I got some tracks like that from a band once. When I asked them about it, I got this exact response: "Well, there's a lot of distortion in metal. So wouldn't this just be adding more distortion, and make it heavier.
Acctually they told me that they used a DI box, and the level was @ -6db MAX.
So it will be propper to reamp.
BUTT that was what I got.
(Can't even imagined the rusty strings on that bass too)
Haha good luck. The worst part about that track wasn't the muddiness or the distortion but the constant pops and clicks that made it impossible to get any sort of high end, even with distortion, clippers, limiters and whatever else I could find.