Institute for the Study of Culture (IKV) U. of Southern Denmark (SDU) Campusvej 55, Odense

Seminar Series Topics in the Aesthetics of Music and Sound

Thursday, March 3, 2016 3:15-5 p.m. in U66

Available online at https://c.deic.dk/p9kwehb2rdj/; password = “music” “So Complete in Beautiful Deformity:” Hearing the Rhythms of Meshuggah’s obZen

Olivia Lucas is a doctoral candidate in music theory at Harvard University. Her PhD research explores three avenues for analyzing extreme metal music: loudness, rhythm and environment. Her work appears in the Journal of Sonic Studies, the volume Modern Heavy Metal: Markets, Practices and Cultures, and has been presented at conferences in the US, UK and Europe. Via Adobe Connect.

Abstract: This talk uses the rhythmic complexity found in the music of Swedish death metal band Meshuggah as a pathway to discussing broader issues in extreme metal analysis. Meshuggah’s music is known for combining a rigid 4/4-based song structure with looping riffs in a variety of meters. Some riffs, however, further complicate this structure by seeming to begin in media res, resulting in rhythmic patterns that can only be heard to cohere retrospectively and with repetition. Focusing on songs from the 2008 album obZen, my analysis moves between conventional transcriptions and spectrograms, with an eye (and ear) toward questioning what each can tell us about musical events. In addition to opening up a revealing perspective on rhythmic structures, spectrograms assist in making this presentation inclusive to those unfamiliar with musical notation and formal music theory. This process shows how music theory and extreme metal can work together, as music theory assists in untangling the rhythmic complexities of music like Meshuggah’s, while extreme music helps critique some of music theory’s assumptions about temporality. All are welcome – also via Adobe Connect Adobe Connect Meeting Room = https://c.deic.dk/extrememusic Password = ”music” Sign-up is not required, but is appreciated, please see https://www.facebook.com/groups/TheAestheticsofMusicandSound/events/