Fredrik Thordendal has returned to Meshuggah after a four-year absence from the band. Meshuggah have also confirmed they’ve returned to the studio, adding that Scar Symmetry’s Per Nilsson will no longer tour with the Swedish extremists.

Thordendal worked on a few projects during his absence from Meshuggah, including playing bass on Grant the Sun’s Sylvain EP and guitar on Jakub Zytecki’s Nothing Lasts, Nothing’s Lost. With Meshuggah’s ninth full-length album on the way, Thordendal his resumed his place on the axe, ready to give fans their first taste of new Meshuggah since 2016’s The Violent Sleep of Reason.

Meshuggah write:

Things are happening. As some of you figured out we have entered Sweetspot Studio and have begun recording a new album. *Spoiler* There will be distortion and kicks.

Also we have other news. We are releasing Per Nilsson back into the wild to roam free in any way he sees fit. It has been a true privilege and honor to share the stage with Per and even more importantly we have made a great friend through our travels. Per. We thank you. You are a formidable human being!!

So why are we releasing Per back into a more stable habitat you ask? The answer is simple. Fredrik will be back for lead work on the album as well as touring going forward. In other words. The Band is back together. In full effect.

Meshuggah have 2021 tour dates booked across Europe late in the year. Check out those gigs with openers Zeal & Ardor below.

Meshuggah 2021 European Tour Dates:

11/19 - Vienna, AUT – Arena
11/20 - Munich, GER – Tonhalle
11/22 - Lyon, FRA – Le Transbordeur
11/23 - Wiesbaden, GER – Schlachthof
11/25 - Tilburg, NET – 013
11/26 - Esch-sur-Alzette, LUX – Rockhal
11/27 - Lille, FRA – L’Aeronef
11/28 - Paris, FRA – L’Olympia
11/30 - MIlan, ITA – Alcataraz
12/01 - Zurich, SWI – Samsung Hall
12/02 - Leipzig, GER – Haus Auensee
12/03 - Oberhausen, GER – Ruhrpott Metal Meeting
12/05 - Bristol, UK – O2 Academy
12/06 - Glasgow, UK – Barrowlands
12/08 - Manchester, UK – Academy
12/09 - Nottingham, UK – Rock City
12/11 - Brussels, BEL – Ancienne Belgique
12/12 - Berlin, GER – Columbiahalle
12/13 - Hamburg, GER – Große Freiheit
03/06/22 - London, UK – Royal Albert Hall

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