VOTE : Metal Challenge 2016

V8

Almost done with 2016 and we are bidding farewell to 2016 with a Metal bang!

We've got three groups this month : Beginner/Intermediate : Warrenpridgeon, Doomsower and Richard, Wern101 Advanced : Studmissile, exsanguinator Band : J-Man (Bulletscript)

Nice one gents, thank you for the entries - good to see a few fresh faces in these parts! Alas, we only had one band entry, but it's a damn fine one and well worth a listen. Treat a vote in the band category as a 'like' ;)

You've got three votes to cast before voting closes on January 3rd, 2017, 07:15am.

[b]Beginner/Intermediate[/b] [b]Warrenpridgeon - Killer-C[/b]http://guitarforum.co.za/gfsacomps/warrenpridgeon.mp3 [i]Used Line 6 POD HD500X into Reaper. Added some VSTI finger drums. First time I've tried to add drums to a song... playing by hand (when you aren't a drummer) is pretty tough! I also tried to add vocals to it.[/i]

[b]Doomsower and Richard -Last second metal [/b]http://guitarforum.co.za/gfsacomps/mp3s/doomsower_richard.mp3[i] We did this a few hours before the cut-off so it was a bit rushed. All constructive criticism welcome.[/i]

[b]Wern101 - Metal Noodling[/b] http://guitarforum.co.za/gfsacomps/mp3s/wern101.mp3 [i]Call it what you will. I tried metal and this came out. Maybe more of a 80's hard rock? I dunno. You decide. All put together via reaper and using Digitech RP50 Effects pedal with the following settings: Reaper: Compressor and Reverb added Lead: Vintage Fuzz Distortion – Level 6 Rhythm: Crunchy tube Combo – Level 5 Drums a la digitech, 80bbm Global cabinet modelling active as well as Humbucker Pickup simulator.[/i]

[b]Advanced[/b] [b]Studmissile -Studmetal[/b] http://guitarforum.co.za/gfsacomps/mp3s/studmissile.mp3 [i]....well metalish?[/i]

[b]exsanguinator - Ethnic Experiment[/b] http://guitarforum.co.za/gfsacomps/mp3s/exsanguinator.mp3 [i]A rough demo mix of a new song. Recorded at home on a very old and faithful Korg D8 multitracker. Guitars used are an Ibanez RG505 on rhythm and a RG770 on lead,fitted with a brass block. Both guitars are played through a Digitech GNX4,with different patches, panned mono left/right for rhythm and stereo for lead. Bass guitar is an Ibanez SB900 played through a Tech21 PSA 1.1 I only use standard A 440hz tuning,very 80's, but tough shit,love it or lump it. [/i]

[b]Band[/b] [b]J-Man/Bulletscript -Primodial[/b] http://guitarforum.co.za/gfsacomps/mp3s/primodial.mp3 [i]Written by Jacques Hugo for BULLETSCRIPT, recorded at DDM Studios, mixed at Cloud Studios, Mastered by Jocke Skog [/i]

(old forum) Poll Results: VOTE : Metal Challenge 2016

Warrenpridgeon: 4
Doomsower and Richard: 4
Wern101: 2
Studmissile: 3
exsanguinator: 9
J-Man/Bulletscript: 7

Doomsower

Wern101's link seems to be down.

V8

Doomsower wrote: Wern101's link seems to be down.

Opppsss...my bad ?

Thanks, fixed now!

Stoffeltoo

This a very demanding music genre and well done to all the entrants. The noobs especially for taking on this challenge.

First impressions:
exsanguinator Joh! 8)
J-Man and bullet script. Joh! I now realise what galloping rhythm should really sound like.

BTW uninformed question? How do you achieve the growling voice? Is it an actual vocal tone or electronically modulated?

Will be a challenge to vote ???

Hasie

Respect.

studmissile

Respect Indeed!

I really thought this challenge would be chock o block with entries, but I suppose that's December for you.

Anyways well done all, some really incredible entries on first listen, will follow up with a more discerning critique.

wern101

Stoffeltoo wrote: This a very demanding music genre and well done to all the entrants. The noobs especially for taking on this challenge.

Who you calling a noob ? ? ha ha - yes indeed. I was WAY out of my depth with this one.

Geez okes - great stuff all round. Will have a thorough listen over the weekend before I vote.

Enjoy the new year's celebrations everyone!! ?arty: :goodtimes: :bopping: :dance: :woohoo:

warrenpridgeon

wern101 wrote:
Stoffeltoo wrote: This a very demanding music genre and well done to all the entrants. The noobs especially for taking on this challenge.
Who you calling a noob ? ? ha ha - yes indeed. I was WAY out of my depth with this one.

Geez okes - great stuff all round. Will have a thorough listen over the weekend before I vote.

Enjoy the new year's celebrations everyone!! ?arty: :goodtimes: :bopping: :dance: :woohoo:

This was way out of my comfort zone! I dropped the tuning on my whole guitar by a whole step. Picked a riff and worked out the key I wrote it in. I then fitted chords in around that. Then I played drums on my keyboard using a vsti in reaper and the virtual midi keyboard. Lol.

Good work all around. My entry sounds 'muffled'.

I learnt a LOT through this. One thing I heard in a video was that you shouldn't think that you'll fix something later... rather redo it right away. A couple of spots in my piece I should have redid...but left for later and later never came. Doh.

But I'm looking forward to the next challenge now!

Foottapiologist

I can't stomach metal and was unble to listen to the end of those songs. It conjures up images of 12 year olds in moms garage and a bloated Rob Chapman practicing in front of a mirror. Please don't choose rap for the next challenge. ?
So I'm not able to vote BUT logged in to high five the enthusiastic participants for efforts involved in the recording and mixing.

Stoffeltoo

I think rapping is still a musical genre but yeah, would definitely prefer it not to be part of a challenge

G-Man

Foottapiologist wrote: I can't stomach metal and was unble to listen to the end of those songs. It conjures up images of 12 year olds in moms garage and a bloated Rob Chapman practicing in front of a mirror. Please don't choose rap for the next challenge. ?
So I'm not able to vote BUT logged in to high five the enthusiastic participants for efforts involved in the recording and mixing.

These kind of posts really irritate me. Thanks for stooping down to everyone's level to share your opinion, really contributes a lot to the discussion and general discourse of the spirit of these challenges. The fact of the matter is that metal as a genre requires as much skill and practice and passion as any other musical genre out there, even the ones that you can stomach. I know many many musicians who play metal (as well as other styles as well, fancy that...) and I can assure you, they are not kids fucking around in their parents garages.

V8

Foottapiologist wrote: Please don't choose rap for the next challenge. ?
So I'm not able to vote BUT logged in to high five the enthusiastic participants for efforts involved in the recording and mixing.

I doubt we'll ever do hip-hop (rap) - though I do have a lot of time for it (NWA, Mos Def, some Wu Tang Clan, Red Man, etc...), which (in retrospect) isn't surprising, a lot of hip-hop was influenced by James Brown, Stevie Wonder and 70's rock (Led Zep).

For sure, a massive big up to all who tried, those who entered and those listening and voting - December isn't the easiest time to get a entry finished - the last two years have been impressive that we've had enough entries to have a voting stage - previous years weren't as successful. Take a bow gents!

G-Man wrote:
Foottapiologist wrote: I can't stomach metal and was unble to listen to the end of those songs. It conjures up images of 12 year olds in moms garage and a bloated Rob Chapman practicing in front of a mirror. Please don't choose rap for the next challenge. ?
So I'm not able to vote BUT logged in to high five the enthusiastic participants for efforts involved in the recording and mixing.

These kind of posts really irritate me. Thanks for stooping down to everyone's level to share your opinion, really contributes a lot to the discussion and general discourse of the spirit of these challenges. The fact of the matter is that metal as a genre requires as much skill and practice and passion as any other musical genre out there, even the ones that you can stomach. I know many many musicians who play metal (as well as other styles as well, fancy that...) and I can assure you, they are not kids fucking around in their parents garages.

He's welcome to his opinion...At least he had a listen, which is all we can ask.

Honestly, there is a some contemporary metal I can't stand either - usually it's the vocals that put me off. But, each to his own.

Disclaimer : I have met and chatted to the guys in Bulletscript (although I didn't know J-man was a GFSA'er - his entry was a complete surprise!). And they ALL are ridiculously talented & professional musicians across genre's. And seriously nice guys to boot. The amount of work they put into making music is staggering and inspiring! We can all learn from their passion and dedication, hopefully next year we'll see them at Wacken in Germany (They were the SA runners up this this year to "Zombies ate my Girlfriend", who won the international leg of the Wacken battle of the bands!).

Personally - trying to be a metal bassist has been a most excellent challenge - I've had to work on every aspect of playing and there is no doubt to the benefits for me as a musician. The guys I'm playing with are damn fine musicians - I'm lucky to get a chance to learn in that environment from and with guys who all have a blast making music. The genre just happens to be Djent 8)

Doomsower

G-Man wrote:
Foottapiologist wrote: I can't stomach metal and was unble to listen to the end of those songs. It conjures up images of 12 year olds in moms garage and a bloated Rob Chapman practicing in front of a mirror. Please don't choose rap for the next challenge. ?
So I'm not able to vote BUT logged in to high five the enthusiastic participants for efforts involved in the recording and mixing.

These kind of posts really irritate me. Thanks for stooping down to everyone's level to share your opinion, really contributes a lot to the discussion and general discourse of the spirit of these challenges. The fact of the matter is that metal as a genre requires as much skill and practice and passion as any other musical genre out there, even the ones that you can stomach. I know many many musicians who play metal (as well as other styles as well, fancy that...) and I can assure you, they are not kids fucking around in their parents garages.

Don't feed the trolls or argue with toddlers gods dang it.

V8

Doomsower wrote: Don't feed the trolls or argue with toddlers gods dang it.

Honestly, I feel there is no need to get overly riled up by an opinion.

Footapologist's has made a few posts where I though it was borderline - but I interpreted as sardonic commentary and not an attempt to insult/degrade. It's a wafer think line. If you feel that he is trolling, I'm happy to have Norio mediate (or just click the report to moderator button below his post).

But, in the ~~festive~~ silly season, let us remember that not everyone may be feeling the jolliness...

Hasie

There was some really good guitar playing done here. Playing with that amount of gain is difficult - keeping it clean. The speed, timing and accuracy is also difficult when playing metal.

I really enjoyed it. We have some talent here. And now have a new banf to look up some info on and try and go to a live show.

peterleroux

Some nice work here, enjoy the tones everyone got. I'm not clued up on the genre at all but I enjoyed what I hear, and I'm sure you all learnt from working on this.

I learnt a lot in my attempt (mostly about programming drums in 5/4 time), even though when the crunch came, spending the day with a new kitten won out over a day recording.

It's particularly cool to see a collaboration again this time around.

warrenpridgeon

Foottapiologist wrote: I can't stomach metal and was unble to listen to the end of those songs. It conjures up images of 12 year olds in moms garage and a bloated Rob Chapman practicing in front of a mirror. Please don't choose rap for the next challenge. ?
So I'm not able to vote BUT logged in to high five the enthusiastic participants for efforts involved in the recording and mixing.

I wish I was half as good as Rob Chapman or even most of the people who started jamming when they were 12 in mom's garage.

Please try and provide constructive feedback in the future.

Hasie

It was fun trying though.
Time to remove those embarressingly thick strings. Anyone need some fairly fresh thick strings?

wern101

Well I have had some time to properly listen. Thoroughly impressed y'all. My votes are in. ?

And in the style of our competitions, here is my 25 cents worth of comment on each entry:

Warren – Really nice tone. Personally I think the song should have started with your riff – which was very cool! That first bit doesn’t do justice imo. I get what you tried to do with the vocals, but it feels like two different songs when the vocals start? Well done though. Nice sounds man!

Doomsower and Richard – nice one gents. A bit short though. Was aching for a few riffs! Nice ‘dark’ lead tone and plenty heaviness to the rhythm. Well done.

Exsanguinator – wow! In my opinion the most ‘metal’ of the tracks. Really digged it! Amazing lead playing! Well done.

Stud – typically your ‘sound’. Really enjoyed it. Please quit your day job. I will buy your CD! Loved the lead, as always.

J-Man – well, clearly in the band category. Jislaaik. So much happening in that song. Amazing how you guys pull all that together! Seriously well done!!

Could I ask a favour – if everyone could give a hint as to their settings, amp use, effects use etc – whatever you did to generate your tone. I think this will help. Much appreciated.

Bring on 2017!! :bopping:

wern101

warrenpridgeon wrote: Then I played drums on my keyboard using a vsti in reaper and the virtual midi keyboard. Lol.

Please explain this to me as I have yet to figure out how to do this on reaper. :'( or maybe a link or an instructional vid?