I’m currently in drum mode, writing, recording, and arranging drum parts for the new Autumns Eyes album. Drums have always been the foundation of my life as a musician, and I always go to great lengths to ensure the parts I write are up to the standards my musical mentors have instilled upon me over the years. In doing so, I’m forced to reference modern drum techniques and recordings to get an idea of what todays percussive landscape looks like. What bugs me about modern drum recordings is how fluffy they sound, much like most modern metal music. It’s all produced in such a familiar way, that it just kind of blends together into this mushy/fluffy garbage. I can’t identify one band from the next because they’re all using the same sounds and techniques. Snare drums are pillowy and over-compressed, while kick drums might as well be a completely separate instrument, and the cohesion of the entire kit seems like an afterthought. I’m not saying my catalogue of recorded drums is perfect, many of them sound like shit, but at least there is a unique variety amongst them. Perhaps this is the grumpy old man aging its way out of me, but I truly feel as though modern metal drum trends are poisoning the landscape of heavy music.
Bitching and moaning aside, I’ll dive a bit more into the foundation this new album is finding via its percussive roots. Overall, it has a feel similar to the 2017 album Ending Life Slowly, in that it’s more simplistic and driving, rather than complex or challenging. You’ll find more engaging grooves that reinforce the guitar parts in a way that makes you want to bang your head, rather than count math equations on your fingers. The sonic characteristics of the drums also find themselves fitting nicely into the entire mix, something that proved quite challenging on the last album Grimoire of Oak & Shadow. The density of those songs created a tight sonic landscape which made it difficult to sit the drums in a space that wasn’t competing with the other 900 instruments playing at the same time. So, Im quite fortunate to have found a kit that plays nicely with the guitars, bass, and keys. It makes things that much easier once it comes time to mix everything, and put the finishing touches on the album as a whole.
I should also mention that song titles are all wrapped up as well, a detail usually procrastinated until the last phases of recording are complete. To my shock and surprise, the lyrics and song titles revolve around, DEATH! What a unique perspective for an Autumns Eyes album, where almost every album revolves around the same somber reflections on ones own mortality. To be fair, there is a bit of levity in these lyrics, with many bits of uplifting thoughts to help contrast those of dread. All details any therapist would love to overanalyze, had I ever committed myself to paying someone to listen to my demented thoughts, rather than just have the world listen to them willfully. Either way, Im relieved to have gotten these thoughts out of my mind and into melodies. While the album itself doesn’t have a title yet, all bets could be placed on something morose and melancholy. Any suggestions?
You would think someone with such twisted thoughts would have to be living a life reflective of such despair, but honestly, life has been beautiful. There are always challenges, but thats what you want, isn’t it? How would we ever grow and learn if we immediately had everything we wanted in life? I’m a big believer in that phrase “the obstacle is the way”, which boils down to turning challenges into chances. Opportunities to capitalize on setbacks by learning how to manage them better, thus making it easier to navigate when those problems inevitably arise again and again throughout your life. Having the ability to channel frustration and fear into music is a gift I am always thankful for, but keeping the mind strong with motivation is a task only achieved through practice and purpose. I am surrounded by people whom I not only love, but who make me a better person day in and day out. The same goes for all of the fans of this music. The people who continue to share their support over the years who reinforce my desire to explore such an obsession with spooky songwriting. Without them, this project exists in a void that dies the moment it’s born, so to them I am forever grateful. On that note, I return to the studio where drums await my attention. For there is much noise to make, and more music waiting to be summoned.
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