Tomas Haake explaining the obZen artwork

after the interview and while signing my booklets Tomas (who is often responsible for of meshuggah's artwork) explains the concept behind the strange three-armed obZen cover figure!

[@tingkagol]

Am I the only one who did not know about the 666 thing with the hands?

[@nigelproctor]

@BiRDiEMusic It's somewhat biblically accurate actually, Rev 13:18 "This calls for wisdom: let the one who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man, and his number is 666"

[@MrFRNTIK]

I caught it at one point after I heard about the artwork being androgynous and I looked at it a little deeper. Their artwork has a LOT of symbolism in it.

[@Olitod]

Obzen is my favourite artwork of any album. Something so uncanny about it that you can't put your finger on, and he explained it so well. When I first saw it, the artwork screamed heavy. Really set the tone when combustion started playing.

[@KudoOne]

Couldn’t agree more

[@luisovares4257]

how is in the inside of the Book ??? i hear the art Was banned in some countries

[@femchad3317]

I love how deep the symbolism goes

[@luciferchrist4682]

Yea if the bible is a "spiritual" text then they gotta step it up to keep up with meshuggah

[@i_want_my_shuggah]

​@@luciferchrist4682 plus another three world laps to get to the level of TOOL.

[@jrlajara]

There is nothing like owning a physical album, the artwork, the disc

[@James-qn3wi]

The album cover makes so much sense now.
It's a straight up representation of evil, the lyrics are there to despise the evil.

[@cdrumz]

I keep wondering if this band is trying to convey evil or convey a message that people are evil in this world and need to wake up...

[@muffmuff3631]

if you read through alot of their lyrics you will see that they depise the evil in the world

[@paulwangler]

it's option b

[@pillsareyummy]

An Agnostic is someone who holds the philosophical belief that the nature (existence) of God is at present unknown or unknowable.

[@danielemmanuel6261]

Imagine having God sign something for you

[@123612100]

I always thought they had sort of a neutral take on evil for lack of a better term on their lyrics. It always seemed like it was, "there it is".

[@CynicalBastard]

nice footage. one of the coolest metal bands ever.

[@nubfaceforthelose]

The video thumbnail really looks like someone is doing a line on the obzen booklet

[@zelim9367]

lmao

[@eyeheartmusichella]

I'll never forget the day I saw obZen. My curiosity has rewarded me with great music and amazing concert experiences 13 years later. Always wondered what the cover meant. I dig it even more.

[@iRaiseTheDead]

Impressive. Love Tomas, such a chill guy

[@AOPrinciple]

I never noticed the "666".

[@t.m.a6669]

People say ignorance is a bliss,and after listening to Tomas explaining the artwork,i don’t know what to say.

[@MooWBear]

Subliminal messages!! :O
Felt this artwork was super metal, but now I know why!!
I like the androgyny concept. Both genders are represented, utilizes the lotus position, and even features the potential of evil in mankind.
So clever. :P

[@AOPrinciple]

The fingers on each hand form a 6, and there are 3.

[@rubaidaallen2764]

Love the Obzen art work. Other faves are Violent, Chaosphere and Koloss.

[@charlieoronzon7108]

Errrr... is it just me, or the cover of obZen is an obvious homage to Aleister Crowley? The creepy bald guy, the utterly crowleyesque "Silence" gesture... and he called himself the 666 beast, like the hands in the cover. I have gugled it but nobody seems to have made the conecction, which is weird

[@horseradish4046]

I always wondered if the blood squirts around the groin area and all over the hands imply that the person castrated themselves? Would also explain the androgynous look of the top being male and bottom now female

[@work8078]

@@alvaro.makes.music1 that’s kinda funny

[@AxUnderground]

Flawless.

[@therandomman6647]

You learn something new every day

[@shadowboundsoul]

goddamn the future breed machine remix on true human design is fucking relentless. so glad i own that little gem

[@donjaun8435]

The trippiest part about the Obzen cover is if you just observe it through an entire album playthrough.
Youre looking at this figure, and this art and its suspended in air so high but yet you wonder how big is the platform hes on, its almost infinite size, but yet he's just content all the way up in nowhere

[@nephilymbass1]

@GreatKingMinos I got them all on Cd, I really only use itunes if i absolutely know I'll only like 1 song on an album

[@AndrewSouthworth]

wow!

[@Person009]

Androgenous

[@LeandroHorus]

Thomas Haake cites Dimmu Borgir! 00:29

[@SlyHikari03]

I didn’t know about the triple 6 thing.

[@mettalx1]

yes

[@PsychoNotes]

This is in germany? :D

[@Slayyyer84]

wheres the coco??

[@XyXKranterXyX]

cool.

[@MetalHead420100]

hmm..very cool

[@NarayanDL]

I dont see the 666

[@NarayanDL]

+Hans Wurst yeah i see it now thanks

[@hexed8749]

Before explanation the cover was just weird, after explanation ... creepy...

[@8o86]

thumbnail: someone doin coke off a meshuggah album

[@Smith55946]

Obscenity eavesdropped as a primitive analogue.

[@work8078]

Really well explained. Love the idea especially that it’s not a naked girl with her top out like many other bands do for whatever reason.

[@harrisball]

maybe we are too innocent haha

[@ezassegai4793]

So its baphomet basically

[@work8078]

Oh god these religiously fervent obessed people.. just leave people the fuck alone being gay is how you feel not a choice. Apparently jesus wants everyone to be treated equally.. and then there’s that, that one detail that remains the face of religion: dis-allowancd of self controlment.

[@saganemc2]

@tinkagol no

[@HabbeningNetNews]

So it's baphomet.

[@sebastianlopez1150]

no lol

[@rajeshhkkapoor8549]

it looks like an alien to me........meshuggah are from a distant world...they r using words just to confuse us humans......but they r gods froma different planet

[@TheAdamGore]

666

[@bigmott7498]

How bout explain the HORRIBLE production!!!

[@OfficialArthusamakh]

the what?

[@sebastianlopez1150]

huh? the whole album has a great production if not, perfect.