Tomas Haake

Tomas Haake
Haake in 2023
Haake in 2023
Background information
Born (1971-07-13) 13 July 1971 (age 53)
Örnsköldsvik, Sweden
GenresProgressive metal, extreme metal, djent, avant-garde metal, groove metal, thrash metal
OccupationDrummer
Years active1987–present
LabelsNuclear Blast

Tomas Nils Haake[1] (born 13 July 1971) is a Swedish musician known for being the drummer of the extreme metal band Meshuggah.

Known for his polymeters and technical ability,[2] Haake was named the fifth best "Modern Metal" drummer by MetalSucks.net in 2012.[3] In the July 2008 edition of Modern Drummer magazine, Haake was named the number one drummer in the "Metal" category, as decided upon in the magazine's Readers' Poll.[4] He was also included in 100 Greatest Drummers of All Time list by the Rolling Stone magazine (occupying the 93rd position).[5]

Career

Haake writes the majority of Meshuggah lyrics and also contributes spoken vocals on several songs ("Choirs of Devastation" on the album Contradictions Collapse, "Inside What's Within Behind", "Suffer in Truth", and "Sublevels" on the album Destroy Erase Improve, "Sane", "The Exquisite Machinery of Torture" on the album Chaosphere, "Spasm" on the album Nothing, as well as on several tracks on the album Catch Thirtythree and on the song "Dancers to a Discordant System" from obZen).

Haake also provides spoken vocals on Meshuggah guitarist Fredrik Thordendal's solo album Sol Niger Within and vocals on the song "Futile Bread Machine (Campfire Version)" from The True Human Design.

Influences

Haake has cited musicians from heavy metal, jazz fusion and progressive rock as influences. He cites English bands such as Iron Maiden and Black Sabbath, American bands such as Metallica, Slayer, Megadeth, Anthrax, Testament and Metal Church, and Canadian band Rush.[2] His favourite drummers include Phil Rudd (AC/DC), Bill Ward (Black Sabbath), Vinnie Appice, Lars Ulrich (Metallica), Dave Weckl, Sebastian Thomson (Trans AM),[6] Sean Reinert (Cynic),[7] Neil Peart (Rush), Ian Mosley (Marillion), Terry Bozzio (Missing Persons and Frank Zappa), Vinnie Colaiuta and Gary Husband.[2]

Personal life

Haake is married to actress/musician Jessica Pimentel, beginning their romantic relationship in 2013.[8]

Equipment

Haakes' 2016 drumkit
Haakes' 2022 drumkit
  • Drums – Sonor SQ2 Series[9]
    • 14x14" Tom
    • 16x15" Floor Tom
    • 18x18" Floor Tom
    • 22x18" Bass Drum (2x)
    • 14x6" Sonor Artists Bronze Series Snare with Tama Power Hoops
  • Cymbals – Sabian[9]
    • 14" HHX Compression Hi-Hats
    • 19" AAXtreme Chinese
    • 19" HHX Stage Crash
    • 21" HHX Stage Crash
    • 20" HHX Stage Crash
    • 19" Paragon Chinese/15" HH thin Crash (stacked)
    • 15" HHX Stage Hats
    • 22" Legacy Ride (as crash)
    • 21" AAXtreme Chinese
  • Drum heads – Remo[9]
    • Toms: (12", 14", 15", 18") Coated Emperors, Ebony Ambassadors – bottom
    • Bass drums: (22") Powerstroke 3 Coated – batter, PowerStroke 3 Ebony – front
    • Snare: (14") Emperor X – top, Snare Side Hazy – bottom
  • Hardware – Sonor, Pearl, Porter & Davies[9]
    • Tama Speed Cobra single Pedal (2x)
    • Porter & Davies BC2 w/backrest
  • Sticks – Wincent Tomas Haake Signature Drumsticks[9]

Discography

Meshuggah

For a more comprehensive list, see Meshuggah discography.

References

  1. ^ "ARMIES OF THE PREPOSTEROUS". ASCAP. American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. Retrieved 17 November 2023.
  2. ^ a b c Hill, Gemma. "Interview with Tomas Haake". mikedolbear.com. Archived from the original on 20 August 2013. Retrieved 7 August 2014.
  3. ^ "Top 25 Modern Metal Drummers". MetalSucks. 26 March 2012.
  4. ^ "Tomas Haake". Drummerworld. Retrieved 30 July 2008.
  5. ^ "100 Greatest Drummers of All Time". Rolling Stone. 31 March 2016.
  6. ^ "Louder Sound – Meshuggah's Tomas Haake: The Drummers That Changed My Life". 30 October 2016.
  7. ^ 1995 Interview with Tomas Haake of Meshuggah Archived 25 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine
  8. ^ Hartmann, Graham. "Meshuggah's Tomas Haake + OITNB's Jessica Pimentel Talk Relationship". Loudwire.
  9. ^ a b c d e "Tomas Haake - M e S H U G G a H - T h e . O f f i c i a l . W e b s i t E". Archived from the original on 26 June 2015. Retrieved 25 June 2015.
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