This track is soooooo interesting. It reminds me of some early NG Indie Industrial tracks with MUCH better risers. The rhythms are immaculate and some of those HITS, just... Wow. The only thing you're missing are those harder, grittier Cheshyre synth bits and some trickier melodies and these could easily be Madness tracks.
Someone better hit you up to write for them. Because this is an absurd specific kind of talent. The kind that goes perfect with Indie games.
Thank you kindly. I'm really glad that you're having such an awesome associations, I feel incredibly honored by your words.
If you liked this track, I can also suggest you these two from my YT channel:
https://youtu.be/rq5PxgmB2ms
https://youtu.be/QZTrl4mm5aY
This is really damn good overall. If someone was to ask me "What is power metal" I'd show them this and I think they'd pretty much get it. Main difference between this and most power metal is your vocals aren't multitracked whatsoever which... Well, I'll get to that because I have a couple of suggestions for the future.
First is the vocal mixing. The center lead guitar frequencies clash really heavily with your vocals (specifically during the chorus) and it really drowns them out. I'm not sure how this happened as I listened to the Youtube version and it doesn't seem like that's happening as much in that one. But in this NG version it's right around like the ~4khz range (I'm sick rn so I could be wrong about that my ears aren't playing nice with covid) they really just sit on one another. Would recommend Izotope Nectar to sculpt out some space for those clean vocals, you could even automate the effect to go off/on when necessary. Alternatively you could apply a bit more grit to your vocals with a touch of tube or tape distortion and that would help push them further out over that guitar in the mix.
I would also highly recommend multi-tracking your vocal lines, especially specifically for this kind of track. While your voice very clear and well intonated, especially during the chorus parts it could bring a well-rounded thickness to what is arguably the most "catchy" hook portion of the track.
Also, going to recommend something that people have differing opinions on: Over The Top compression on your synth parts. Especially at 0:19-0:21 if that little "bwaah" synth was heavily compressed it would really add some crunch and grit where it's needed. Go download Xfer's OTT plugin and play with it on your synth tracks. It's... A ton of fun, especially the Upward compression.
Other than those things, your beat 1 "slam" fx are super good. The little transitions and builds are very well done. The rhythm/bass/drum balance is incredibly good though. Your harsh vocals are... Well normally I very much dislike that kind of harsh vocal. The "black metal" kind. But... Yours may be some of the best I've ever heard for my taste. It's like an even more refined Scar Symmetry.
Anyway congrats on the frontpage! Got some damn good shit there m8!
Now THAT is in-depth :0
Thank you so much for the highly-detailed feedback.
I've heard from multiple sources that they find my vocals in the chorus to be a lil drowned out, so, it's not just your ears ;D
I'm still fairly new to more advanced mixing techniques like masking using EQ or using compressors with sidechains to make room for instruments, but I will definitely experiment some more with it and hopefully I'll figure it out.
The reason the NG and YT version might sound a lil different is because the YT version uses the WAV file, while NG uses the mp3 file. So, sound differences are probably caused by the compression.
I tried multi-tracking a while ago and wasn't happy with how they overlapped, but I am a lil more experienced now, so it might be worth giving it another go :)
So far I can only do false-chord screams which just naturally sound very Black-Metal-ish. However, I'm trying to learn fry-screaming and hybrid-screaming as well, because I somewhat recently got into bands like Tallah, Lorna Shore, Shadow of intent and I think it could open up so many possibilities for me and my music.
Again, thx for the super-detailed feedback :D
I'll definitely keep it in mind and try some of your suggestions!
Holy fucking shit, 5 stars for that insane ass bassline alone. Seriously that woke me up more this morning than coffee ever will.
Thank you so much, this has already made my day!
This track is weird and does weird things to my brain. "Existential terror" and "void" are pretty good tags, I think. The intro rhythm/bass licks are throwing me off, I can't tell if that's 2 or 3 note tapping. It almost sounds like the rhythm are 2-note while the bass is 3-note and it just comes across as... Welp, 'existential terror' again is solid. Really the whole track is almost trancelike, dreamlike and nearly experimental (which I personally really dig).
I dig the FX stack on the lead guitar but I feel like your lead line is the perfect candidate for multi-tracking some harmonies/melodies overtop of one another. Almost every line already uses it's melodic equivalent the following measure so you're already doing it, just layer it atop itself! Tuck both lines at that 33% left/right panned pocket for fullness and I think it'd pop a bit more.
I also think you could stand to punch up the drums a bit with some OTT compression, I heard there was a new free plugin released for it called "Cramit" you might want to check out. Literally google 'cramit ott compressor' and learn to beef that kit, I promise it'll feel worth it.
Idk how into suggestions like this you are but here's what I'd say: Beef the drums, multitrack your lead and maybe focus on EQ-ing out some of that 6khz in the rhythm zone and I think this would be one of my favorite grooving metal tracks I've heard this year :D
I love and appreciate any and all feedback!
The drums are done through toontrack so I should be able to change them up pretty easy. I’ll see how the carmit ott compressor works with it.
Multitracking harmonies isn’t something I’m super familiar with, I will have to do a little research. I did dual track the bass and rhythm and pan those, just not the lead. You caught me being lazy Lol! do you normally pan 33, I don’t have any reasoning for my pans, sometimes they are extreme but usually in the 35ish range.
I tried doing 3/4 and 4/4 rhythms at the same time and just having the riffs finish together. The riffs that sound like tapping are just hammer ons. But it starts on the high d and ends on the low d sting, gives it a weird vibe.
More than happy to share the tabs, notes, or really anything you would like!
Shit yeah. I love hearing metal tracks by people who say they rarely do metal because it always turns out to be very unique with their own tones and voices in there. Don't know why but I just couldn't help but get Bowser's Castle out of the portions when those twin leads played off one another. Actually all of the harmony bits were crisp yet slinky which is just what you want to hear in a track like this. The playing was consistent enough I was wondering for just a brief bit if these were VST guitars but NOPE, just really damn in-time. The 3/4 changeup at the end was really damn good as well. Drums were versatile and kept solid pacing throughout the whole thing, for someone who doesn't write metal very often I'd be sad if you didn't more often in the future after this :]
thank you i appreciate your comment!
Bruh you have a fantastic voice. Would recommend placing your vocals more into the forefront of the mix, your voice is definitely strong enough to carry the track forward. There were goosebump moments in there when the choral parts came in and during the buildup at 2:00. You should definitely be more confident with what you've got.
Hope ya make it to the next round with this!
Thanks for the reassurance! I guess it's just easier to see from the outside.
Fucking excellent.
As a fellow DB fan I am so happy you spent the time doing this. It really sounds great, incredibly true to the original while still having your unique voice in it.
Thanks!
My man.
Yes.
I'm absolutely in love with the vibes of this shit. I keep trying to fit guitar over major keyed lo-fi and it just sounds like obnoxious pop-punk. But you really nailed making lofi not just minor key dark but even darker with some of those switches. It sounds like grunge mixing but with black metal backing, and that high trem is such a great addition. That was genius.
If you're down we should collab on something like this. I swear there's something to adding some of the somber, punky or riffy tones into something so chill as lofi.
I'm sorry for the late reply bro! This was a challenge for sure. I'm going to keep experimenting with the sound just because it's so different and fun to try. I would be down for a collab! I'm working on a synthwave EP and some music for my band. I am getting together up here in Seattle. I'll shoot some ideas when I come up with something! <3
It's both easier and harder to write this stuff than you'd think. But once you get the formula down you can really just pump it out.
This is dope for a first try, got that kinda detuned vibe plus the chill beat. I think that's all most people are looking for. 8-bit section was fun but the strummy guitar at the end is absolutely perfect, 10/10 chillness.
Also, is that a bitcrushed/downsampled rain sound constantly in the background? Cause if so that's genius.
Although I do think the string pads at the beginning are a bit overpowering. They do add to the detuned vibe but it's a bit loud? Idk, the rest of it is great though. I would challenge you to try and mix metal and lofi if you can find the time. I'd be interested to see what you come up with :]
And yeah man! I am surprised there's no lofi section with how popular it's become.
It's a conflicting process for sure lol I'm just going to keep practicing and writing and see what happens. Now, lofi metal is a fucking challenge! How do you take two things that are the polar opposites and make them flow? I'm up for the challenge but doubt I could write anything good lol. I'd want to tremolo pick over the beat with some black metal vibes instead lol.
Hopefully, they make a lofi section. It would be easier to select when uploading. Thanks so much for listening and feedback my homie! <3
This is quite good, very cute. Caught me jamming with the "adorable"-ness of the whole thing.
I like make the sound go "bwaaaww"
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