Bass-less accusations

worker201 · #1 03-26-2008, 01:12 AM

Just for kicks, let's list some albums with little to no bass presence. I'll start with Metallica's "And Justice for All". It's plenty heavy, and has no lack of bottom end, thanks to intricate guitar-layering and mixing board minutiae. Probably the lack of bass sound was out of respect to recently deceased bass player Cliff Burton. Or a desire to follow and/or continue the tradition of mostly bass-less thrash metal in the late 80s. Or it was just what producer Flemming Rasmussen wanted the album to sound like. Either way, this is an album almost completely devoid of bass.

Got any others you'd like to share? No fair listing bands without bass players...

Deluge Of Sound · #2 03-26-2008, 01:36 AM

You can pick up almost any metalcore album and not hear the bassist.

Actually, that goes for seeing 'em live too.

BaroqueBass · #3 03-26-2008, 01:46 AM

haha I was gonna say justice for all.

Pstewart · #4 03-26-2008, 02:12 AM

Victor Wooten? :P
Seriously, turn to your everyday rock or metal.

worker201 · #5 03-26-2008, 02:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deluge Of Sound

You can pick up almost any metalcore album and not hear the bassist.

Most of the metalcore stuff in my collection is from compilations, and based on that small sample, I tend to agree with you. However, Avenged Sevenfold and Snapcase are notable exceptions.

I think many of those bands might have been influenced by the bass-free mixes of albums like "And Justice for All" and Slayer's "Seasons in the Abyss", which were pretty important metal milestones.

Nyarlathotep · #6 03-26-2008, 11:09 AM

Anything by Dimmu Borgir

neptoon · #7 03-26-2008, 11:12 AM

i wouldn't say that dimmu's last two albums, in sorte diaboli or death cult armageddon are bass heavy albums, but i wouldn't say they were lacking either...simen has some tasty stuff on those two albums

Nyarlathotep · #8 03-26-2008, 11:14 AM

I have both those dimmu albums.... I must take a listen again

Spinal Tapper · #9 03-26-2008, 03:01 PM

LOL - I don't listen to anything where I can't hear the bass...

MoD_Scotty · #10 03-26-2008, 03:07 PM

I've grown accustomed to not hearing bass in most of the music I listen to (partially because the system in my car is pitiful). But I can hear a lot of bass when I listen to stuff at home...studio monitors w/sub to the rescue!

Risen Ashes · #11 03-26-2008, 03:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by worker201

a desire to follow and/or continue the tradition of mostly bass-less thrash metal in the late 80s.

I have to disagree with this comment. For starters I'm not a huge Slayer fan. Every other MAJOR Thrash band that comes to mind has significant bass presence. Especially late 80s

Megadeth-David Ellefson aka Junior-the guy has the most in your face bass technique in all of thrash IMHO and it can be heard.

Peace Sells: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1DWoJBHibhM

Wake up Dead: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mWn-KRPCWiA

Hook in Mouth- Live in 1988-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=puSG8Jch0jY

Anthrax- Frank Bello's bass playing mirrors Steve Harris' playing and it is also heard. Just listen to the song

-Got the time? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d0Mgp4n9r58

Should I keep on? Ok
Testament-prob my third favorite finger player after Cliff and Steve Harris

Testament- Souls of Black- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zcu7BVG7JE4

Testament- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E48Ui...eature=related

If you guys can't hear bass in those bands then you guys need new speakers!

jollygiantchris · #12 03-26-2008, 05:14 PM

Corrosion of Conformity - Wiseblood
^^^
This album just has a terrible mix period the rest of their albums are fine but this one just sounds bleh. Haven't listened to it in awhile because the mix is so awful. Which is a bummer because theres some great tunes on there (why I have the live album

).

cranberrysauce · #13 03-26-2008, 05:51 PM

AC/DC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Flizzy21 · #14 03-26-2008, 06:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by worker201

Just for kicks, let's list some albums with little to no bass presence. I'll start with Metallica's "And Justice for All". It's plenty heavy, and has no lack of bottom end, thanks to intricate guitar-layering and mixing board minutiae. Probably the lack of bass sound was out of respect to recently deceased bass player Cliff Burton. Or a desire to follow and/or continue the tradition of mostly bass-less thrash metal in the late 80s. Or it was just what producer Flemming Rasmussen wanted the album to sound like. Either way, this is an album almost completely devoid of bass.

Got any others you'd like to share? No fair listing bands without bass players...

Im pretty sure the lack of bass in "and justice for all" is because the guys were messing with Jason because he was the new guy in the band. Like hazzing, i think its called, lol, im completely brain dead right now. I think i read that somewhere in an interview.

worker201 · #15 03-26-2008, 08:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flizzy21

Im pretty sure the lack of bass in "and justice for all" is because the guys were messing with Jason because he was the new guy in the band. Like hazzing, i think its called, lol, im completely brain dead right now. I think i read that somewhere in an interview.

According to the VH1 "Behind the Music", it was a combination of hazing and respect for Cliff. But Jason has left the band since then, and he has apparently made it out to be a much bigger deal, claiming he wasn't actually invited to the mixing.

Planet Boulder · #16 03-26-2008, 08:49 PM

White Stripes for some.......unknown reason.

worker201 · #17 03-26-2008, 09:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Risen Ashes

I have to disagree with this comment. For starters I'm not a huge Slayer fan. Every other MAJOR Thrash band that comes to mind has significant bass presence. Especially late 80s

Megadeth...
Anthrax...
Testament...

Although it's kinda unfair to bring up the famous bass intro to "Peace Sells", and "Got the Time", the most famous thrash metal bass song ever, I do have to agree. Testament, Anthrax, Megadeth, Suicidal Tendencies, DRI, SOD, and many others have great bass sounds. However, there were a lot of others that weren't so bassy. Sepultura's "Arise", a genre classic, is so overmixed that you can't find the bass on most songs.

But I just can't understate the importance of Slayer. "Reign in Blood" and "Seasons in the Abyss" were extremely important albums for thrash metal and the later metal movements, and both albums are basically bass-free. "Reign in Blood" is the album most metal bands cite as the reason they learned to play. Either Tom Araya was hiding behind the guitar, hiding behind the kick, or he just didn't show up that day. It's weird, because "South of Heaven", released between the other two, is a great bass album.

So anyway, there's 3 more important albums to add to the list, haha:
Slayer - "Reign in Blood"
Slayer - "Seasons in the Abyss"
Sepultura - "Arise"

What about other genres?

Alan Vorse · #18 03-27-2008, 09:04 AM

Is this metal only? I was going to say Prince's "When Doves Cry" and "Kiss." I think Paula Cole's "Where Have All the Cowboys Gone?" dosen't have bass either.

mr.black · #19 03-27-2008, 09:15 AM

most of the 2 member black metal bands lack bass.

oh and

Shadows Fall - Threads of Life!

worker201 · #20 03-27-2008, 05:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alan Vorse

Is this metal only? I was going to say Prince's "When Doves Cry" and "Kiss." I think Paula Cole's "Where Have All the Cowboys Gone?" dosen't have bass either.

Good call. A lot of Prince's hits have a very thin keyboard-dominated sound.

I think that Paula Cole song would be very much improved with a little more bass. Maybe an acoustic bass would fit better?