Jan Herbst Jan Herbst

Back from Sweden

Indeed, and we come with two truly smashing mixes of ‘In Solitude’ and interviews with Jens Bogren and Fredrik Nordström. Stay tuned for the documentary.

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Jan Herbst Jan Herbst

And another one

The next producer on board is Josh Middleton of Architects and Sylosis. We’re thrilled!

The next producer on board is Josh Middleton of Architects and Sylosis. We’re thrilled!

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Jan Herbst Jan Herbst

Exciting news

We have just booked flights to Sweden. In January, we are going to work with seminal Swedish metal producers Jens Bogren and Fredrik Nordström. We’re beyond excited!

We have just booked flights to Sweden. In January, we are going to work with seminal Swedish metal producers Jens Bogren and Fredrik Nordström. We’re beyond excited!

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Jan Herbst Jan Herbst

HiMMP team mix

We are happy to announce that we have finished our own, team version mix of ‘In Solitude’. It can be accessed on the project’s online depository and shall soon be available on the usual streaming services.

We are happy to announce that we have finished our own, team version mix of ‘In Solitude’. It can be accessed on the project’s online depository and shall soon be available on the usual streaming services.

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Jan Herbst Jan Herbst

Chapter for the Routledge Companion to Metal Music Composition

We have submitted our chapter for the above-mentioned volume, titled ‘Contemporary Approaches to Metal Music Mixing and Production: Heavy Metal, Death Metal, and Metalcore‘. It should be out in 2024 – we cannot wait!

We have submitted our chapter for the above-mentioned volume, titled ‘Contemporary Approaches to Metal Music Mixing and Production: Heavy Metal, Death Metal, and Metalcore‘. It should be out in 2024 – we cannot wait!

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Jan Herbst Jan Herbst

Our first educational resource

We are very happy that our first educational resource, ‘What exactly is the “heaviness” in heavy metal music?’, created in collaboration with Futurum Careers, is now available for free. Besides an interview about heaviness and the profession of musicologists and music technologists, the resource contains concrete teaching material to be used in further education. The resource is accessible here.

We are very happy that our first educational resource, ‘What exactly is the “heaviness” in heavy metal music?’, created in collaboration with Futurum Careers, is now available for free. Besides an interview about heaviness and the profession of musicologists and music technologists, the resource contains concrete teaching material to be used in further education. The resource is accessible here.

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Jan Herbst Jan Herbst

IASPM conference presentation

We have just held our presentation “What Does it Mean for Professional Metal Music Production to Move Online? A Practice-Based Analysis of Workflow, Quality and Business“ at Liverpool University to an interested audience. While not specifically on the topic of heaviness, we gave insights into the working practices of producers offline and online, as well as the practical challenges of working remotely.

We have just held our presentation “What Does it Mean for Professional Metal Music Production to Move Online? A Practice-Based Analysis of Workflow, Quality and Business“ at Liverpool University to an interested audience. While not specifically on the topic of heaviness, we gave insights into the working practices of producers offline and online, as well as the practical challenges of working remotely.

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Jan Herbst Jan Herbst

Andrew Scheps

We are back from our first producer session with the incredible producer Andrew Scheps (Metallica, Black Sabbath, Red Hot Chili Peppers and many more). We met with him at legendary Rockfield Studios in Wales (where Queen recorded Bohemian Rhapsody, and where many other famous albums have been recorded). The session couldn’t have been better, and we are very much looking forward to making the video and his audio mix available!

We are back from our first producer session with the incredible producer Andrew Scheps (Metallica, Black Sabbath, Red Hot Chili Peppers and many more). We met with him at legendary Rockfield Studios in Wales (where Queen recorded Bohemian Rhapsody, and where many other famous albums have been recorded). The session couldn’t have been better, and we are very much looking forward to making the video and his audio mix available!

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Jan Herbst Jan Herbst

And another article

Our article ‘What is “Heavy” in Metal? A Netnographic Analysis of Online Forums for Metal Musicians and Producers’ is out with Popular Music & Society. The article explores what the word "heavy" means for (metal) music producers and musicians. This study is the first to examine how practitioners use the term in the "real world" to determine how well academic discourse and everyday use align. The research can be assessed here.

Our article ‘What is “Heavy” in Metal? A Netnographic Analysis of Online Forums for Metal Musicians and Producers’ is out with Popular Music & Society. The article explores what the word "heavy" means for (metal) music producers and musicians. This study is the first to examine how practitioners use the term in the "real world" to determine how well academic discourse and everyday use align. The research can be assessed here.

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Jan Herbst Jan Herbst

It’s a hattrick

Our third article, ‘Toward a Systematic Understanding of “Heaviness” in Metal Music Production‘, has just been published in Rock Music Studies. This article proposes a framework for how the technological, performative and musical components of heaviness interact and contribute to the production of heaviness. The research can be accessed here.

Our third article, ‘Toward a Systematic Understanding of “Heaviness” in Metal Music Production‘, has just been published in Rock Music Studies. This article proposes a framework for how the technological, performative and musical components of heaviness interact and contribute to the production of heaviness. The research can be accessed here.

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Jan Herbst Jan Herbst

Article acceptance

Our article “‘I just go with what feels right’. Variance and commonality in metal music mixing practice” has just been accepted for the 11(1) issue of the general music journal El oído pensante.

Our article “‘I just go with what feels right’. Variance and commonality in metal music mixing practice” has just been accepted for the 11(1) issue of the general music journal El oído pensante.

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Jan Herbst Jan Herbst

Rockfield calling

We are thrilled to announce that we will be going to Wales in August to work with producer Andrew Scheps at legendary Rockfield studios!

We are thrilled to announce that we will be going to Wales in August to work with producer Andrew Scheps at legendary Rockfield studios!

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Jan Herbst Jan Herbst

Article acceptance

Our article “Toward a Systematic Understanding of ‘Heaviness’ in Metal Music Production“ has just been accepted for publication in Rock Music Studies!

Our article “Toward a Systematic Understanding of ‘Heaviness’ in Metal Music Production“ has just been accepted for publication in Rock Music Studies!

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Jan Herbst Jan Herbst

Backing vocals are in the can

… by the fantastic Aaron Stainsthorpe (My Dying Bride).

… by the fantastic Aaron Stainsthorpe (My Dying Bride).

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Jan Herbst Jan Herbst

Mexico was a blast

We very much enjoyed presenting work in progress results of our practical work to an interested audience to the ISMMS crowd in Mexico!

We very much enjoyed presenting work in progress results of our practical work to an interested audience to the ISMMS crowd in Mexico!

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Jan Herbst Jan Herbst

‘In Solitude’ finally has vocals

… by the outstanding Ralf Scheepers (Primal Fear, Avantasia, Gamma Ray).

… by the outstanding Ralf Scheepers (Primal Fear, Avantasia, Gamma Ray).

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Jan Herbst Jan Herbst

Article acceptance

Our article “What is ‘Heavy’ in Metal? A Netnographic Analysis of Online Forums for Metal Musicians and Producers“ has just been accepted for publication in Popular Music & Society, hooray!

Our article “What is ‘Heavy’ in Metal? A Netnographic Analysis of Online Forums for Metal Musicians and Producers“ has just been accepted for publication in Popular Music & Society, hooray!

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Jan Herbst Jan Herbst

Book contract signed

We are very pleased to report that we have signed a contract with Taylor & Francis (Routledge & Focal Audio) for the book Heaviness in Metal Music Production: How and Why It Works, intended to be out in 2025.

We are very pleased to report that we have signed a contract with Taylor & Francis (Routledge & Focal Audio) for the book Heaviness in Metal Music Production: How and Why It Works, intended to be out in 2025.

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Jan Herbst Jan Herbst

First article for Metal Music Studies journal

We are excited to have submitted the first article to the central venue for metal scholarship, Metal Music Studies journal. To keep the anonymity of the peer review process in tact, we cannot give any further information, but it is an interesting article! We hope it will be out sometime next year!

We are excited to have submitted the first article to the central venue for metal scholarship, Metal Music Studies journal. To keep the anonymity of the peer review process in tact, we cannot give any further information, but it is an interesting article! We hope it will be out sometime next year!

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Jan Herbst Jan Herbst

We’re going to Liverpool

… to the biannual conference of the International Association for the Study of Popular Music (IASPM), UK & I branch, 31.8.-2.9.2022, where we will deliver a presentation on “What Does it Mean for Professional Metal Music Production to Move Online? A Practice-Based Analysis of Workflow, Quality and Business“.

… to the biannual conference of the International Association for the Study of Popular Music (IASPM), UK & I branch, 31.8.-2.9.2022, where we will deliver a presentation on “What Does it Mean for Professional Metal Music Production to Move Online? A Practice-Based Analysis of Workflow, Quality and Business“.

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