Metal Reviews

what do you guys consider good production on an album?/who are your favourite producers?

I'd have to say that Converge's Kurt Ballou is my favourite producer. I've only heard 4 albums that he's done (and 2 of them were Converge albums) but all of them sound so alive, rather than a producer like Andy Sneap, who makes it sound like a computer is performing the songs.

Hmmm ... I'm not sure I know how to rate a producer.

But I do know every record with Miro/Sascha Paeth as producers RULE.

I don't know about any specific producers, but I thought the production on Dream Theater--Scenes from a Memory, Pt. 2 was absolute perfection. Another CD that comes to mind is Ascendancy by Trivium, whatever the quality of the actual music. I dunno, there are others with very good production; a third that comes to mind is Wintersun's only album. That actually had production as good as Scenes from a Memory, now that I think of it..."Death and the Healing" is phenomal, and I love the way the bass blasts in at the beginning of "Beyond the Dark Sun".

I have no idea what the fellow's name is but I love the production value on Kiuas CDs. The guitars come through so clearly... it's a beautiful thing

Pytten, the dude who produced many bm classics from Norway in the legendary Greighallen studios.

(Were talking, Mayhem, Darkthrone, Burzum,
Satyricon etc)

Different production styles suit different bands.

Bolt Thrower's production on Those Once Loyal is pretty much perfect.

Agree. Bolt Thrower mit gut production, but without going over the top with it.

Behemoth's Demigod has also a very polished and clean sound.

It depends on the band really.

I would say the production on Nevermore's Dead Heart In A Dead World is perfect (which it is) but that production on something like Nightwish's Wishmaster would sound like shit.

Anyways, some of my favorite production jobs would be:

Nightwish - Oceanborn
Symphony X - The Odyssey
Savatage - Poets & Madmen
Blind Guardian - Somewhere Far Beyond
Within Temptation - Mother Earth
Evergrey - Recreation Day
Eternal Tears of Sorrow - Before The Bleeding Sun
Testament - The Gathering
Sodom - M-16 and Sodom

I dont really pay much attention to who did what on an album, so whoever did those ones are acccceee.

Devin Townsend is a genius behind the knobs, but he's not a full-time producer. He's still awesome, though.

I would say that my favorite full-time producer would be Waldemar Sorchyta! The man is a fucking beast when it comes to crushing metal! And versatile! He produces all kinds of different styles. And when he lays down some of his own music (Despair, Grip Inc.) it's truly awesome!!

Some albums he's produced:

Alastis – Other Side
Borknagar – The Olden Domain
Despair – Beyond Reason
Despair – Decay of Humanity
Despair – History of Hate
Dismal Euphony – All Little Devils
Flowing Tears – Razorbliss
Flowing Tears – Serpentine
Grip Inc. – Incorporated
Grip Inc. – Nemesis
Grip Inc. – Solidify
Grip Inc. – The Power of Inner Strength
Lacuna Coil – Comalies
Lacuna Coil – Halflife
Lacuna Coil – In a Reverie
Lacuna Coil – Karmacode
Lacuna Coil – Lacuna Coil (EP)
Lacuna Coil – Unleashed Memories
Moonspell – Irreligious
Moonspell – Memorial
Moonspell – Sin/Pecado
Moonspell – Wolfheart
Samael – Ceremony of Opposites
Samael – Passage
Samael – Rebellion (EP)
Samael – Reign of Light
Sentenced – Down
Sentenced – Frozen
The Gathering – Mandylion
Therion – Crowning of Atlantis
Therion – Deggial
Therion – Vovin
Tiamat – Clouds
Tiamat – The Astral Sleep
Tiamat – Wildhoney
Unleashed – Shadows in the Deep
Unleashed – Where No Life Dwells

They actually went through production?

I don't really notice the producers on an album. If it sounds good or bad, I never really bothered.

Most of the time the only people involved in the recording of Varg's music were him and Pytten. (And occasionally Euronymous or Samoth on early recordings)

Definitely a great production job on that one.

you took the words out of my mouth...

For me, production isn't the most important factor which determines whether the album is good/bad. Few examples:

- DARKTRONE - ABITNS - crappy sound, but the atmosphere is unbelievable!!!
- BATHORY - Hammerheart - recorded in a garage? OK!!! As long as the songs kill!!!!
- VIRGIN STEELE - Visions Of Eden (it had to be mentioned ;)) - strange, synthetic sound. But the spirit of Steele still is to be found there!

So, although some albums seem to be produced in a bad way, the music is still satisfying enough, to enjoy it

On the other hand, there are lots of new shit, with a crystal clear production and sound, but the music is total crap

Final conclusion: Production does not determine the quality of music

I actually hate that kind of production on death metal records. Its gotta be raw

I don't know much about these things, but the production on The Chemical Wedding is really to my liking, really special.

This Godless Endeavor by Nevermore has a nice one, and from the same producer if im not totally mistaken the Blaze album Blood and Belief.

And might I also say that i like the production on A Matter of Life and Death. Really cool.

I think that production is a big, big factor in the quality of music. I mean you could have the best death metal band in the last 10 years, but give them ultra clear production and they'd sound like crap (I also don't think clear = good. I can't stand ultra precise sound because it makes the music sound fake). or on the opposite side of things there's Converge's When Forever Comes Crashing, where the original version sounded absolutely terrible, but the remaster makes it a contender for their best album.

You're right. But despite bad production, songs can be brilliant