Once Dead Is Recording New Album

Vocals and production will make or break. The last Once Dead seemed rushed and the production quality was poor. In terms of vocals, if Settle uses a style similar to the Hand of Fire stuff, it could work. However, if he tries to get all crazy with the vocal delivery like the newest Hand of Fire song (Deception I believe it’s called), I’m not interested. Monotone and indiscernible vocals (or metalcore-ish, raspy/black-ish screaming) will kill it for me regardless of how good the music is. It’s also the reason why the original Vengeance stuff does nothing for me.

When Devon of Fasedown was announced to do the vocals on the last Once Dead album I thought it would be cool because the vocals might sound something like this:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=5g_7GyaT7dg

...but he tried to sound too brutal with effects, etc., and didn’t allow the intensity and speed of the music to do the trick. It ended up sounding like this:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=v0PObV94lCU&list=PLhRkQZ8X0g5Y92ZnDbPH1feKj92D3vFdp&t=0s&index=2

Amazing how Jim’s Chaffin’s drumming could sound so good on the new Deliverance but sounded like he was banging garbage cans on the last Once Dead. Anyway, again, hoping for good production and good vocal delivery/style.

I'm pretty curious to hear this. 

New drummer too?

I'll check it out but the first one was underwhelming.

So, who is doing vocals?

Hand of Fire vocalist and it sounds like he has already changed his style in what appears to be an attempt to sound more brutal or something. Not a fan of the new approach:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=4Q3SW38mVOk

Listening to that is disappointing but I hope it's not the main part of his vox.

Agreed. Make the vocals dynamic. The monotone screaming just gets old.

average joe wrote:Hand of Fire vocalist and it sounds like he has already changed his style in what appears to be an attempt to sound more brutal or something. Not a fan of the new approach:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=4Q3SW38mVOk

That's a HoF song not Once Dead.

True, but that’s their vocalist.

Should be Ult-Metal!

DEEN CASTRONOVO.
He did a Tourniquet song. By the way, wonder if he is still doing the thrash project with Dan Spitz? Dude can really sing! 
http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/rudy-sarzo-joins-new-thrash-band-featuring-ex-anthrax-guitarist-dan-spitz-former-journey-drummer-deen-castronovo/

Dale Thompson. New stuff is pretty heavy/thrashy with HOF guitarist. 

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=F_X8QqUnfHo#

The problem of the last Once Dead was production, 
writing, rewriting and re-arranging songs
that have been finished.

With Larry Farcas, Roger Dale Martin
and Dough Thieme on board

I am looking confident forward to this release.
Hopefully it will be finished next year.

Why isn't Glenn Mancaurso playing on this?

average joe wrote:DEEN CASTRONOVO.
He did a Tourniquet song. By the way, wonder if he is still doing the thrash project with Dan Spitz? Dude can really sing! 
http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/rudy-sarzo-joins-new-thrash-band-featuring-ex-anthrax-guitarist-dan-spitz-former-journey-drummer-deen-castronovo/

I'm gonna go on a limb and say this will never happen, but if it does not with those 3 people.

well they replied to my comment on the video of not really digging the new vocal appraoch and I got this reply from the band.

Hand of Fire Did it on purpose. You were expecting the old vocals but thats part of the Deception. Rest of album is old vocals.

Hopefully the vocals go the other direction and are more dynamic/discernible for the Once Dead project as well. If so, could turn out decent. Would be nice if the vocals didn’t ruin it, but actually add to the overall sound. He is probably capable of adding more variation/range (i.e., mixing it up). Time will tell.

jaydeecrawson wrote:Why isn't Glenn Mancaurso playing on this?

Dunno, but I'm glad.  He was always the weak link in VR because he never liked metal or even knew how to play metal drums by his own admission in interviews.  I'm stoked that Roger Sampson is on board, because I'm a huge Precious Death fan!

average joe wrote:Agreed. Make the vocals dynamic. The monotone screaming just gets old.

Funny how everyone's ears hear differently.  I think the regular Hand of Fire vocals are boring and same-y.  This new track sounds way better to me.  Still needs to be more dynamic, though.

I posted in the wrong thread. Please delete.