Misery Signals - Controller

[Metaltastic]

So my singer always blasts this album in his car, and while the band is described as metalcore, IMO this album really is a cut above the usual Killswitch/All that Remains/etc. schlock - still has the awful spoken-word and other lameness, but overall the music is pretty cool.

However, the main purpose of this thread is to point out how FUCKING AMAZING the production is, especially the toms and kick, my good god. Wikipedia says that Devin Townsend was the producer, but that the drums were recorded by Dean Maher (whoever he is). Guitars are pretty cool as well, anyone have any idea what was used? Knowing Devin, I'm guessing Rectifier, and anyway it doesn't sound quite smooth enough to be a 5150 (which is a good thing in my book)

 

[Machinated]

I haven't listened to much Misery Signals, but I always found their vocalist to be a bit too one dimensional and it got me bored real quick.....

I can't understand the KSE knocking, fair enough you are entitled to your opinion, but in my opinion they are one seriously talented band, write really consistent albums, good structures in their songs, stupidly tight musicians and basically shaped that whole genre.

 

[Metaltastic]

Well tight musicians doesn't hold much ground with me in terms of whether or not I like to listen to their music, and the genre they shaped isn't one I'm particularly fond of - and as for the music, I've listened to "End of Heartache" and "As Daylight Dies" pretty extensively, and I feel both have a few genuine standout gems but then a whole lot more that just seem very uninspired and dull to me. I admit they're one of the better bands of the genre, and mentioned them only because they just popped into my head, cuz I will definitely say that I like them A LOT more than Unearth, for example. But OT, check out this newest album if you get a chance Ed, what a kick sound! And I actually really like the roar their vocalist has, but IMO the musical content of the album is secondary in importance behind it's production!

 

[Machinated]

Haha, I'll sure to check it out man. A ton of the bands I record go on about Misery Signals, so its only really fair I check em out.

And of course tight musicians doesn't really equate to anything other than that haha, but I think maybe sometimes as guitarists those guys are underrated....

 

[Metaltastic]

Oh yeah, big ups to them for the most ridiculous pinch harmonics I've ever heard!

 

[Let it burn...]

Imo, everything misery signals after Of Malice and the Magnum Heart is meh

 

[Sinister Mephisto]

Honestly didn't like the production on Controller very much. But I will check it out again because of your rave reviews.

 

[BrettT]

I love this album and agree that the production is great. I think I remember seeing pics from their studio sessions and they were using Rectifiers to track guitars.

 

[Notuern]

I cant take all those Philip Anselmo / Anders Fridén lookalikes / copycats, no matter what kind of music it is. ;X
And to be honest, they sound just like every other band that is out there today. :/

 

[Metaltastic]

Look, dudes, I'm not talking about the music here, just about the production. And for the record, he sounds nothing like either of those singers IMO.

 

[slashvanyoung]

Been to their myspace and judging by what I've heard there (obviously suffering from myspace compression): It sounds much smoother than what many genre colleagues have to offer. Especially the guitars sound more open - which would be a Dev trademark - but they also seem to bury the drums a bit (except the kick).

 

[Notuern]

Look, dudes, I'm not talking about the music here, just about the production. And for the record, he sounds nothing like either of those singers IMO.

I didnt really direct that to you, it was just a random statement to what I think about those bands.

I didnt mean that he sounded like one of them either, just the way he acts in all videos ive seen with them.

Also, I didnt like the drums too much, theres no dynamics at all. ;X
But sure, it was a nice dry mix, kinda like cardboard as I usualy say about those mixes(Not meaning that its a negative thing.)!

 

[CatharsisStudios]

misery signals is proably one of the best live, and all around bands out there these days. they are no where near "metalcore" either.

 

[Kazrog]

Great band, but the "core" vocals ruin them for me. More annoying than James LaBrie.

 

[CatharsisStudios]

I love vocals like that. those are my dream bands.

 

[Metaltastic]

See, the vocals of hardcore usually aren't what bother me (unless it's that really monotonous raspy high scream like old Black Dahlia, for example), and I quite like the depth and power of this guy. However, there are still things that I absolutely can't listen to - for example, the last track on the album (Homecoming) is fucking awesome UNTIL the fucking spoken word part at like 1:34 UGGGHHHHhhh, and although there aren't too many extremely obvious breakdowns, one AWFUL offender is at the end of track 3 (Labyrinthian).

BUT BACK OT (again), the drums may not have much dynamics, but I still think this is one of the punchiest kicks I've ever heard, and I love the toms as well.

 

[Kazrog]

I love vocals like that. those are my dream bands.

You also have BREEE in your subtitle.

 

[CatharsisStudios]

that would be a joke my good man haha

 

[C_F_H_13]

....but that the drums were recorded by Dean Maher (whoever he is).

Dean is a pretty big engineer in Van, BC.

http://www.artistdirect.com/nad/music/artist/credits/0,,622884,00.html

He worked with GGGarth for years and is pretty much one of the top engineers I've ever had the pleasure of working with. Guy is a tone king for sure.

 

[K Odell]

I don't really dig this stuff, but the production is good.