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Posted by: Kristofer Dahl Nov 16 2008, 07:39 PM

Hi there - I am excited to show you a tune I am currently working on. It's a little aggressive so "soft-poppers" beware!

Lyric wise I have been trying to capture the feeling of having way-too-many-things-going-on-at-the same time (I am sure there are many other who share this feeling with me). Also I added some general evilness to the text - to make it a little more metal. ( " " ...you know )

Any feedback is appreciated!
http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/guitar_forum/index.php?act=attach&type=post&id=11312 (old mix http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/guitar_forum/index.php?act=attach&type=post&id=11261)

Pause.Breathe.
Don't you take what is left of me
Don't tell me what I am supposed to be
Don't you spill what is left of the weak
Don't you pause and don't you breathe

Don't confuse our time with hate
Don't you dare bloody come too late
Please step out, just walk the line
Rise from birth and die with time

Don't forget to pause, don't forget to breathe
Don't forget the everlasting cause!
Don't forget to pause, don't forget to breathe
Don't you pause and don't you breathe!

Pace of death - it's killing you
Pace of death is feeding me
With control you will let me in
With control we will die in sin

Doesn't it make sense to cure yourself
Doesn't it make sense to heal the world
Nothing is free and you will sacrifice yourself
A burden on you means a burden off the world

Don't forget to pause, don't forget to breathe
Don't forget the everlasting cause!
Don't forget to pause, don't forget to breathe
Don't you pause and don't you breathe!

Pause, breathe, pause, breathe, pause, breathe
Time to pause? I don't think so!

SOLO

Don't forget to pause, don't forget to breathe
Don't forget the everlasting cause!
Don't forget to pause, don't forget to breathe
Don't you pause and don't you breathe!

Posted by: Muris Varajic Nov 16 2008, 07:45 PM

Love the riffs and vocal line!!

Perhaps you could sing this with a bit more "meat and bass" in your voice,
just an idea.

Posted by: Trond Vold Nov 16 2008, 07:47 PM

What a great track! Lyrics were excellent and so was the solo.
Quite a few moments reminded me of newer Metallica.

Posted by: Fran Nov 16 2008, 07:47 PM

Nice Kris, very thrashy/metallica, chorus is quite stressing actually . Nice end with the breathing

Posted by: Kristofer Dahl Nov 16 2008, 07:48 PM

Awesome to get some feedback from you on this Muris!

Do you mean on the chorus? - I tried a little but it was insanely hard to sing that fast with the growly voice. I agree that having a low/thick and heavy vocal dub work be really cool though!



hehe - so if you weren't stressed before, now I got you in the right mood?!

Posted by: Bogdan Radovic Nov 16 2008, 07:48 PM

Awesome tune Kris !! I love the chorus , its very cool and catchy!!

Posted by: Kristofer Dahl Nov 16 2008, 07:49 PM

WOW - thanks Trond!

Posted by: Muris Varajic Nov 16 2008, 07:52 PM

You're welcome Kris.

Actually I was thinking more of the beginning section.
Chorus is more or less fine cause you sing pretty higher and fast
and that's when voice goes thin anyhow.
But for beginning when you sing lower notes I think
you might try more mature sound voice,maybe mature is the wrong word.
Hmm,maybe less growling and more nature/deep voice.

Posted by: skennington Nov 16 2008, 07:55 PM

If you dubbed the vocals like you said, I think it would be complete! Great song Kris

Posted by: Kristofer Dahl Nov 16 2008, 07:55 PM

Ahh I see what you mean - basically more singing and less of the growling on the verses! The problem is - singing cleanly is a lot harder for me than to do that semi-growl thing. (No excuses though, I need to practice!).

Actually my vocal practicing nowadays only focuses on clean singing - the last two years I have basically just practiced getting the "angry tone" - so I guess the time is here for me to actually learn to nail the notes!

Posted by: Dejan Farkas Nov 16 2008, 07:58 PM

I think you managed to match lyrics with music, very frenetic

I share this feeling with you definitely, and today was thinking about it and how to clear my mind

Posted by: Muris Varajic Nov 16 2008, 08:10 PM

Nooo,notes are fine!
It's just less growling and more power,that's my taste tho.

Posted by: Canis Nov 16 2008, 08:15 PM

Wow! This is kickass!
Looking forward to your album

Posted by: Sentenced Nov 16 2008, 08:22 PM

I love your songs kris, and this reminds me also of metallica. I like it and its very catchy from the beginning on.

Some lessons from you to this kind of singing would be sooo cool. Its just the kind of singing you dont really find information about-at least i didnt find.

ps. A lesson about the guitar riffs would be also awesome.

Posted by: Matt23 Nov 16 2008, 08:32 PM

Cool song. I personally would have the guitar a bit quiter and the vocals a bit louder, but it was really good.

Posted by: Nazgul Nov 16 2008, 08:40 PM

Wow, great song! Though I think after listening to this song a few times you will get mad.

Posted by: Kristofer Dahl Nov 16 2008, 08:48 PM

Thanks Sentnced - I would love to put some lesson together covering this tune!



Ah I see - I hope to get there! (I like that style as well!)



Hehe - I actually asked my mum if she didn't think this song was aggressive and cool. And she said "no you just sound completely mad!"



Thanks Canis - I am inspired to do an album - and I have been learning a lot about the sound engineering part lately. (there are so many good resources on the web)

Posted by: Kuba Szafran Nov 16 2008, 08:53 PM

Kicks asses ! You've got a characteristic way of singing Kris, I like it.

Posted by: Siggum Nov 16 2008, 09:17 PM

Love the track Kris... great energy and aggressivness The chorus is especially cool

Posted by: Emir Hot Nov 16 2008, 09:23 PM

cool song Kristofer. Nice vocal too

Posted by: Smells Nov 16 2008, 09:58 PM

speechless.... in a good way of course!! I would have to moderate myself after sayng what I`d like to write, so heres the polite version!! "oh my that was truly excellent!!" I loved the main riff, sooo catchy! vocals awesome, although I`d like to hear them a little more in the mix, perhaps as Muris was saying also.

Blown away truly great!

Posted by: Kristofer Dahl Nov 16 2008, 10:02 PM

Hehe thanks so much guys!

@ Smells - that was polite enough - thanks! I now realise I should try to get some other cd player/monitors - I unfortunately only have one pair here (nothing to compare with).

Posted by: Trond Vold Nov 17 2008, 03:45 AM

Been listening through it a bit now and i noticed something; The solo could stand out alot more!
How about doubling the solo with a track with more low end frequencies, then pan the solo tracks 40-50% left and right and slightly lower the volume of the rhythm guitars? I think that could bring it out more

Posted by: Kristofer Dahl Nov 17 2008, 09:49 AM

Thanks Trond that's an excellent suggestion - the solo does feel a little thin (sound wise). I will give this a shot - also I'll try to see if I can achieve something with plug ins (I haven't really added any "fattening" effects on that track).



Do you mean to lower them only on the solo part - or the maybe the whole tune?

Posted by: Trond Vold Nov 17 2008, 01:37 PM

Just on the solo part

Posted by: Crazyfret Nov 17 2008, 01:45 PM

Great track Kris

Posted by: Andrew Cockburn Nov 17 2008, 02:29 PM

Awesome! That was **** ** **** *** *** ! An d the bit where you ** **** *** ** - I nearly *****&* ** * *^%!@$#^#$@^!%#@^$!#^#@$ !!!!!

Now I have that off my chest - I agree with what others have said but from a slightly different angle about the vocal and solo - I think the thing is that you have concentrated on the power of the riff so much that the rest didn't stand a chance! The riff itself along with the kick drums gives a hugely powerful underpinning to the song - maybe you need to dial that back just a little to make room for the vocal and solo? For instance, putting in fewer kick hits during those sections, or maybe eq-ing some bottom end off the guitar? There are a lot of options here, and just raising the relative volume levels isn't always the best way.

Once again, really cool, and I don't even really like metal!

Edited for language - Andrew

Posted by: Kristofer Dahl Nov 17 2008, 04:26 PM

Very cool thinking, I have never tried that - will do!



Glad you edited yourself there - thanks Andrew!!

Great advice - I will experiment and if I get an improved mix I will post it here again!



Hehe I was actually going to say that - it appears as though we have an over-represntation of metalheads - but now I just think it's people with a flexible music taste! (which is absolutely awesome!)

Posted by: David Wallimann Nov 17 2008, 04:34 PM

Man, that is killer!!!
I think your voice is getting better and better, I really like it a lot!
The first songs I heard with your vox were good, but now it's excellent, really!!!
Now you need to tell us what kind of mic you used and what effects you used for the vox. I think they blend into the mix really well!

Posted by: Kristofer Dahl Nov 17 2008, 10:02 PM

Thanks a lot David!

For this one I used a low budget TSM MT87 microphone and Behringer Tube Ultragain MIC200 (to get some tube warmth and compression/limiter).

On top of that I have added SIR impulse response reverb (free) and the standard compression in the recording software.

Posted by: Pi38 Nov 17 2008, 10:10 PM

Man, this is absolutely awesome. Way to go, Kris!

Posted by: Gus Nov 18 2008, 12:02 AM

Riff is killer. Definitely it does not sound like elevator music!
Nice job.

I pretty much agree with Muris and Andrew's comments.
Since there is not much space for the solo with this riff, what about considering making a solo as an outro? Here is a good example: The fire and the fury, by firewind.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHy-OVlijsQ

Posted by: DeepRoots Nov 18 2008, 12:07 AM

Kris- i really love this tune.....this will be my alarm tune to wake me up for this week

Can't wait to hear it after the few tweaks i've seen suggested- but great job...your singing has come a long way (in a relatively short period of time too- or have i been here that long?!?!? )

Congrats

Posted by: MickeM Nov 18 2008, 12:02 PM

That was cool and fresh idea with the speed singing fitting the very theme of the song

Not so much Metallica (sorry lol) that was mentioned earlier but I get RATM vibes, both from guitar sound and "Zach's" angriest vocals.

Uhm... when the guitar so to say hangs (f.ex 11 sec into song) I miss some Rammstein dingeli-dongely random beeping synth ..eh, synth beeps. Sort of like in "Du Hast"

Wow, influented by Metallica, Rage against the Machine and Rammstein. The result just MUST be HEAVY!

Posted by: Kristofer Dahl Nov 18 2008, 10:02 PM

Wow so many great comments - I am thrilled, thanks!

I have now tweaked the mix following your advice.

* I have raised vocal dubs to get a little more power to the vocal lead, and backed rhythm guitars slightly

* I have tweaked the solo with a multiband compressor + a panned out octave effect to get a little more bottom and stereo width.

* I have added a little more punch to the snare drum.

I really wanted to go for some kind of Rammstein synthesizer effect on on the guitar "hanging" parts (bent notes) as Micke suggested. I could clearly hear that in my head + I love Rammstein. However I don't really master synthesizers + since I haven't used any in the song it doesn't feel right throwing them in on one single spot. However I am aiming to fat things up with cool synthesizers in future recordings.

http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/guitar_forum/index.php?act=attach&type=post&id=11312 is the new mix! Thanks again for all the input - personally I think this mix is a lot better.

Posted by: skennington Nov 18 2008, 10:18 PM

Sounds better IMO Kris, not that it didn't sound good to begin with. This mix fits the style much better. Allot more ballsy which sounds great to me!

Posted by: Canis Nov 18 2008, 10:31 PM

Sounds even more kickass

I can't imagine how perfect this song would be if/when played with a whole live band

Posted by: Fran Nov 18 2008, 10:58 PM

Sounds much more powerful & bassy now, sound feels "full", so, to sum up, kick a$$ song there Kris

Posted by: Kristofer Dahl Nov 18 2008, 11:01 PM

Well if you like it - thank yourselves! You are the ones responsable for bringing the mix up a [necessary] notch! Thanks!

Posted by: rokchik Nov 18 2008, 11:42 PM

I'm listening to the tweaked version and my dogs have all rolled over into complete submission...

Kris this song so ROKS \m/ You did a great job with the adjustments... it's just that much more aggressive and punchy. I love the lyrics and when that chorus kicks in well, I almost forgot to breathe The hard work you've been putting into your vocals is definitely showing, you sound great. And well it goes without saying how phenomenal the guitar work is. I love it!!!! Great job sir!

rok

Posted by: ItsMe Nov 19 2008, 12:07 AM

Man, just listend to the song. Great riffing, cool grunting nice solo and allot of energy. Absolutely hits my mood.
Aaaawsome Feel the same way like you. Always ten things happening at a time

Ah, and by the way, I wouldn't hesitate to buy your album.
Just to add a little more pressure: Make the album. As fast as possible. Go go

Posted by: Chokehold Nov 19 2008, 08:51 PM

First i didn't like this, but i listened again and really started to like it it have been stuck in my head all day now

Posted by: besip Nov 21 2008, 06:00 AM

whoaaaa
so heavyyyyy stuff

i'm like it

Posted by: Kristofer Dahl Nov 21 2008, 06:58 AM

Thanks a lot for digging this! I liked this style as well so I would like to do another one in the same vein - but Nr.2 is usually a lot harder to come up with...!

Posted by: MickeM Nov 21 2008, 09:19 AM

Constipated?

Posted by: Kristofer Dahl Nov 21 2008, 09:25 AM

Well I don't know if that's the right word to describe it - but that has happened!!