Tomas Haake

Tomas Haake is the Swedish drummer, globally renowned for his creativity and technicality within the extreme metal band Meshuggah since 1990. He is truly one of the great masters of Polyrhythms, serving as a super-powerful rhythmic engine for their progressive technical death metal style.

With Meshuggah, Haake redefined the boundaries of metal drumming and pioneered the Djent genre. His style is the epitome of complexity, making intensive use of shifting time signatures to create a unique sense of rhythmic disorientation and groove.

He is considered one of the most innovative and technically advanced drummers in modern music. His approach is characterized by his ability to maintain a solid, heavy groove while playing odd measures and complex layered rhythms, resulting in a feeling that is both mathematical and primal.

While Meshuggah’s guitars often deliver irregular and dissonant patterns, Haake maintains the backbone by overlaying drum patterns that intentionally create rhythmic illusions. His unrelenting kick drum work and absolute control over the double bass pedal are legendary for their surgical precision.

Albums like Chaosphere, obZen, and Catch Thirtythree serve as case studies in rhythmic innovation.

In addition to his drumming talents, Haake is a prolific lyricist for Meshuggah, with texts that delve into complex philosophical and existential themes. His influence extends well beyond the metal scene, inspiring musicians of all genres.