Finished BACKMASK Mixes!

[Kazrog]

Interesting that both Brett and I posted new stuff today...

Go to BACKMASK.com and check out the new mixes! The downloads sound better than the streams, but either way, your feedback here is always appreciated.

 

[commandante]

Good! If that solo isn't cranked I will have a few words with you.

 

[commandante]

Yes! The leads in Feed the Enemy are more upfront! Thanks!

 

[LynchpiN]

Well Shane, it's an undeniable work you have, congratulations.
It's over midnight here so I'm listening in low volume, but if it's feedback you're looking for, I can say that there are three things that would be cool if possible to improve:
1. The snare disappears sometimes... Too low. But well, it works.
2. I hear some pumping. Maybe the mastering compression is a bit exagerated, but it's in today's standards, so big deal.
3. The vocals are a bit too loud. But no problem, good singing anyway.
Your songwriting is one of the most impressive I've heard in quite some time - strong, catchy and beyond labels. Congrats once again.
Cool initiative to put the full promo available on the site.

 

[Hewy80]

sounds awesome dude, reminds me of soilwork except im liking it better than their newer stuff

Good work

 

[Kazrog]

Wow, thanks guys. I agree about the snare, it was a bitch and a half to get these drums to sound right. We did sound replacement, but without triggers it was a painstaking task, and depending on what is going on in the overheads, and especially toms, the overall color of the snare fluctuates. We filtered and muted and did everything you might imagine to counteract this whenever possible, and I'm mostly happy with the end result.

I really appreciate the positive feedback on the songwriting. I do realize that the vocals are slightly loud by typical metal standards, but some of this is due to the intended audience of the demo being managers, labels, etc., who seem to like to hear things that way, at least initially, to get to know me as a vocalist, and to understand the lyrics unmistakeably. But I was very particular about making sure that every nuance of my guitar playing can still be heard... and to that end I think we were succesful in striking a balance with these mixes.

I am very flattered by the Soilwork comparison, however I feel that their new album(or any album of theirs) totally slays anything I've ever done. But thank you nonetheless!

 

[Liam Thompson]

Hi Shane,

Just listened to all the tracks and although it's not as heavy as the stuff I usually listen to I really like the arrangements and writing skill on display. The mix also sounds fine, really suits the music rather than having super clicky bass drums and what not. One thing I did notice, as you said is the the vocals are really loud, but I only noticed for the first 10 seconds of singing on every song . After that they seemed to fit in the mix at that volume. I don't think the loud vocals are a problem anyway, considering how good a singer you seem to be.

Good stuff

 

[metalizer]

Sounds fucking great! wellwritten songs, wellplayed and good production there isn't much to say that haven't already been said, you guys fucking rule!

 

[axeman720]

good stuff man.

i listened to the first song, i like it. i think had it been me i would have mixed the vocals a bit lower and a tad more wet. but its good man i dig it. i like your style for sure. i think the drums could have a tad bit more punch (i.e. upfront) but i seriously think the sounds are very good. just need to be a bit louder. like the whole kit maybe 1.5 db. honestly though thats just my take on the mix, i certainly think your mixing facilitates the songs quite well. bravo.

 

[unsilpauly]

hey man, it sounds really, really good. i also understand what you mean about the vocals in regards to shopping it. real good idea. keep up the good work.

 

[DIOBOLIC5150]

Great job! I wish I still lived in T.O, I'd come see you guys play!

 

[LynchpiN]

Curse you, Shane. This damn song Pride got stuck in my brain. Really.

Good job - this is so catchy it makes me sick

 

[SliderJeff]

Sounds fantastic, Shane! Care to give us the lowdown on everything that was used in the studio to put this together? I'm particularly interested in how you went about getting the guitar sound.

Keep up the fantastic work and good luck shopping this sucker around!

Regs,
Jeff

 

[Kazrog]

Sounds fantastic, Shane! Care to give us the lowdown on everything that was used in the studio to put this together? I'm particularly interested in how you went about getting the guitar sound.

Keep up the fantastic work and good luck shopping this sucker around!

Regs,
Jeff

OK, well here's what we used:

Guitars: ESP LTD MH 400 NT with EMG 85 pickups into an Ibanez TS808 reissue into a POD XT Live using the Criminal amp model with the Vintage 30 cab model. Quadruple tracked rhythm guitars, two panned 100%, two panned 80%, run to a bus with Andy's C4 settings. I think a real 5150 would sound better, and I will re-amp through one when it's time to finish the whole album.

Vocals: Audio Technica 4060 mic straight into my MBox, with fairly subtle EQ and compression, vegetarian diet, plenty of sleep, mostly Waves plug-ins...

Drums: A lot of mics here, but if I remember correctly: the toms had MD 421s on them, there was some kind of special kick drum mic used, SM 57 on the snare top I _think_, with an MD 421 on the bottom. We had two overhead condensers, I don't recall what they were, and two room condensers. Additionally, we had a bullet mic on the floor in front of the kit, compressed to all hell, to use for "the nasty" which we didn't end up using much, if at all. We had a rented rack full of awesome compressors, most of the mics were cut through 1176s or near equivalents, which were absolutely slamming. We ended up sound replacing the kick, snare, and toms, though, the hard way, without having used triggers.

Bass: My former bass player's tracks were not cutting it in the mix. He used an Ashdown head which we took a DI from and miked the David Eden 4x10 it was connected to. Unfortunately, his tone just wasn't working out (and neither was he), mainly because he liked to dial his tone so it fought with the guitars, so I replaced all of it using some Kontakt samples, programming the bass parts as MIDI. We then ran an alternate track with a Sans Amp plug-in (on 6) and it sounded great blended with the pure Kontakt signal. It sounds very natural considering it's a "fake" bass.

This was all mixed in Pro Tools HD at my producer, Kurt Howell's studio. I am getting a co-production credit since I did a lot of the tracking at my house, had a lot of input in the mixes, and did the mastering myself.

 

[adrianvillan]

Interesting that both Brett and I posted new stuff today...

Go to BACKMASK.com and check out the new mixes! The downloads sound better than the streams, but either way, your feedback here is always appreciated.

Sounds awsome Shane! If your in the LA area you should come by and show me some techniques!! Good job.!

 

[LynchpiN]

I was just wondering about those tight bass "dong-dongs" in Tomorrow is Dead. Programmed, huh... I got it now, cheater

Who needs drummers and bassists nowadays? Soon people will be able to consistently program guitars and vocals as well, and we'll be fucked.

Nice work.

 

[Kazrog]

I was just wondering about those tight bass "dong-dongs" in Tomorrow is Dead. Programmed, huh... I got it now, cheater

Who needs drummers and bassists nowadays? Soon people will be able to consistently program guitars and vocals as well, and we'll be fucked.

Nice work.

I've even used programmed bass live before. There were quite a few shows we did with just me, a drummer, and another guitarist. Seeing KMFDM live inspired me to do this. I honestly don't know if I'm going to bother having a bassist, but I probably should just for the sake of having more people on stage. Maybe some midgets and strippers while I'm at it... or just midget strippers...

 

[Brett - K A L I S I A]

lol =)
Actually I've seen many bands playing without a bassist, and they usually get a tighter and cleaner sound (especially when you listen to them with earplugs). So that wouldn't shock me.
I've listened to the songs quite a lot of time and they are really great, some riffs are awesome ! I think the drums sound overall very natural, very nice !

 

[Razorjack]

I use programmed bass in most of my more industrial projects, as you say it helps keep the sound tighter and cleaner. My latest track uses the bass synth that comes free with cubase, running into amplitube, and it sounds great.

 

[DIOBOLIC5150]

lol =)
Actually I've seen many bands playing without a bassist, and they usually get a tighter and cleaner sound (especially when you listen to them with earplugs). So that wouldn't shock me.
I've listened to the songs quite a lot of time and they are really great, some riffs are awesome ! I think the drums sound overall very natural, very nice !

Somewhere, there's a bass player crying because you said that.
But I don't care because I play guitar.