Black Metal Recording Studio in Brooklyn

Trebly, papery, ugly, and evil.

Black metal was built on gear that cost nothing and rooms that were not built for recording. That is not a problem to be solved, but a goal. Most modern studios either clean it up until it sounds like budget melodeath or go so far into lo-fi affectation that it sounds like something you could’ve just done at home. Neither is right. The point is vibe, not production value.

What we do to a black metal record

We have most 1980s boss pedals and track into either the JCM800 or the 5150 for a more modern black metal sound. We produce room heavy drum sound to create a black metal texture. The Tama Starclassic Supraphonic snare tuned high gives the papery crack the genre requires.

We track vocals live in the room. For atmospheric and blackgaze, the Moog Grandmother for synth pads, Prophet Rev2 for harmonic sustain, and Chase Bliss Generation Loss for tape degradation on whatever layers call for it. The Neve 8424 sums the mix without adding the harshness that comes from mixing this stuff in the box.

Approaches you may like

Guitar: 80s Boss Metalcore into Marshall JCM800 100W, SM57 on cone emphasizing upper mids, API 312 preamp, no Royer ribbon (preserves the treble wall the genre needs)
Alternative guitar: Peavey 5150 Block Letter edition for more modern black metal tones
Bass: Ampeg SVT, EV RE20 on cab, DI blend through BAE 1073MP
Kick: Shure Beta 52A, API 3124V
Snare: Ludwig Supraphonic tuned high and dry, SM57 top and bottom
Toms: Sennheiser MD 421 x4, close-mic'd, no room mics or minimal room
Vocals: SM7B or Telefunken M80 into BAE 1073MP, live in the room, one-take commitment
Atmosphere (blackgaze/atmospheric): Moog Grandmother for pads, Sequential Prophet Rev2 for sustain, Chase Bliss Generation Loss for tape degradation
Console: Neve 8424, analog summing avoids harshness on treble-heavy guitar walls

You track it. We mix it.

Send us your session files and we mix them through the Neve 8424 console at 610 Dean Street. Your guitars go through real amps in a real room. Your drums get the same preamp chain we use for in-studio sessions. You get back a mix that sounds like it was made by people who listen to the music you make.

How it works:

Export your tracks as WAV stems, 24-bit minimum, consolidated from bar 1
Send us a reference mix or reference records so we know what you are chasing
We mix through the Neve 8424 with our full outboard chain
Re-amping available: send DI guitar and bass tracks and we run them through the amps in the room
Two rounds of revisions included
Turnaround: 5-7 business days on most projects