Hard Rock/metal type thing - Now with link!

**Josh Ryan** · #1 01-23-2009, 06:14 AM

I've been dong for a bit with a long term guitarist friend and a new drummer, sort of an "as we have time" basis. Your thoughts and critiques are most welcome.

http://www.bandmix.com/after-the-ashes/

**Josh Ryan** · #2 01-23-2009, 02:42 PM

Including the right link would be useful I guess.

**Josh Ryan** · #3 01-25-2009, 06:44 PM

boing.

If you only listen to one song that I've played on this year, make it song three.

zeppelinbass95 · #4 01-25-2009, 06:51 PM

It is a little heavy for my taste but sound really good

nicktheninja222 · #5 01-25-2009, 06:59 PM

Not bad, IMO.
Keep in mind this is coming from a 16 year old dude, and my opinions may be of no or little use.

**Josh Ryan** · #6 01-25-2009, 07:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nicktheninja222

Not bad, IMO.
Keep in mind this is coming from a 16 year old dude, and my opinions may be of no or little use.

16 year olds have valid opinions too, thanks.

bassophil · #7 01-25-2009, 07:52 PM

The sound and the riffs/song are really good imo

There is only one thing i don't like and that is the bassdrum.
I don't like it in two ways: first it's a little too loud to my ears, i think at around 100-150Hz. Second is what the drummer plays (that a matter taste for sure

). I think he could play more serving to the riffs. The way he plays sounds to me something in between odd (in a good way

) and flowing. I would like it more extreme in one of these directions if you know what i mean

All in all it's just a matter of taste and the sound is very clear and sounds professional to me

alapantera · #8 01-25-2009, 08:21 PM

I love the music.

The only thing that bothered me was in song 3 where you guys went into main riff at the faster tempos. It just seemed really out of place and didn't really add anything to the song imo. Not saying the riff doesn't work where you put it, just the tempo change.

Great stuff though.

**Josh Ryan** · #9 01-25-2009, 08:34 PM

Cool, thanks for the feedback!

Joe Gress · #10 01-25-2009, 08:50 PM

Awesome stuff dude! I like the mix, the drums, bass, and guitar fit nicely together. The kick drum maybe a little loud, but it's not to loud considering the type of music. YOu guys are damn tight as well! And I can hear your playing and awesome tone clearly though out the entire song! Which is a big plus with me since most of the time the bass is to low in the mix with this type of metal. You guys wrote some pretty good riffs too. Some of the transitions between the riffs could use some space though. Whole notes for the guitar or bass or drums, or a mix of two instruments playing something simple over one other keeping the riff (or starting the next) sounds really good when you alternate between riffs many times throughout the song. ( and this last comment goes mostly to song three. I listened to apophis right after. Gotta say that I like apophis a little better.)

You guys definitely have a unique sound with the bass being turned up in the mix though, and I like it a lot. Now you guys need a singer

Keep up the awesome metal, and let us here on TB know if you guys do anymore songs. It's good stuff!

**Josh Ryan** · #11 01-25-2009, 08:57 PM

Thanks! Good feedback, I appreciate it.

Finding a singer is VERY difficult. We are checking out one guy right now, who I think has a lot of potential.

Joe Gress · #12 01-25-2009, 09:25 PM

Oh yeah, and for the typical all prying question, what did you use to record?

**Josh Ryan** · #13 01-25-2009, 09:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by joeinsprings

Oh yeah, and for the typical all prying question, what did you use to record?

Paul the drummer has a small setup in his basement, not really sure what all the gear is to be honest. I'll ask him about it. He records people at his house and at other studios.

Joe Gress · #14 01-25-2009, 09:56 PM

Nah, your bass equipment dude.

Jonny B · #15 01-25-2009, 10:09 PM

I like it. Good stuff.

hbarcat · #16 01-25-2009, 11:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by joeinsprings

You guys wrote some pretty good riffs too. Some of the transitions between the riffs could use some space though. Whole notes for the guitar or bass or drums, or a mix of two instruments playing something simple over one other keeping the riff (or starting the next) sounds really good when you alternate between riffs many times throughout the song.

+1 That is some really fine riffage and it's rare to hear some interesting new riffs these days when nearly every band seems content to let the song meander from one chord to the next. Good job and I can really get into that. Can't wait to hear a singer add some magic.

I like the quality of the recordings and I can really hear your bass. It's not all mushy like a lot of recent heavy metal and it's cool that the guitarist gave it some room to breathe in the recordings. I'm really impressed with what you did on the basslines as you're using harmony with the guitars and other techniques like sweeps and symmetrical runs and stuff that are not the typical "just play the root" method. It's tough to pull that off without letting the bottom drop out or just sounding silly but I have to say it really works. That means both you and the guitarist are really listening to each other and are playing to benefit the whole.

A bit of constructive criticism:

"Ashes" starts in 6/8 and when it transitions to 2/4 it does so too abruptly and it's kind of like a mental glitch. Maybe put some space between the two parts with an extra measure or two fade transition (or something). Same thing when the song goes back to 6/8. (this is pretty much what joeinsprings said.) I've found that a lot of times weird transition problems will solve themselves just by playing the song with a singer and letting the natural cadence of the lyrics guide your playing.

**Josh Ryan** · #17 01-26-2009, 05:49 AM

Hbarcat&Joeinsprings -Thanks, that is something we need to look at. Now that you guys mention it I can see how we got used to that shift but how it would seem awkward otherwise.

joeinsprings, I just use a GT-7 through a tech21 RBI with a GMajor providing compression and a BBE dding whatever the BBE does (lightly) into a SWR workingman's 4x10 (no tweeter, long gone, smashed against one too many tailgates!).

I'll ask Paul what mic he used. We went direct from the rig and mic'd it then mixed, leaning heavily towardws the mic.

dean owens · #18 01-26-2009, 08:20 AM

i dig it. personally, i really liked the drums and the mix. i'm looking forward to hearing more from you guys in the future.

armywalaby · #19 01-26-2009, 09:11 AM

Lovin' it dude. Keep it coming.

armywalaby · #20 01-26-2009, 09:31 AM

Dude yeah! I'm jamming these two songs on repeat. Good $*** bro!