December 8, 2011 - MAYHEM MANTIS

Just uploaded the instrumental version of MAYHEM MANTIS.  This is a track that has been around for awhile, but the lyrics finally came together recently.  I ended up dropping the BPM from the original version and..... BLAM... things fell in line instantly.  I took an unorthodox approach to writing this track.  I created a custom sample kit, then sequenced everything within an early version of REASON using only REDRUM.  Since early versions of REASON didn't have a method for recording wav files, I loaded up my custom kit across three REDRUM machines and sequenced programmed patterns, the result was, um, BIG BALLS (or some goofy description like that, ha) ...

The individual tracks have been exported from REASON into ABLETON LIVE 5 ... where I'll cut vocals and mix.  I'll be using the same chain for recording vocals as I mentioned in an earler post.  At some point in these posts I'll list out all the gear used to achieve the BIG BALLS sound ;) ....

The other intersting thing about this track is that there are no guitars, yet the track is still HEAVY AS HELL ... if you think you can track some guitars to make it heavier, hit me up and we'll see about adding them to the mix ... I'll also be looking for some backup vocals on this one, so check back when the w/vox version gets posted ... peace n grease

-ANDRAKO

December 6, 2011 - PLANET STRANGE / WARLORD

Here are the instrumental versions of PLANET STRANGE and WARLORD, which are the lead off tracks for DSTRYR (click the links in the lyrics section to check out the tracks).  The sound is a return to style used on DFNDR, a sort of HARDCORE INDUSTRIAL sound, GABBER with SLAYER  style riffage if you will.  My guitar style is heavily influenced by the SOUTH OF HEAVEN and SEASONS IN THE ABYSS records.  Everytime I find myself drifting in riff world, this style brings me back home. 

The guitars were recorded through a LINE 6 POD (kidney shaped box) into ABLETON 5.0 via an MBOX2, with a FOCUSTRITE PREAMP between the POD and THE MBOX 2.  I'm using the same configuration I mentioned in the SHOKWAV post for vocals.  The SYNTH BASS is a custom microKORG patch tracked live.  I prefer tracking live vs midi .. it sounds a bit looser than midi, but I feel like that is what helps shape the ANDRAKO sound. 

The drum beats and noize samples are mostly customs I made in REASON, with some sample drum loops tossed in the mix.  ABLETON becomes another instrument when dealing not only with stock samples, but also custom samples.  I don't always stick with the BPM I begin the song in, so having the flexibility to change sounds on the fly is huge.  In the case of PLANET STRANGE, the drum beats were pushing 200 BPM, I was having a hard time finding space to fit other instruments in, so I dialed back the speed and things then seemed to fall in place.

I'm currently writing and recording VOCALS for these tracks and will post up the VOX version when I wrap those up.  Peace n Grease.

-ANDRAKO

December 5, 2011 - SHOKWAV

SHOKWAV is a collaboration between myself and M1 of CRANIAL SMASH DEVICE.  This is the first rough draft of the track, so there is still a fair amount of work left on this one, but the concept feels pretty solid.  The idea started with me sending a bass line sketch to M1, who then came back with a wicked instrument track.  When M1 sends me a track, the hair on the back of my neck stands up and I'm immediately thrown into lyric vision mode ... this track was no different. 

I'll let M1 comment on his gear of choice, for me, I pulled the mp3 version of this track into Ableton Live 5 and tracked about 6 vocal tracks against it, then chose the one with the best performance.  I'll rehearse with this version for a few days, then go back in for some cleaner takes.  I used a RODE NT1 through a FOCUSRITE preamp.  This was patched into Ableton with an MBOX PRO 2 ... nothing fancy, but it gets the job done.  Click the link in the lyrics section below to check out the draft. 

For more on CRANIAL SMASH DEVICE and M1, check reverbnation.com/cranialsmashdevice ... the first ANDRAKO/CSD collaboration is available there as well ... peace n grease.

- ANDRAKO

December 5, 2011 - WARNING: EXPERIMENT IN PROGRESS

The latest IDEA FROM THE DEEP has arrived!  What you have before you is construction of the next ANDRAKO release DSTRYR.  I'll be posting everything from rough drafts through final mixes here, along with notes on everything from the writing process through the engineering process.  I'll also be taking collaboration submissions for music, art, and lyrics ... anything you can contribute just might appear on DSTRYR ... interaction is highly encouraged.  More details to follow... peace n grease.

- ANDRAKO








ANDRAKO - DSTRYR


1. PLANET STRANGE 123 BPM

I


2. WARLORD 162 BPM

II


3. SHOKWAV 168 BPM

III

INNER WRECKAGE
FLAWLESS MIND
TOUCH THE VOID
CLUTCH THE SOUL

SHOK
WAV
SHOK
WAV

ENDLESS BURNING
BLACK REALITY
OBSCURED SENSES
FRAYED MEMORY

SHOK
WAV
SHOK
WAV

LIQUID FACES
MASS PRODUCTION
UNDER SIEGE
OBLIVION

SHOK
WAV
SHOK
WAV


4. HYPNOTIZE [INFECTION] 125 BPM

DIGITAL, CHEMICAL
CODE INFECTED EMBYRO

DIGITAL, CHEMICAL
CODE INFECTED EMBRYO

YOUR A TAINTED BLACKOUT,
YOUR A VIOLENT REACTION,
YOUR A FREAK EXPLOSIVE,
WITH BLEEDING EYES, FACE DOWN

EXPLODE, LIBERATE
BLOW YOUR MIND LIKE A HAND GRENADE
EXPLODE, EXTERMINATE
FUCK YOUR BRAIN WITH A MIND GRENADE

EXPLODE, LIBERATE
BLOW YOUR MIND LIKE A HAND GRENADE
EXPLODE, EXTERMINATE
FUCK YOUR BRAIN WITH A MIND GRENADE

DIGITAL, CHEMICAL
CODE INFECTED EMBYRO

DIGITAL, CHEMICAL
CODE INFECTED EMBRYO

YOUR A TAINTED BLACKOUT,
YOUR A VIOLENT REACTION,
YOUR A FREAK EXPLOSIVE,
WITH BLEEDING EYES, FACE DOWN

EXPLODE, LIBERATE
BLOW YOUR MIND LIKE A HAND GRENADE
EXPLODE, EXTERMINATE
FUCK YOUR BRAIN WITH A MIND GRENADE

EXPLODE, LIBERATE
BLOW YOUR MIND LIKE A HAND GRENADE
EXPLODE, EXTERMINATE
FUCK YOUR BRAIN WITH A MIND GRENADE

IN.FECT

IN.FECT

DIGITAL, CHEMICAL
CODE INFECTED EMBYRO

DIGITAL, CHEMICAL
CODE INFECTED EMBRYO

EXPLODE, LIBERATE
BLOW YOUR MIND LIKE A HAND GRENADE
EXPLODE, EXTERMINATE
FUCK YOUR BRAIN WITH A MIND GRENADE

EXPLODE, LIBERATE
BLOW YOUR MIND LIKE A HAND GRENADE
EXPLODE, EXTERMINATE
FUCK YOUR BRAIN WITH A MIND GRENADE

EXPLODE, LIBERATE
BLOW YOUR MIND LIKE A HAND GRENADE
EXPLODE, EXTERMINATE
FUCK YOUR BRAIN WITH A MIND GRENADE


5. BURN THE SKY 190 BPM


6. MAYHEM MANTIS 122 BPM

VI

DISINFORMATION,
YOUR INNER SANCTUM,
CORPORATION,
BLOOD SUCKING ... THIEF

MAYHEM,
MANTIS,
MAYHEM,
MANTIS

MAYHEM,
MANTIS,
MAYHEM,
MANTIS

ARMAGEDDON,
EVIL AXIS,
WALL STREET PSYCHIC,
TOOLS OF FEAR

DISINFORMATION,
YOUR INNER SANCTUM,
CORPORATION,
BLOOD SUCKING ... THIEF


MAYHEM,
MANTIS,
MAYHEM,
MANTIS

MAYHEM,
MANTIS,
MAYHEM,
MANTIS

BLOOD SUCKING ,.. THIEF

7. PSYCHO MANIA 152 BPM

8. PHREAKS, SKUM, AND VILLIANS 150 BPM

9. RETURN TO PLANET STRANGE 144 BPM

10. DREAM KILLA 117 BPM





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