such a banger i love the intensity
Reviews for "AIM - Operation Fleshhunter"
I fucking love this, the dark and heavy atmosphere, and the heavy metal, combined with acid bass, spooky melody, it is very fitting to the art
another point for the screaming, the art looks like some sort of experiment, and a man was used as a rat for it, he was in REAL pain to scream like that lmao
just gotta mention the cyberpunk guitar at the 2nd break, the variety of heavy drums and percussions, the cinematic outro,... THIS TRACK!
LD-W responds:
Heya, thanks for checking out the track and for the high praise!
If you're interested in knowing how I've done certain parts:
- The Acid Bass was one I designed in LuSH-101 (SH-101 emulation), there's a few acid-like timbre's which go well with the 101-modeled behavior. If you do have the synth, feel free to DM me anytime and I can send you the patch
- The Guitar Processing chain is pretty long and not everything will be listed here, but the basics of it goes like: bx_console_n (Neve VXS emulation with TMT) --> Audio Assault Hellbeast (Randall Thrasher/Satan Amphead Emulation, with Brit Cone Edge Cab IR's) --> iZotope Trash 2 (very low wet %, about 5-10% tops) --> Millenia NSEQ2 (Vacuum Tube Rack EQ emulation with JFET Signal Path) --> SPL IRON (IRON Hardware compressor emulation with TMT) --> Noveltech Character (Algorithmic Auto-Improver set to Mode 3 and set to Target Value 60) --> Waves DeEsser (to trim off gently anything above 13Khz) --> Eventide UltraReverb (for usual reverb duties). The Chorus/Solo Guitar had Trash2 removed, the gain on Hellbeast reduced and Syntorus added before the reverb in the chain on a BBQ-Deep Swirl.
- Drums were mainly done off of a mixture of Ludwig, DW and Sabian kit pieces in Superior Drummer and some of the SDX's
- Alot of the other percussion such as the Frame Drums were from 8DIO New Epic Frame Drum Ensemble. The marching band snare was from SoundIron High School Drum Corps. The much more mechanical-sounding elements were another mix-match between different SFX libraries which I've purchased over the years, mostly the kind which are designed for movies and games in mind, but work situational well for music aswell (the licensing doesn't restrict me in what I use it in of course)
- The chopped screams were a mix-match of different sources. Some of them come from prosoundeffects (I grabbed them years ago when I had some sample credits to spend) and a mixture of groans, drones and other screams from 8DIO Eternal Darkness.
This is really good, could be slight bit more hook reliant if you know what I mean, but the lack of vocals snuffs it a bit for me. I was like "alright here come the vox" and then it didn't happen. I read your description afterward and I totally feel you on being pressed for time.
I don't really get the correlation of the song to the art, but this may be solved with lyrics. I feel this way simply cuz I think the scene presented is more mundane than the song lol. Like I imagine beepy boops and anticipated orchestral, but I think you're looking at it more like they're very actively doing something. Will be on the lookout for your completed cut.
LD-W responds:
So how I've approached AIM projects over the last couple of years once I've found some artwork I definitely want to work with would be to trial out different tone palette's and atmospheres until I feel as if I've got something which connects with the artwork on a more raw/visceral level than other experiments.
My overall thoughts on the artwork in relation to the track was more of a violent cinematic concept of 'Automation control operatives, operating a swarm of mechs and weapons platforms to violently subjugate humanity' kind of approach. With the Martial Industrial inspired intro section over the first 83 seconds being a direct representation over that atmosphere, while the rest of the piece when the Industrial Metal kicks in being more representative of the 'actions' of the control operatives and the incredible level of violence taking place from their actions in the outside world.
It is annoying that I couldn't get vocals properly recorded on time, although I got them half-done to a sub-standard level in a hurry, hence why I ditched them haha. I did recently move again to lower my general cost-of-living for now (I'm slowly saving up for a mortgage), although the downside is that I don't have as many time-slot opportunities to be able to get vocals done. Something I either have to throw a tenner to the local recording room to let me do loudly on the weekend, or plan it when both the neighbors are out!
Thanks for checking the track out!
Sounds very metal. But the choir doesn't really fit.
LD-W responds:
I specifically added in low male-sections for the first 80 seconds of the track, as the design aim for that entire section was a nod towards the Sci-Fi side of the Martial Industrial genre which I wanted to emulated before the track shifted into a Metal piece (such as Legionarii's I.R.O.N project). Low-Male choirs accompanied by a mixture of percussion (either large frame-drums, metal clangs, and/or marching band snares) are a common design combo which I've always enjoyed and I personally feel do work in that context.
Thanks for checking the track out!
This is a great track to paint my (Warhammer) Chaos miniatures with 👌
LD-W responds:
Ayy awesome, Warhammer's always been cool, from the lore and miniatures to the fan animations!
Thanks for checking the track out!