New Folk Metal song...i think my catchiest one yet

http://soundcloud.com/markhaigh/of-fire-and-flame

Kinda epic folk metal thing, really really tried to get the drums better for you peeps, it has a weird structure, with an intro, then an interlude, then a verse/chorus kinda bit, then another interlude, then a final fast verse and chorus kinda thing, but without any of it being the same, other than related cos it's in the key of Am.....lol.  Anyhow, some quite catchy bits i think in the second half, so stick with it, and as ever let me know where i done wrong...oh it does feature black metal vocals i'm afraid, but also some clean singing too.

http://soundcloud.com/markhaigh/of-fire-and-flame

love the break out around 1:10ish.....and the following bass line works so nicely. I'd like that bass tone a lil less bloated....gezzzzz great lead there after...maybe a touch of verb on that would open it up a bit?

the 3:10 bvox are great...I'd push them far left and right to split the seam so to speak....love the 4:20 lil gutiar lead-lick sneaking 'tween the vox...very nicely done.

Right at the 5:10 mark that section made me grin. I'd try to reinforce that bopping-mood there....i loved it.

7:10 I'd gradually double and triple the bvox...nudge some and spread them all over the  map and make that sound as if the whole nation is singin there...

great song!!

Holy Smokes. Definitley something for the campfire... and sacrafice. You know Mark I'm on the go here so I'm listening on buds so I can't really crit the mix but it sounds really good in general on buds loud which is a really good thing.  The song sounds cohesive the whole way through. What I mean is with all the different changes, solos, vox etc. nothing really sounds surgically implanted it all sounds like one epic tune. The evil guitars during the verse that are snarling in the backround are a great choice. Nice sweeps at the end and the outro vox sound cool too. I'll listen to this at home kranked. I really liked this. Maybe my favorite from you.

Wow, that sounds like a ritual^very mysterious but exciting!

Rik - well folk may be pushing it, although it's a big sub-genre in metal now, lots of accordian and such!

Tom - well many thanks for the in-depth critique bro! i am gonna try and broaden the clean vox out at the end, the catchy bits will have to stay short though i think! and therefore more catchy! i will alter the bass tone in the clean bits too though...

A really interesting, epic kind of piece you put together there, Mark, with lots of interesting crossplays and counters.  My favorite was the interplay between the strings and the guitar on the outro.  I think Tom hit a winner with that idea of building the BG Vox up at the end... what a build that would give you into the outro.

Enjoyed hearing you actually singing, and I thought it sounded really good.  Could our favorite metal head be mellowing with age ????

Seriously- I always enjoy listening to your material, as it's invariably interesting and innovative.

Dave - Viking/Folk pretty much the same to my mind! Bathory remains the principle influence for both! Anyhow you have some good reference points there with Opeth, another band i like a lot and who influence this sorta song is Primordial.

Mark - Cheers! Cranked is always good. Well you know i have to put in all these different moods, i get bored with the same volume/tempo/instrumentation...i am also less averse to getting a bit tuneful....maybe next song will be hummable?!

Robby - i have done a few songs with just clean vocals; Remember on Soundcloud has quite a bit of clean stuff, Come on Home is totally clean vox, and on Soundclick Parts 2, 4, 10, 11, 12 feature just clean vox....when you hear them you'll know why i don't do it more!

Very cool, great mix, playing, etc...  I could hear this on a movie soundtrack....


Regards

  This is awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Not much more to say. The intro. for some reason reminds me of the movie The Godfather. I liked it either way.

wicked crazy---       + + + +1
mix---                  + + + + 1

David - CHEERS

Gary - thanks for stopping by, and the positive comments!

Marko - hmm, well i think it'd have to be some goblins or orcs in The Hobbit, don't you?

Mark - i'm always amazed anyone on here likes my stuff, it is soooooo outside everyone's normal listening realm...but i guess that is the coolest thing about this forum. i know i would never be exposed to country otherwise!

Bobby - The Godfather? interesting! and welome back!

BIABdude - yeah! i got 4 ++++! that's a first for me from you, so i must be getting better! cheers!

I liked the middle quieter melodic part quite a bit, and of course appreciate the rest of it, as it ain't exactly my bag, as you know. You are quite the guitarist.

"Of Fire and Flame"...aka 'The Perilous Adventures of an A Minor Chord That Stumbled Into Mark Haigh's Fervent Imagination'
You've got some versatile chops in there....from sweet to sinister.
Another wild adventure and very nice mix

mgh

it has a weird structure, with an intro, then an interlude, then a verse/chorus kinda bit, then another interlude, then a final fast verse and chorus kinda thing, but without any of it being the same, other than related cos it's in the key of Am.....lol.  

That structure description reminds me of THIS.