New activity brewing.

In 2 hours I'll be on the phone wit Dave Piatek of http://www.davepiatekrecording.com/ to talk to him about the recording of Storm King's latest release. We'll be talking about the recording process, and I'll hopefully be getting some multi-track files from Dave for one of Storm King's songs so that I can disperse them to you and you can practice your chops.

Other episodes in the works (for real this time, I swear) include a review of Rhythm Rascal (http://www.rhythmrascal.com/), a free plug in round up, a review of Karma Audio's K-Micro Condensors, and a little talk about my recent recording sessions with Littleton Colorado's "Alternum Divide".

Keep it Metal.

.....where to begin. lol!

Hey guys, it's Brandon. If you're reading this thanks for sticking with us. Here's what's up.

You may remember Scott Massie of Storm King, formerly of Bottomfeeder, from episode 16. I told you I'd bring him back on to talk about Storm King in the future. Well, we're working on that.......sort of. Scott has asked me to interview his studio engineer instead of him, as I'd likely get more info about the recording process from him than from Scott. So he's put me in touch with Dave Piatek (http://www.davepiatekrecording.com/) who is tweaking the knobs during Storm Kings current recording sessions. I'm working on setting up an interview with Dave when the Storm King sessions are done.

Scott also told me he'd give the show the multi-track files for one of Storm Kings new tracks and allow all of you to download the files to remix yourselves. More on that when Storm King is done in the studio.

I'm sure you've noticed the web site was down for some time. I had some server issues with Godaddy.com and was too busy with my day to day to get a chance to get The Metal Shop website back online. Have patience. It's coming back very soon.

I've been busy with the day job, and busy with moving again to a new home (only 20 miles away, staying in the Denver area), and busy working on recording sessions for a local band called Alternum Divide. They are rock, but not Metal, so I'm not sure I'll use anything from them on the show, but you never know. But that project is on hold temporarily, so hopefully I'll be able to focus on the show soon. I promise it's not going away, I won't let it. Thanks for sticking with it thus far.

Keep it Metal.

updates.

Hey, it's Brandon.

I'm about to work on a segment that outlines some of my favorite free plug-ins. But before I could do that, I had some work to do updating the web site. The background no longer worked, and the page wasn't updated after Neil published his own episode to reflect that show's publication. So I took care of that today.

Some other updates to the site are coming soon, including a page dedicated to downloading multi-track files for you to mix. But more on that later.

I'll be working on an episode soon, so sit tight. Thanks for the patience, it's not been a very fruitful year for the show. I'll be trying to fix that a.s.a.p.

A tribute to Natasha from Eleven.

Not particularly show related, but I wanted to share this.

I heard this song on a video compilation that came out in 1993 called Rock Video Montly. I LOVE this song. I just found out that the keyboardist died in July. Sad. I wish I'd paid more attention to the band. Here's my tribute to Natasha Shneider in the form of me posting the video to my favorite (and only one I know) song from Eleven. Enjoy "Crash Today".

The prodigal son returns?

Brandon (the bearded slacker) here with an update.

It seems at the moment that activity is brewing at The Metal Shop. I've got a few ideas for segments that I'm tossing around, and Neil just published his first solo episode. I'm listening to episode #22 now, and good job Neil. Thanks for taking the reigns for a time.

Neil and I are throwing around ideas for my return, and so far it looks like my return to the show will include some extensive banter on the ins and outs for beginners. I don't know what else Neil has on his idea list, but I'm contemplating an episode dedicated to free plug ins that are kick ass, as well as an episode on how much gain you actually need on guitar to get your tone in the studio, and finally a long overdue series of episodes on drum recording.

And wasn't there something in the works a year and a half ago about me recording a band and giving you the tracks to mix yourself? I haven't forgotten about that. I just suck, that's all. lol.

So enjoy episode #22, and keep your ears to the ground for #23. Oh, and keep it Metal.

Couple more things.

Couple things I forgot to mention. First of all, a metal group from Daytona Beach that is Violin Based (No guitars) added me on myspace. I've been talking with them after listening to their stuff, and I have to say that it's an impressive sound. I've invited them on the show in the future to talk about how they do it. I have my suspicions, but I'll let them tell it when I bring them on in the future. Check them out!

http://www.myspace.com/armandvio7

Also, The Metal Shop, as well as other great podcasts such as Radioactive Metal, can be heard now on 95x! The Metal Shop airs Mondays @ 5p.m. EST and Saturdays @ 10p.m. EST.

Click here to tune in to 95x!

Keep it Metal!

Update.

Hey, it's Brandon.

Ok, the most common question I've been getting lately is "Are you still doing the show?"

Well, the show isn't going away, it's just been put on the backburner. As I stated earlier this year, I had to step down for a bit while getting my life in order in Colorado. It's been almost 7 months since I moved, and I admit I've been a bit lazy about it, but I've also had other priorities to take care of in my personal life, so the show hasn't been coming out as regularly as it once did. But I assure you that things are stirring once again.

One thing that I want to announce is that I've opened Skyline Sound Studios Of Colorado. Check it out on Myspace.com/skylinesoundco. I can mix your projects, record you if you're local, process your tracks through analog equipment to help you get analog tone with REAL analog equipment, create radio and podcast imaging and do voiceover work, and more. If you need something, hit me up! You can use metalshoppodcast [at] yahoo [dot] com if you want.

Neil has promised me, as well as all of you on this blog, that he'll be putting out a new episode soon. I told him I'd let him do a solo show or two before I came back in, and I wanna hold to that, which is one of the reasons that it's taken so long for me to come back into the fold. It's taken him some time to get to it. Keep in mind though that neither of us are paid for this, and we both have lives to live aside from this podcast, so if it takes him some time to get his first solo show out, so be it.

I've got some ideas for my return to the show. On my agenda is possibly a bit of a how-to on recording piano, as I rarely hear that on any recording podcasts, and piano is used in Metal now and then. If/when I do that segment, I'll be using some cuts from a recording session I did with Shawn Garmon if she approves of me using her tracks. It's not metal, but I don't have any other examples to use, and the point isn't what she's playing but how I recorded it....that is IF I do that segment. I'm still deciding on that one.

Another idea that will likely be in my first episode back will be focused on how much gain to add to distorted guitars. I'll also likely do a review of my new K-Micro's from Karma Audio. These are condensors that cost $5 each, and you've heard them reviewed on Home Recording Odyssey.

Neil and I are throwing around the idea of recording a song together, so if that happens we'll be sure to give you all the details and likely share the tracks with you.

I've done some updating of the Youtube section. A lot of the playlists had videos that were no longer available. I've purged those off of the playlists, replacing the ones I could, and now it should all be running smoothly.

Other than that, I suggest that you stay tuned. Sorry for being gone so long. Keep it metal, I shall return.

- Brandon

Time for a long overdue Ep. #22 update...

Neil here, long time no blog.

Episode 22 is mostly in the can.  It's a bit 'live' sounding (did it all in a couple of takes, and I'm probably not going to be too fussy about editing the crap out of it), but I figure after this much delay, a rough-as-arseholes Episode 22 is better than no Episode 22 at all.

I'll be talking about going back to basics, and what someone new to the game of recording needs to do to get their guitar riffs into their PC.  It won't be a mammoth show, but the last few were lengthy epics, so it's a nice change of pace.

Hope 2009 finds you all well.  :-)

Been a while. Quick update.

It's Brandon here with a quick update. Ok, so Neil tells me that episode 22 is in production, so keep your shirts on. I'm contemplating what my first segment will be upon my return to the show, and trying to get some aspects of life in order.

I did wanna share this with you, and it's just been added to the "Fucking Brutal" playlist.



Rock on, and be patient.

Another Rocky Mountain Update.

Brandon here, just checking in. Here's a little update on what's going on in my neck of the woods.

Ok, settling in has been hectic, but I'm slowly getting there. When you have to move your entire house 1100 miles in a hurry, it can be a bit exhausting. Because of this we're taking our time getting settled. I've still got boxes going up the wall in the den and bedroom, but I'm slowly getting there.

The Plan:

Ok, so out here in the greater Denver Metro area, I plan to piece together a recording studio. I'm working out names and other details for it now, but it'll likely take a year or so before I'll be up and running. I've got other expenses right now, but hopefully I can devote some dough to the studio soon. Another hurdle will be to find a location for the studio once I've got enough equipment to operate on a bare bones level. I'm considering government grants and/or small business loans, so keep your fingers crossed.

I'm loving the Rockies. In fact, it's inspired me to discover the theme of the studio once I get it off the ground. I don't have a solid name for it yet, I'm throwing ideas around though. But the theme will have something to do with mountains most likely. Name ideas include "Rocky Audio", "Rocky Studio's", "Mountain's Of Sound Studios", ect. I know, the names are cheesy, but I don't wanna just cater to rock and metal musicians so I'm keeping it genre neutral. Feel free to comment and let me know what you think of the names, or to suggest one!

My Thoughts on the new Metallica:

Ok, being the big metallica fan that I am, I'm sure you're all wondering what my first impressions are of "The Day That Never Comes". I've listened to it a total of 1 time. Here's my thoughts.

Does it seem to anyone else that they are trying to highlight their entire career with this one? The beginning is very long, which is classic Metallica. But the slower cleaner first half of the song reminds me a lot of The Unforgiven mixed with Bleeding Me (at least in it's overall feel). But then they start injecting these riff-o-rama parts that takes the song in a whole different direction, and feels a lot like a combination of their first 4 albums put together. The riffs in the second half of the song didn't feel like they belonged together in my opinion, and they changed so often that it was like I was listening to a Kill/Ride/Master medley. But the riffs were so different from one another that it seemed like the Kill/Ride/Master medley was recorded during the Justice sessions.

Now maybe this is the producer in me talking. Maybe I am at a point where I can't listen to riffs that don't make sense together anymore without questioning why they were put there. Maybe I'm just getting old! lol! But the riffs just didn't seem to fit together that well to me. Maybe once I've had time to digest it after a few listens, it won't be such a big deal. After all, The Memory Remains took me a few listens before I started liking it. So we'll see.

And now to my worry about Rick Ruben producing it rather than Bob Rock. I feel that he let Metallica brew this album up themselves in an organic way, and that's fine. My beef is with the way it sounds. It doesn't have that larger than life, bombs dropping 10 feet away, explosive.........bigness (I guess that works) that the Bob Rock era of Metallica had. I don't think I'm a big fan of the Rick Ruben sound. I hear that same thing missing from the two S.O.A.D. albums he did, and I hate those albums for both their songwriting and their sound overall. I can't tell yet, but based on the online stream of "The Day That Never Comes" as well as the myspace mp3 of the Iron Maiden song they covered, I just don't think I like the sound as much as I did on the Bob Rock albums. That's my opinion. Take it or leave it.

Anyway, I'm starting to get to the point where I wanna decide what topic to cover on my next show when I come back to The Metal Shop. So the gears will be turning again very soon. Neil assures me that even though he's been held up a little, episode 21 will be out a.s.a.p. In the mean time, keep it metal.