“Everyone came out absolutely bewildered” Meshuggah guitarist explains the audience reaction to the djent pioneers’ early shows
Ever wondered how it feels to have your brain completely rewired by music? Or what it’s like when rhythms shatter every rule you know? That’s typically what happens when you listen to Meshuggah for the first time. Though don’t worry, as the band’s former guitarist Per Nilsson reveals, you’re not alone in feeling “absolutely bewildered”.
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As the touring guitarist for Meshuggah during founding axeman Fredrik Thordendal’s 2017-2021 hiatus, Nilsson’s first encounter with the Swedish metal band came in 1994, when their groundbreaking sound left a lasting impression on him.
“I heard Meshuggah for the first time in ‘94. I went to one of their shows in my hometown, and we had only heard that it was supposed to be this incredible band from up north of Sweden,” Nilsson tells Guitar Summit [via Ultimate Guitar]. “So we just went to see them. And everyone came out absolutely bewildered.”
The Scar Symmetry founder also reveals how the relationships he built over the years ultimately led to his recruitment by the band.
“The only one I had ever met was Frederick, who I was subbing for, and it wasn’t even his decision to hire me, because he was like, ‘I’m gonna step out for a while, guys,’” Nilsson says. “They tried to scramble to find the right person, and they couldn’t think of anyone. But it so happened that I knew some of the people in their organisation.”
“Obviously, I didn’t know that they were looking for someone, but I’m friends with their guitar tech for a long time, and their manager used to work for Scar Symmetry a long time ago, and their monitor tech he was doing monitors for Scar Symmetry at a show, and he’s also guitar player.”
“See, he saw me play and liked what he heard. So, I already had three people in their organisation and all of them were like, ‘Hey guys, maybe you should check out this guy.’”
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Source: www.guitar-bass.net
