Post by "The Freq" on Feb 16, 2010 9:36:44 GMT -5
I was sent info about this new Gates of Winter demo from quite a few sources recently and asked my opinion of it. Ummm. I'm not sure why people want my opinion because normally most don't like it anyways |O| but some seem to find humour in it, so here we go.
You can dismiss my opinion by the way by stopping here and not reading any further but if you want it, carry on but don't cry about it later, ok? ;-)
I listened to this track with an open mind as I do with all music. I do listen to all styles of music and yes love bands in all styles but that said, there are some artists that just don't tickle my fancy.
On this demo Gates of Winter "seem" to want to break out a little bit from their past works but the parts that have always bothered me about this band are still there. I'll explain. Gates of Winter seem to love "drum machine" drummers when they write. By doing so, they eliminate the "human factor" that I've always found lacking in their music. They seem to write with drum machines almost exclusively and then, pass the parts down to whomever may be drumming for them. This overly tight and unhuman feel they have is just not my cup of tea. I call it fake or Pro Toolized. Along with doing that, they, like many musicians, use ProTools to get absolute perfection in note placement in their material. This again sucks the human factor right out of the material. Placing notes in the perfect center position within ProTools software was never the purpose of such software but it seems that is the way bands are taking it. If all bands place the notes in the center of the ProTools click, what you have is all the bands with the same feel. Feel doesn't seem to enter into the equation with a lot of bands and Gates of Winter is no exception. Without feel, there is no distinction between bands. One big problem comes up with being so perfect on the recording side of things and that is, you have to play it live. I've seen Gates live and on the occasions I've seen them, they could never replicate what they did on their recordings. My second biggest complaint is the vocals on the new demo. I've said this over and over. Lose the cookie monster vocal style and you might have something there for me to sink my teeth into but that style of singing is old and tired for my tastes. Gates of Winter are good musicians in their style which brings up another point. Learn "other styles" and use those styles with your favourite style in which you write and create something "unique". Most younger musicians in my local area seem to miss that little bit of advice from old jerks like me. Gates of Winter sound like other bands in the metal style. I'm sorry, but they do. Do you want to sound like Clones of the style you enjoy playing in or do you want to be unique and lead the pack some place new musically? Gates are good yes, but different or unique? No. It's a simple truth. With the time off Gates of Winter has had, I expected a drastic change in their sound when I heard this new demo but it's the same formula with only a slight bit of wanting to break out of the box thrown in. It's time to stretch out Gates. That's just my opinion of course. I also think it's time to write music "with" a drummer as opposed to writing it with a drum machine and force feeding it to a drummer to play. Gates of Winter have eaten up quite a few drummers over the years and this could be the reason why. Find a drummer you can create music with and lose the overly perfect drum machine sound. I hear no soul (the human factor) in this new demo but I'm sure Gates of Winter have soul if they relied less on technology. ;-)
You can listen to the new Gates of Winter demo at Sault Metal Scene. Rob has an extensive archive of their work there.
saultmetalscene.blogspot.com/
Footnote: Recording with computers was designed to cut climbing studio costs and to basically save time and money. In recent years, music has become "stagnant" because artists are trying to be absolutely perfect with every note using software recording techniques. What you end up with is a boring repetition of perfection. Then sadly, you see the artist live and they sound nothing like the recording because they can barely play themselves, let alone play with the musicians they're with. Music is about expression not perfection. You can strive for perfection in your own playing but when it comes to recording don't try and make it something it is not. True, you can fix some small flubs that need adjusting so as to not have to do the entire recording again but to spend time placing each note in the perfect spot is absolute stupidity. That is taking the human factor totally out of the equation. Remember, music first, technology 2nd. ;-)
You can dismiss my opinion by the way by stopping here and not reading any further but if you want it, carry on but don't cry about it later, ok? ;-)
I listened to this track with an open mind as I do with all music. I do listen to all styles of music and yes love bands in all styles but that said, there are some artists that just don't tickle my fancy.
On this demo Gates of Winter "seem" to want to break out a little bit from their past works but the parts that have always bothered me about this band are still there. I'll explain. Gates of Winter seem to love "drum machine" drummers when they write. By doing so, they eliminate the "human factor" that I've always found lacking in their music. They seem to write with drum machines almost exclusively and then, pass the parts down to whomever may be drumming for them. This overly tight and unhuman feel they have is just not my cup of tea. I call it fake or Pro Toolized. Along with doing that, they, like many musicians, use ProTools to get absolute perfection in note placement in their material. This again sucks the human factor right out of the material. Placing notes in the perfect center position within ProTools software was never the purpose of such software but it seems that is the way bands are taking it. If all bands place the notes in the center of the ProTools click, what you have is all the bands with the same feel. Feel doesn't seem to enter into the equation with a lot of bands and Gates of Winter is no exception. Without feel, there is no distinction between bands. One big problem comes up with being so perfect on the recording side of things and that is, you have to play it live. I've seen Gates live and on the occasions I've seen them, they could never replicate what they did on their recordings. My second biggest complaint is the vocals on the new demo. I've said this over and over. Lose the cookie monster vocal style and you might have something there for me to sink my teeth into but that style of singing is old and tired for my tastes. Gates of Winter are good musicians in their style which brings up another point. Learn "other styles" and use those styles with your favourite style in which you write and create something "unique". Most younger musicians in my local area seem to miss that little bit of advice from old jerks like me. Gates of Winter sound like other bands in the metal style. I'm sorry, but they do. Do you want to sound like Clones of the style you enjoy playing in or do you want to be unique and lead the pack some place new musically? Gates are good yes, but different or unique? No. It's a simple truth. With the time off Gates of Winter has had, I expected a drastic change in their sound when I heard this new demo but it's the same formula with only a slight bit of wanting to break out of the box thrown in. It's time to stretch out Gates. That's just my opinion of course. I also think it's time to write music "with" a drummer as opposed to writing it with a drum machine and force feeding it to a drummer to play. Gates of Winter have eaten up quite a few drummers over the years and this could be the reason why. Find a drummer you can create music with and lose the overly perfect drum machine sound. I hear no soul (the human factor) in this new demo but I'm sure Gates of Winter have soul if they relied less on technology. ;-)
You can listen to the new Gates of Winter demo at Sault Metal Scene. Rob has an extensive archive of their work there.
saultmetalscene.blogspot.com/
Footnote: Recording with computers was designed to cut climbing studio costs and to basically save time and money. In recent years, music has become "stagnant" because artists are trying to be absolutely perfect with every note using software recording techniques. What you end up with is a boring repetition of perfection. Then sadly, you see the artist live and they sound nothing like the recording because they can barely play themselves, let alone play with the musicians they're with. Music is about expression not perfection. You can strive for perfection in your own playing but when it comes to recording don't try and make it something it is not. True, you can fix some small flubs that need adjusting so as to not have to do the entire recording again but to spend time placing each note in the perfect spot is absolute stupidity. That is taking the human factor totally out of the equation. Remember, music first, technology 2nd. ;-)
