Kurt Ballou Discusses The Top 13 Milestone Albums Of His Career | Metal Injection

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  • เผยแพร่เมื่อ 21 ต.ค. 2024
  • We asked Kurt Ballou of CONVERGE and GOD CITY STUDIO to list his top 13 milestone albums of his career, in this really insightful feature. Pick up Converge's 'You Fail Me' Redux this Friday!
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ความคิดเห็น • 146

  • @damiloification
    @damiloification 8 ปีที่แล้ว +184

    I wish there was more producers like Kurt or Steve Albini. Their works are so organic. Bar is higher than ever thanks to them.

    • @Charlyfromthenuclearcity
      @Charlyfromthenuclearcity 6 ปีที่แล้ว +6

      Check Colin Marston's work, really similar style and HUGE sounding mixes (last Zevious record is crazy).

    • @Aaaaaaaa-ix4rp
      @Aaaaaaaa-ix4rp 4 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      There are a lot start looking through thank you lists of 90s hardcore 7”s

    • @theaspiration
      @theaspiration 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Steve Evetts has quite the catalogue as well. Will Puntey as well.

  • @blendernoob64
    @blendernoob64 7 ปีที่แล้ว +109

    Everything Kurt touches turns to gold. Nails, Black Breath, Code Orange, Converge, all of it sounds absolutely brutal. I want Kurt to produce more popular bands in the future. It will be like a steve albini producing nirvana situation, taking a popular and accessible band and adding sharp teeth to them. Imagine those pounding bassy drums, the thick guitars and heavy bass on a Slipknot, SOAD, or Slayer record. That would be something. Better than Rick Rubin can do.

    • @dumithegreat3892
      @dumithegreat3892 6 ปีที่แล้ว +15

      blendernoob64 dude, this is such a cool idea! i’d actually be really interested in hearing one of the modern “djent’y” bands, through Kurt’s production. it could probably take the sterile, boring sound of some of these good records, and make them really pop.

    • @BIadelores
      @BIadelores 6 ปีที่แล้ว +14

      I would definitely be down to hearing a Kurt Ballou redoing of SOAD's first album. That album is fucking insane.

    • @charmicarmicat2981
      @charmicarmicat2981 5 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      blendernoob64 rick Rubin ruins everything imo

    • @KeepTheGates
      @KeepTheGates 5 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      @@dumithegreat3892 heard the most recent Darkest Hour record or the self titled Four Year Strong? Not modern metal or djent, but they both call for a more polished sound.

    • @jakeybball
      @jakeybball 4 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      Kurts done most Kvelertak, Torche and High on Fire albums too. His resume is fucking ridiculous.

  • @demon-goat
    @demon-goat ปีที่แล้ว +34

    i love how soft spoken and quiet this guy is for producing some of the most violent albums of all time

    • @patrickbertlein4626
      @patrickbertlein4626 ปีที่แล้ว

      Hardly even close to the most violent, sorry man get butt hurt if you want.

    • @TheCondorjc
      @TheCondorjc ปีที่แล้ว +5

      @@patrickbertlein4626 Abandon All Life and Jane Doe are some of the most heavy albums out there.
      Sure it’s not Slam or black metal but those albums certainly are among the big boys in brazen aggression.

    • @demon-goat
      @demon-goat 6 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      @@patrickbertlein4626 no sass intended, what's your preference then?

  • @kstanton9970
    @kstanton9970 7 ปีที่แล้ว +14

    I could fuckin listen to Kurt Ballou talk about music and production all bloody day

  • @SawHorseDesignBuild
    @SawHorseDesignBuild 2 ปีที่แล้ว +7

    Good to see Kurt embrace his musical roots. I played Bari- sax next to him in the Andover marching band.

  • @enemyofthesun000
    @enemyofthesun000 8 ปีที่แล้ว +59

    What a legend. I've just listened to the new Sumac record, and it's one of the best sludge albums in a while. Turner+Ballou=insane. Now I'm just waiting for the new Nails album.

    • @shellacSOUP58
      @shellacSOUP58 8 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      That was Ballou too?? That record was excellent! Really innovative sludge metal

    • @Gore171459
      @Gore171459 8 ปีที่แล้ว +6

      IT'S FUCKING MURDEROUSLY BRUTAL FUCKING YESSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    • @SocialGore
      @SocialGore 7 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      They've also worked together with Old Man Gloom, and old ISIS stuff. Just FYI

    • @kevinhall2794
      @kevinhall2794 4 ปีที่แล้ว

      There is nothing heavier on the planet

  • @terminaldeity
    @terminaldeity 5 ปีที่แล้ว +18

    Cave In- Until Your Heart Stops is one of my all time favorite albums. Hell, my youtube account is named after track 2 of the album! Love Kurt's perspective on Code Orange. As a bit of an old head, I have been pretty dispassionate about any new hardcore since like 2005. I feel like bands like Code Orange, Vein, Jesus Piece, etc., are bringing back the spirit of the late 90s hardcore that made me fall in love with the genre in the first place. It's something new, but familiar, and above all else, it's sincere.

    • @johnnyscifi
      @johnnyscifi 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      They played most uyhs on their mini tour last year, and I got to see them then. I think they played the whole record, minus moral eclipse!!!

    • @theaspiration
      @theaspiration 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      One of my top 5 albums ever.

  • @LeGronk
    @LeGronk 7 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    put a big smile on my face to hear Kurt talk about the tone on Abandon All Life. certainly caught my attention! I was browsing random shit on TH-cam and was like "whoa, what is *this*..."

  • @CarlHH777
    @CarlHH777 8 ปีที่แล้ว +31

    I didn't even know he worked on Document #8. One of my favorite Screamo albums.

    • @alvinpietzsch1534
      @alvinpietzsch1534 8 ปีที่แล้ว +23

      CarlHH777 He did Orchid's Chaos is Me too.

    • @creekandseminole
      @creekandseminole 7 ปีที่แล้ว +6

      wow that's awesome. The newer band called Vein should make their debut full length with Kurt. They claim Jerome's Dream and Orchid as influences.

    • @BIadelores
      @BIadelores 6 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      He did all of Orchid's stuff, except Gatefold.

    • @MetalNick
      @MetalNick 6 ปีที่แล้ว

      Heck yes.

    • @MetalNick
      @MetalNick 6 ปีที่แล้ว

      creekandseminole Thanks for the name drop, I'll have to check that out. Jerome's Dream was raw.

  • @fotballreber
    @fotballreber 7 ปีที่แล้ว +25

    Missed one of Kvelertaks two first albums tho..

  • @MrJordwalk
    @MrJordwalk 8 ปีที่แล้ว +27

    Kvelertak's self-titled is FUCKING PERFECT! I just bought it on vinyl and it's the only album I've been listening to all week (both on my turntable and on my iPod). I love 'Meir', but the self-titled is the best work of their career so far. I love the guitar tones and the band's seamless blending of Black Metal, Hardcore Punk, Rock n' Roll and Classic Metal. The album moves along at a brisk pace, the songs flow into each other perfectly and it's a wholly immersive listen that leaves me wanting to go right back through the whole thing again as soon the last song (Utrydd Dei Svake) is finished.
    And John Dyer Baizley's incredible album artwork is the icing on this cake. I love his work cause he channels my favourite artist, Alphonse Mucha, and Surrealism, my favourite art style.

    • @lakselv3768
      @lakselv3768 8 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Yeah. Shame it wasnt on this list :/

    • @mycoinsyourpurse2244
      @mycoinsyourpurse2244 8 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      It's been an album that I've been able to consistently go back to since its inception. I listen to at least one to two new albums a week, but there are some albums that just stick with me in the back of my mind. I just love the Rock n' Roll feel mixed with those nasty yet exceptionally, catchy riffs. It's deceptively simple in its sound.

    • @topher2179
      @topher2179 7 ปีที่แล้ว

      q

    • @GVilleAnarcho
      @GVilleAnarcho 7 ปีที่แล้ว

      Wow dude, you were right. Thanks for the recommendation!

    • @rainbo32
      @rainbo32 4 ปีที่แล้ว

      Total agree

  • @Ordacleaphobia
    @Ordacleaphobia 7 ปีที่แล้ว +6

    Kurt is such a unique dude.
    This was a super cool thing to listen to.

  • @tylerjacobson8012
    @tylerjacobson8012 6 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    I love the sound of de vermis mysteris. Favorite sound of any high on fire album.

  • @louderthangod
    @louderthangod 8 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    Super cool video. I'd love to see more producers do a video like this. Very insightful as a musician and engineer.

  • @collinholman5477
    @collinholman5477 4 ปีที่แล้ว +13

    Can’t believe I’d see pageninetynine come up, hell yea!!

    • @mistercath
      @mistercath 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      One of the dudes in page 99 played at my house in their band Pygmy Lush

  • @SchnellVITALVINYLVLOG
    @SchnellVITALVINYLVLOG 8 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    Best dude, I've been a Converge fan since before Jane Doe, He's also helped make some of my favorite albums EVER including the new Nails LP!

  • @Tictac-s2e
    @Tictac-s2e 4 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    I'm a little late to watching this video, but this deserves way more likes than it received. I mean, only 1.1 k? I guess it just goes to show that people like Kurt Ballou fly under the radar more than your average amazing producer/musician. I thoroughly enjoyed this video, and it's giving me a few new albums to download as well. 👏👏👏

    • @BIadelores
      @BIadelores 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      Huh, it's been 1 year since this comment and this now has 90k views. Random, not sure why this got such a surge in views after so long.

  • @nicolasdicesare1797
    @nicolasdicesare1797 5 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    Its amazing what he did to the last Darkest Hour record. Its probably my favorite from them.

  • @charmicarmicat2981
    @charmicarmicat2981 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Hearing Kurt talk about that Young Widows record is amazing. He really seemed to think it wasn’t going to work out at all but with him being the sonic genius he is, he ended up help making one of the greatest punk records ever made.

  • @drownthepoor
    @drownthepoor 3 หลายเดือนก่อน

    That American Nightmare EP happens to be my favorite, and I had no idea Kurt mixed it.
    And pg.99's Document #8, wild to find out he worked on these two random pieces that I love.

  • @TheDarkblue57
    @TheDarkblue57 7 ปีที่แล้ว +51

    Relax, this video was made before Full Of Hell Trumpeting Ecstasy

    • @HalfStepTides
      @HalfStepTides 5 ปีที่แล้ว +7

      Tyler O'Toole t h e b o n e s o f m a n

  • @mistamuthafuka
    @mistamuthafuka 6 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    Meanderthal is one of the few albums that he has recorded that he also still listens to. All hail Torche and Robotic Empire!

  • @rookd1137
    @rookd1137 6 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Kurt seems super chill. Love his studio and band work

  • @jakej654
    @jakej654 7 ปีที่แล้ว +30

    best producer/engineer ever

    • @Mariooo57
      @Mariooo57 7 ปีที่แล้ว

      Amen to that.

    • @Neel-ff4mn
      @Neel-ff4mn 7 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      sophos34 There's also Steve Albini, Brian Eno, John Cale, Nigel Godrich...

    • @RyanWSi
      @RyanWSi 6 ปีที่แล้ว

      sophos34 next to Matt Bayles

  • @marcopelaezfernandez4573
    @marcopelaezfernandez4573 8 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    Old Wounds is absolutely majestic..

  • @shellacSOUP58
    @shellacSOUP58 8 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Great insight, great vid. Some choices in there I never would have expected

  • @mistercath
    @mistercath 5 ปีที่แล้ว +6

    Dude, what about Genghis Tron??? Board up the house is one of my favorite albums ever!

    • @michaelvieregge2257
      @michaelvieregge2257 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      I didn't know he did Board up the House !!tight!

  • @MetalNick
    @MetalNick 6 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Sick! Didn't realize he did Document #8. Great band, great album.

  • @CyberneticArgumentCreator
    @CyberneticArgumentCreator 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    I'm glad I watched this video and looked up all the albums. Beastmilk - Climax is such a cool heavy new wave sound. It's so unique. Nails - Abandon All Life is the definition of brutal. Holy shit.

    • @Whocares1987
      @Whocares1987 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      I did the exact same thing

  • @Neel-ff4mn
    @Neel-ff4mn 7 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    NEW CONVERGE ALBUM ANNOUNCED! HERE THE NEW SINGLE DEBUT ON NPR TUESDAY JULY 25TH!

  • @catface
    @catface 7 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    such a talented man!
    also - don't forget about last TDEP album ;) love it so much

  • @nonipaulette4520
    @nonipaulette4520 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    Thanks for this! Introducing me to music I never would have been aware of!

  • @RetroHabit82
    @RetroHabit82 7 ปีที่แล้ว +60

    Converge: The greatest underrated band of the last 2 decades.

    • @collinqs2541
      @collinqs2541 7 ปีที่แล้ว +13

      RetroHabit82 I agree they are the greatest but they aren’t underrated.

    • @blendernoob64
      @blendernoob64 7 ปีที่แล้ว +17

      ploob man yeah. More like overlooked. The most important metalcore band that no one’s heard of

    • @collinqs2541
      @collinqs2541 7 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      blendernoob64 yeah I tell pretty much anyone musically inclined about converge. My buddy who really listen to nothing but ska and punk and heavy metal was surprisingly into it. I think if a lot of people just sat down and listened to converge, they would like what they hear.

    • @tomosmansounds
      @tomosmansounds 4 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Today Is The Day

    • @CyberneticArgumentCreator
      @CyberneticArgumentCreator 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      I wish I could listen to Fault and Fracture for the first time every morning.

  • @harveywolfe7288
    @harveywolfe7288 6 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    I didn’t know YOUNG WIDOWS WAS BREATHER RESIST! Mind blown. Love both bands

    • @IRieAsAVirus37
      @IRieAsAVirus37 4 ปีที่แล้ว

      Hell yeah and black widow and Coliseum I believe all head members are friends in each of the Bands breather resist played in my town with my friend's band a couple times at least that I saw still haven't seen young widows though

    • @IRieAsAVirus37
      @IRieAsAVirus37 4 ปีที่แล้ว

      Still have a dickies jacket with old breather resist shirt made into a back patch! And that 7inch red

  • @paulpoche8440
    @paulpoche8440 6 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    I’ve waited to hear Converge at the right moment and time.
    Tell me the best song to listen to, to make me a lifelong fan. This will be my first song outside of a concert clip.
    Waiting!!!!

    • @ideovidiot656
      @ideovidiot656 6 ปีที่แล้ว

      Paul Poche find the record "when forever comes crashing" and spin it till there are no grooves!

    • @ddrum1090
      @ddrum1090 5 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Paul Poche start with jane doe keep repeating until u realize that you are now obsessed

  • @Stratking01
    @Stratking01 ปีที่แล้ว

    Wow, I had no idea Kurt produced one of my favorite band’s and favorite albums; High on Fire’s “De Vermis Mysteris”. That’s fucking amazing, and I always thought, “damn why don’t all their records sound as good as this one?” Well done Sir Ballou

  • @mattiamontato8414
    @mattiamontato8414 8 หลายเดือนก่อน

    This man produces some of my most inspiring albums of my mid twenties autistic post hardcore fase❤ thanks kurt.

  • @mynameismark25
    @mynameismark25 6 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Love UYHS, i forgot Kurt produced it and Aaron Turner made the artwork. Doesn't get any better than that record.

  • @thathandleistakentrythisone
    @thathandleistakentrythisone ปีที่แล้ว

    Thank you Kurt for all your work 👏👏👏🤘🤘🤘❤❤❤

  • @angeloglorioso9619
    @angeloglorioso9619 7 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    The quiet Converge track in the background is very distracting, other than that, love this piece.

    • @fuzzmahmoud8436
      @fuzzmahmoud8436 6 ปีที่แล้ว

      What track is it?

    • @CelticMudkip
      @CelticMudkip 6 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@fuzzmahmoud8436 It seems like it's just a play through of the You Fail Me album, which Kurt promotes the rerelease of at the end of the video

  • @trashcan_leftist7483
    @trashcan_leftist7483 ปีที่แล้ว

    This is tha boi right here! I luv this man. He is a legend.

  • @rocker4577
    @rocker4577 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Incredible and timeless

  • @MonsterCaffeine
    @MonsterCaffeine 8 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    he said something about new Trap Them, but i can't find anything! please, someone provide me a link! :)
    also, this guy's productions are AMAZING!

    • @shellacSOUP58
      @shellacSOUP58 8 ปีที่แล้ว +9

      I don't even think they've announced yet if he just finished recording them... I think Kurt jumped the gun a little haha

    • @axelplaysdrums1126
      @axelplaysdrums1126 8 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      +ShellacSoup yes, it'll be out this fall, "Crown Feral"

  • @briancook3923
    @briancook3923 5 ปีที่แล้ว +9

    Jane Doe was the best album of the 2000s.

    • @TheseBitchesWantNikes
      @TheseBitchesWantNikes 5 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Brian Cook It practically pioneered metalcore as we know it.

  • @vincecarpenter661
    @vincecarpenter661 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    I wish he mentioned Animal by Animosity one of the best deathcore albums and his production is fantastic.

    • @theaspiration
      @theaspiration 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      I played the hell out of that album in ther early 2000's.

    • @Vastatio
      @Vastatio 5 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Their worst album by far.

  • @JoseRamirez-ks7nv
    @JoseRamirez-ks7nv 8 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Was All Pigs Must Die's first record mentioned?

  • @decalice4272
    @decalice4272 4 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    Chaos Is Me

  • @charlierodgers7637
    @charlierodgers7637 6 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    That Beastmilk album is insane!

  • @IRieAsAVirus37
    @IRieAsAVirus37 4 ปีที่แล้ว

    Was that page 99 band on Robotic Empire? Jw have record label sampler with them but don't know..

    • @IRieAsAVirus37
      @IRieAsAVirus37 4 ปีที่แล้ว

      So cool didn't know he did Torche

    • @drpibisback7680
      @drpibisback7680 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      pageninetynine were on Robotic Empire, yes. Still got at least Document #8 on their bandcamp.

  • @johnnyscifi
    @johnnyscifi 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    That young windows record...I frequently confuse it for Shellac!!

  • @justinorel6592
    @justinorel6592 6 ปีที่แล้ว +12

    ETID?

  • @thomassinha5301
    @thomassinha5301 7 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    One of my fav Kurt Ballou produced records is God Is War by APMD. Not super new and exciting scene shattering stuff so I understand why it’s not on his list, but Jesus Christ those guys just do hardcore so right. Honestly flawless.

  • @ilitch_castro
    @ilitch_castro ปีที่แล้ว

    What about Black Breath?

  • @ndSpaz
    @ndSpaz 8 ปีที่แล้ว +17

    Disfear is so heavy, my phone weighs like a brick when I upload their record onto it.

    • @chrismacdowell3381
      @chrismacdowell3381 6 ปีที่แล้ว

      Aye, 'tis a wee bit of heft ya got there, English.

  • @shatalg
    @shatalg 7 ปีที่แล้ว

    Does he record and mix those albums?

  • @nimusworks5475
    @nimusworks5475 5 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    DISTORT EVERYTHING..the quote!

  • @starfox1
    @starfox1 5 ปีที่แล้ว

    trap them one of my fav bands. apparently they broke up recently, idk what the reason was

  • @alc4117
    @alc4117 4 ปีที่แล้ว

    Damn I wish Don’t Worry Lady by I Hate Sally was one of them.

  • @CicconeRitchie1
    @CicconeRitchie1 8 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    Kemper spotting😊

  • @thughes2160
    @thughes2160 7 ปีที่แล้ว +33

    missing some GOSPEL in here.

  • @melissaderp8357
    @melissaderp8357 6 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    every The Armed album should be in this list

  • @zeenuf00
    @zeenuf00 4 ปีที่แล้ว

    best heavy music producer in America

  • @shawngoodine9645
    @shawngoodine9645 7 ปีที่แล้ว

    Got put onto some juicy shit from this video.

  • @charmicarmicat2981
    @charmicarmicat2981 4 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Old Wounds is one of the greatest punk records ever made so it only makes sense that Kurt worked on it

  • @thevirtualjonathan1284
    @thevirtualjonathan1284 4 ปีที่แล้ว

    Chaos is me

  • @johnnyscifi
    @johnnyscifi 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Open. Up. This...pit!!!

  • @Aaaaaaaa-ix4rp
    @Aaaaaaaa-ix4rp 4 ปีที่แล้ว

    I wish there was no music playing or maybe music from the bads

  • @ThatOneGuy7550
    @ThatOneGuy7550 7 ปีที่แล้ว

    THE DUSK IN US. NOV 3

  • @jamesosborn2612
    @jamesosborn2612 7 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Songs to scream at the sun by Have Heart is his best production imo

    • @adammuzzy2578
      @adammuzzy2578 6 ปีที่แล้ว

      That record sucks, no wonder they broke up after it.

    • @adammuzzy2578
      @adammuzzy2578 6 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Things we carry is so much better

  • @idunno114
    @idunno114 ปีที่แล้ว

    distort everything

  • @maxwelld23
    @maxwelld23 6 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    I can't stand convege but this was really cool . He seems like a very genuine nice guy .

  • @TheChrispablo
    @TheChrispablo 8 ปีที่แล้ว

    is see that kemper in the background!

  • @stefanburns3797
    @stefanburns3797 6 ปีที่แล้ว

    He looks and sounds like Father John Misty

  • @devilxking2
    @devilxking2 8 ปีที่แล้ว

    Don't see the appeal of Nails at all but I respect Kurt's approach to production

    • @qtbrown
      @qtbrown 8 ปีที่แล้ว +10

      If the song "You'll Never Be One of Us" doesn't do it for you, I don't know what to tell ya.

    • @yellowriverboy5734
      @yellowriverboy5734 7 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      qtbrown I had to check it out. Wow. That's good stuff!

  • @HalfdanMCMX
    @HalfdanMCMX 6 ปีที่แล้ว

    Cat Ballou

  • @patrickbertlein4626
    @patrickbertlein4626 ปีที่แล้ว

    So did he do jail time? Dudes would literally jump your ass for those spider webs