This past January, Meshuggah frontman Jens Kidman and drummer Tomas Haake took part in an online chat with fans and said that they have been working on a new album and fans could expect it in September or October of this year. This got me really excited, naturally. Yet today, that excitement was shattered. Guitarist Mårten Hagström was interviewed about the status of the record and here is what he had to say:
Let's start by asking what's happening in the life of Meshuggah
MH: Right now we are doing these summer festivals, about 12 or something and then we'll probably try to finish up an album. The next album is coming along and we're looking to finish it in the fall or winter and Nuclear Blast plans to release it in March, as that's the schedule.But what stage are you at right now? When I asked at Inferno there was one song ready.
MH: We could have been far by now if we really wanted to, but the rehearsing is taking a lot away from the writing process. What happens now is that we're still writing. We put down like one song with drum tracks and everything. We're doing it a bit differently now. Normally we are finishing off all the songs, get them together and record them. Now we are writing songs and whatever song gets finished first we record that one. So it could be spread out a little bit. That's why we only have one song recorded so far. When we get back from Italy, on Monday, we're gonna record a second song and then hopefully a week after we're gonna do a third song. We've got like…well, it's too early to tell cause we might just change things. Right now we got a lot of material. So it's a matter of getting it together, arranging it. It is a good plan, hopefully.Any surprises that I can ask about on the new album? Would you consider going into new instruments or so?
MH: Instruments wise we are not gonna go anywhere new, but, well, when we make an album we at least think that we try to do something that's not totally different, yet our sound with a different groove. This time, from what it feels right now, it's gonna be a little bit slower and a little bit groovier album. But that's just generally. I think that we will like this album better than the media.Is it the same writing process with Tomas writing lyrics and..
MH: Yea, this hasn't changed, yet. He still writes the lyrics. Musically, well, actually I don't know about this album, but usually, on previous albums, it's been divided between me and Fredrik and Tomas. Maybe Dick is going to have a song or two now, Jens as well. But it actually depends on what we decide to have on the album in the end. Right now everybody is writing and we are dividing as much writing as possible between us.
Ok, fine! So March…what's a few extra months anyway. You cannot rush brilliance, and the last thing I want to do is rush Meshuggah. During the interview, Marten also reveals that he is worker on a stoner side project that's "like Meshuggah but stoner." He also mentioned Fredrik is still working on his solo project, but that is a few years away from being released. Mmm, give us more Meshuggah!
