What the fuck is "math metal"?
Why does it exist?
Why does everyone keep refering to my Meshuggah CD as math metal?
Who the fuck names their music math metal, anyways!?

"math metal" involves extremely complicated and irregular time signatures / beats / etc. It involves ridiculous concentration. Meshuggah and the Dillinger Escape Plan kick some ass.

isn't vovoid old school math metal?

It's funny, the term is actually fairly new, though the type of music it describes has been around a long time. We used to call it "technical -", as in technical thrash, tech death metal, etc. Or the dreaded "progressive", which no one liked because it made people think of Rush.
I think the term math metal came about as a sneering description, a way to say that the band is really a bunch of geeks, and probably studied at Berkley when not at computer camp. Which is odd because most of the bands I've heard called math metal are really boring and simple, and not very technical or difficult to play at all (i.e. Meshuggah). Some of the bands are very interesting and have exciting music with engaging rhythms (Candiru), but it's more down to the ecclecticism of the artists and their incorporation of non-rock music forms which commonly utilize broader musical concepts.

Oh, and Voivod were never really math metal. In the early days they were very thrash, then they added some progressive elements and slowed down to play a little more proficiently. After that they started to play more of a loose rock, less technical and more rhythmic. Then everyone started leaving and the last I heard they were very simple and going for a more "aggressive" approach. Hopefully with Snake's return the band will leave that time period behind.
Some decent "math" metal bands would be Candiru (warning, tastefully well performed hip hop elements as well as freeform jazz), Maudlin of the Well, and Lamb of God.

Heh. Cool.
Kazaa time.

Candiru..do you mean Candiria? DIllinger writes most of their music on paper before they play it or test it out accordign to an interview with the guitarist. I hate DEP, except for a few songs and the Patton album it's basically noise. I like Meshuggah, though, and Candiria and I'd throw Cryptopsy in there too, even if they're more death/grind then their 'math-metal' contemporaries.

Math Metal is so they can get the chimey thing and the chordy thing to strike at the same moment even though it seems like they are just doin' their own thing.

Here is a german metal band. Can you tell whatever, whatever in under 30 seconds. ~ gets stop watch ~

http://www.theatreoftragedy.com/

Candiria, correct. Something is wrong with me lately, I can't seem to get enough sleep and I'm making silly mistakes everywhere.
I was going to mention Cryptopsy as a tech death metal / grind band, among a few others, but figured I tend to get longwinded enough. I'd also recommend Soilwork, Myopia, Atheist, Forbidden (first two), DBC and Martyr for those inclined to technical metal styles. Haven't heard much in the way of DEP, not that into it. I don't mind Meshuggah, just doesn't really get me.
Theater of Tragedy is Norwegian, not German, goth metal turned electronica and has no place in this thread. So there.

Actually, it is Dark Wave!

Ha!

Surprised someone listened to it.

So did you get the points where someone is all low, then someone is all high and someone is all over the place and yet they have points where it meets.

You know Ozz Feast is coming up. There is a band for math metal. The chords are usually simple so you can make out the rifts (when the same line is repeated several times). Like when they play soft and another guitar starts playing about the same rift then another. Then they start going all wild.

Mmm

I love Soilwork.

Isn't Mudvayne one of these "Math Metal" bands, too?

HAHAHAHAHHAHAHHHHAHHAHAHHAHHHAH!!!!!

I knew that would get a laugh.

Don't why that got a laugh cause Mudvayne kicks major fucking ass! Yes they are one of these "Math Metal" bands.

Just because they kick major fucking ass to you does not make them Math Metal. There is no way they are Math Metal. That's like calling Limp Bizkit adult contemporary.

Mudvayne...wasn't that that bad slipknot rip off ?

Yep. And if Slipknot is Math Metal, I'm a goddamn Chinaman.

Hell, make that if slipknot was any kind of metal...

Slipknot's metal, just awful metal.