Jeroen Paul Thesseling - "Bassists In Death Metal Should Be More Audible In The Mix"

Web666 · #1 07-23-2009, 02:05 PM

Dutch bassist Jeroen Paul Thesseling (OBSCURA/Ex-PESTILENCE) comments at the website of the German bass manufacturer Warwick that most bass players should be more audible in death metal recordings. "In many of the death metal productions the bass guitar is simply absent or inaudible in the mix, which is a shame. Perhaps this is one of those aspects that will change as the genre evolves. We are lucky to have bassists like Steve DiGiorgio (SADUS) and Alex Webster (CANNIBAL CORPSE), both of whom have contributed greatly to the death metal style of bass playing."

Further information can be found at www.jeroenthesseling.com and www.warwick.de

Thesseling joined the German progressive death metal band OBSCURA in 2007. He toured North America and recorded their second full-length album "Cosmogenesis", released via Relapse Records in February 2009. This August, OBSCURA will embark on a European tour alongside ATHEIST.

SuperSnake2012 · #2 07-23-2009, 02:32 PM

Maybe in 1980's death metal, but in most modern metal production, the bass is very upfront in the mix. You would definitely notice if it wasn't there. I think there's a difference between not hearing the bass and not noticing a bass line upfront.

Barkless Dog · #3 07-23-2009, 02:37 PM

To me, today, its all about role reversial.

To me, in Metal, the guitar now plays in the bass register (detuned) and the bas, is audiable in the high register with a really treble/active sound, like Fieldy & in Meshuggha on top of the mix. The bass drum or double bass handles the fundemental low.

BassOrdinaire · #4 07-23-2009, 02:41 PM

I think he's got a point, especially seeing alot of local death(core) acts completely scooping out their mids, cranking the treble, and lowering their action to ridiculous levels, resulting in the bass turning into barely more than a clank.

His playing on the Obscura album is fantastic by the way. I urge all of you to check it out.

bassike · #5 07-23-2009, 03:00 PM

I saw him in montreal a few months ago and it was just crazy I really like his style, since pestilence.

JukeBoxHero · #6 07-23-2009, 03:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SuperSnake2012

Maybe in 1980's death metal, but in most modern metal production, the bass is very upfront in the mix. You would definitely notice if it wasn't there. I think there's a difference between not hearing the bass and not noticing a bass line upfront.

Nah, check out Morbid Angel's Altar of Madness or Death's Scream Bloody Gore, you can really hear the bass incredible well on those albums.

Audiophage · #7 07-23-2009, 05:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BassOrdinaire

I think he's got a point, especially seeing alot of local death(core) acts completely scooping out their mids, cranking the treble, and lowering their action to ridiculous levels, resulting in the bass turning into barely more than a clank.

His playing on the Obscura album is fantastic by the way. I urge all of you to check it out.

That clank should be more audible!

BassOrdinaire · #8 07-24-2009, 02:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Audiophage

That clank should be more audible!

Personally, I'm not a fan of the clank. I think Steve Harris pulls it off well, but in most cases, the clank overpowers the actual note and makes the bass sound tinny and weak, IMHO.

3fingerdemon · #9 07-24-2009, 02:45 AM

I like listening to fretless players like Jeroen and Giorgio because for some reason the string on wood tone cuts amazingly well through the metal mix without succumbing to lotsa treble and loss of heavy low end. These two players keep making want to change from fretted six to fretless six.

I talked with Jeroen at the merch booth after his set opening for Cannibal Corpse; extremely nice and humble guy!

BassOrdinaire · #10 07-24-2009, 02:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 3fingerdemon

I like listening to fretless players like Jeroen and Giorgio because for some reason the string on wood tone cuts amazingly well through the metal mix without succumbing to lotsa treble and loss of heavy low end. These two players keep making want to change from fretted six to fretless six.

I talked with Jeroen at the merch booth after his set opening for Cannibal Corpse; extremely nice and humble guy!

I second that. I love the sound of a fretless pulsing beneath the death metal mix. The mwah cuts through the guitars like butter, keeps the fundamental, and adds more depth/texture to the music. It's also capable of some pretty dissonant stuff since it has the capability to play beyond 12-tone music.

Gawd · #11 08-17-2009, 11:43 AM

I agree with Jeroen, although it is hard to find a good tone that cuts through in death metal. He's one of the main reasons I started playing fretless in metal, and I noticed a huge difference right away, it cuts through without any clack, and it gives a fullness to the sound that I could never get with my fretted.

MusicBokonon · #12 08-17-2009, 11:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BassOrdinaire

Personally, I'm not a fan of the clank. I think Steve Harris pulls it off well, but in most cases, the clank overpowers the actual note and makes the bass sound tinny and weak, IMHO.

Agreed. (IMO) Fieldy is a prime example. Only when the bass is playing by itself are the notes actually heard beneath all the clanking. (and its an Ibanez...)

I love Jeroen's fretless six-string tone. He's the main reason I'm getting into fretlesses. Didn't it also read on the Warwick site that he practices on a 72-note intonation scale?

NickBass81 · #13 08-19-2009, 03:29 AM

Loved Jeroen's playing on Pestilence's "Spheres", I got to check his newest releases...

Gawd · #14 08-19-2009, 03:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NickBass81

Loved Jeroen's playing on Pestilence's "Spheres", I got to check his newest releases...

His playing with Obscura is mind blowing, check it out as soon you can.

Akshat · #15 08-19-2009, 01:22 PM

Maan this guy is awesome.i loved cosmogenesis,btw he is Steve Digiorgio's new fav bass player in DM.Another really awesome player in DM is Erlend Caspersen (I know you come here :P)he's played in alot of bands like the new deeds of flesh,blood red throne,all seeing i,emeth to name a few.definately worth checking out.
Ranier Landfermann.rhis guy is a must check out.try and get hold of Pavor.they have two cds out,this guy is simply insane...oh and no point checking youtube.
Sean Malone cannot be forgotten for his incredible work in Cynic's debut album Focus,hes there in the new one aswell called Traced in air,but just not audible which is really bad as he is a wonderfull player.
Last and definately not the least Steve Digiorgio.this guy is the reason i picked up bass and wanted to play a fretless eversince.everything he does is just on another level.

BassOrdinaire · #16 08-21-2009, 05:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MusicBokonon

Agreed. (IMO) Fieldy is a prime example. Only when the bass is playing by itself are the notes actually heard beneath all the clanking. (and its an Ibanez...)

I love Jeroen's fretless six-string tone. He's the main reason I'm getting into fretlesses. Didn't it also read on the Warwick site that he practices on a 72-note intonation scale?

Yeah, he developed a bass specifically designed for 72-tone equal temperament tuning.

Gawd · #17 11-26-2009, 12:37 AM

Anyone hear his Ensemble Salazhar stuff? It's really cool. Flamenco/world music type stuff.
You can listen to a couple songs here http://www.jeroenthesseling.com/audio.htm