Hornet Staff interviews Meshuggah Drummer Tomas Haake

Joseph: How would you describe your sound?

Tomas: its hard to say, were a hard, and aggressive metal band you know. We use different musical patterns throughout our music. I guess this is what gives us that unique style of playing.

Joseph: how do you feel about big name band like Metallica, and Tool, coming out and referencing you guys as their inspiration?

Tomas: It's a cool thing, but we as a band try to stay as far away from sounding like anyone else, that's what makes us unique. But it's ok if bands use us as inspiration.

Joseph: so how did you come up with your unique style of playing drums?

Tomas: I didn't develop that type of drumming so much as the other one developing that drumming for me. You know what I mean? We started using drum machines, and programming stuff early on in the writing. Everyone in the band has been good at that, and knowing what they want out of the drums. That type of playing was what we always wanted out of the music and riffs; you know that rhythm elastic sound. That is what made my drumming into what it is today, it not so much as my drumming influencing the music but the music making my drumming into what it is. I'm a product of the music we write because this is what we want. I didn't really have my own style, I played metal and some odd timed stuff but not this type of cyclical patterns that we use now. As the years went by that sound became what the band is. I emulate what people program on the computer.

Joseph: what's next for you guys?

Tomas: well have a Live DVD probably late spring, early fall. As far as new stuff, we haven't started recording anything yet. We have a few things that didn't end up on Obzen, just a few parts that we want to use on the next album. It's all in the vain of what we do. I'm kind of pumped to start recording again, hopefully by the fall we will start recording with the album being released later in 2010

Joseph: What was you're album of the year?

Tomas: Umm... To be honest I haven't listened to much, because for the first half of the year we were practicing for Obzen, since the Ministry tour we've been working non-stop. So I really didn't get into a lot of new music last year. When we have time off that's when I listen to newer stuff. But when I'm on the road I don't listen to anything because were on the road all day long, then you play the show, and by that time I'm beat so all I want to do is relax and watch a movie or something.

Joseph: What's your opinion on games like Guitar hero, and Rock Band?

Tomas: I don't really play myself. But we had guitar hero on one of the European tours we had last summer. But I really like the idea and its cool. But when you don't play it yourself it can drive you nuts after awhile. All I wanted to do is break the whole unit and throw it out the window, and you tell people when you're trying to sleep yourself and some people are up until five in the morning and they turn the volume down but you still hear the clicking of the guitar over and over and over. It's a real cool idea though; I wish we were on the game.

Joseph: So how is the rest of your tour going to go?

Tomas: We do a few California dates, and then we go to Portland, Seattle, Vancouver, and head east from there. Due to the economy we won't be hitting the south at all. The promoters down there can't give much money for the shows, it's hard because we want to please the fans but we also need to get paid and can't lose money. We keep the tours shorter because of Marten and Fredric having their family's. But this is the first night, and during the sound check we felt weird and like we haven't rehearsed for months. So we'll see how it goes tonight, Every one is beat and jet lag is setting in. We're also using loaner equipment which takes forever to set up.

Joseph: What's up with the faceless not being here tonight.

Tomas: I'm not entirely sure, but I think they were on tour with Machine Head, and something happened with either the band or the crowd but the House of Blues banned them from this place. [laughs] Its all good you know, all in the name of metal.

Thanks