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My music

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Hello world.  I make instrumental heavy metal covers of songs of all genres, mostly metal but occasionally I take other types of music and mold them into metal.  By ‘metal’ I don’t mean the over the top, all noise and no melody that’s popular these days.  There’s plenty of aggression, but melody and harmony are also important.

Here is my soundcloud page.   Please feel free to listen and subscribe.  https://soundcloud.com/jacob-martin-28/

To date I have released five albums. I will catalog them here as I get them uploaded to the internet. (previously just distributed in physical copies to people in the area.)

My first album, Alterations. Much more primitive and raw than my later albums. It hits hard, pulls no punches, and doesn’t let up until the end. It’s not as thoughtful as my later albums and the sound quality isn’t as polished, but it still sounds good enough and I think it’s one of my more solid efforts, despite not being as thoughtful or having as much pop appeal as later albums. Very direct album, fast and intense. Over before you realize it’s a one trick pony.

FLAC: http://www.filehosting.org/file/details/710608/Jacob Martin - Alterations.zip


Withering, my second album. It’s much the same as the first, although with poorer recording quality due to conditions at the time and me rushing the production job. It’s an okay album, although I would definitely say it’s my weakest. If you like my sound you will enjoy it, but it’s not as punchy as the first album or as creative and enveloping as the later albums. But if you like my sound it’s still worth a listen.

http://www.filehosting.org/file/details/717178/Withering.7z

My third album, The Way. This is where things really started for me, and it was certainly when I first started to get fans and attention. (A little of each anyway…) This is the album that started the tradition of a narrative concept album, still told through instrumentals. Less emphasis on guitar pyrotechnics and aggression and more on musicality and creating a mood. Atmosphere and ambiance became a huge focus on this one, and if you like the sound I have now this is where it all started.

http://www.filehosting.org/file/details/724015/The Way.zip

My fourth album, released in 2016. Quite possibly my favorite, definitely my favorite “theme” or “tone” for an album. This one keeps the heavy but takes a more somber and subdued style, with track listing selected accordingly. Have little to no memory of making this album due to alcohol consumption at the time that was worse than anything I’ve thought about doing lately… Sound quality is eh… the drum machine is notably forward but the guitar production is a bit dry sounding. But it has my favorite track listing of any album to date.

http://www.filehosting.org/file/details/741211/Nightfall.zip

My fifth album, from 2016. I don’t have as much to say about this album as I would like. While making it I thought it was going to be my masterpiece, but that’s still The Way I think. Anyway, I think musically it’s a very solid album, great track selection and interesting arrangements. What’s holding it back is a poor guitar tone in the recording. I really dropped the ball on that one, and seeing as it’s instrumental rock, it’s kinda important… but it still sounds decent. The next and newest album finally brings a lush guitar tone, but we’ll get to that one soon.

http://www.filehosting.org/file/details/746659/Up Toward the Sky.7z

My newest album, “The Lost Woods”. I’m very excited about this one. It is a rather ambient and moody album. It’s very atmospheric but also quite sharp. It has the best sound quality of any of my albums to date and also the most content, if you’re using physical media it is two discs. (PM me if you want one)

https://jacobmartin2.bandcamp.com/album/the-lost-woods

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So far, I've listened to them all at least twice. "Alteration" is my favourite right now.

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All of them?  The other day I did like I said and added like 15 new songs and the ones that were already up have all (except mortal share) been updated with new mixes.

But by the way, since you liked Alteration, here's a video of me playing it.  :)  I just play the one part instead of all the layers so it doesn't sound as full but oh well.  No overdubs either it's all live so it isn't always pitch perfect.  There aren't any *huge* mistakes though.

It's a little bit old, I'm not *QUITE* that young looking anymore.  Lol.  Also I've lost weight since then and grown out my hair a tad bit.

Watch it though cuz I sincerely believe it deserves more than 13 views.  XD

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Yup, all of them.

I tried watching your post for a while, but alas, I can't seem to figure out where I'm supposed to see the video. Did you by any chance put it somewhere else by mistake--Youtube for instance? ;)

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There we go. :D

I listened to the original, and I think I like your cover better. For one, I like that you brought out the drums a bit more (as far as I can tell with my one-sided ear bud...). What instrument is making the higher octave sounds in your cover? It sounds like a keyboard, but not exactly like one. Anyway, I really like it and I think it rounds out the "song" (for lack of a more accurate word) a bit more.

If I understand the video description correctly, every track in the song is replaced with a new cover by you, whether done digitally or recorded. Is that correct?

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I forgot to ask: are all your covers covers of music by the same artist?

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It's a synth of an orchestra string section.  String ensemble.

Which version, the video or the one with the layers?  The video was more of a novelty to prove I could actually play it.  I did videos of "Hades", "Follow the Reaper" and "Rust Never Sleeps" too.

And no they aren't.  I've done quite a few by Kalmah, but there are also some Insomnium, Led Zeppelin, Children of Bodom, Norther, and Iron Maiden.  In the future I plan to do more of Led Zeppelin, some Thin Lizzy, Rush, and Iron Maiden but mold them into this style.

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Possessed said:


Which version, the video or the one with the layers?  The video was more of a novelty to prove I could actually play it.  I did videos of "Hades", "Follow the Reaper" and "Rust Never Sleeps" too.

 The version(s) you have on Soundcloud.

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RicOlie_2 said:

If I understand the video description correctly, every track in the song is replaced with a new cover by you, whether done digitally or recorded. Is that correct?

 I'm not sure I understand your question correctly.  Are you asking whether I made the backing track from scratch or just used a template one I found and played over it?  If that's the question, the answer is I made the backing track from this one from scratch in a midi then used soundfonts to "bring it to life" so to speak.  In the video I'm only playing the guitar, but the bass and drums and keyboards are all "programmed" by me.  In the soundcloud files I play the guitars and the bass, and the drums and keyboards are programmed.  Sometimes by me,  sometimes with the help of midis I find on the net, but always spiced up by me.

I make the backing tracks from scratch sometimes, sometimes with the help of midis, but even in that case I still at least edit the midi, plus set the tone controls and instrument patches for the sound tone of it.

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You really need to get another set of headphones with both earbuds to hear these man.   :)  My mixing technique is VERY stereo.  To illustrate what you are missing out on when you listen to only one speaker, I present the following diagram.  :)

L=Hard left speaker.  Meaning there is not even an echo of it coming out of the right speaker.  C=right in the center.  R=Hard right speaker

Here are the guitar parts (every song has 3, occasionally there may be a random 4th one that generally just plays some fancy unnecessary overdub) as they appear on the stereo image.

L GT1----------CGT3----------GT2R

Guitar 3, the one smack in the middle usually plays the melodies, and/or solos.  Guitars 1 and 2, which generally play the riffs and chords are hard left and right.  They are usually playing the same thing so having them so far apart gives the mix space to breathe while at the same time making the riffs sound really thick and chunky.

However, anytime there is harmony or "dual melody", It switches up in an instant, and the part that was playing the main lead is now playing the rhythm part and the two parts that were playing the rhythm are now playing the two leads.  I do this to make the harmony's stand out and sound clear, since in a dual harmony situation they should take precedence over the backing part.  Two leads sortof overshadow the rhythm part, which is how it should be.  But having two rhythms doesn't over power one lead because since they are playing the same thing it doesn't stand out to your ears as much so it's balanced.

May seem a bit of a weird set up, but trust me it's the way to go.  I've experimented with having everything a little closer to the center and it just sounds muddy and takes away the punch.

So, in listening with only one earbud, you miss out on ALL the dual harmony parts and only get one of the melodies when there should be two.  And there is one of those in alteration.

And not only that, but the riffs will sound weaker and/or thinner to you because there is meant to be an entirely different take of that riff playing at the same time.

And that concludes my thoughts on the matter.  Regards. :)

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I'd pool my money for some nice headphones if it weren't for the fact that I'd never use them once I got back to Alberta. I'm hoping my remaining earbud stops working soon so I have an excuse to get a new pair... :P

Possessed said:

RicOlie_2 said:

If I understand the video description correctly, every track in the song is replaced with a new cover by you, whether done digitally or recorded. Is that correct?

 I'm not sure I understand your question correctly.  Are you asking whether I made the backing track from scratch or just used a template one I found and played over it?  If that's the question, the answer is I made the backing track from this one from scratch in a midi then used soundfonts to "bring it to life" so to speak.  In the video I'm only playing the guitar, but the bass and drums and keyboards are all "programmed" by me.  In the soundcloud files I play the guitars and the bass, and the drums and keyboards are programmed.  Sometimes by me,  sometimes with the help of midis I find on the net, but always spiced up by me.

I make the backing tracks from scratch sometimes, sometimes with the help of midis, but even in that case I still at least edit the midi, plus set the tone controls and instrument patches for the sound tone of it.

 Yup, that answers my question, thanks. There's definitely a bit more personal touch and interpretation in your cover than the others I listened to yesterday, which in this case is definitely a good thing.

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The other covers of that song by other people on youtube?  I'd agree.  I wouldn't really even call them covers, just "look I can play this song"'s.  They even play over the actual song in all the ones I heard.

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Yes. None of them were very good compared to yours. I think I saw one actual cover, but even then, it just copied the song as closely as possible, without any interpretation.

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I think it sounds better, but it's hard to tell with my current audio equipment. I like the song itself, anyway.

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I wish I knew somebody that could sing over these.  I think they would really have a chance of being popular, and I might would even write.

The reason I think it COULD get popular, is because everybody that I show it to likes it.  Even those who normally listen to pop rock or lighter stuff.  My music has an intensity beyond rock, but once the initial 'shock' of it wears off, everybody I show it to seems to enjoy it.  It's got the ferociousness of metal, the fun of rock, and the melodic sensibilities of pop.

If I could find a decent singer who has sortof a harsher voice but could still sing softer things I think it could really do something.

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How about you fuck off.  If you don't like the music, don't listen to it.  No need for this shit.  Do I post in your projects and say dumb shit?  If you even had any projects I wouldn't.  If you do have any it's news to me.  I can't control that only one person has responded.

 I worked really hard on these, and if you can do better then please by all means share.  

If anybody else had said this it would be fine, but I'm automatically pissed off just because it was you.  Go fuck yourself.

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HotRod should get a room for himself and stay in it.

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Possessed said:

How about you fuck off.  If you don't like the music, don't listen to it.  No need for this shit.  Do I post in your projects and say dumb shit?  If you even had any projects I wouldn't.  If you do have any it's news to me.  I can't control that only one person has responded.

 I worked really hard on these, and if you can do better then please by all means share.  

If anybody else had said this it would be fine, but I'm automatically pissed off just because it was you.  Go fuck yourself.

 Haha!! Chill out you twat!!

http://www.facebook.com/DirtyWookie

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Will do, little shit.

Still waiting for you to share something more impressive.  Seeing as you get your jolly's from anonymously insulting people you've never met over the internet, I guess this is unlikely.

You're just a pitiful excuse for a person.

And with this thought in mind, I am very calm.  I do see humor in what you said now, but not for the reasons you wanted me too.  You're just a little shit and I pity you.

But by all means, keeping trolling over the internet.  You probably don't have much else of a social life or you'd see how sad it is.

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Haha!! I share something impressive every night!! No need to pity me.

My social life isn't what it used to be, thanks for being concerned tho. That mainly comes down to having kids and being pretty happy chilling at home with the missus.

Calm down you dick!!

http://www.facebook.com/DirtyWookie