Soundwave TV recently conducted an interview with MESHUGGAH drummer and lyricist Tomas Haake. In the interview Haak talked about the band's new album Koloss, the lyrical themes and how renegade writer Christopher Hitchens influenced him creatively. He also talks about the band's relationship with their Soundwave Festival co-stars and the future and origins of the band. Check it out below:

Meshuggah will release their eighth studio album, Koloss, on March 23rd in Europe, and on March 27th in North America, via Nuclear Blast Records.

Scion A/V has partnered with Meshuggah to bring fans an exclusive digital music download, limited edition 7”, behind-the-scenes footage from their upcoming North American tour, and a concert ticket giveaway. The track, 'I Am Colossus', is available to download now for free at this location.

Drummer Tomas Haake comments on the opening track: “‘I Am Colossus’ is way more straightforward than the thrash metal we grew up with. At the same time, it does pose its own difficulties for us as players. It will probably be one of the first songs we attempt to play on tour. The solo - which is basically two long notes that are slow bends - just turned out beautiful. Such an understatement as a guitar solo. Sometimes a slow song is just as aggressive as a fast one.”

A limited edition 7” will be available in black, clear, yellow, and white vinyl, and given away for free on Meshuggah's upcoming tour, courtesy of Scion A/V.

Koloss will be released as a CD digi, limited edition Magic Cube (CD digi plus DVD, exclusive to Nuclear Blast mail order) and two-LP brown vinyl. The album artwork can be seen below:

Koloss tracklisting:

'I Am Colossus'

'The Demon’s Name Is Surveillance'

'Do Not Look Down'

'Behind The Sun'

'The Hurt That Finds You First'

'Marrow'

'Break Those Bones Whose Sinews Gave It Motion'

'Swarm'

'Demiurge'

'The Last Vigil'

Audio samples for all tracks on the album can now be heard at Amazon.co.uk

Check out an album trailer below:

Meshuggah will be taking their sonic arsenal on the road and detonating sound systems in cities across the US and Canada on The Ophidian Trek tour, which launches on April 29th in Houston. Direct support for all 19 shows will come from BARONESS; opening each night will be special guests and label mates DECAPITATED from Poland.

Tour dates include:

April

29 - House of Blues - Houston, TX
30 - House of Blues - Dallas, TX

May

1 - Emo’s - Austin, TX
3 - Marquee Theatre - Tempe, AZ
4 - House of Blues - Anaheim, CA
5 - House of Blues - Hollywood, CA
6 - The Fillmore - San Francisco, CA
8 - Commodore Ballroom - Vancouver, BC
9 - Showbox Sodo - Seattle, WA
11 - Odgen Theatre - Denver, CO
13 - First Avenue - Minneapolis, MN
15 - House of Blues - Chicago, IL
16 - St. Andrews Hall - Detroit, MI
17 - Sound Academy - Toronto, ON
18 - Theatre of the Living Arts - Philadelphia, PA
19 - Palladium - Worcester, MA
20 - Olympia de Montreal - Montreal, QC
22 - The Fillmore - Silver Springs, MD
23 - Terminal 5 – New York, NY

For more info visit the band on Facebook.