MIXIN’ MAGIC

The picture above is Mike’s “studio away from studio” if you will. It’s the mixing room in his house so he can save on gas and tolls, and have peace and quiet away from other bands rehearsing in the complex in Jersey City.

Plus he sees his cat more 🙂

Mike has been sending me file after file of songs as they are being mixed. Of course he asks for my input but also asks his friend Jon Hanemann who has a very discerning ear! His suggestions really hit the bulls-eye, no question. Many ears make light work.

I have heard two more songs mixed and re-mixed, and we both agree these tracks sound sharp and have a lot of punch to them. One tune is very much in the mold of Van Halen with touches of Yes in spots (trust me here). Another is just an in-your-face heavy rocker that is steeped in the 80s without sounding too retro.

Pretty much the whole album will touch on a lot of past influences but not stay stuck there. I stopped trying so hard to be this groundbreaking guitarist (I never was) and focused on writing solid material and catchy melodies. If something sounded like VH or Rush, fine. If a melody was Satriani-ish or Steve Howe-like, great. But my thumbprint is all over the songs, as to be expected. Of course, Mike did a hell of a job with the drumming as well as producing, and mixing so far. He’s also working on a couple of other bands’ albums, so he’s busy in a good way.

“Digital Stress” has been played on two stations so far this week, between Cranium Radio with DJJD and Metal Mistress, as well as Metal Devastation Radio with DJ Twitch and DJ April Santos. Responses for the song have been pretty positive, and the video has received good reviews. One station in Europe (I won’t say where) won’t play the song but their loss is two other stations’ gains! Expect the song to be played in North Carolina and Georgia soon. I know that DJ Mark Glazier will play the songs on a slew of stations that he hosts, and Issac Banks will play it soon on his show in Australia. I have reached out to other stations, so hope for the best. If any stations are interested in the song, check it out on my SOOTHING SOUNDS page and then email me!

Is this my best album? I will let you decide when it’s released. I am super proud of it though, if that’s any indication. I feel very vindicated with this album. Mike and I were more relaxed and enjoyed everything from rehearsals to recording. And that’s the way it should be, right?

BTW: My first album was TWISTED METAL, this 10th one is DOWN TO THE METAL.

Full circle?