Vocals on Nonexistent

Just gave the whole album a spin yesterday. I agree with Black Rider, it needs remastering. My personal preference would be for the guitar solos to be inched up a bit in volume, but overall I like it just the way it is.

I was showing my teenage daughter the different musical sound and vocal style on the first three albums just to culture her a bit (!), and I like all three albums. I'll grant them their musical freedom to create the way they did.

And I've never thought DJ's vocals on nonexistent were lazy or out of time or anything like that. Maybe I'm romanticizing the past a bit--I believe I bought it in 1992 or 1993--but the vocals are right on for me.

Bit of a funny memory. Background: I'm from a conservative Christian family who thought that Michael W. Smith was satanic music. The day that I saw Nonexistent in the Christian bookstore, I hadn't brought any money to town with me. So I asked my Grandma if I could borrow cash from her to buy a Christian CD. Later she wouldn't let me pay her back. So my very conservative grandmother actually bought Noexistent for me! Little did she know...

They contribute to the atmosphere of the album very well. They don't sound "good", but they make the album better.

If you're interested, i did a short side by side comparison of the old and new albums. It's here:

https://youtu.be/anMScN2f9aA?si=07zEZKtDOmMqefcD

He's singing out his throat, like Roger did with VR, I prefer when they do it from the diaphragm. He is so much better with the new Testimony Of Apocalypse.

Comment I found on a video of Nonexistent

"When this album came out LS was disappointed with the thin guitar sound because it's not how they sounded live....but honestly I think it gives the album an ultra bleak, hollow feeling....almost ghost like and it really works to create a unique mood. It's not just sheer brutality but dark...and it really matches the cover photo of the skulls and the black and white opaque negatives of the band members and even the script of the reinvented logo. The vocals being less enunciated also adds a droning feel. The snare is also super dry. When the guitars are playing clean they are often playing some minor arpeggios giving it a haunting feel. All in all it sounds appropriate to evoke the feeling of some dark desolate place filled with long dead dry skeletons."

So, it would seem that some folks here wish the vocals were...

(pause for dramatic effect)

NONEXISTENT?

bodachi wrote:So, it would seem that some folks here wish the vocals were...

(pause for dramatic effect)

NONEXISTENT?

Haha!

I'm a proponent of the vox on this album. I think it fits, and I think they sound great. But many don't agree, and I'm fine with that.

DJ>Roger Martinez 🤪

Not that big of a deal.

I can still remember going over my friends house and him playing me the album. He was a big fan of LS and the first album, but was totally disappointed in the vocals on Nonexistent.

DJ's Vox are great on Nonexistent, they add to the whole atmosphere of the album and blend in with the dirge and murk of sound and overall vibe (who cares if anyone can understand them). 

And no, Nonexistent does not need a remaster or remix it is perfect as is. I listened to latest mixed edition and it basically ripped out the albums guts and sucked up all the atmosphere. 

Also. I'd like to add, that album is better than anything Obituary every put out. Aside from James Murphy, I always felt Obituary was quite overrated.

In college I would put this album on loud in my dorm room to get all the drunk kids partying in the hall to go away and let me sleep.  Then I got used to falling asleep to DJ's soothing vocals.  I like them a lot.  This album relaxes me.  Oddly enough, it has always done the same to my son, ever since he was a toddler to now when he's 8.  If I put it on in the car, he'll be out in 5 minutes no matter what time of day it is!

Same I have fallen to sleep to that album many times...strangely comforting.

Good to have you back, Dust... just make sure to behave yourself now

Nice to see you again Steven. Yes I have learned the error of my ways...changed man Steven...changed man

Dustofyears wrote:Nice to see you again Steven. Yes I have learned the error of my ways...changed man Steven...changed man

Welcome back, I hope so...

FYI I fixed your cute signature to be a more appropriate size.

Thanks for the warm welcome back Kerrick I kind of feel like the prodigal son. And thanks for sorting out the signature...It really was a bit too big...

Dustofyears wrote:Thanks for the warm welcome back Kerrick I kind of feel like the prodigal son. And thanks for sorting out the signature...It really was a bit too big...

Haha welcome back; I'm glad to see your sarcasm is still intact.  Please play nice. 

2 pages of discussion so far about yelled vocals

Temple of Blood wrote:2 pages of discussion so far about yelled vocals

I’d say they’re more groaned than yelled…

I could never see myself owning this or Inhabit, the vocals are putrid! Not that crazy about the music either. Love the first album and Ghost Thief! Eventually warmed up to Reborn.

Kerrick wrote:

Dustofyears wrote:Thanks for the warm welcome back Kerrick I kind of feel like the prodigal son. And thanks for sorting out the signature...It really was a bit too big...

Haha welcome back; I'm glad to see your sarcasm is still intact.  Please play nice. 

Thanks Kerrick. You are too nice to refuse I will play nice with all the other boys and girls I promise