The first time I ever heard Meshuggah, the Umea, Sweden-based metal band that would change my sonic comprehension was when I downloaded the song “Future Breed Machine” from their 1996 Destroy Erase Improve album and “Corridor of Chameleons” from their 1998 Chaosphere album in my junior year of high school 24 years ago. During that time period I was on a mission to expand my horizons and find metal bands outside my usual purview of Metallica, Pantera, Godsmack, System of a Down and Static-X.
When I first heard the aforementioned “Future Breed Machine” and “Corridor of Chameleons” I didn’t really know what to think. I knew I was listening to metal that was well-crafted, complex, full of energy and unlike pretty much anything I’d listened to before. Years later, I’d learn that Meshuggah was djent metal, a form of metal they themselves had pioneered — but at the time, I didn’t even know what djent metal was; I don’t think the term had even been coined yet in the year 1999. For whatever reason, I didn’t listen to Meshuggah again for a few months — something just wasn’t clicking with me. The distinctive sounds of their instruments, vox and the overall ambiance of their music remained etched in my mind however; I played them intermittently, over and over again, over the months and years until I’d added nearly their whole catalogue into my listening rotation. In 2002, Meshuggah released the Nothing album and the odd time signatures, groove-laden, syncopated songs reached their apex for me. The song “Glints Collide” and “Black Perpetual Second” in particular had me mesmerized. That’s when Meshuggah, the pioneering djent metal band, became perhaps my favorite metal band of all-time alongside Metallica.
You might be asking yourself however, what is djent metal exactly? What categorizes a band as djent metal? What does djent mean?
Behold the answers to those very questions in MusicHyped’s guide to djent music.
What is djent music?
Djent is a subgenre of progressive metal characterized by its heavy, syncopated, and rhythmic sound, particularly the use of palm-muted, staccato guitar riffs. The term “djent” is often associated with the distinctive, percussive “djent” sound made by the guitar when playing these riffs. This sound is usually achieved with down-tuned guitars, heavy distortion, and a tight, rhythmic playing style.
The style emerged in the early 2000s, with bands like Meshuggah in particular often cited as key influences. The genre is known for its complex time signatures, polyrhythms, and intricate song structures, blending elements of metal, progressive rock, and math rock.
What are syncopated sound in music?
Syncopated riffs in music refer to a rhythmic pattern where the emphasis or accent is placed on a normally weak or off-beat, creating a sense of surprise or displacement. In simple terms, syncopation occurs when the expected rhythm is disrupted, often by stressing beats or parts of beats that are not typically accented.
What categorizes a rock or metal band as djent music?
A band is generally characterized as a djent metal band based on several key musical and stylistic elements that align with the genre’s distinct sound. Here are the main characteristics that define a djent band:
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1. Syncopated, Palm-Muted Guitar Riffs
- One of the most defining features of djent is the rhythmic guitar sound, particularly the palm-muted, chugging riffs. The guitarists use heavy down-tuning (often to drop tunings or low 7-string guitars) and mute the strings with the palm of their hand while playing fast, percussive patterns. This creates the “djent” sound, a sharp, staccato, and highly rhythmic tone.
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2. Complex, Polyrhythmic Structures
- Djent often involves polyrhythms, where multiple rhythmic patterns are played simultaneously or layered over each other. The music may feature odd time signatures (e.g., 5/4, 7/8, 11/8) and complex, shifting rhythms, rather than the more conventional 4/4 time signature commonly used in other metal genres.
- This rhythmic complexity, often coupled with tightly coordinated drumming, is essential to the djent sound.
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3. Technical Precision and Complexity
- Djent bands emphasize technical proficiency and often showcase virtuoso musicianship. This includes highly intricate guitar riffs, fast and precise drumming (often with a focus on complex beats and polyrhythmic drumming patterns), and bass lines that complement the rhythm.
- Guitars may feature extended range instruments like 7 or 8-string guitars to achieve heavier and lower notes, adding to the dense and complex sound.
- 4. Progressive Song Structures
- Djent songs typically do not follow traditional verse-chorus patterns. Instead, they feature progressive structures with frequent changes in time signature, tempo, and dynamics. These changes can give the music a more fluid, unpredictable feeling.
- The songs may incorporate long instrumental sections, breaks, and dramatic shifts in intensity, often reflecting an experimental, non-commercial approach.
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5. Tone and Production
- The tone of djent bands is usually very tight and percussive, often achieved through heavy distortion and compression on the guitar. The drums are also treated to achieve a sharp, mechanical sound.
- Production values in djent albums often emphasize clarity and precision, sometimes with a polished, “digital” or modern aesthetic, to highlight the intricacies of the rhythm and technical elements.
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6. Influence from Meshuggah and Math Metal
- The genre is heavily influenced by the Swedish band Meshuggah, who are often considered the pioneers of the djent sound due to their use of complex, syncopated rhythms and downtuned guitars. Their aggressive yet technical style served as a model for many subsequent djent bands.
- Djent shares some common elements with math rock and math metal, which focus on irregular time signatures, complex rhythms, and precise, challenging compositions.
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7. Atmosphere and Aesthetics
- While not a universal rule, many djent bands incorporate a dark or atmospheric tone in their music. This can include ambient sections or moody, atmospheric synths to add contrast to the aggressive guitar riffs.
- The lyrics may also explore abstract, philosophical, or technical themes, often aligning with the band’s complex, cerebral musical approach.
What is the origin of the term “djent”?
The term “djent” was coined from the onomatopoeic description of this guitar tone, which is produced by rapidly muting the strings with the palm of the hand while striking them with a pick. This creates a tight, chugging, and “chunky” sound.
It was first coined by Misha Mansoor of Periphery, one of the bands associated with the rise of the djent movement. Misha used the term “djent” in online posts to describe the specific tone and style of guitar playing. The term quickly gained popularity within the community, and soon, the genre itself was being referred to as “djent”.
Other djent metal bands
While Meshuggah laid the groundwork, other bands began to refine and expand the sound in the mid-2000s. Notable bands that helped develop the djent subgenre include:
- Periphery (who helped popularize the term “djent” and blended it with melodic elements)
- TesseracT (known for their more atmospheric, clean vocal-driven approach to djent)
- Animals as Leaders (an instrumental band with a focus on virtuosic guitar work and complex rhythms)
- Monuments, Vildhjarta, and Born of Osiris (who further explored the heavy, polyrhythmic aspects of djent)
Did this article adequately answer the question of what is djent music for you? Where do you rank djent metal in your favorite subgenres of metal? Let us know in the comments.
Portions of this article were made with the assistance of AI Chatbot in cohesion with a human editor.
