Tracking and Mixing Metal

I have always enjoyed listening to a wide variety of music genres, but recently I have developed an interest in metal music. This was sparked when I began working with a Nashville-based metal band named Cut Slingload. I was paired up with a friend, Jon Pennock, to record one song for a class project. However, that later evolved into recording and mixing an entire EP to be released next month. Due to the technical guitar riffs, syncopated bass runs, powerful drums, and great scream vocals; working on Cut Slingload's EP has been a great experience for recording and mixing.

Probably the most difficult thing about mixing metal is achieving a good low-end balance between the bass and kick drum, as well as finding the right kick drum sound. Afterall, the metal genre is well known for its use of double kick drums. To get the kick sound that is on the EP, we first tried to use only recorded audio, which we tracked using two AKG D112s inside the drum and two Shure SM57s on the front for the attack of the beater. But even with heavy EQing, we found that it just didn't have the right mix of low end punch and high end click needed to cut through the mix. We then tried EQing just the D112 tracks and mixing in a sample underneath. At first, this produced a sound that was too "clicky" and artificial sounding. But with a little bit of work with compression and EQ, we found the right balance.

I have included the most recent mix that Jon and I did for Cut Slingload's "Suffocating”. Check it out and see what you think.

- Andy Roy