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What albums were hurt by poor mixing?
Posted on 1/28/22 at 8:16 am
Posted on 1/28/22 at 8:16 am
Any albums out there that you think really suffered from being mixed improperly, to the point that it makes them hard to enjoy?
I'll submit the Sword's Gods of the Earth. It's as if the recording engineer sat down and thought to himself, "What is the core element of this band's sound? Is it the pounding bass lines? Is it the arse-kicking guitar riffs? Nah, it's clearly the ride and crash cymbals." The cymbals are pushed so far forward in the mix that they almost drown out the aforementioned pounding bass and arse-kicking guitar riffs, to the point that it lessens the songs. When I crank the volume on this album it actually hurts my ears because the high end of the cymbals is so loud, and cranking the volume is, you know, pretty much the entire fricking point of stoner metal.
Am I crazy here? Is it just me? Compare the mix on these otherwise incredible songs:
Fire Lances of the Ancient Hyperzephyrians
Maiden, Mother and Crone
...with that on these songs from their first album, Age of Winters:
The Horned Goddess
Barael's Blade
The mix on the earlier album is just about perfect to me, and I wish they had followed that template for Gods of the Earth. Is it just me?
Any other albums out there where the mix kills it for you?
...oh, and since we're on the subject of the Sword, I've always found the video for "How Heavy This Axe" to be pretty hilarious. Three of the four guys absolutely look the part of 70's rock gods with the mutton chops and long hair, headbanging and just generally kicking arse. But the poor drummer apparently said, "I don't know, guys, this whole music thing may or may not work out and I really can't afford to lose my job as an accountant."
I'll submit the Sword's Gods of the Earth. It's as if the recording engineer sat down and thought to himself, "What is the core element of this band's sound? Is it the pounding bass lines? Is it the arse-kicking guitar riffs? Nah, it's clearly the ride and crash cymbals." The cymbals are pushed so far forward in the mix that they almost drown out the aforementioned pounding bass and arse-kicking guitar riffs, to the point that it lessens the songs. When I crank the volume on this album it actually hurts my ears because the high end of the cymbals is so loud, and cranking the volume is, you know, pretty much the entire fricking point of stoner metal.
Am I crazy here? Is it just me? Compare the mix on these otherwise incredible songs:
Fire Lances of the Ancient Hyperzephyrians
Maiden, Mother and Crone
...with that on these songs from their first album, Age of Winters:
The Horned Goddess
Barael's Blade
The mix on the earlier album is just about perfect to me, and I wish they had followed that template for Gods of the Earth. Is it just me?
Any other albums out there where the mix kills it for you?
...oh, and since we're on the subject of the Sword, I've always found the video for "How Heavy This Axe" to be pretty hilarious. Three of the four guys absolutely look the part of 70's rock gods with the mutton chops and long hair, headbanging and just generally kicking arse. But the poor drummer apparently said, "I don't know, guys, this whole music thing may or may not work out and I really can't afford to lose my job as an accountant."
24
Posted on 1/28/22 at 8:46 am to TheTideMustRoll
As much as I love Lee Bains and the gloryfires, their album Dereconstructed is a muddy mix mess of an album compared to their other albums. It’s rock and roll but it’s almost unlistenable to me.
This post was edited on 1/28/22 at 3:30 pm
Posted on 1/28/22 at 8:51 am to TheTideMustRoll
quote:
Nah, it's clearly the ride and crash cymbals."
I don’t listen to much in this style but I can see what you mean.
quote:
Any albums out there that you think really suffered from being mixed improperly, to the point that it makes them hard to enjoy?
This is a hard question. I think most widely distributed music is probably mixed fairly well. I’d have to think about it.
Posted on 1/28/22 at 8:51 am to TheTideMustRoll
maybe more production than mixing, but the early lennon and harrison solo albums were severely compromised by phil spector's bullshite
Posted on 1/28/22 at 8:54 am to TheTideMustRoll
As a bassist, And Justice For All, really pissed me off. There’s no hear able bass.
Posted on 1/28/22 at 9:01 am to TheTideMustRoll
Monster by KISS. Hate that's gonna be their last album and the mix is terrible.
Posted on 1/28/22 at 9:04 am to tigermeat
Same with the Black Album.
Posted on 1/28/22 at 9:09 am to TheTideMustRoll
I don't know if I even understand what poor mixing means vs production, but I can remember always having to fool with my equalizer to make Divine Hammer from the Breeders sound even ok. It's such a shame too because the song is awesome.
Posted on 1/28/22 at 9:14 am to Decatur
quote:
Same with the Black Album.
I beg to differ. Their self-titled album is easily Metallica's best sounding record, regardless of what you think of the songwriting. Jason's bass on the Black Album comes in loud and clear and is arguably his best effort while with the band.
Posted on 1/28/22 at 9:27 am to TheTideMustRoll
I have no idea if this is a popular opinion or something that will get me blasted. I like Pantera, but I dream of hearing those albums remixed by whoever mixes Tool's albums.
It's probably why I like trash metal but rarely listen to it. It is so "thin" sounding. Any attempt to have a bottom end in the mix tends to still sound thin but muddy.
It's probably why I like trash metal but rarely listen to it. It is so "thin" sounding. Any attempt to have a bottom end in the mix tends to still sound thin but muddy.
Posted on 1/28/22 at 9:27 am to Hoodie
Black Sabbath's — Born Again and Forbidden
Posted on 1/28/22 at 9:31 am to RaginCajunz
quote:
Any attempt to have a bottom end in the mix tends to still sound thin but muddy.
Reminds me of the Dethklok bit where Murderface can't record his part of a track and Nathan Explosion says that it doesn't matter, they always turn his bass lines all the way down anyway.
Posted on 1/28/22 at 9:57 am to Hoodie
Ok I can hear some bass on my earpods. Not nearly bad as AJFA. I think the metal genre typically discounts bass in the mix though. At least the speedier stuff.
This post was edited on 1/28/22 at 9:58 am
Posted on 1/28/22 at 10:00 am to AlxTgr
I haven't listened to that song recently, but I do recall it sounding a lot different from every other track on that album. More reverb-y and jangly. Almost sounded like it was recorded in a phone booth.
Posted on 1/28/22 at 10:43 am to TheTideMustRoll
quote:Or they covered the mics with sponges.
Almost sounded like it was recorded in a phone booth.
Posted on 1/28/22 at 10:47 am to TheTideMustRoll
And Justice For All for sure. That is the worst.
Rush - Vapor Trails was horrible when it came out. It was a victim of the loudness wars of the early 2000's. I just couldn't listen to it. The remixed it a few years back and it sounds a thousand percent better and is a decent album.
Rush - Vapor Trails was horrible when it came out. It was a victim of the loudness wars of the early 2000's. I just couldn't listen to it. The remixed it a few years back and it sounds a thousand percent better and is a decent album.
Posted on 1/28/22 at 10:49 am to wareaglepete
quote:
Rush - Vapor Trails was horrible when it came out.
This is the album I came in here to mention.
Posted on 1/28/22 at 10:52 am to Decatur
quote:
I think the metal genre typically discounts bass in the mix though.
That is part of it. It can be hard to mix in a lot of metal as the bass players will go for a heavily distorted tone. Nothing wrong with that, but if you have a rhythm guitar that is playing very low and heavy, you are in the same sonic space and it can be hard to mix and the bass will get lost at times. These bass players would do well to go with more of an overdrive than just fuzzy distortion.
Posted on 1/28/22 at 3:05 pm to wareaglepete
quote:
It can be hard to mix in a lot of metal as the bass players will go for a heavily distorted tone.
My man. I always tell guys that you’ve got to find the space that isn’t occupied by the kick or the (generally downtuned) guitar. Usually, that means you’re sitting in the low mids or high mids. And ditch the distortion on bass if you’re competing with 2 heavily distorted guitars - that’s the formula for cutting through the mix and sounding clear and great.
St. Anger is a given, but I think RHCP’s Californication sounds like rancid dog shite. It’s only through the sheer talent and great songwriting that they were able to overcome the terrible mixing.
Posted on 1/28/22 at 4:16 pm to TheTideMustRoll
All Things Must Pass
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