dasilvasteals Redler Stoneman

[dasilvasings]

Does anyone remember Kari's Stoneman, back in 2010?

https://songcrafters.org/forum/index.php?topic=6950


Back then (and now) it stroke me as a wonderful song, very, very original, with hints of "folk psychedelia and fairy-like atmosphere". Not the song you find everyday.
The lyrics are simple and clear - the song about a farmer that lived on an island and gathered stones to clean his fields.

However, and subconsciously, I always detected a hint of tragedy on the song - cold Finnish winter, hunger, solitude - all good ingredients for a good black metal song, in the tradition of the magnificent's Amorphis Album, "Tales from the Thousand Lakes", perhaps one of my favourite album's ever.

When I started to make this cover, the idea was simple: convert the song to a Black Metal epic. Easy.... Not.

- I can growl, but I can't keep a sustained growl, especially in such a low register as this song
- Odd as it may seem, I don't have any guitar, but only ukuleles. I used my Risa electric ukulele with a good distortion, but can't have the weight of a 7 string guitar.
- Drums.... yeah... Metal is a lot about drums. I can't play them, and I could not find suitably heavy enough patterns to use
- Can't complain about the bass, but a 5 string bass would have helped...
- Last but not least, bats are a protected species where I live. If you can't bite the head off a bat, just forget black metal and start a boys band.

And it almost what I did...

Listening to my voice, singing one octave below the original sounded better than expected. I reinforced with a second voice, barely audible, and kept the good old growl for a 3rd track in the chorus.
The drums are actually 2 tracks. A wav pattern that repeats where you hear mostly the ride, and a midi pattern that I changed a few times to create some variations on the drums. It lacks the clarity of the wav's ride, this is why I kept both. Add some spices of reverb and voilá. If you can't make it sound like Amorphis, try to sound like Phil Collins. Same.
Nothing much to say about the ukulele - just playing the chords and laying a wall of sound.
I tried a lot with the bass. To add some distortion, to make it sound like a synth (octaver+fuzz+chorus), etc. only to come to the conclusion that the direct input sounds amazing. It is a Fender Jazz Bass. It worked before, it works now, it will work tomorrow.
Oh. Second chorus, I replaced the lyrics for "your voice is near", because it sounded more ominous.

In the end there was no Finish Black Metal Anthem, but another of dasilvasings's weirdiness... I hope Redler forgives me... Don't forget to hear the original and a newer version Kari has in his youtube channel, with a proper singer!

so... nevermind the bollocks, here's dasilvasings

[Redler]

Amazing job, DSS! This was totally different as I could expect! As you perhaps know I'm big fan of recycling, and I must say that it was an excellent idea to turn my song to metal genre. Really BIG sounding guitar, eh uke(!!!).

Drums, bass and voice sounds fine on verse and it really turns to metal on the chorus.

Thanks a lot for this - made my day!!!

[Redler]

I'm at job now and had to listen to this via crappy speakers, can't wait I'll get at home!!

Forgot to mention that production was brilliant, too.

(If you listen to the original, please watch the video track, it was better, take nr 2)

[guitarron]

This is great- I love when someone takes a cover and re-imagines it.  You  did just fine with the instruments used-this translates well to this genre-excellent job all around

[Bluesberry]

absolutely fantastic ...and spooky sounding...It sounds more Joy Division than black metal....which is great....its like a lost Joy Division track....very wicked....great bass

[TPB]

Epic track and to think this is coming from a Ike blows me away
Bravo Tim

[Jean Pierre]

Ah yes I was very surprised (and charmed) by the low and proximal voice after the introduction I was expecting a screaming and very metal voice

well seen and very well done with the amazing electric Uke

[StephenM]

didn't know the orig but this sounds cool...love the heavy distorted uke there throughout...and the drums thump along like a reliable horse plowing fields of yesteryear...they seemed like it was just ordinary ho hum work but it produced a crop that fed hundreds....
yes...big track..

[Greeny]

I really like the sound and atmosphere of this. The sparse bass works so well on the verse sections, and I love the Ian Curtis vocal. There's a great balance between doom and optimism. On ukes?! Incredible! Brilliant work.

[Blooby]

Very cool vibe to this tune. I'm digging the meandering bass and layering.

Blooby