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Posted by: Kristofer Dahl Aug 19 2009, 05:49 PM

Well these last months I have learned how hard it is to complete something when

You have got a baby in the house
Your windows disk crashes
Your vst instruments freeze every other Cubase session...

Nevertheless I finally have got a new mix for you - and as always I really appreciate your comments. I am not 100 % sure about the sound yet - any help is welcome!

Lyric wise this song is about one of the most peculiar phenomenons of our century: Modern men who organize themselves to go kill each others (and kill innocent people as well) in wars. You'd think our brains would have evolved enough for us to find other methods of solving conflicts.

edit - old mix here:
 real_men_dont_fight14.mp3 ( 9.06MB ) : 627

Posted by: Jesse Aug 19 2009, 05:57 PM

Love the sound!

Minor typo,
its "ROLL the dice, not role"
But I think you knew that:D

And, to be honest,
I dont think " we combat with.." is a proper sentence, we combat, is not possible, sorry.

"Because they dont have any brainS"

Big mamajama solo man! love it:D

Posted by: Fran Aug 19 2009, 06:01 PM

I like the voice in the mix, it goes through pretty well. Riffing sounds powerful, the combination once again reminds me of Metallica with a scent of Rammstein (no german this time!)

Nice Kris

Posted by: Kristofer Dahl Aug 19 2009, 06:02 PM

Thanks fixed!


Really? I am into deep then...hmm does "Our combat - just with words" work better?



Thanks Fran - yes the intro riff is quite Rammstein-ish isn't it!

Posted by: Jesse Aug 19 2009, 06:04 PM

Maybe our combat consists of words.... nah i don't know, English is not my native tongue either, sorry.
Im sure Fran or someone else will know:)

Posted by: Emir Hot Aug 19 2009, 06:05 PM

I like it. Very powerful. Reminds me of old Metallica - Kill em all

Posted by: Bondy Aug 19 2009, 06:10 PM

I love this one Kris sounds awesome \m/ \m/

Posted by: Kristofer Dahl Aug 19 2009, 06:12 PM

Thanks a lot Bondy and Emir (Metallica comparisons always warm my heart! )

Posted by: Sensible Jones Aug 19 2009, 06:14 PM

The problem here is that 'Combat' is a noun, not a verb!
So..
'We make combat just with words' or 'We make Combat with only Words' would work!!
Or 'Our Combat... just with words' also worksd!

Apart from that....

I like it Kris, as already mentioned a cross of early Metallica and Rammstein!!

Posted by: Kristofer Dahl Aug 19 2009, 06:19 PM

Argh - hope to get it fixed!

Thanks anyway!

edit - I looked it up and it seems "combat" can be used as a verb (well according to Google Translate at least! )

Posted by: Matt23 Aug 19 2009, 07:04 PM

Awesome.

Posted by: Ivan Milenkovic Aug 19 2009, 07:07 PM

Yes combat can be used as verb I've heard that in use several times.

I'm currently listening on laptop speakers so I shouldn't give any mix comments, but I think the song itself is very good. Nice tight riff and cool vocals, cool metal song!

Posted by: Skalde Aug 19 2009, 07:10 PM

Song is great, but it would be even better when we could see you dancing!

Posted by: JVM Aug 19 2009, 07:10 PM

Good to hear you recording again Kris! I liked it a lot. The mix sounds fine to me, riffs are nice, solo was great, I liked the ending a lot too

Posted by: Lian Gerbino Aug 19 2009, 07:30 PM

wow man! this´s awesome!!! I love the song, the attitude,the strength of the voice, the riffing, all!!! really really like it!
from my point of view, always you sing with a message you´ll express yourself in a different way.
is not the same to sing: "This song is dedicated to all the pathetic leaders of the world" than: "oh, look at that Blue Cow" x_X you know what I mean.

congrats! glad to see this side of you! \m/

Posted by: Kristofer Dahl Aug 19 2009, 07:35 PM

Hehe thanks for the awesome feedback Lian - means a lot to hear it from you!


Be careful what you wish for

Posted by: Alexiaden93 Aug 19 2009, 07:39 PM

Awesome song Kristofer ! Your songs are really cool, awesome solos and awesome lyrics... Your voice is very suitable for this kind of music ! Rock on ^^

Posted by: kaznie_NL Aug 19 2009, 07:44 PM

Very nice riff man! I really like the few solo notes after the power chord. I have to say I'm not very fond of your singing style, but I think that is just personal taste, since other people have said they really liked it! Some cool sweeps in the solo man!

Posted by: Alexiaden93 Aug 19 2009, 08:18 PM

How dare you utter negative words of our administrationator ?! Thou shalt be hanged ! xD

Posted by: Kristofer Dahl Aug 19 2009, 10:22 PM

I missed this great comment - thanks! I wanted to make a really long solo for this one.

Posted by: The Uncreator Aug 19 2009, 11:37 PM

Actually reminds me of Megadeth more than it does Metallica, Especially the spoken style parts. Riffs are great, your vocals are getting extremely good and well tones and the solo is wicked. Awesome job as always Kris!

Posted by: Sinisa Cekic Aug 20 2009, 12:49 AM

Wow ,great song Kris !!
I once tried to sing in such a way! After that I couldn't speak two days !!

Posted by: Praetorian Aug 20 2009, 01:26 AM

Kris - that sounded GREAT!!! Did you use your strat for this one?

Also, towards the end, after the spoken word part when there is the pause...then it kicks in again - I expected that part to be a faster tempo then the rest of the song. Kind of give it a killer and strong ending. Who knows...maybe it would ruin it, but I think it might sound cool!

Posted by: mattacuk Aug 20 2009, 08:45 AM

My thoughts exactly ! And as Metallica are awsome, no bad thing

Posted by: Kristofer Dahl Aug 20 2009, 09:49 AM

Thanks for the awesome comment Brett - both of us are making songwriting progress then!


hehe I know what you mean - my poor throat has endured a lot



I used my Ibanez RG with Emg81.

Man now that you say it I am starting to think I should have made a change in key for the last chorus...! Oh well that will be for next song! (these things always strike you too late)

Posted by: Jakub Luptovec Aug 20 2009, 09:59 AM

Just great:) But I would really say its simmiliar to mettallica - more of rammstein style.

Just listen to this, its the same style -

EDIT:great solo there btw.

Posted by: Canis Aug 20 2009, 11:11 AM

I like it!
I'm not that fan of Metallica, and since I like this, I have to say it sounds more like something out of a Kristofer Dahl CD

Posted by: Kristofer Dahl Aug 20 2009, 01:46 PM

Thanks - yes you are right, there is definitely a little bit Buck Dich in the intro riff! Their lyrics are more provocative than mine though (depending on who you ask I guess)


hehe thanks Canis!

Posted by: Sergio Dorado Aug 20 2009, 02:42 PM

In my speakers the theme sounds really great, so there are two options:

-Or my speakers are very good
-Or its´s a cool piece super well recorded

I think it´s the second option.

However in my opinion the rythmics sounds a little up in the solo, I think the solo guitar must be turn up the volume ( a bit) for emphasize it.

Sure! I have two little daughters and is almost impossible to record anything, unless they are sleeping or watching an animation movie

What programm have you used for drums?

Posted by: Kristofer Dahl Aug 20 2009, 04:34 PM

Very true - I hear it now that you say it, I will fix a new mix and adjust the solo part!



I use EZ drummer with the standard kit - to get more "metal power" out of it I have also dubbed snare and kick with a heavy drum set sample.

Posted by: Trond Vold Aug 20 2009, 07:34 PM

Awesome song!
The production has really stepped up too on this one. The guitars have more depth and bassy frequencies. Not as trebly and bright as previous songs.

One distraction caught my ear though.. the cymbal that sometimes gets fully muted sounded a bit random to me. It's a very minor thing to point out though

Oh, solo was indeed a bit low on volume. But the actual tone was great.

Posted by: kaznie_NL Aug 20 2009, 07:35 PM

I'm sorry Alex, I'll hang my guitar! or not

Posted by: Kristofer Dahl Aug 21 2009, 05:46 PM

Your comments are always very helpful - thanks a lot Trond! I am fixing a new mix now. (I am not really sure why there sometimes is a muted cymbal on the verses - I am suspecting it might be the EZ drummer humanize function playing tricks with me)

Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Aug 21 2009, 07:04 PM

Amazing song Kris! I love your music style! I can say that you have a unique style which is very important and difficult to achieve! Keep on rocking!

Posted by: Ivan Milenkovic Aug 21 2009, 07:59 PM

Hmm the reason for muted cymbal could be some frequencies clashing here and there, but I'm not really sure.

Kris, was the Marshall amp used with this setup? I'm a big fan of Marshalls, could you give us some details about it and the recording setup, would mean a lot. Thanks!

Posted by: Sollesnes Aug 21 2009, 08:09 PM

At first I didn't really like this song, but the interesting vocals made me return again and again. Great song, reminds me a lot about Megadeth

Posted by: Kristofer Dahl Aug 21 2009, 08:27 PM

Thanks Gabriel - I'll have to say the same about you!

Posted by: Sensible Jones Aug 21 2009, 08:28 PM

Well, strictly speaking you can 'do Combat with' or 'be in Combat with'.
I couldn't walk up to you and Combat you!!
I could walk up to you and do Combat with you!!!


Not that I'd want to Combat with either of you!!!

Posted by: Kristofer Dahl Aug 21 2009, 08:36 PM

It's a Marshall JCM 800 - modified with some kind of standard kit to make it sound Mesa Boogie'ish (I am not 100% sure about this - I didn't do it myself).

I recorded it using an Ibanez RG / Emg81 with an sm57 - three dubs in total. For each dub I also recorded a clean signal - two of these triggered Guitar Rig 3 ( I used their heaviest amp).

The solo is recorded with my strat and my peavey triple X amp (I didn't have the time to dial in a good solo sound on the marshall - so I just took my usual chain which I use with my practice amp: strat + tubescreamer + delay pedal + peavey triple X amp + red box to the computer)



That's really cool to hear - when I listen to it now it feels more like a rhythmic anger statement rather than a melodic metal tune. Maybe it's supposed to just hit you in the face the first time...


Let's not combat about it...not even with words!!

Posted by: sigma7 Aug 21 2009, 08:48 PM

i definitely agree with the buck dich style ... great tune man, very awesome!

Posted by: Laszlo Boross Aug 21 2009, 08:58 PM

Great song Kris! Tone of the guitar in the solo is awesome! This is my favourite part. Congrats!

Posted by: Eat-Sleep-andJam Aug 21 2009, 09:18 PM

One of your best so far. I actually like that you have not posted anything for awhile, you seem to spread out your recordings, and it helps to showcase how your improving as a player/singer/songwriter. etc.

Its cool to see what your doing with the lyrics, compared to what you used to write ( Bury All My..... etc. etc. )

The solo reminded me of a Slashy, Kirk Hammet mix. And as I believe The Uncreator said, the main stuff reminds me of Megadeth.


I would like to see what you could do if you really worked out some powerful lyrics, and made a Really Good Ballad.

Posted by: Kristofer Dahl Aug 21 2009, 11:05 PM

Thanks - great to get your comment Laszlo!



Hey! I still love the bury all my XXXx lyrics!



Thanks a lot John - I try to spend as much time as possible thinking of how I can improve my performance and songs. I find that nowadays the thinking part is starting to become more important than the practicing part.

I'd love to create a ballad as well - but I am pretty weak at writing chord progressions, and this limits me. I have tried quite a few times, but I am usually not happy about what comes out...

Posted by: Jakub Luptovec Aug 21 2009, 11:25 PM

Yea, they are just a weee bit more provocative Not that I speak german, but I catch a word here and there.. and thats one of reasons I cant stand rammstein :-/ They are just too weird

Posted by: MirkoSchmidt Aug 22 2009, 08:34 AM

wow, very cool kris!!! I like it very much! can i buy a cd with your stuff?

Posted by: Vasilije Vukmirovic Aug 22 2009, 02:49 PM

I like it, really pro mixing!
And I agree with title of the song!

Posted by: Trond Vold Aug 22 2009, 09:46 PM

Audiopaal is sitting here and we just finished listening through the track and he says: Kris has gotten much better (soundwise) and i'm really proud of him

Posted by: Kristofer Dahl Aug 22 2009, 11:25 PM

Thank you maastas!


Thanks! Unfortunately it doesn't seem to matter how many songs with this theme are written - the fighting still goes on!



hehe no unfortunately not - we'll see if there will be a cd...right now I am pretty happy doing tunes and publishing them here and at youtube!

edit - the reason I am happy about keep doing it, is because I learn so much from the critique I get!

Posted by: audiopaal Aug 22 2009, 11:35 PM

Seriously, I really liked it Kris

Great song (and great theme too!!!), and your vocals really fits this song!
Best overall song/mix I've heard from you, really proffessional and great sounding

The guitarsound really kicks bun by the way

Posted by: Kristofer Dahl Aug 23 2009, 06:16 PM

Awesome to hear Paal - thanks!

Thanks to the constant constructive feedback I get from you guys - I have done a remix and I think the solo is much more audible http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/guitar_forum/index.php?act=attach&type=post&id=17322!

Posted by: superize Aug 23 2009, 06:17 PM

Kris has done it again

Posted by: Kristofer Dahl Aug 23 2009, 06:18 PM

What - ruined a mix?!

Posted by: Ivan Milenkovic Aug 23 2009, 07:09 PM

I don't know if this is just my speaker and headphones combination but I still think the solo could use a bit more presence in the mix. On the speakers it is better, but with my headphones (K141) I hear more bass, and the rhythm guitar track somehow turns out loud in relation to the solo. Perhaps somebody else can listen through and give experience on their sound systems.

PS Great solo btw!

Posted by: Sensible Jones Aug 23 2009, 07:18 PM

You got it!!