She's The Darkness -- Metal

First mix.
Not sure I'm quite happy with the vocals (I think they sound too detached, and staccato -- might redo them)

LOVE the rhythm part. It's a bit sloppy but I just pounded the strings and went with the energy.

She's The Darkness by Thaedeus


Z

First mix.
Not sure I'm quite happy with the vocals (I think they sound too detached, and staccato -- might redo them)

LOVE the rhythm part. It's a bit sloppy but I just pounded the strings and went with the energy.

Good song in your own unique style Z.....but I'm glad you said First Mix because that means you know it still needs a little tweaking.

My view is that the mighty rhythm part (great sound) is overpowering the vocals. Consequently the listener is drawn away from the actual song to the wall of sound that surrounds it.

I think that lowering the rhythm guitar in the mix is a priority here. Personally although this part is OK it would sound much better if you introduced some staccato into the chord playing to break up the continous grind....that would sound so cool.

I believe that if you worked on that first then you could re assess the vocals to see what was necessary....but they may be OK as they are...its hard to tell

Song is good but just a little tweaking needed I think

globaltrancemission wrote:First mix.
Not sure I'm quite happy with the vocals (I think they sound too detached, and staccato -- might redo them)

LOVE the rhythm part. It's a bit sloppy but I just pounded the strings and went with the energy.

Good song in your own unique style Z.....but I'm glad you said First Mix because that means you know it still needs a little tweaking.

My view is that the mighty rhythm part (great sound) is overpowering the vocals. Consequently the listener is drawn away from the actual song to the wall of sound that surrounds it.

I think that lowering the rhythm guitar in the mix is a priority here. Personally although this part is OK it would sound much better if you introduced some staccato into the chord playing to break up the continous grind....that would sound so cool.

I believe that if you worked on that first then you could re assess the vocals to see what was necessary....but they may be OK as they are...its hard to tell

Song is good but just a little tweaking needed I think

Thanks for the input! Yeah, I was thinking the same thing. A longer breakdown in the middle, and more powerful vocals higher in the mix.
The rhythm part was played straight through so there were no natural breaks. Usually I cut out the bad parts which leaves more breaks.....

THANKS!
Z

Making modifications now.

Adding synth break in the middle.
Redoing the Vocals ENTIRELY. less words. more space between them. more emotion.
Adjusting levels to get a better overall feel.

Up soon. Maybe tonight.


Z

Remixed!

Much better (I think). Thanks Peter!

Might still add some whispers in the synth break, and a little reverb to the main vocals.

But it's damn close.

She's The Darkness

The new words are:

she's the darkness
she's the power
she will bite you
she'll devour

her eyes silver
in the moonlight
her teeth pointed
she is the night

protect your soul
don't kiss her lips
she will trick you
yeah with her hips

look in her eyes
see the fire
feel her love burn
immortal liar


Z

Z.....it's not often I say this....and then only to those who are receptive to constructive criticsm....this song is not working for me.

There ......I said it...damn...its not something I enjoy at all but it needs saying sometimes.

OK....just saying it is not at all helpful without the WHY factor so lets stand back and take an objective view.

Firstly looking at the track as a whole it seems to all run on one level apart from the break you have put in which I will come to in a minute. I think the main problem is that you have been led too much by the main guitar riff which is so powerful that it just seems to dominate the song too much.

What is needed in my opinion:

Vocals are bit too dry in the mix and need some reverb but they also seem to be sung in a monotone which is following that dominant guitar pitch.The vocal approach seems too down tempo for the song.

Drums are lacking in fills and variation.....some fills on the drums would have really helped on this track.

The synth break......it just does not work at all well......it seems that the song just cuts out....then the synth comes in ...and back to the song like somebody switching radio channels. What happened to the layering technique we went through not too long ago.....slowly dropping things back in layers and building them up again.
OK Metal may need a different approach but guitars can be dropped back to bass and drums without losing the rhythm.

After listening to this I went back and listened to Hells Gate. Its a stark comparison because you captured everything so right on that track.

Sorry to give such a harsh breakdown Z but sometimes these things need saying and I am always honest about these things.

Of course you may not agree with some of these or indeed you may not agree at all ......which is fine....but thats how i see it.

Damn.....I just hate having to write a review like that.....with most people I would say nothing but I know that you will listen and take it in without prejudice.

globaltrancemission wrote:Z.....it's not often I say this....and then only to those who are receptive to constructive criticsm....this song is not working for me.

There ......I said it...damn...its not something I enjoy at all but it needs saying sometimes.

OK....just saying it is not at all helpful without the WHY factor so lets stand back and take an objective view.

Firstly looking at the track as a whole it seems to all run on one level apart from the break you have put in which I will come to in a minute. I think the main problem is that you have been led too much by the main guitar riff which is so powerful that it just seems to dominate the song too much.

What is needed in my opinion:

Vocals are bit too dry in the mix and need some reverb but they also seem to be sung in a monotone which is following that dominant guitar pitch.The vocal approach seems too down tempo for the song.

Drums are lacking in fills and variation.....some fills on the drums would have really helped on this track.

The synth break......it just does not work at all well......it seems that the song just cuts out....then the synth comes in ...and back to the song like somebody switching radio channels. What happened to the layering technique we went through not too long ago.....slowly dropping things back in layers and building them up again.
OK Metal may need a different approach but guitars can be dropped back to bass and drums without losing the rhythm.

After listening to this I went back and listened to Hells Gate. Its a stark comparison because you captured everything so right on that track.

Sorry to give such a harsh breakdown Z but sometimes these things need saying and I am always honest about these things.

Of course you may not agree with some of these or indeed you may not agree at all ......which is fine....but thats how i see it.

Damn.....I just hate having to write a review like that.....with most people I would say nothing but I know that you will listen and take it in without prejudice.

Honesty is the best policy Peter.
No problems at all.

I am definitely struggling with this one.

Pretty much agree with everything you said.

I am liking the "less words / broken up" vocals better than trying to cram too many words in,
but not liking the FX (too dry) on them as much. This has 1 track of vocals as well, which I typically never do.

There are only 2 drum loops (I think I used 4 and some programming on Hell's Gate) I need to use more or program in some fills.

Break is too abrupt and too plain -- agree again.

It's all good bro!

It really doesn't help me for you to say it's working for you when it isn't..... so we're cool.

Thanks!

Added some fills, ambient reverb on the vocals, left the groove in under the break....
I will keep beating it into submission....

Z

Better Z......bit more like your old style

Its always hard to follow a track like Hell's Gate (one of your best IMO).

Glad you were cool with all that...hey but only at FOS can you get that kind of feedback and you are one of the only people I know who accept that kind of criticsm and will act on it by having another look and making the changes.
I also know that if you feel that I'm wrong in my assessment that you'll tell me......and I'm cool with that too.

I think you could lay this one to rest if you wanted to now and start something else with some clear lessons learned from it.

Posted on the Mix:

More hot metal from Z with some more grinding hot guitar burning riffs.
This one runs fast with some pounding drums , doubled vocals and a crisp Telecaster lead cutting through the mix.
Gotham Steel has a unique trademark sound .

HOLY! OK!!!....
Z!
Heres what I want you to do.
BLAST this, AS i did......Listen up to it...Listen now......

.........
...........
,.........,.,.,.,....

......

Hear that music??? THATS YOU!..WOW!
COME ON BRO! NO METTALICA-SLAYER! RAGE!, Even NEAR this ""heavy-ness!"" of this MUSIC!

Its A WOW! Listen bro! ENERGY! POWERFUL!, Heavy ass stuff bro!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You should REFLECT on this tune! DUDE! You are HEAVY!
VERY HEAVY!
I dont think iv EVER heard a heavy'er tune!... AWESOME!

METAL BRO!
DACE>

DACE wrote:HOLY! OK!!!....
Z!
Heres what I want you to do.
BLAST this, AS i did......Listen up to it...Listen now......

.........
...........
,.........,.,.,.,....

......

Hear that music??? THATS YOU!..WOW!
COME ON BRO! NO METTALICA-SLAYER! RAGE!, Even NEAR this ""heavy-ness!"" of this MUSIC!

Its A WOW! Listen bro! ENERGY! POWERFUL!, Heavy ass stuff bro!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You should REFLECT on this tune! DUDE! You are HEAVY!
VERY HEAVY!
I dont think iv EVER heard a heavy'er tune!... AWESOME!

METAL BRO!
DACE>

Thanks bro! It's coming along.
It does make me smile to hear that rhythm part shaking the walls.

I'm going to make a video showing how simple the riff is....

Z

globaltrancemission wrote:Better Z......bit more like your old style

Its always hard to follow a track like Hell's Gate (one of your best IMO).

Glad you were cool with all that...hey but only at FOS can you get that kind of feedback and you are one of the only people I know who accept that kind of criticsm and will act on it by having another look and making the changes.
I also know that if you feel that I'm wrong in my assessment that you'll tell me......and I'm cool with that too.

I think you could lay this one to rest if you wanted to now and start something else with some clear lessons learned from it.

Posted on the Mix:

More hot metal from Z with some more grinding hot guitar burning riffs.
This one runs fast with some pounding drums , doubled vocals and a crisp Telecaster lead cutting through the mix.
Gotham Steel has a unique trademark sound .

Thanks Peter. There's no harm in helping me make it better!!!!!
I think you are right, that I should take the lessons and move on.

One thing I really appreciate about your music is how much attention you pay to the percussion.
I need to work on not rushing that part. That is hard for me, because usually I have a riff in my
head that I'm trying not to forget, so I just lay down a quick drum track so I can record it.
Listening to your stuff REALLY helps me learn how to do drums right.

You're 100% spot on that when something goes together SO EASY like Hell's Gate, it's real hard to follow up.

Z

Hi Z,
very impulsive Track i like this hard Underground tunes i have listen the first Song and now this one, great Job Z; this is a Killer blaster Track.

Ralf

Strangesmile wrote:Hi Z,
very impulsive Track i like this hard Underground tunes i have listen the first Song and now this one, great Job Z; this is a Killer blaster Track.

Ralf

Thanks Ralf!

I am working my way through your tracks! Loving them!
I also love that you posted about your GEAR.

We love GEAR TALK here!

Z