It's really hard for me to say which album production I like best, honestly.
I can't really compare them. When I try to think of X album with production from, or compared to another album; I can't even imagine the songs giving me the same feeling while listening to them.
I think that might even be more of a testament to Andy's mixing abilities based on the feel of the songs.
For instance, I personally think the mix of TGE, being slightly 'dryer' in the guitar tone, a little bit less bass drum and low/mid-bass guitar than on previous album, and some boosted bass guitar; gives the whole album a really distinct sound that wouldn't be suitable for an album like EOR remix or DHIADW.
A lot of this I feel can be attributed to the instrumentation and songwriting.
With the guitars, there seemed to be a lot more leads and melodies within the verses and choruses than there has been in the past; thus you'd probably want to take some emphasis off the low end of the guitar to let the other guitar part be just as present. I also noticed that Jim had probably even more standout parts and backbone than he has had in previous albums, and Andy may have made a decision to let the low end ride on him a little more, even when the low B on the guitar is in use.
I mean stylistically, the songs are quite different than on past albums, but still distinctively and unmistakably Nevermore.
I guess to get a feel for what I'm trying to convey I should give some examples:
For instance, could you imagine hearing the guitars in the interlude/bridge in "Sell My Heart for Stones" where Jim is doing a bit of bass-work prior to Warrel singing "I will lay in the" blah blah blah...with the bottom end tone of the verse from "I, Voyager"? To me it would seem to be completely uncalled for.
The guitars' low tone on TGE seems to be oriented to "the 7th string is definitely there but not over-powering", while on EOR remix or Dead Heart, there's so many ridiculously heavy riffs on the 7th string that the tone they call for is "this riff is going to fucking knock your ass out and pound you into the god damned ground".
I guess this is the best way I can describe it.
As far as the bad production on the original EOR recording, I don't like it for the most part, and the drums sound HORRIBLE in my opinion; but there are parts I do like about it more than the remix.
Most notably, after the intro to "Tomorrow Turned Into Yesterday" and the drums fill cues in the guitar, the way Jeff's clean tone rings out on those first few notes is such an incredible sound. I prefer it a million times more on the original mix than the remix.
I've also noticed some vocal subtleties on the original mix that I hadn't heard on the remix (which I listen to most of the time). I found myself saying "oh wow there was a chorus or overdubbing or something on that phrase?" while listening to the original mix the other day. I was rather surprised I heard it given how distorted and clipped the vocals were on most of it.
Now, comparing the "bad" production from DNB to the original EOR mix, I think the tone absolutely makes the entire ambiance/feel of the album for DNB rather than takes away from it like with EOR.
Given the lyrical content, the album title, the cover, the use of a ton of chromatics and diminished stuff in the songs with the guitars; I think the droning, edgy, grainy, full-of-mid tone is absolutely perfect for the album.
With all of the albums elements combined with the tone, that album gives you the most bleak, sinister, dreary, harrowing feelings ever. I mean listen to the last few chords on "The Death of Passion". The palm mutes with wayyy too much lo/midrange make it sound like the guitars are going to explode with frustration or something. On any other album or from anyone else, I'd say "they seriously used that piece of shit for a final mix?", but given the context of everything else on that album; it's perfect.
Maybe it's just me, but listening to that album gives me such a feeling of hopelessness. If black metal is the soundtrack to hell, then this album has to be the soundtrack to purgatory.
God you'd think I was writing a negative review of this album huh
I mean all of the above in the most positive way possible.
My only gripe about the production is simply the bass drum. All click, no low. At all. If you've ever listened to this album on a stereo with a great subwoofer, you'll find that the floor tom is louder than shit (and sounds great), and the bass drum has ZERO "umph" behind it. Nothing. It's ENTIRELY treble/click.
God damn I've typed this much?
If you actually read that, then I thank you. I'm just bored off my ass and let my thoughts and feelings about these albums come out through my fingers. Even if one wasn't done by Andy.
If you happen to be Jim formerly from the band Where She Wept, this is Eric from Heather's old band, and you know why I'm familiar with this! (Spending a ton of cash in the Goo Goo Dolls' studio, only to come out with something that sounds worse than my basement demos...)
