HATE ETERNAL - Pheonix amongst the ashes

[slayercannibalsuffohead]

Well Ive had my copy now for 3 weeks and am loving the tunes, but I just cant quite get my head around the production. Ive tried it on different systems and it just doesnt sit right for my ears. The first thing that jumped out (or not jumped out) was the vocals. They seem to kick back in the mix quite a distance and the leads (which I might add are dripping with feel), seem to be a tad overpowering, whilst the bass drums are sometimes smothered by the midrange of the guitars. To me, its similar to i monarch, but levels seem to be all over the shop!, prompting me to think that I may have received a bali copy instead of an original. I like a lot of aspects of the album, but am really struggling with the overall production, especially after listening to other productions. Is it just my ears, or do others hear the same thing? Whats your thoughts?

 

[Mattayus]

I think the guitars are the culprit. They're that smidgen too loud and are eating up all the frequency real-estate the vox and drums require to cut through. I love Rutan mixes but he does make odd choices at times. The vocals on Evisceration Plague still surprise me every time I throw it on, they're so fucking loud it's like everything else is just background noise!

 

[HollowmanPL]

Great album.
I really like the way songs are arranged. But as above - I think vocals should be a little in the front and drums in my opinion are a little bit muddy.
Anyway great songs

 

[Charles J]

i LOVE Hate Eternal so i don't give a flying fuck what the records sound like. hahahaha. HOWEVER, this does seem a HUGE step backwards for Rutan's production work.... shame.

 

[Chryst Krispies]

Dude are you crazy?

This is like Night and Day to the disaster that was Fury and Flames.
This is some of the better production H.E have had.

 

[DolphinSplatter]

I will definitely take his vocals on the buried side

 

[Bloodsoaked666]

As a Death Metal fan I think the album sounds great, love Rutan's vocals, always have.

 

[Axonic Rot]

Dude are you crazy?

This is like Night and Day to the disaster that was Fury and Flames.
This is some of the better production H.E have had.

You echo my thoughts!


Fury and flames had really really awesome songs, but I could barely hear what was going on. The drums were really loud and bassy and drowned out the guitars, even completely in some busy spots.

This is leaps above that. I feel this time he overcompensated by having the guitars a little too loud over the drums, but this is an amazing leap forward and very listenable despite its flaws. I think the guitar tone is killer, it's just a little too loud.

I would love for a remastered and remixed Fury and Flames to be released. The music is amazing and if it were paired with better production it would be one of my favorites.

 

[Gelatin]

I bought the limited edition vinyl a couple of weeks back but of course my record player died on me when trying to play it. Guess it didn't take the sheer brutality of it..

 

[HANIAK]

I think the mix is pretty spot on!
I disliked the guitar sound at first (too many mids), but I'm getting used to it more and more and it works great with the other instruments.

Here's an interesting interview, where the man talks about the guitar sound on the album:

 

[Fragle]

jcm 800, engl powerball, marshall 1960 with greenbacks, sm57 and md421, huh?
nice to see an amp like the 800 ending up on an album that's so heavy.

 

[Charles J]

Dude are you crazy?

This is like Night and Day to the disaster that was Fury and Flames.
This is some of the better production H.E have had.

It's quite possible my memory of how the prior H.E. albums have sounded is a bit.... skewed. ahahahah

 

[DolphinSplatter]

it's all about Conquering the Throne