Meshuggah

Mavericks. Pioneers. Unique. Unchangeable. Meshuggah are the most inventive and creative metal band of the last 30 years and one of the most revered acts. The band was formed in 1987 in Umeå, Sweden of guitarist Fredrik Thordendal, frontman Jens Kidman and bassist Peter Nordin. The band's early incarnations took a hard look at the established rules of modern metal, distorting the essence of Bay-area thrash to suit their own purposes and incorporating countless seemingly disparate influences into the resulting brew. Signing to Nuclear Blast Records in the '90s, Meshuggah released their debut album, Contradictions Collapse, in 1991 to solid reviews but limited commercial impact.