MIXING BLACK METAL VOCALS w/ Akhlys & Dave Otero

Dave Otero shows his approach to mixing black metal vocals using the raw multi-tracks for "Somniloquy" by Akhlys
Get instant access to Akhlys multi-tracks and Dave Otero's full mixing session ► nailthemix.com/...
NAIL THE MIX is an online mixing school created by Joey Sturgis, Joel Wanasek and Eyal Levi - the guys who produced bands like TDWP, Chelsea Grin, Blessthefall, Machine Head, Monuments, Miss May I, Of Mice & Men, Reflections, Born Of Osiris, Asking Alexandria and dozens more of this generation's best metal bands.
Every month, NAIL THE MIX members get exclusive access to the REAL MULTI-TRACK SESSIONS from a REAL ALBUM, and a 6-8 hour live streaming class from the producer who mixed it. These are the actual sessions by bands like Gojira, Meshuggah, Periphery, Papa Roach, Machine Head, Bring Me The Horizon, A Day To Remember and more - and NTM is the only place in the world you'll get access to them!

[@URMAcademy]

Get this session: www.nailthemix.com/akhlys

[@Jazzguitar00]

It's pretty cool to see a band like Akhlys getting the Nail The Mix treatment. This album has such a crazy sound, I was actually disturbed when I first heard it.

[@lukasgraesslin]

I've never heard of Akhlys but that sounds sick. I'm definitely gonna check out more of it. It has that really creepy atmosphere that I'm sometimes missing from other Black Metal bands.

[@withinthrall1445]

Check out his other projects Nightbringer, Aoratos, and Bestia Arcana, both nightbringer and aoratos are very similar to Akhlys and Bestia Arcana is heavy and atmospheric.

[@Argonath5K]

@@withinthrall1445 ^ This. Akhlys are one of my favorite black metal bands of all time

[@marcelvaneijk1962]

Been to a concert in Leiden and they played together with Fides Inversa and Chaos Invocation. The hall was damp and small (250 pl max) but that contributed to the Athmosphere. I had a painfull neck the day after and brainfog from the headbanging!

[@louderthangod]

Dave, please bring your channel back if you can find the time. I really enjoyed and got a lot out of your videos.

[@ShreddedShredder0]

Love me some Akhlys. They're a perfect blend of black metal and atmosphere without overdoing the ambience. Like Cascadian black metal without much of the "Cascadian" going on.

[@RobbDizzl]

I like how the track colors match the genre.

[@lordberly]

that's the very first thing I notice too 😂

[@euphoricparasite]

the dreaming I and Melinoe by akhlys, are some of the best albums I have heard in a very very long time. This was amazing to watch.

[@billiondollarclownfarm]

this was so helpful, probably my favorite video i've seen on this channel. more black metal content please, i love Akhlys so much, Dave's an incredible producer. Definitely gonna buy the full lesson

[@jackdevanney1193]

Naas Alcameth is a genius.

So cool to have a dude understanding the darkest shit ! I have had a lot of fun with this mix, Dave ‘s insane good

[@TiuqueErrante]

yeah. Finally some black metal

[@devendasmusic]

Genuinely unsettling vocals

[@danielwieten8617]

Are the effects within Cubase? Cuz if so, that's incredible. I always assumed Kyle was doing the effects himself at home with like, Valhalla Shimmer or something and Dave was just mixing them.

[@matthewfoster9816]

Love videos like this because of how much work, knowledge, experience, and love goes into making it sound like shit (affectionate). OG black metal recordings sounded objectively bad because of the equipment available; I remember Fenriz from Darkthrone saying he used a gaming headset to record their vocals for their first EP’s. Nowadays, there’s 2 vocal busses with 9 layers, microseconds of delay to imitate stereo, digital EQ’ing… all to make it sound like shit! Which, again, is a good thing for this music. I love the irony of it all and I learned a ton from this video.

[@zacjoe77]

David, you are a fucking nerd....and I love you

[@nickcrane8329]

WTF Ahklys? Time to get NTM subscription again

[@iunholy]

+1

[@Mustis1524]

worth noting that he didnt remix the song, but only showed the final mix. I guess that could be either a good or a bad thing depending on what you're after.

[@codexnecro]

Yes!

[@ViridianAudio]

I used to just record black metal using some headphones into a microphone input lmfao xD

[@derekrushe]

Great video, wish he'd take the gate of his speaking mic though.

[@BigBl0ck-r9y]

Raw black metal is good.

[@MysticalPotatoHeadGrooveThing]

that's upward compression not expansion

[@CharlotteVoodoo]

Nice sound look like blokeran keok keokkkk

[@juanpalencia4923]

sick!

[@skillZ141]

I miss old raw black metal...

[@KleeMusicAZ]

I want to be a Lord of chaos....lol

[@AltarexLuurkesien]

Take all the effects away and he will sound like donald duck. Quack quack

[@regortex3364]

Sounds way too processed imo, I’d have left in more raw.

[@lordberly]

Maybe that's the direction the band wants

[@MichaelDespairs]

Sounds like very fake space-vocals not my thing at all.

[@cosmicthroes]

Geyyyyyyy

[@growlxxxtendo4152]

artsy mix tbh