Nov 30, 20232 min read

Shots From The Road: Meshuggah in Sacramento

The prog legends brought a masterclass to this second leg of their North American Tour with In Flames.

meshuggah tour, meshuggah, prog. — Photograph by Katie Lewellyn

Text, Photos by Katie Lewellyn (@katielewellyn.photo) at

Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Sacramento, CA on November 22, 2023:

It should be criminal to have acts of the headlining caliber of Meshuggah, In Flames, and Whitechapel on one touring bill together, but hey, who's complaining? Led by the Swedish prog legends, this hard-hitting trio came down to the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Sacramento, CA for a night of death metal in its own league.

With the roar of Whitechapel's Phil Bozeman, the night kicked off astoundingly and crowds began to move along with the band's trailblazing deathcore. Selections from Kin (2021) and The Valley (2019) shined bright and reverbereated well throughout the arena, setting a strong tone early on that was expanded upon by Sweden's own In Flames.

Melodies and solos soared high from a razor sharp Chris Broderick-led guitar ensemble while Anders Fridén spearheaded the varied set with ease. Stupifying lights loomed over a packed Hard Rock Hotel that was brimming with energy and anticipation. From here came Meshuggah — godlike in every way.

Lighting director Edvard Hansson excelled once more with a visual display as towering as the band's grandeur. Blood red and white strobes were foundational to the spectacle that frontman Jens Kidman led throughout, shrouding the band in darkness amidst flickering beams programmed to match the tempo of the battering Broken Cog. Trying to capture the band within those brief moments where light shined on their talents enough to provide a clear subject was difficult at times, but fun nonetheless, making this one rewarding experience.

In short, the Meshuggah live experience is unlike no other. Whether it be the perplexing drumming of Tomas Haake or the elite skill of guitarist Fredrik Thordendal, there was no shortage of mastery on display as the band traversed from Immutable and Catch Thirtythree (2005) to obZen and everything in between. If we've learned one thing from seeing Meshuggah another time around, it's that Immutable still hits as hard as it did the first time and will continue to do so for as long as the new offerings are presented on the setlist. Bleed, Demiurge, Electric Red, Perpetual Black Second and more fan favorites hit the stage for one massive performance we'd like to relive yet again. Until then, the below photo galleries will do. Lose yourself in the shots and check out remaining tour dates.