Dandelium - New demo almost done (working on vocals) 4 songs:

[Erik Monsonis]

Hi everyone!

I'm working now with Javi on the vocals for these 4 songs to release the new demo to introduce him as the singer.

These are the current (and hope final) version of the 4 songs just before vocals. If you have any production suggestions (i.e. arrangement, structure, etc...) it would be awesome. Keep in mind that we still have to record the solos (with our new solo guitarist I bet they will be beyond awesome http://www.myspace.com/spaceoctopus)

I'll still remix them as some of you pointed out the snare wasn't that good.






After doing this demo, and depending on the response of the e-community we will start working on more songs to do a full length finally after so many years.
I know this is not the first time I talk about a proper album, but you guys know it's been a hell since I first started posting here, changing members and stuff isn't good for a band's health.

Anyways I'd like to read some comments about the style change from the previous symphonic metal to this new style that's closer to melodic death metal with some symphonic elements (rather than the opposite we did before). If you like it, if you don't, what would you change, etc...
Think that maybe the lighter style we had before wouldn't fit Javi's vocals so good as the new one, but maybe I'm wrong!

So, please tell me what you think about this, even if it sucks hard.

Cheers!

PS: 320kb/s mp3 in Dropbox for non soundcloud lovers
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/425433/Dandelium/tema 16.mp3
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/425433/Dandelium/tema 19.mp3
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/425433/Dandelium/tema 20.mp3
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/425433/Dandelium/tle.mp3

EDIT: Some recording info for those craving for teh prezetz and stuff:

Guitars: Caparison Horus with EMG 81/ EMG SA > Line 6 Toneport UX1 > TSE 808 > 2 paths:
1st path for 2 LR100% guitars: LeCto, red, modern > Greg's ASEM impulse.
2nd path for 2 LR80% guitars: NRR1 > Greg's ASEM impulse.
Then HP-LP and a slight high boost.

Bass: Harley Benton HBB500 with 1yr old+ strings > Line 6 Toneport UX1 > 2 paths:
1st path: POD Farm, Adam&Eve ampsim, super clean settings > Compression > EQ (mid scoop)
2nd path: TSE 808 > LeCto, red, modern > Greg's ASEM impulse.
Then compression to hell and back, HP-LP, some mid boost.

Drums: Superior Drummer 2.0 TMF + replaced kick and snare (Slate 15 + Slate 8)
Lots of processing as programmed drums IMO require a lot more effort to make sound decent.

Mastering chain: EQ to highpass above 20hz, Gclip, Multiband processing, Gclip, Elephant.

 

[Nuno Filipe]

Sound very good but the drum could have more meat, especially the snare, it sounds a bit thin. The mixes sound also a bit too bright.

 

[syns]

Sound very good but the drum could have more meat, especially the snare, it sounds a bit thin. The mixes sound also a bit too bright.

I second that.

 

[Erik Monsonis]

hehe, thanks! I guess I've been listening too much to Meshuggah so I ended up doing it a bit too thin (also realised in the 3rd song I'm doing the same riff as Textures, Meshuggah and Devildriver that was pointed out in DD thread some days ago ).

 

[syns]

sorry to sound like an asshole, but your mixes brighter than meshuggah/textures IMHO

 

[re:inanimate]

Awesome. With Javi these songs will sound incredible, congratulations man, great job, I really like the direction you are taking with your band
(no escuches mucho a los "lechuggah",o acabarás tarumbita,jejee,que buenos son)

 

[Mago]

As I said at the last thread you posted with tema20, the same as Nuno...very hi end heavy and the snare sounds very artifical due to too much high end boost and lacks body.
Huge low end on the bass, I like it

about the style/songs:

I like the new style more than the older one, mostly because I like melodeath a lot more than symphonic. I tend to go the same road with my band, to use the symphonic parts more as a kind of enforcement rather than an own instrument.
Really looking forward to the EP!

 

[Erik Monsonis]

Thanks guys! Nobody is an asshole for being honest

I'll definitely remix the EP as I said, and will look after a thicker, more natural and more tamed sound, don't worry

 

[onqel]

Erik: I've tried to pull the new X50 version over your head to get your opinion, but you're never on Messenger anymore.. you whore

 

[Erik Monsonis]

Erik: I've tried to pull the new X50 version over your head to get your opinion, but you're never on Messenger anymore.. you whore

Damn, I'm not using MSN too much lately TBH, I try to control myself because I'm in the end of my exam period and I've failed everything so I have to retake, therefore I shouldn't be fooling around too much
I'll try to be online soon and we can talk

 

[szymon]

Great work (despite the brightness ). I like that guitar tone.
Its a great combination of strings/guitars - becoming more melodic than symphonic But i like it.
In "tema16" those string-only moment sounds a bit artificial, but it has to do more with programming than mixing.
Definetley digging the music.
cheers!

 

[Triscore]

Erik!

Sounds good, but I think other mixes by you sounds much better!!. For my taste, the drums is very thin and too much high freqs in general, but anyway sounds great!!

Musically I like your older style, but this is better for my taste, reallu nice songs, the first song in this post like a lot, good work, and if you have Javi in the band, looks GREAT!!, really nice guy and good vocals. So, all the best!

Tris

 

[Sickan]

Badass guitar tone, but where are the lows in the mix?

 

[FF666]

2d guitars and faint drums...I would reamp through real amps and improve the mixes.
That melody in the fourth track, is not mainly the same that Muse played in Bliss?

 

[Erik Monsonis]

Guitars will be real for the album, right now I can't afford spending more money just for the demo, and have way to track real amps living 3000km from my rehearshal space , drums are what I've got, so can't record real drums now (still looking for a drummer also...).

About the melody, I have no idea, I think I've only heard one or two songs from Muse in my whole life, never got my attention, but will check that out!
cheers!

EDIT: After hearing the song, I don't know what do you mean, as I find absolutely no similarity between the songs Maybe the piano part can sound a bit similar because of the arpeggio chords or whatever they are called, but not even the chord sequence would be similar, just the vibe... I don't know, maybe you are saying something else, in which case I can't tell

 

[diafebus]

again insists too mcuh bright and treble to your mixes :s i don't like that much of brightness at all……
any way sound far better than I get with my mixes :3

how easy is critisize hehehe

 

[Erik Monsonis]

Haha, I think I got it

 

[XnaySaturo]

Really dig the songs! I think everyone already pointed out what to improve on, but I'll say that I liked your mix on the track "tema 15 lecto" a LOT. Similar to what you have going on right now, but more balanced.

 

[Shawnn]

AMAZING work Erik!! My boner is quivering in anticipation.

EDIT: In "The Lost Element", I noticed at around 3:15 that the bass is off timing with the strings. Just pointing that out. ^_^

 

[pennylane]

One question, There are two paths: Lecto LR100% and NRR1 LR80%, ¿is one amp for each guitar line/guitar player? or ¿guitar1 is 100 And 80% L and guitar 2 100 and 80%R?.
Sorry if it's a dumb question.

About the style, I like more the new one, rather the previous one. I think Javi will fit better, and it's more wide in registers. I hope you do the record soon.