Please check this out!

[Jakehammaren]

I'm doing a bit of shameless promotion here, but hey - how else are you supposed to get this kind of stuff out there?

The band I'm in (doing vocals), called Edda (named after the Poetic Eddas - it's a Norse thing, not the girl's name), has a new song out called "As Rivers Freeze", and it blows the last song we did completely and totally out of the water. I was hoping maybe a few of you 'Boardheads out there might mosey on over to our Myspace and give it a listen... we're pretty proud of this one. Its going in a good direction. There are growly vocals at the beginning, but for those of you who can't stand "extreme" vocals, give it a chance, because there's plenty of actual singing in the tune as well. Oh, and be sure to check out the 50 seconds or so... it's the coolest part of the song :animesmil

You can find us at [url]www.myspace.com/vikingedda[/url]. Hope you enjoy!

[Amorphous]

[QUOTE=Jakehammaren]I'm doing a bit of shameless promotion here, but hey - how else are you supposed to get this kind of stuff out there?

The band I'm in (doing vocals), called Edda (named after the Poetic Eddas - it's a Norse thing, not the girl's name), has a new song out called "As Rivers Freeze", and it blows the last song we did completely and totally out of the water. I was hoping maybe a few of you 'Boardheads out there might mosey on over to our Myspace and give it a listen... we're pretty proud of this one. Its going in a good direction. There are growly vocals at the beginning, but for those of you who can't stand "extreme" vocals, give it a chance, because there's plenty of actual singing in the tune as well. Oh, and be sure to check out the 50 seconds or so... it's the coolest part of the song :animesmil

You can find us at [url]www.myspace.com/vikingedda[/url]. Hope you enjoy![/QUOTE]If you made a full album with songs like "The Rivers Freeze", I would be inclined to actually go out and buy it, very, very promising sound you have going.

It makes me wish that I would start getting a band of my own together. Just no one wants to play Doom Metal in this area.

[Jakehammaren]

I do all the vocals. On some future songs, I'll be doing guitar as well, but on that particular one, the guitar and drumgraming are all Jeff. There are some moments where I didn't think my clean vocals were too good, but I was VERY please with the chant at the end.

Well thanks a lot for your kind words! We're pretty psyched about the direction our music is going. It's an incredible compliment to hear that you'd actually spend money to obtain our tunes. We will hopefully have an EP out within the year, so keep your eyes and ears peeled!

[John]

Not completely my style, but the talent's definitely there, and you guys most definitely seem like more than your average Myspace band. Most certainly impressive.

If you're really interested in making it, I'd go sign up at Sellaband.com. It's a long shot, sure, but what have you to lose? =)

[Mr. Maul]

[size=1][color=DimGray]I guess I'll never understand the whole Norse/Scandinavian/Viking and rock/metal fusion, but hey, that's just me.

Anyhoo, you guys are quite talented, especially for having never met each other in person. You've got the whole Postal Service technique going on.

My suggestion: You (plural) need to work on your EQ'ing skills or have someone else do it for you. There were many times when the guitars drowned out the vocals. Well, maybe not drowned out, but they're sharing the same frequency range so it's hard to tell what's being said.

Other than that, you're pretty good. Not my cup of tea, but that still doesn't mean you're not good.


[/color][/size]

[Justin]

It's pretty damn epic. It's a vast imporovement upon Fimbulwinter. A song I already found to be fairly impressive, all things considered.

-Justin

[boothten]

[size=1]I have to agree with Kam here. Your low growl vocals have gotten [b]much[/b] better since Fimbulwinter, they sound much more professional. Almost Black Dahlia Murder, but much lower. I do have to say, though, that the growls at times sound scratchy. Example, near the beginning, it sounds as if you have phlegm or something in your throat, because it gives off a wierd sound.

It may just be me though. I like it, I hope to hear more in the future.
=][/size]

[Jakehammaren]

[QUOTE=Lan][size=1]Example, near the beginning, it sounds as if you have phlegm or something in your throat, because it gives off a wierd sound.
=][/size][/QUOTE]

That phlemy sound is the production getting scratchy. As for the guitar being louder than the vocals - that's probably just something you're not used to, Mr. Maul. You said you don't really listen to Viking Metal (maybe you don't listen to Metal at all, I don't know), but the idea behind it is that instead of taking the front seat as vocals do in pop music, here they're inteded to act as another instrument. We want the vocals to sort of mesh with everything else. Of course, our EQing is far from perfect, but to be quite frank, I think our production and EQ sounds a hell of a lot better than a lot of unsigned/underground bands out there (not to toot our own horn, but hey...).

Either way, it's nice to hear positive feedback.

Oh, and we're re-recording Fimbulwinter with the new deeper growl as opposed to the black-metal type one in the original (crappy) version. I'll also be doing some clean vocals on it as well, so be sure to check back every once in a while to see if we've posted this new version.

[Justin]

My question is this: When performing, can you maintain your vocal patterns AND play your instrument? Or will you bring on more musicians to cover that?

-Justin

[Boo]

[quote name='Jakehammaren']but the idea behind it is that instead of taking the front seat as vocals do in pop music, here they're inteded to act as another instrument.[/quote][size=1]I'm sorry, but it doesn't sound like an instrument at all. It just sounds like someone failed at producing the song correctly.

Not my type of music - and I still can't see how it could be anyone's - but I guess that what I've heared so far is nice for it's genre. I've heared a lot worse bands, at least. I can actually listen to your music, which is a plus. <<;[/size]

[Justin]

Of course it doesn't sound like a literal instrument--it's a human voice. But it does act as another instrument in that it plays an equal role in the arrangement of the piece as the literal instruments. The idea is for the vocals to not be overpowering, because they aren't the focus of the song as, as Jake said, in more mainstream music. Many bands do this in the metal world, especially those most concerned the with the songs wholistically, and not so much with their singability.

The vocal placement is great for the music. It overall a very well put together track, and I can't wait to hear the rerecording of Fimbulwinter.

-Justin

[Boo]

[QUOTE=Kam]But it does act as another instrument in that it plays an equal role in the arrangement of the piece as the literal instruments.
-Justin[/QUOTE][size=1]No, it really doesn't sound like something that plays an equal role as the instruments. It just sounds like a too soft vocal recording.

Really, almost every sang vocal recording is as equal as an instrument if you want to put it that way. But if you record them too soft, they just aren't good.[/size]

[Amorphous]

[QUOTE=Boo][size=1]No, it really doesn't sound like something that plays an equal role as the instruments. It just sounds like a too soft vocal recording.

Really, almost every sang vocal recording is as equal as an instrument if you want to put it that way. But if you record them too soft, they just aren't good.[/size][/QUOTE]Do you mean to low in the mix by saying 'too soft'? Honestly that is how some vocals are supposed to be mixed and yes it makes it that much better. I know you cannot stand this type of music, but I can say that you are just not use to it and probably never will be. It is music, it is not the worst type of music out there and some of the people playing this style tend to have much more talent then any mainstream band or some band just under the mainstream ever thought of having. Just in composing the music alone most bands outside of the metal genre cannot compete.

I am not being biased on this either, it is truly a fact, I mean just look at Symphony X or some Progressive Metal Band.

[Boo]

[size=1]The way the vocals are mixed in the song, they are just overpowered by every other instrument. They just fall away in the rest of the song.

What made you think I meant 'too low'?[/size]

[Box Hoy]

[size=1]Well all I can say Jake, is that you guys have an amazing future with Edda. Our drummer Nick is obsessed with your stuff. I guess he was talking to Jeff and learned about FruityLoops or something. We've already done two songs now that Nick has done digitally on that program and it's amazing.
You guys are a major influence on Mechanical Undead, just letting ya know. And I'm in agreement with Amorphous here. If you guys were to make an album I would be very eager to buy it.
What's amazing is that, you guys have never even met and yet you have more pageviews than some of the major local acts around my town, on myspace.
Keep it up![/size]

[Amorphous]

[QUOTE=Boo][size=1]The way the vocals are mixed in the song, they are just overpowered by every other instrument. They just fall away in the rest of the song.

What made you think I meant 'too low'?[/size][/QUOTE]You literally said "too soft a vocal recording," and the definition that you just gave me now is exactly what I meant. They are supposed to fall away into the rest of the song, many metal bands do it and some do it amazing well especially Velvet Cacoon's Genevieve album. That is the purest definition of using your vocals as an instrument, and making it sound like an instrument.

Of course David Gilmour uses his vocals as an instrument on Pink Floyd's track Wish You Were Here.

[Boo]

[quote name='Amorphous']Of course David Gilmour uses his vocals as an instrument on Pink Floyd's track Wish You Were Here.[/quote][size=1]Everyone uses their vocals as an instrument dammit, but he does it in a controlled way. He doesn't let the guitar overpower his voice. He sings in harmony with it. Let the instrument part rest, every good artist uses his or her voice as part of the song.

But the vocals of this song are just mixed too soft to sound right. They don't sound like part of the song, but like a seperate element that's been stuffed somewhere deep within the song. If that's the point of this genre of music, the genre stinks. Singing in harmony with the music (as if you use your voice as an instrument) is not the same as just recording your vocals and make it so soft that it gets overpowered. Don't be so ignorant.

*leaves the thread*[/size]

[Amorphous]

[QUOTE=Boo][size=1]Everyone uses their vocals as an instrument dammit, but he does it in a controlled way. He doesn't let the guitar overpower his voice. He sings in harmony with it. Let the instrument part rest, every good artist uses his or her voice as part of the song.

But the vocals of this song are just mixed too soft to sound right. They don't sound like part of the song, but like a seperate element that's been stuffed somewhere deep within the song. If that's the point of this genre of music, the genre stinks. Singing in harmony with the music (as if you use your voice as an instrument) is not the same as just recording your vocals and make it so soft that it gets overpowered. Don't be so ignorant.

*leaves the thread*[/size][/QUOTE]I am not being ignorant and you seem to be the one who is over reacting. You have not listened to this type of music, so how can you even judge what is good or bad? How can you judge something you do not know anything about? Beyond that I am not trying to insult you or anything, I mean of course Jake has a long ways to go with equalizing all parts of the music, but for a demo track, or even second track ever produced it is not half bad. There are much better examples of this out there, but of course these other bands having being doing it for a much longer time. No offence to you Jake, I know you understand what I am saying.

[Boo]

[size=1]First of all: I have listened to this type of music. And I'm not judging the song, I'm judging the way it's mixed.

Second: You brought up that the soft part is part of the genre, not me. Now you mention that the mixing is just bad because the band is just starting. Make up your mind.

Now, I'm going to drop this argument, and if you want to continue it [i]please[/i] PM me instead.

[b]Conclusion of the argument:[/b] The vocal recordings are too soft because you guys are just starting. Whoopee.

Furthermore, the song is quite nice.[/size]

[Amorphous]

[QUOTE=Boo][size=1]First of all: I have listened to this type of music. And I'm not judging the song, I'm judging the way it's mixed.

Second: You brought up that the soft part is part of the genre, not me. Now you mention that the mixing is just bad because the band is just starting. Make up your mind.[/size][/QUOTE]It is part mixing is bad, but it is part genre style as well.

[Billy Shears]

[COLOR=DarkRed][SIZE=1]Well, regardless of how it was mixed, I like it. It's different compared to alot of metal I listen to.

Now I'm going to do some shameless self-promotion for my band too.

[URL=http://www.myspace.com/musicforthehardofhearing]The Para-medics[/URL]

Influences: The Mars Volta, Yes, King Crimson, Volta do Mar, Frank Zappa, Maps & Atlases, John McLaughlin, Jeff Beck, Bela Fleck and the Flecktones, Liquid Tension Experiment, Jimi Hendrix Experience, Oxes, Led Zeppelin, Unwed Sailor, Rush, Pink Floyd, Number 12 Looks Like You, The Locust, The Who, The Beatles, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Primus, Deftones, At the Drive-In, Through the Eyes of the Dead, High Rise, Lightning Bolt, and others.

Music genre: instrumental progressive-rock. Not exactly everyones cup of tea, but whatever.

We have our three-song demo on there now. The recordings aren't perfect, but like Boo said, nothing is perfect the first time. There are some audible mistakes, off-time stuff and sloppy solos, but it sounds very good for a demo. Everything was done in two or three takes and in about 3 hours. It was so fun. I had the time of my life doing that.

I would gladly accept all of your friend requests on MySpace if you like it, which I hope you do. We put alot of work into that little demo and it paid off. So please, turn it to 11 and enjoy. :animesmil[/SIZE][/COLOR]

[Justin]

Having now bought "With Oden On Our Side" and listened to Amon Amarth at lengthfor the last week, I can definately hear their influence in your music.

I'm still waiting on the retracking of Fimbulwinter, though.

-Justin