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Topic: The Invisible Bassist
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Emlyn K Helicopter
VoivodFan
Member # 44
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posted December 20, 2004 13:50
    
It strikes me that on many of my favourite 'old school' metal albums the bass playing is, at best, hypothetical. In other words, you can't hear it. If the guy sings too (Slayer) it ain't so bad, but what does Paulo Jr actually do for a living? Did he own a nice PA, and Sepultura just 'got used to him' being around ever since they started earning good money? Here's a few examples: 'Hidden in the Mix'
(bassist only there cause he owns the PA)
Metallica - Justice (obviously)
Sepultura - (before they sucked)
Slayer - any old one
Fear Factory - " "
Obituary - Cause of Death - although Frank Watkins deserves to be on the back photo for his excellent Buzz Lightyear chin alone! Icing on the Cake
(you can only hear them because they forgot to cut their nails)
Death - Human (wonderful playing when you can hear it, but...) Anthrax - ('bogola-bogola' sounds over crunchy Scott Ian riffs. Maybe thats why he joined Helmet.) Metallica - Cliff (oh here we go, flame me for all I give a fuck. Yes he was awesome and yes blah blah sabbath flares pulling teeth etc, but come on, you can't actually fucking hear him, can you? Or did you buy a special version of MOP that I don't have?) All Over Everything
Iron Maiden - he owns the PA AND the van!
Celtic Frost - (giving us perhaps as good an example as any as to why the bass fader is perhaps better off at the lower half of the mixing desk on these metal albums)
Voi... Just where the fuck does bass end and guitar begin?!
...vod
Tool
King Crimson -------------------- Der der der-der DER! Der der der-der DER! DER!
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Maldororz
VoivodFan
Member # 186
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posted December 20, 2004 14:22
"Who needs bassists anyway?", said Jack White.When you have a low-end crushing guitar, like in most metal bands, it leaves no room for bass anyway. And how about that guy in Priest? You have the Metal God, the twin guitars, the drummer and the other guy. You can't barely hear him on Painkiller! quote:
Originally posted by Emlyn K Helicopter:
Just where the fuck does bass end and guitar begin?!
...vod
Tool
King Crimson
A-greed!!!
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Emlyn K Helicopter
VoivodFan
Member # 44
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posted December 20, 2004 16:56
Good point, Maldorrröööaaarrr - I was going to mention Judas Priest especially because his playing on the albums before 'British Steel' is really good, then he coasts for a bit, then nothing at all. On the other hand, Metallica sounded fucking great before they added bass on the black album. Then they just sounded like all the other over-compressed radio tosh. Anyway, I'm really into a band called Lightning Bolt right now - just bass and drums and occasional screams. Honestly, after you've seen their DVD all other bands seem a bit...well, bloated. -------------------- Der der der-der DER! Der der der-der DER! DER!
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Slaytanic
VoivodFan
Member # 28
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posted December 22, 2004 15:35
I didn't know Judas Priest had a bass player.  On the other hand, looks like there are not one, but THREE bass introduced songs on the new Priest album, according to Blabbermouth. *salivating, salivating* quote:
JUDAS PRIEST: 'Angel Of Retribution' Listening Session Held In London; Full Report Available - Dec. 21, 2004
Damien, Assistant Editor of the U.K.'s respected Terrorizer magazine, attended a listening session for the new JUDAS PRIEST album, "Angel of Retribution", in London on Monday (Dec. 20). The following is his report on the session, as submitted to BLABBERMOUTH.NET:"Just attended the London press day for 'Angel Of Retribution' yesterday December 20. [JUDAS PRIEST guitarists] K.K. [Downing] and Glenn [Tipton] were in attendance, as were pretty much all the U.K. rock press and much alcohol! "We heard five songs: 'Judas Rising', 'Deal With The Devil', 'Revolution', 'Worth Fighting For' and 'Hellrider'. "'Revolution' is absolutely massive, a true sing-along anthem that's sure to become a live staple. Quite outrageously catchy in the tradition of PRIEST's numerous chart hits. "'Judas Rising' is a pounding, punishing workout — repetitive, but to great effect. [Rob] Halford is in great voice here. "'Deal With The Devil' is pure heavy metal; chugging guitar downstrokes — an obvious headbanger's delight. Expect to hear it live. "'Worth Fighting For' is the weakest of the bunch, a somewhat undercooked semi-ballad that doesn't really go anywhere. "'Hellrider' is akin to something off 'Painkiller', truly amazing axework from Glenn and K.K. They've really excelled themselves on this album. "There are also no less then TWO bass intros among these five, which is highly unusual, as Ian Hill only ever got two in the entire back catalog before! ('The Rage' and 'Love Bites'). "Overall, this absolutely wipes the floor with the last two albums, though it's unlikely to top 'Painkiller' or 'Screaming For Vengeance'. However as Glenn told me, this is 'just the next JUDAS PRIEST album. We've got at least 2 or 3 more albums in us...' " As previously reported, JUDAS PRIEST's new single, "Revolution", is scheduled to go for radio adds on January 3. "Angel of Retribution" is slated for release on March 1 via Epic. Watch for a full report/feature on JUDAS PRIEST in an upcoming issue of Terrorizer magazine.
-------------------- "Forty-five moments of perfection translated through a cautionary escape into the perils of the mundane, the inherent entropy in ultimate order, and the potential threats of eternal, unchecked apathy in civilization; all cloaked in musical expression so thoughtful, creative and forward thinking that almost a quarter-century later, few can even comprehend it, much less match it." (autothrall)
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Emlyn K Helicopter
VoivodFan
Member # 44
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posted December 22, 2004 15:37
Now how would you know about that?Is there some sort of...dare I say it...preview mp3's going? Sure as fuck I'm going to buy it anyway (bought all the others, and I can't even say that about Voivod!) -------------------- Der der der-der DER! Der der der-der DER! DER!
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Slaytanic
VoivodFan
Member # 28
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posted December 22, 2004 15:46
Nah, unfortunately. Check my previous post, now updated. Oh, and it's two bass intros, not three. Sorry about that.-------------------- "Forty-five moments of perfection translated through a cautionary escape into the perils of the mundane, the inherent entropy in ultimate order, and the potential threats of eternal, unchecked apathy in civilization; all cloaked in musical expression so thoughtful, creative and forward thinking that almost a quarter-century later, few can even comprehend it, much less match it." (autothrall)
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posted December 20, 2004 23:49
they are all sickeningly good musicians the lucky bastards...
