Gods and Fathers by Voda La Void - Progressive Rock/Metal type thing...

Hey Cakewalkers, I have been trying to get this one on SoundClick for some time now.  It's long, but it doesn't sit still, changes and evolves - and I'm getting some really positive feedback on this one.  The voicemail/music sequence at the end really seals it - it's my kids, and it works really well, and is funny too. Heavily Tool influenced, this one is, as is a lot of my music on this project - though I'm not comparing myself to that talent, I know better.   Any feedback would be appreciated.  As soon as I get home from work, I'll return the favor tonight, I promise.  Thanks for listening.  
 
http://www.soundclick.com/bands/default.cfm?bandID=965709 
 
Or..
 
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Voda-La-Void/595674813776699?id=595674813776699&sk=app_184781670305 
 
 
 
 

Hi Tim, welcome to the forum.  If you don't mind comparisons, your voice reminded me of that Filter song "Hey, man, nice shot, nice shot man".  It was one of my favorite songs of the 90's.  Your recording is quite heavy, which shows good engineering skills for this type of music.  As you say, there are a number of different movements in the song which keeps it moving.  However, I though you missed an opportunity to change the mood when you went to the acoustic section.  The overall volume remained loud, and if you had brought the acoustics down a few db's, it would have made for a dramatic change of pace.  Otherwise, the wall of sound that you created is somewhat unremitting until the very end of the song where you do change it up a bit.  The only other thing I noticed was that the song had little dynamics, and less compression would allow it to breathe a bit more without sacrificing the "heaviness".  Not all hard rock or metal songs need to be flat-lined.  All in all, this is a good recording that could easily be a gem with a few tweaks.

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Not a big metal fan, but I do like this quite a lot overall. The acoustic guitar is too loud/harsh in that section for me - would have sounded better with a much mellower vibe/change of pace for me. Vocals are a bit buried, but I think that about a lot of songs like this, so that's probably just me, never really understood the concept of the vocalist singing his heart out when no-one can understand it, and wow......it's still going.......... I like to do everyone the service of listening to the whole piece, but it's getting a bit old by 8:00.... there's nore ? Ok then, but I really think you could have wrapped it up by now........phew, finally. ;)

Voda La Void
Fair enough, Paulo.  I'm disappointed, but I'm inclined to agree somewhat.  I thoroughly enjoy long songs that take you on a journey, but that seems to be a minority of folks overall in the music scene - particularly outside of what I'm calling "progressive" rock or metal.   I could be wrong, though, I do tend to live in a bubble.  
 
Out of curiosity, do you ever listen to Tool?  Such as Aenema?  That's a perfect example of a metal song that goes on and on...but of course, we fans just love that about it.  It's also very cool and maybe they change it up enough and I'm just not succeeding in that area.  Certainly I'm not providing percussive interest to the likes of Danny Carey.
 
Thanks for listening.

No need to feel disappointed, I just listen and say how I hear it - it's just my opinion as a listener and someone who's not a particular fan / officiando of the genre, it doesn't mean I'm right and I'm certainly no kind of expert. There's lots to like about it, but some things that don't quite do it for me personally. I think it's important to say things like that rather than just blow smoke up your ass. (I spelt it that way for you, it's arse where I come from!) My intention was to be constructive not to put you down. Maybe I shouldn't listen to stuff that I'm not that into as I will obviously lack some understanding of the genre, but I like to at least try to be open-minded and take each song I listen to on merit rather than think.....oh it's metal/prog, I don't like that so I won't bother listening.
 
No, I don't listen to the bands you mention, like I said it's not really my genre.  Something that I do like that might also appeal to you though ..........  http://distant-towers.com/hear.htm
Check the out when you have time - I'd be surprised if you didn't find something you like there.
 
 

Hey, Tim,
 
Very cool modern rocker with great vocals and a nice punchy mix!
 
I'm definitely getting a Tool or maybe even Chevelle vibe from it.  Nice thick guitars, and I like the acoustic section with the telephone vocals and the heavily verbed electric melody line in the background.
 
You mentioned that you lost the newest project file for this, but maybe you could use a few mastering tricks on the wav file to EQ out a touch of only the acoustic guitar frequencies, and maybe even the overall track volume in some of the "quieter" parts to give it a bit more dynamics, as some of the posts above mentioned.  Of course, that's all subject to personal tastes, and the songs rocks just as it is.
 
I really like the voiceover section with the kids and the keyboard backing pad at the end, it added another interesting element and focal point to keep interest during a long song.
 
Great song, man, keep 'em coming!
Bob

I like this one too.  Tool-ish for sure, but that is certainly not a bad thing.  Nice singing. I kind of thought the guitars (electrics in the main parts) sound a little distant, or muffled or something.  Maybe they just need to be brought up in the mix a bit?  The dirty-ness is working, maybe just add a little mid or upper mids?  Otherwise a very cool song, and an ambitious project--always to be admired.

paulo
Maybe I shouldn't listen to stuff that I'm not that into as I will obviously lack some understanding of the genre, but I like to at least try to be open-minded and take each song I listen to on merit rather than think.....oh it's metal/prog, I don't like that so I won't bother listening.

 
Nah, not at all.  I always listen and comment on things outside of the genres I identify with.  That's how I grew up on Beatles and Floyd during the Metallica revolution of my teens.  Music is music, and any song of any style can be good.  For me, it's about melody and good musicianship. 
 
I've heard Distant Towers before, I really like them.  Just listened to the new one via your link, nice and tasty.  I can't remember the name of the song that hooked me..there was a video...a cartoon man, a staircase..kind of a maze effect..good stuff.
 
 
 
equality - thanks man, I'm kind of shocked people like the vox, I'm not exactly brewing with confidence with my voice texture. 
 
Bob Oister - much appreciated, particularly coming from you, I remember being really impressed with your stuff when I was on here last time.  Mastering is definitely a big black box to me...I find it hard to understand and my patience wears thin quickly in the studio nowadays.   
 
The Band19 - Yeah I'm not actually crazy about the snare sound - it's merely better than the other choices I had with this soundfont.  I'm actually working on affording a mic kit and mixer to start recording real drums.  I've got my 7-piece kit now, knocking off the rust on my playing and maybe I can get something more appropriate.
 
Sven450 - Awesome, any comparison to Tool is a compliment to me.  I wish I could tweak the guitars and sounds like you're saying, but I don't have the project file anymore thanks to some thieving punks in Kansas City. 
 
Leadfoot - hey thanks man.  Careful what you wish for my friend...