What's your opinion on my progressive metal band?

poorbassist15 · #1 05-30-2011, 06:41 PM

Hey guys. Well, I'm in a progressive metal band now, and I was wondering if any actual metal bassists could critique my playing. I'm a classic prog/classic rock/blues/R&B bassist, so I have no idea what I'm doing. Here's a song by my band, The Conjuration. It's unmastered, but it's the only song so far that has one of my basslines in it.

zSHARE - The Conjuration - Termina _Unmastered Version_.mp3

Hope you enjoy it.

Sound Chaser · #2 05-31-2011, 04:57 PM

You guys have a lot of interesting ideas, but (IMO) you need to work on arranging them better. The performance isn't as tight as it could be. With some time and some work you guys could definitely succeed (as much as possible in the extreme metal scene). Send me a message if you guys ever come through Buffalo NY and I'll try to make it out to the show.

Doctor Dirt · #3 05-31-2011, 05:46 PM

Well lets see I made it to the 2 min. mark and as far as I could tell you weren't in there yet. Now for me this is a generation thing but I'm pretty good about not understanding other forms of music. I try not to judge because I don't understand it so how can you judge it. The overall sound is a bit harsh and it does "border" on being out of tune, so does my guitar playing though!! The drum machine thing pads, electronics are something I refuss to get used to or appreaciate theres something about eliminating ALL acoustic instruments that just shouldn't be done. The vocals are "common" in this type of music, atleast I can't tell the difference b ut then again the country singers today all sound the same too. Good luck with this, keep your R&B chops up and what ever you do don't alter yourself in any way until your in for atleast 4 years ok!!! Man am I old!!! Doc.

poorbassist15 · #4 05-31-2011, 10:11 PM

Thanks guys. I agree the mix could be a little better, I'm debating if I should have a friend who went to college for it to come mix it.And, Doctor Dirt, i am in there, believe it or not(lol). Again, a mix problem. The electronic drums are because our drummer has to build chops to play the stuff(if he couldn't play it, why did he join?).

Sound Chaser · #5 06-01-2011, 07:53 AM

What drums are you using?

Jools4001 · #6 06-01-2011, 08:38 AM

Playing was a little loose and could be tighter overall, especially on the slow passages.

What killed it for me was the single stroke rolls from the drum machine - after a whille I couldn't tell whether it was double bass drum, tom fills or what. I do know it was extremely annoying and took away from the song rather than add anything. That type of drumming is very effective when used in short bursts, but plastering it over everything is overplaying in the extreme. Use the drum machine with more taste and you'll probably find it helps you tighten up as well.

I quite like the song apart from that

poorbassist15 · #7 06-01-2011, 11:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sound Chaser

What drums are you using?

I believe he's using Superior Drummer 2.0 .

poorbassist15 · #8 06-03-2011, 06:06 PM

Anyone in the southern VA/northern NC area, we're playing some gigs soon. Feel free to come check us out.