When I saw "pop punk" and "happy hardcore" on the page I was expecting to absolutely hate it, but I actually quite enjoyed it. A good breakdown will always make me smile! Also I have to agree with everyone who said that whatever vocals you add will make or break it. Good luck with that. Otherwise I'd say you're off to a fine start.
The cymbals need to be brought down in the mix. It's overriding way too many other things in the mix. The guitar is pretty weak in the mix. It needs to be more upfront, especially when you hit that breakdown. That thing needs to be balls to the wall.
The sampling stuff integrates very well into it, and I will also agree that vocals can make or break it. I'm assuming it's going to be the standard scream/growl/sing that most "core" bands have going?
Other than that, not too shabby.
@ThePhantomnaut
said:
" Oh hey, I am gonna record some music and will have EZDrummer as my programmer. For guitars though, how did you record it? Mic? "
You can record stuff pretty easily nowadays with a decent level of quality, and you don't necessarily even need GOOD equipment. You just need to know how to mix things well, get the sounds you want, and make the most of what you have available. I recorded this with my cousin in my dining room: http://www.myspace.com/embracethevillain
We recorded that using a little 15W Ibanez practice amp, some drum program (can't remember the name of it now), and a little $10 PC mic from Wal-Mart. It's not the GREATEST production quality, but it's better than a lot of the local studios would've done. We've still never added the bass track to it either. The only time I ever added effects to my vocals were just a small pinch of chorus, and then at the end for the robotic sound. Otherwise, it was just doing multi-tracking.
I think I used Acid Pro for all of the editing and mixing. Can't remember too well.
That's actually pretty damn good. After it's finished, put it up on the Rock Band Network. That's far better than most of the crap that gets uploaded and would sell.
" Oh hey, I am gonna record some music and will have EZDrummer as my programmer. For guitars though, how did you record it? Mic? "
You can record stuff pretty easily nowadays with a decent level of quality, and you don't necessarily even need GOOD equipment. You just need to know how to mix things well, get the sounds you want, and make the most of what you have available. I recorded this with my cousin in my dining room: http://www.myspace.com/embracethevillain We recorded that using a little 15W Ibanez practice amp, some drum program (can't remember the name of it now), and a little $10 PC mic from Wal-Mart. It's not the GREATEST production quality, but it's better than a lot of the local studios would've done. We've still never added the bass track to it either. The only time I ever added effects to my vocals were just a small pinch of chorus, and then at the end for the robotic sound. Otherwise, it was just doing multi-tracking. I think I used Acid Pro for all of the editing and mixing. Can't remember too well. "
Indeed, I realized it after doing some test runs on the current equipment... cheap ESP "cockstock" Horizon, a 30W VOX Valvetronix hybrid amp, two Rock Band mics (PDP one as my main while the default Logitech is my backup), and Audacity filled with many plug-ins I need. I also have a cheap Squier bass that gets the job done plugged to a big enough Ibanez bass amp. I also connected my bass amp's output to my guitar amps input, sounded what I wanted for my bass distorted.
We've got another new demo up if any of you guys wanna check it out :) It's a bit of a different style to the first one, got some of our other influences in there.
Kudos to it being instrumental - it's a relief to hear some trance-rock mix that isn't marred by poppy lyrics. Only piece of criticism I'd give is that the drum part is sort of boring with those quarter note cymbals and straight bass rhythm. I'd mix it up a little and use less cymbal/more tom toms. Also, needs more cowbell.
IMO, just do an instrumental album.... putting a vocalist might ruin your lil trance / metal thing you got going there... and if you do get a vocalist... don't get a screamo dude... sounds more like something a dude with a deeper voice might work better with.
Nice work mate, I'm really surprised to hear that was a home production because it all sounded very clean! I agree with the comments before suggesting you don't overlay vocals on that track. Whenever I hear vocalists for that sort of genre they're either going way too emotional with it or for the screaming "hardcore" sound which sounds just as poor. It was actually refreshing to hear something that was just instruments.
damn that music is dying for some hair-band quality vocals. somebody just needs to fucking scream awesome notes into a mic for it. lol good stuff dude.
@dopeman diss our music all you want, but don't ever call us "crabcore" :P
For everyone else - thanks for the kind words and also the advice!!! It seems that the vocals are either gonna make or break the songs, so we're just hoping we can find someone good :)
It was alright. The synth at the beginning is not needed and its too much trouble trying to discern what you were going for. I heard a heavy riff in there followed by happier stuff. If your influences are Blink 182, then god please don't match their shitty vocals. You're from the UK look to Radiohead for inspiration lol. Other than that, good job man.
lol. And the 2nd demo was not that good honestly. Just went up and down the notes along with an obvious drum machine (I know you use one but still). This is the obvious influence of bad contemporary punk rock bands, I'm sorry.
@veronicaXnerdd and @100_Hertz Thanks guys, glad you like em :D If we don't anyone good we might just have to go instrumental anyway!
@clinkz lol don't worry, blink-182 isn't really much influence on the music, they were just who got most of us into playing back in the day! Yeh the 2nd demo is definately weaker, we were just trying out a different style, not sure if we'll stick with it. Thanks for the feedback :)
I too preferred Demo 1 to Demo 2. I found the drum machine to be a bit too obvious, but I did like your riffs (they reminded me of Fall Out Boy...which isn't an immediately horrible thing, it's just an observation). Demo 1 needs some sweet-ass vocals however.
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