My latest track (Thraeol track #3)

BMU

This track took on a life of its own and kept sprouting new riffs and musical directions. But it's finally finished...well, finished enough.

This is raging metal with some shredding as always, but also with some quieter interlude stuff... I hesitate to label those parts 'jazzy' but that's sort of the feel I got from it. I'm mildly concerned that all this somehow sprang from *my* subconscious.

Lemme know what you all think!

http://www.box.net/shared/xtogf0g1x5

www.myspace.com/thraeol

Equipment:
This time I used the Ibanez Universe. The previous two tracks featured the EMG-equipped Schecter Loomis. They don't actually sound all *that* different, except the DiMarzio's on the UV sound somewhat "dirtier", which I enjoyed.

Bass is my Fender Jazz Bass Special set for maximum jazziness. ? Love a jazzy bass tone in a death metal song.

POD XT for all amps.

BMU

*bumpy bump-bump*

Love it, hate it? Tell me, tell me! 8) Where's the metal & shred brigade?

Warren

This has some really amazing playing! Love the contrasts throughout, and I'm pretty astonished at how "on the money" your rhythm playing is.

Sounds like some whole-tone tapping going on in their near the middle bit too?

Awesome stuff man.

guitarboy2828

BMU, I loved that track! Tight, punchy and as Warren said, really diverse, which just works so well.. Incredible skill too!

+1 to the track!

BMU

Thanks guys, thanks for listening. Much appreciate the positive comments.

@Warren: I actually find metal rhythms tough to do! Doubling fast riffs demands such ridiculous precision.

The tapping section is not whole-tone but you're not far wrong 'cos it doesn't obey the diatonic rules. It's mostly a major arpeggio (with the 2nd added) tapped out on the different strings... I don't know, it felt like it worked.

Guitarboy - yeah I like how the contrasts and diversity came out. Was wondering if it would perhaps come across disjointed to other listeners, so if it works for you I'm glad top hear it.

doc-phil

Awesome as always BMU! Your compositions seem to be getting more and more intricate. It sounds like you're freaking shredding on that bass as well! I take it you use a pick and not your fingers?

Dig the shredding and the track overall sounds very professional. One thing for me still is the bass is a bit too loud in the mix.. but I know you like a boomin bass line! ?

EDIT: Are you going prog on us? 'Clone Multiplication Cataclysm' sounds suspicously proggy haha ?

Warren

Just further comment on this piece.

I really like it, a lot! Would love to have this level of technical proficiency to bring into my own playing.

I've started working on some sweep-picking exercises I have at home, starting off very slowly of course, and I'm going to revisit the whole tapping idea again too (never quite got the hang of using it in the middle of a solo).

Thanks BMU, your composition here has been more inspirational than you might realise, even for a non metal-head! ?

BMU

doc-phil wrote: Awesome as always BMU! Your compositions seem to be getting more and more intricate.

Yeah it seems so, still not sure where the heck all that did come from. Took a long time though.

It sounds like you're freaking shredding on that bass as well! I take it you use a pick and not your fingers?

Thanks man!!! The first fast tremolo picked riff, pick. The rest, fingers! Even when it got fast again. (Very chuffed with myself HAHAA) I learnt to play fingers when I went through a bass-only period for about 3 years. I'm rusty, I just practice up for about a day whenever I need to lay bass tracks LOL!

Dig the shredding and the track overall sounds very professional.

Hmmm thanks. There are changes I'd make to the mix, make it a bit brighter sounding and master it more properly. But for what it is, essentially a demo track, it's ok enough... I'm sure the seasoned producer types can hear tonnes of cringe-worthy room for improvement. (That's an invitation for more criticism...be gentle LOL)

One thing for me still is the bass is a bit too loud in the mix.. but I know you like a boomin bass line! ?

Hmmm thanks. I'll take that into consideration. I don't want the bass to be boomy, more growly and jazzy. Still learning how to pull that off, always learning! ?

EDIT: Are you going prog on us? 'Clone Multiplication Cataclysm' sounds suspicously proggy haha ?

I've always been prog at heart. All my songs have those cheesy sci-fi titles!

I've started working on some sweep-picking exercises I have at home, starting off very slowly of course, and I'm going to revisit the whole tapping idea again too (never quite got the hang of using it in the middle of a solo).

Warren - sweeping is hard, just keep at it. When I started learning it was CLEAR I just would never be able to do it. I just stubbornly refused to give up. (The secret to success in a lot of things HAHA)

Tapping I find much easier... so obviously I never practice it haha. I'm not very good at it, I practised tapping for about a month, laid those tapping solos and I doubt I could pull them off right now!! Weird eh?

Thanks BMU, your composition here has been more inspirational than you might realise, even for a non metal-head!

Ok now THAT is a sweet, sweet thing to hear. I know how some bands just make my fingers itch to play, if I can do that for someone else that is really awesome.

inflames

Sounds killer!

BMU

inflames wrote: Sounds killer!

Thanks man. I hear more and more things that need fixing HAHA.

BMU

OK the more I listened, the more I got irritated by the (lack of) production on this track of mine. So I spent the last few days de-fizzing the guitars, de-nasaling & tightening up the bass, creating separate EQ spaces for the bass drum & bass... etc. (Or trying at least, big learning curve happening here LOL)

It's still not nearly as transparent-yet-powerful as commercial metal recordings but it's closer. And it probably needs better drums. Baby steps...

Please take a listen:
http://www.box.net/shared/xtogf0g1x5
www.myspace.com/thraeol

Willem186

I enjoyed that a lot, I really bloody did, the clean parts are absolutely my favorite because they are hauntingly beautiful, good job, my favorite song so far indeed... 8)

BMU

Ah thanks man. Glad the clean-guitar-with-shredding experiment (new territory for me) stood out.

[deleted]

OK the more I listened, the more I got irritated by the (lack of) production on this track of mine.

What ??? there'e no lack of production, at least not to my callous ears. Starts off with a bang, and keeps the intensity through out the song, with out getting boring, well crafted!

BMU

Viccy wrote:
OK the more I listened, the more I got irritated by the (lack of) production on this track of mine.
What ??? there'e no lack of production, at least not to my callous ears. Starts off with a bang, and keeps the intensity through out the song, with out getting boring, well crafted!

Thanks! My worst nightmare is making something that's boring. Over-ambitious, messy, confusing, all these things are fine as long as it's not boring LOL.

The previous version sounded more 'scratchy' (a known issue with very distorted guitars as you can imagine lol). This version is better but not 'there' yet...arrgh!

Thanks for listening!

BMU

Oh man. I just can't get this track to sound like I want. The first version was just a mess (fizzy highs, muddy boomy lows etc) The 2nd version was less fizzy but still too boomy.

Now I've worked on removing the boom... but. It sounds ok on good monitors but on earbuds it's horribly scratchy. And the guitars lost some of their power. Arrrgggh dammit!!

Also added an intro and some more shredding to perk things up a bit. When in doubt, play guitar heh.

Same link: http://www.box.net/shared/xtogf0g1x5

I guess I want to hear if others also find it 'scratchy' or any other comments. Thanks.

costafonix

fantastic,,,,,,
your mix is great
well done dude, you've raised the bar for everyone,,,
now I need to practise a whole lot more ?

BMU

Thanks man, appreciate that. Thanks for listening.

CostaFonix wrote: you've raised the bar for everyone,,,

Nahhh, there are some real pros here, they're just too polite to comment I think HAHA.

Conrad

I really like this track. I honestly think you are improving. Often instrumental metal is too light but this is heavy and I like your note choice on the lead work, especially the shred. Decent speed too.
Well done man. Release an album, I'll buy it.

BMU

Thanks man. This track caused me nightmares so it's nice to hear that. Isn't it interesting how as you learn, you become more aware of what you DON'T know and it seems you're going backwards... some outside perspective helps a lot!

Maybe I'll put away the lighter fluid and matches and not burn all my gear HAHA (just kidding).