk about rhythmic complexity, some crazy stuff going on in that one.

@Bo-lq5jf 2 жыл бұрын

You mentioned Parrhesia, now I'm hyped. Fuck

@rajeshhkkapoor8549 2 жыл бұрын

Meshuggah for life Meshuggah is life And u sir, r a blessing in disguise... For doing meshuggah...

@brianmurphy7561 Жыл бұрын

Appreciate the After The burial reference 7:10

@supermot34 2 жыл бұрын

I love Meshuggah and I also love black and death metal as well (but Meshuggah are the ultimate kings of metal)!

@Suped_BIGRIG_350mph 2 жыл бұрын

New Soul Glo rules. Have you listened to the debut Aeviterne record? It’s so insanely good. Members of Artificial Brain/Fawn Limbs, Flourishing, and Castevet.

@metalmusictheory5401 2 жыл бұрын

Been meaning to check it out, thanks for the reminder! I remember being psyched about their EP a few years ago

@troublesome07 2 жыл бұрын

Throw dat ass baby! You're the man for these videos. I don't REALLY understand, but i SORT of understand. Mostly I listen to this while powerlifting.

@terbo2000 2 жыл бұрын

I was the second type of fan and now I'm both...

@byzantinephilosopher Жыл бұрын

Seriously amazing content. I love it.

@UnexpectedAmy 2 жыл бұрын

Yesssss!!! This is all so beautiful! So happy these vids are starting to get the recognition they deserve!!

@manuelmoreira8575 2 жыл бұрын

Another banger video and performance!

@ashkonkoucheki613 2 жыл бұрын

Did I listen to the outro headbaning? Yes, yes I did.

@drewbairdummel 2 жыл бұрын

I am a part of the Meshuggah crowd.

@BlastBeatsFTW 2 жыл бұрын

Great video bro

@Frozmoh 2 жыл бұрын

You need more appreciation!!!

@Djent_Djenerator 2 жыл бұрын

goated intro

@benpatterson9249 Жыл бұрын

I've watched this a few times now. That last riff of "Thirst" really grabbed me, so I'm glad you did such a good job of explaining how it's put together. I find visual representations using shapes much easier to follow than traditional notation, although I can and do use both. Do you have tabs up somewhere?

@nicbelzile1756 2 жыл бұрын

As a 51-year old prog metalhead I really enjoy your videos. GREAT work! Which software do you use to produce your tabs? Thanks

@metalmusictheory5401 2 жыл бұрын

Did these in Dorico, though I also use Guitar Pro a lot!

@who_we_are______5926 2 жыл бұрын

Sick ass guitar man, loved the album!

@brennaaaahhhhhhhhhhh 2 жыл бұрын

This might be a bit too ridiculous of a request as the process for this band is very bizarre. But would love if you could analyze an Encenathrakh song, something from their album Thraakethraaeate Thraithraake. I believe how the album was made was that they totally improvised all elements, kept only the improvised drums and vocals, then through composed the guitars to fit with the improvised drum track.

@ronbent 2 жыл бұрын

Representing out there black metal people in the land of the meshuggah

@drumkidstu 2 жыл бұрын

The Autechre and Squarepusher influences just leaking their way everywhere into meshuggah's music!

@hecksnek6158 2 жыл бұрын

Can't wait until their next album is entirely procedurally generated max/msp djent with glitch percussion.

@robjoyner1167 2 жыл бұрын

AAL fan spotted

@CH-ml4rz 2 жыл бұрын

@@hecksnek6158 you won’t believe this kzfaq.info/get/bejne/edemoLifrJiZlHU.html

@drumkidstu 2 жыл бұрын

@@robjoyner1167 of course! 90's and early 2000's electronic music is a big influence on modern metal. And one honestly that not enough people know about. With AAL it's very obvious, but in Meshuggah and bands like car bomb it hides under the surface but it's there. In like every interview they do of Märten Hagström they ask him what he listens to and he says Squarepusher or Autechre and the interviewer is always like "interesting" or something along those lines and never digs deeper.

@drumkidstu 2 жыл бұрын

@@hecksnek6158 I'm down! There's like a 10 minute neural net video here on KZfaq where they had an AI listen to the Nothing record and then try to reconstruct it. There's a part in there where it plays rational gaze and it's so fucked up lmao

@KadeKalka 2 жыл бұрын

Wow

@devendasmusic 2 ай бұрын

Immutable is 2 years old now wtf

@robjoyner1167 2 жыл бұрын

You're a genius, man. Honestly, the mix of this album is so bad that you playing made me realize that this riff is pretty cool.

@moonboogien8908 2 жыл бұрын

This whole album slappppps.... Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa@t

@trialbyicecream 2 жыл бұрын

Yet again a passing mention of new music ends in me Adding more music from bands I’ve never heard of to my playlist. What’s the deal with soul glo? What a weird mixture!

@l0rd_breeigo-sama954 2 жыл бұрын

I definatly feel like “i am that thirst” was recieved badly by the fans, honestly probably my favorite of the ones releasen so far. But the full thing is tomorrow so it Will probably change

@jeremyfoot4264 2 жыл бұрын

There are many Meshuggah tracks that took time to grow on me so I could enjoy them more. "i am That Thirst" so far has note been my jam. For context, I was kind of into The Abysmal Eye when I first heard it, was totally into Light The Shortening Fuse at first listen and by then was totally into The Abysmal Eye. But "I am That Thirst" so far is just not doing it that much for me. I'm enjoying it more now than when I first listened to it. But overall, even though I listened to it over 10 times now it's quite forgettable at least for me and right now. I feel as if there's something missing during the entirety of the track. That said, it's still a thousand times better than most metal/rock songs I've been hearing recently.

@l0rd_breeigo-sama954 2 жыл бұрын

@@jeremyfoot4264 for me when the second part hits, i remember it clearly and for me light the shortening fuse is the forgettable one. But everyone has their tastes about what strikes them, also feel like this song is one of Jens Kidmans best peformances, love the vocals in I Am That Thirst

@TheSquareOnes 2 жыл бұрын

Was it? This was immediately one of my favorite songs they've done in a long time and while I'm trying to keep hopes realistic this seems like it might be one of their best albums just based on the two tracks I've heard so far. I'm so out of the loop I wouldn't even begin to know where to look to get a general sense of how "the fans" feel about anything these days though, but when the music is this good does it matter either way?

@l0rd_breeigo-sama954 2 жыл бұрын

@@TheSquareOnes a lot of people on groups that werent 100% hype didnt like it very much, and a lot of reactions on youtube also Said that it was straight bad

@drewbairdummel 2 жыл бұрын

"A string of attacks with an oddly changing tempo"

@olfrud 2 жыл бұрын

I like both and I like you. Edit: and as a question: could it be, that maybe the meshuggah guys are maybe using konnakol and perhaps in that system it's easier to hear the tactus?

@metalmusictheory5401 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you! I get questions about konnakol a lot, and I think it's possible, though I think of konnakol less as a system and more as a flexible way of vocalizing rhythms-so I guess it could be used either way. You could use it to keep the background beat going (though I think the sixteenth notes would be too fast to actually say at the tempo of the recording), which would help hear that, or you could use it in the more general way of just naming rhythmic values or numbers or whatever you want, which wouldn't necessarily tell you much about the tactus?

@olfrud 2 жыл бұрын

@@metalmusictheory5401 hey, thanks for your answer! when I was writing the edit and after finishing it I had the thought that I probably misunderstood the concept of "tactus" anyway - and that it is probably kind of pointless to mix it up with konnakol. So I guess you're right! Thanks a lot for your content, I don't watch everything because some of the stuff you cover I'm just not familiar with, but overall I'm really happy that someone is covering extreme metal music in this way on this platform. I'm just a hobby musician and a nerd and I learn a lot from your videos (:

@TheApostleofRock Жыл бұрын

I think Meshuggah just wants those "it's just 4/4 and polymeters" people to shut up. These boys can throw ass and break the "formula" whenever they want to

@chrisgore8597 2 жыл бұрын

I don't understand the disconnect between liking black/death metal and liking meshuggah

@DreamPurpleFloyd 2 жыл бұрын

0:02 me when I stay hydrated

@Dogfood130 Жыл бұрын

tfw you are both types of fan

@metalmusictheory5401 Жыл бұрын

Relatable

@whitenoiseblackvoid148 2 жыл бұрын

What do you think about Kausis' Demo II ?

@jellosapiens7261 2 жыл бұрын

Is there any reason you don't put the sheet music in bass clef for such low guitar parts? It's basically illegible with so many ledger lines

@metalmusictheory5401 2 жыл бұрын

I guess just convention, and because I think most people use tabs when reading this stuff? If I'm making a nice-looking transcription I'll normally do treble clef two octaves down instead of bass clef for downtuned guitars

@keflexx 2 жыл бұрын

@vilhelmgarg6913 2 жыл бұрын

𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘰𝘴𝘮

@quantum_beeb 2 жыл бұрын

More carbomb

@metalmusictheory5401 2 жыл бұрын

Very soon!

@JTTTTT850 2 жыл бұрын

I just hate that they went back to 7 strings

@drumkidstu 2 жыл бұрын

They haven't. Every single requires 8 strings. The abysmal eye is all on the 8th string, they just don't go lower than the 3rd fret. On Light The Shortening Fuse, they use it sparingly as they do on this song. If anything they just are being tasteful with it.

@Blackerer 2 жыл бұрын

The song is very good, yes. Can I be in both groups of fans at the same time? :D 13:00 Yep, even the guitar behind you is throwing ass then :D.

@Ragnarockalypse 2 жыл бұрын

Mäskuggla

@MrMvidz 2 жыл бұрын

I think that this was perhaps a little bit too shallow for an analysis.. :D

@sawyeratkinson 2 жыл бұрын

I know this is going to be unpopular, but this album is by far their worst album. It's like they took some d.e.i. and chaosphere b sides and just gave them production. Was bored the whole time.