 Townsend draws influence from a wide range of music genres , most prominently heavy metal . Townsend has cited , among others , Judas Priest , W.A.S.P. , Frank Zappa , Broadway musicals , ABBA , new @-@ age music , Zoviet France , King 's X , Morbid Angel , Barkmarket , Grotus , Jane 's Addiction , Metallica , Cop Shoot Cop and Fear Factory as his influences , and has also expressed his admiration for Meshuggah on several occasions , calling them " the best metal band on the planet " . Townsend lists Paul Horn and Ravi Shankar as the " two most important musicians in his life " . The two songs that Townsend credits with changing the way he thought about music are " The Burning Down " by King 's X , and " Up the Beach " by Jane 's Addiction . City was influenced by bands such as Foetus and Cop Shoot Cop , and The New Black 's influences were Meshuggah , and " more traditional metal " like Metallica . He is also influenced by orchestral and classical composers such as John Williams , Trevor Jones and Igor Stravinsky . 
 Townsend <a href='uninflect' title='1'><mark>draws</mark></a> influence from a wide range of music genres , most prominently heavy metal . Townsend <a href='been_done' title='2'><mark>has</mark></a> cited , among others , Judas Priest , W.A.S.P. , Frank Zappa , Broadway musicals , ABBA , new @-@ age music , Zoviet France , King <a href='null_genetive' title='3'><mark>'s</mark></a>X , Morbid Angel , Barkmarket , Grotus , Jane <a href='null_genetive' title='4'><mark>'s</mark></a>Addiction , Metallica , Cop Shoot Cop and Fear Factory as his influences , and <a href='been_done' title='5'><mark>has</mark></a> also expressed his admiration for Meshuggah on several occasions , calling them " the best metal band on the planet " . Townsend lists Paul Horn and Ravi Shankar as the " two most important musicians in his life " . The two songs <a href='null_relcl' title='6'><mark>that</mark></a>Townsend credits with changing the way he thought about music <a href='drop_aux' title='7'><mark>are</mark></a>" The Burning Down " by King <a href='null_genetive' title='8'><mark>'s</mark></a>X , and " Up the Beach " by Jane <a href='null_genetive' title='9'><mark>'s</mark></a>Addiction . City was influenced by bands such as Foetus and Cop Shoot Cop , and The New Black <a href='null_genetive' title='10'><mark>'s</mark></a>influences <a href='uninflect' title='11'><mark>were</mark></a> Meshuggah , and " more traditional metal " like Metallica . He is also influenced by orchestral and classical composers such as John Williams , Trevor Jones and Igor Stravinsky . 
Townsend draw influence from a wide range of music genres , most prominently heavy metal . Townsend done cited , among others , Judas Priest , wid.A.S.P. , Frank Zappa , Broadway musicals , ABBA , new @-@ age music , Zoviet France , King  X , Morbid Angel , Barkmarket , Grotus , Jane  Addiction , Metallica , Cop Shoot Cop and Fear Factory as his influences , and done also expressed his admiration fa Meshuggah on several occasions , calling them " da best metal band on tdaplanet " . Townsend lists Paul Horn and Ravi Shankar as thda two most important musicians in his life " . The 2 songs Townsend credits with changing the way he thought bout music " The Burning downn " by King  X , and " Up the Beach " by Jane  Addiction . City was influenced by bands such as Foetus and Cop Shoot Cop , and Thedaw Black  influences was Meshuggah , and " more traditional metal " like r.kelly . He is also influenced by orchestral and classical composers such as John Williams , Trevor Jones and Igor Stravinsky .