So Much is Already Lost - New metal piece I'm working on

[smueske]

I did a third render based on writing so far. I think the break after the first heavy section where it switches from 5/4 to 6/8 needs to be extended one more measure. The last section is where the singing will start and the current section will be twice as long.

https://soundcloud.com/pentachrist/s...social_sharing

[Time Waster]

Your compositions are always interesting and fun. In this on you've mashed together ambient piano and metal. Just curious, are you a metal musician experimenting with ambient or vice versa? Do you play all of the instruments or use samples or whatever, i.e. what is your methodology?

[smueske]

Originally Posted by Time Waster

Your compositions are always interesting and fun. In this on you've mashed together ambient piano and metal. Just curious, are you a metal musician experimenting with ambient or vice versa? Do you play all of the instruments or use samples or whatever, i.e. what is your methodology?

We'd be here all day if I answered that with any detail. I wrote music for and gigged with progressive metal bands in the late 80s, early 90s. I played acoustic guitar exclusively from then until early 2000s, then did electronic music for twenty years. When I created the Pentachrist persona it was to fuse all of my interests together. For this piece, yes, I'm playing everything except the drums, which I'm programming. It will be long. Don't know if it will be instrumental and feature leads or have vocals. In several of my early bands I sang as well. Still getting back in fighting form. I didn't play guitar at all for most of the past two decades. Really loving it now, though.

[aikiboy2k]

Originally Posted by smueske

I'm writing a new metal piece and this is the very first test render. Nothing is set in stone, it's just me working.

https://soundcloud.com/pentachrist/s...social_sharing

Off to a great start! Can't wait to hear the finished version.

[DogBBQ]

Great sounds i think the anticipation of when the guitars were going to come in was genius!

7 string? Drop A?

[enroe]

The first piano part is melancholically calm and relaxing. It's
only in the second part that you really turn it up and it gets
down to business: speed metal with guitars and drums and
everything - the contrast is nice and high, your ears almost
explode!

Well done! You should keep this beginning and construct a longer
song from it.

[smueske]

Originally Posted by aikiboy2k

Off to a great start! Can't wait to hear the finished version.

Thank you!

[smueske]

Originally Posted by DogBBQ

Great sounds i think the anticipation of when the guitars were going to come in was genius!

7 string? Drop A?

Thank you!! It's an 8 string in standard, although it could be played on a 7.

[smueske]

Originally Posted by enroe

The first piano part is melancholically calm and relaxing. It's
only in the second part that you really turn it up and it gets
down to business: speed metal with guitars and drums and
everything - the contrast is nice and high, your ears almost
explode!

Well done! You should keep this beginning and construct a longer
song from it.

Thank you! Yes, it's going to be much longer. This is just a quick mix I threw together to ballpark the overall sound.

[asharin]

I can't wait to hear the finished version, this is amazing so far

[barrymk]

Wish my fingers went that fast.

[zeekat]

Originally Posted by smueske

For this piece, yes, I'm playing everything except the drums, which I'm programming.

I was going to ask if drums are played live - well done.

[41TWIN]

wow. sounds great!!!! nice mix on that. aggressive sounds. did u hear the new Paramore album? two heavyish songs on it. not metal like this but pretty aggressive.

[shangsean]

Off to a good start. The tone is great. The drums sound really nice if maybe a little loud, but I love the sound of the snare. What are you using there?

[smueske]

Originally Posted by asharin

I can't wait to hear the finished version, this is amazing so far

Thank you! I tend to work pretty slowly, so it might be awhile.

[smueske]

Originally Posted by barrymk

Wish my fingers went that fast.

Ha ha! Appreciate the listen.

[smueske]

Originally Posted by zeekat

I was going to ask if drums are played live - well done.

Thank you!

[smueske]

Originally Posted by 41TWIN

wow. sounds great!!!! nice mix on that. aggressive sounds. did u hear the new Paramore album? two heavyish songs on it. not metal like this but pretty aggressive.

I have not, but I'll look it up on Tidal today. Thanks for listening!

[smueske]

Originally Posted by shangsean

Off to a good start. The tone is great. The drums sound really nice if maybe a little loud, but I love the sound of the snare. What are you using there?

Thanks! The kit is Drums Against Humanity. It's an absolute beast of a kit for extended range music. It's Behemoth's kit, recorded in the same studio as their last release. Same kit, same engineer. I took a chance on it because I have way too many drum libraries, but it's a gem for sure.

[DogBBQ]

Originally Posted by smueske

Thank you!! It's an 8 string.

😯

[smueske]

I added the next update and edited the original post with the new link and a few questions.

I work very slowly, so I apologize. It's very helpful for me to hear initial impressions as I work. Every time I do a new render, I play the parts as if live -- that is, straight through.

[barrymk]

For me the overall pattern works with each section contributing something new. But don't take my word for it, this is not a genre I'm competent to critique. Just my gut feeling. It will be interesting to see what you add/subtract down the line.

[Time Waster]

Originally Posted by smueske

Should the heavy part come in with just the drums and be twice as long, with the instruments playing the exact same part?

It is quite an abrupt change at the moment. Coming in with just the drums might ease it into it a bit. Depends on what you want though.

[smueske]

Originally Posted by barrymk

For me the overall pattern works with each section contributing something new. But don't take my word for it, this is not a genre I'm competent to critique. Just my gut feeling. It will be interesting to see what you add/subtract down the line.

Thank you for listening and coming back to this!

[smueske]

Originally Posted by Time Waster

It is quite an abrupt change at the moment. Coming in with just the drums might ease it into it a bit. Depends on what you want though.

The more I thought about it, the more I came to believe it needs just the drums to segue. I had to create a sort of fake VCA to control the volume, but I think it works. Also added a deep hi faux string pad to sit in the background.

Next up, work on the verse and lyrics.

So appreciate your time and feedback.

[Time Waster]

Originally Posted by smueske

... it needs just the drums to segue.

I think that works.