Fredrik Carl Thordendal[1] (born 11 February 1970) is a Swedish musician best known as the lead guitarist and backing vocalist for the extreme metal band Meshuggah, of which he is a founding member.

This sound has become influential to other bands, such as Periphery, whose core member, Misha Mansoor, was instrumental in coining the term "Djent" to refer to the commonly utilized technique of playing heavily muted, extended power chords found in Meshuggah's music.

Sometime in the 90s, before the release of Destroy Erase Improve, Thordendal was involved in a carpentry accident at work in which he cut off the tip of his left middle finger.

[7] The fingertip was sewn back on, and after a significant amount of re-learning and practicing, he regained full proficiency on the guitar within a year or so.

The album was remixed and re-released by Ultimate Audio Entertainment and Relapse Records in 1999 under the title Sol Niger Within Version 3.33.

They later adopted the name XXX Atomic Toejam and issued an MCD entitled A Gathering of the Tribes for the First / Last Human Be-In on Cold Meat Industry, as well as featuring a track on the Karmanik Collection compilation.

In 2010, Thordendal recorded some drum tracks with Morgan Ågren of the Swedish prog-rock band Kaipa and Dirk Verbeuren of Soilwork.

Demo 33 was used to demonstrate a MIDI breath controller created by Johan Haake, which is used on several Meshuggah songs, including Future Breed Machine.

[citation needed] Thordendal is featured in the Darkane track 'Psychic Pain' from the album Insanity, performing lead guitar.

Meshuggah supported Tool during their U.S. tour in the fall of 2002, where drummer Tomas Haake even made a guest appearance, playing 'Triad' with the band.

Thordendal has praised jazz fusion guitarist Wayne Krantz's work with Keith Carlock and Tim Lefebvre, stating that "these guys are the most inspiring band I've heard in a very long time."

In a 2011 interview with Guitar World, Thordendal stated: "My dad always listened to jazz, and I guess that influenced me to learn about improvisation.

On the North American tour promoting Koloss, he used a custom Firebird, Iceman, and Explorer-type body 8-string, called the Stoneman.

I am really pleased with how the 'Missing Time' solo turned out from Sol Niger Within Version 3.33 [the remix CD of the debut album from his side project Fredrik Thordendal's Special Defects].

In an interview, it was explained that they tuned their guitars this way because, in the early days of Meshuggah, before Jens Kidman adopted his signature vocal style, it was easier for him to sing in the key of E♭ or B♭.

Meshuggah Fredrik Thordendal's Special Defects The Devin Townsend Project Gojira Mattias Eklundh Scarve Mick Gordon Grant the Sun Jakub Zytecki Evan Marien