Guitars

Joined: 27 Feb 2006 Posts: 13400 Location: Earth

We started recording our rehearsals so we can have reference of our progress for our live shows. It's not perfect but I thought you guys would enjoy checking out what we're up to... The signal you're hearing is directly off our monitor board. It's Pre-Eq so it's exactly what the mics are hearing but before a sound engineer would EQ it at the EQ. I totally botched the solo... Laughing

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZrqXJN9e_oA&feature=plcp
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dwvulJusQPs&feature=share

Joined: 27 Feb 2006 Posts: 13400 Location: Earth

Thanks for the rep George... I can always count on you for a neg rep! Laughing

Joined: 03 May 2008 Posts: 6665 Location: Minnesota

Sounds good! I don't know about that bald guy in the background though.

Joined: 30 Mar 2009 Posts: 4739 Location: Dayton, OH

You guys sound great!

Joined: 05 Mar 2008 Posts: 3468 Location: North Carolina

I like it. The first song reminds me of older Atreyu for some reason and the beginning of the second reminds me a lot of As I Lay Dying's Through Struggle. Overall, I'm a fan. Good job. The guitar playing was spot on too.

Joined: 13 Feb 2004 Posts: 5634 Location: phoenix az.

ur new guitar sounds good.

Joined: 27 Feb 2006 Posts: 13400 Location: Earth

Thanks fellas. Laughing

Joined: 29 Nov 2003 Posts: 2132

Straight up your ars metal...love it bro Wink

Joined: 28 Sep 2012 Posts: 379 Location: Kent, UK

Lanning is Killdozer wrote:

Thanks for the rep George... I can always count on you for a neg rep! Laughing

What have I done now? I liked it. Especially that riff at :35 on 'Torn in Two'

I did look at the video and it was disliked. Was meant to press like. My bad.
DD is much tighter now, but only thing I was abit iffy about was the vocals in the chorus. But thats only judging on that video. Probably can hit the notes on other occasions.

Kudos.

Joined: 15 Dec 2008 Posts: 4257 Location: Derry, N Ireland

I love the intro to Seeking Clarity man Cool

Joined: 27 Feb 2006 Posts: 13400 Location: Earth

longhurstgb wrote:

Lanning is Killdozer wrote:

Thanks for the rep George... I can always count on you for a neg rep! Laughing

What have I done now? I liked it. Especially that riff at :35 on 'Torn in Two'

I did look at the video and it was disliked. Was meant to press like. My bad.
DD is much tighter now, but only thing I was abit iffy about was the vocals in the chorus. But thats only judging on that video. Probably can hit the notes on other occasions.

Kudos.

We have been struggling a bit with Colby's vocals when he switches from screaming to singing. We had a little meeting about it and it looks like the screaming will come to an end. He'll still use an agressive yell but the screaming is just not working for us as much anymore. The biggest things we hear is "The band would be better if he stopped the screaming". We just played a show last night and he stopped screaming and adjusted to a yell and sing kinda thing. It sounded better and more on key. We've been experimenting vocally for 2 years now and I think he's found what he's good at. We'll see on the next album. Thanks for the kudos and the thoughts. I was just picking on you about the neg rep thing lol. Laughing

Posted: Wed Nov 21, 2012 9:47 am

While I think the overall vocal for Seeking Clarity is better. I really hope his growls and screams continue to have a place in the songs cause they are stellar. Especially the growls.

(armchair quarterback time) It sounds like his screams are just vocally problematic when transitioning to a different vocal because of how high they get. And the one part when the lyrics were really fast, it must be hard to hold that pitch and scream fast at the same time. I think the yell/sing is a no brainer to switch to for the majority of songs, but I love the growls and think they should be almost as present as the main vocal. I'd like to hear the screams , but sparingly, and placed in a song correctly. Not that I know the "right way" to write a song or sing it but I think you know what I mean.

Joined: 28 Sep 2012 Posts: 379 Location: Kent, UK

Lanning is Killdozer wrote:

longhurstgb wrote:

Lanning is Killdozer wrote:

Thanks for the rep George... I can always count on you for a neg rep! Laughing

What have I done now? I liked it. Especially that riff at :35 on 'Torn in Two'

I did look at the video and it was disliked. Was meant to press like. My bad.
DD is much tighter now, but only thing I was abit iffy about was the vocals in the chorus. But thats only judging on that video. Probably can hit the notes on other occasions.

Kudos.

We have been struggling a bit with Colby's vocals when he switches from screaming to singing. We had a little meeting about it and it looks like the screaming will come to an end. He'll still use an agressive yell but the screaming is just not working for us as much anymore. The biggest things we hear is "The band would be better if he stopped the screaming". We just played a show last night and he stopped screaming and adjusted to a yell and sing kinda thing. It sounded better and more on key. We've been experimenting vocally for 2 years now and I think he's found what he's good at. We'll see on the next album. Thanks for the kudos and the thoughts. I was just picking on you about the neg rep thing lol. Laughing

Interesting, Interesting.

Thats kinda a frowned upon sector isn't it? Screaming and Singing one song.

Joined: 18 Feb 2005 Posts: 299 Location: Chitown

My opinion: The professionalism and talent of the musicians far outweigh those of the vocalist. It's like the three of you are a completely cohesive unit and someone jumped up on stage to sing - able to be replaced with anyone. If anything is holding this band back, it's the vox. The music is phenominal and song structure flows. The vox leave everything to be desired and would cause me to hit the bathroom or the bar when you guys came on stage. Great songwriting, Lanning!

Joined: 28 Sep 2012 Posts: 379 Location: Kent, UK

Flame war in 3...2...1...

Twisted Evil

Posted: Wed Nov 21, 2012 5:17 pm

axeman8 wrote:

My opinion: The professionalism and talent of the musicians far outweigh those of the vocalist. It's like the three of you are a completely cohesive unit and someone jumped up on stage to sing - able to be replaced with anyone. If anything is holding this band back, it's the vox. The music is phenominal and song structure flows. The vox leave everything to be desired and would cause me to hit the bathroom or the bar when you guys came on stage. Great songwriting, Lanning!

Have to agree...

That's why threw it all away when James from BOS said he didn't want to sing anymore...the only person i could think to replace James was Chuck Billy... I think he's a little busy so...retired i went.

You're guys music owns....the singing is the only reason i wouldn't sign you to a 7 album deal for 6.9 million dollars.

Joined: 27 Feb 2006 Posts: 13400 Location: Earth

I appreciate the comments and criticism for sure. We're working with him and it will get better, or.... It won't hold us back in the long run, so we're OK with it. The screaming was great for what it was because he was good at it but we're just not that kinda band. I thought we were and it kinda worked for us. Everyone, and I mean fans all the way up to producers and other industry people have said we WILL do better once the screaming stops. Like I said we talked to him last week to explain the new direction. Our manager sat him down and told him to rework the songs with new vocal melodies and that we would help him with vocal lessons if need be. He will either do it or we will find someone who can... And there are people who can available. He's been with us for 2 years however, rain or shine, no complaints and working his ass off, so we give him priority. The best part is he recognizes the need and has agreed to make the change without argument. That is a professional attitude.

Posted: Wed Nov 21, 2012 7:30 pm

Life lesson right there : everyone does better when the screaming stops Wink

Joined: 03 May 2008 Posts: 6665 Location: Minnesota

lordkronos187 wrote:

Life lesson right there : everyone does better when the screaming stops Wink

BRILLIANT

Posted: Wed Nov 21, 2012 8:04 pm

Lanning is Killdozer wrote:

I appreciate the comments and criticism for sure. We're working with him and it will get better, or.... It won't hold us back in the long run, so we're OK with it. The screaming was great for what it was because he was good at it but we're just not that kinda band. I thought we were and it kinda worked for us. Everyone, and I mean fans all the way up to producers and other industry people have said we WILL do better once the screaming stops. Like I said we talked to him last week to explain the new direction. Our manager sat him down and told him to rework the songs with new vocal melodies and that we would help him with vocal lessons if need be. He will either do it or we will find someone who can... And there are people who can available. He's been with us for 2 years however, rain or shine, no complaints and working his ass off, so we give him priority. The best part is he recognizes the need and has agreed to make the change without argument. That is a professional attitude.

That's good, at least give the guy a shot...once he starts singing and finds his range you'll know if he'll make the cut or not.

Joined: 28 Mar 2006 Posts: 5502 Location: White Haven,Pa

I like Colby's screaming to be honest.I wouldn't get rid of it all together just maybe use it in a more dynamic way?

Posted: Wed Nov 21, 2012 8:33 pm

Eternal Scar wrote:

I like Colby's screaming to be honest.I wouldn't get rid of it all together just maybe use it in a more dynamic way?

like Chuck Billy....or Max cavalera

Joined: 28 Mar 2006 Posts: 5502 Location: White Haven,Pa

Grim Reaper wrote:

Eternal Scar wrote:

I like Colby's screaming to be honest.I wouldn't get rid of it all together just maybe use it in a more dynamic way?

like Chuck Billy....or Max cavalera

Chuck Billy for sure.....love his vocal style!!

Posted: Wed Nov 21, 2012 9:35 pm

absolutely killer, lanyard. your tone makes me feel all tingly.

everybody already beat me to the punch on the screaming thing. i am way too old to appreciate that style and i was wondering if it's going/gone out of style.

keep it up. you guys don't suck at all.

tell andrea i said hello. bring her to namm.

Joined: 27 Feb 2006 Posts: 13400 Location: Earth

Brave Dave wrote:

absolutely killer, lanyard. your tone makes me feel all tingly.

everybody already beat me to the punch on the screaming thing. i am way too old to appreciate that style and i was wondering if it's going/gone out of style.

keep it up. you guys don't suck at all.

tell andrea i said hello. bring her to namm.

Thanks man, it's a simple mix of JCM800 and an overdrive... No "Hocus Pocus" magic boxes or modellers. I'm even using a Marshall 8412, which is the compact 4X12 they made for the 8000 series Valvestate heads in the 90s. I got it for free when a dude was clearing out his studio. He said "Take this POS off my hands". OK... Sure.... I have been gigging it for 2 years now and it sounds great.

I'll pass on your "Hi" to Andrea. You'll see her in January. Laughing

Eternal Scar wrote:

Grim Reaper wrote:

Eternal Scar wrote:

I like Colby's screaming to be honest.I wouldn't get rid of it all together just maybe use it in a more dynamic way?

like Chuck Billy....or Max cavalera

Chuck Billy for sure.....love his vocal style!!

That's the idea. We're not asking him to become an American Idol singer. Laughing

It will still be agressive just not the screaming we've used in the last few years. We'd like to sell albums... Laughing

Posted: Wed Nov 21, 2012 11:48 pm

Personally I don't think screaming is gonna go away. It was an aquired taste and a niche market to begin with but somewhere along the way the kids decided if it wasn't screaming it wasn't metal. And now the market is over saturated. It seems to me that the bands with the talented screamers are already established and have all the staying power they need. But that's not the status quo. The asking Alexandria and suicide silence people die off and it will go back to it's niche where it did well. But right now? There's nothing unique about it. Kinda like those poor glam bands trying to make it as glam was fading away. And glam isn't dead if you know where to look. It's just gone to it's niche where it can survive.

I don't remember what my point was.

Lanmans right though, less screaming will boost sales and fanbase.