SteveXFR

Remember it's far more important to keep the timing tight than to play every note in the original song. To start with, keep it simple but tight with the drummer. Consider leaving out fills etc while you work on learning to follow the drums. Playing in a band isn't for everyone, it wasn't for me. You need to be totally committed. You can't skip practice to do something else and you have to make yourself available for gigs. Everyone in the band relies on everyone else being there. Get some decent earplugs, you'll spend a lot of time very close to a drum kit and something to take the edge off will make it much more comfortable. Final tip. Forget about YOUR tone. You need a tone which cuts through the mix and compliments it. My bass tone with a metal band was really horrible in isolation but what you'd hear with the guitar sounded perfect.

If you enjoy that, look up Julie Christmas's latest record, Rediculous And Full Of Blood

This is probably a better intro to post metal

That record is a masterpiece. Wreck Of The SS Needle is quite possibly my favourite song of all time. Julie Christmas's latest record has a similar feel to Mariner.

Last night Welsh punks Pizza Tramp played our local. They weren't amazing. The opening act were absolutely brilliant though. They were a grindcore band from Bristol called Priest Crippler. They were brutally heavy and absolutely hilarious. It was part extreme metal, part standup comedy.

The effects pedal boards are much larger as well.

This last year I've been getting more and more in to post metal so I thought I'd start a thread where nerdy metal heads can share some good stuff. My current favourite is Bossk, they were incredible at Arctangent a couple weeks back. I was absolutely blown away by their Sunday set.

I've no objection to a solo in a song. There are a lot of them which don't add to the song and don't even really feel like part of the song. My favourite one is in Floods by Pantera and although it's a guitar solo, it's backed up by an awesome bass parts. The solo is from 3:50 in this video

Die laughing - Therapy?

I've been wondering recently why almost every rock & hard rock song has a guitar solo? Where did the rule that there has to be a solo originate? Was there a band that started it? I've heard a lot of clasic rock recently (not by choice) and there seems to be a lot of songs with solos which don't really add to the song, they just seem to be there because there has to be something to fill the time.

A work mates wife does botox and fillers etc and occasionally forces it upon him. To be honest, I think it looks very unnatural. Instead of looking like the healthy 50 year old man he is, he looks like a desperate attempt to look younger

Children of the grave - Black Sabbath

Frost Hammer - High On Fire

Cold Burn - Cult Of Luna

Bossk. Absolutely disgusting bass.

What a weekend. Baroness, Julie Christmas, Meshuggah and Bossk were definite highlights with Meshuggah being absolutely incredible. Animals As Leaders were a real surprise, I've tried listening to them a few times and they didn't hit the spot but I really enjoyed them live. The only negative was the sound on the Bixler stage. Either the sound tech only likes drums or there were PA issues. I tried watching a few bands in there and the sound was dreadful

Yesterday was awesome. Loads of great music. It's such a friendly, relaxed atmosphere there. All the staff were great, security are great and even the heavy rain wasn't bringing peoples mood down. We took both my kids yesterday, my youngest daughter is 12 and it was her first proper metal gig, she had her mind blown while watching Baroness up near the front. I was working hard keeping her safe as all the crowd surfers went over but it was worth it. Gina Gleason is now her guitar hero.

We just saw Baroness, Urne and Julie Christmas at Arctangent. All were amazing but holy crap Baroness were amazing. I've no idea why they're not headlining

Parking won't be a problem. If you don't get a ticket in advance, you can pay on arrival. Parking marshals have card machines. Last year it was £30 If you need a ticket, there are loads in the Arctangent Facebook group for sale

She's got a Two Notes Le Bass (stolen from me) which has an awesome sounding DI and dual channels. Based on everyones advice, I think I'll look for a compact head. I've got a nice Eden 2x10 cab she can use for gigs during uni holidays. I've put her Ashdown MAG 210 combo up for sale. I like Ashdown so I'll look for an OriginAL 300 head. Her nice new Jazz bass will have to wait

Has anyone here (or your offspring) done the commercial music course at Bath Spa? XFR Jr is starting in September and I'm wondering whether she'll need an amp or do they just need a bedroom practice amp and instrument? I'm looking at replacing her 2x10 combo with a head but struggling to find a head for similar price that's as good as her Ashdown

I'll be there for the full weekend. My third time. I'm local and old so driving in each day and taking the kids Thursday. Really looking forward to Bossk, Julie Christmas, Baroness, Red Fang, Mogwai, Night Verses, Meshuggah and Electric Wizard.

I just sold all my gear. Where was the international music media interest in my stuff?

I guess if you're in a punk covers band, you'll mostly be playing to punk fans who know a lot of the more interesting stuff whilst in a party covers band, you'll mostly be playing to drunk people who wouldn't notice if you only played Mustang Sally & Wonderwall alternating all night

One of my mates wanted to start a 70's punk covers band but wanted to just do the big hits (god save the queen, anarchy in the UK, rock the kasbah etc). I think it would have been much more fun to do the less obvious ones. Submission by the Pistols, Anti Pope by The Damned and Dirt by Stooges plus some GBH, UK Subs and Angelic Upstarts