“I’d Rather See Your Star Explode” is one of the most iconic tracks from Slaves, marking a defining moment in their post-hardcore evolution. Featured on their 2018 album *Beautiful Death*, the song fuses anthemic vocal hooks with intricate arrangement shifts, hitting that rare balance of aggression and melody that made them stand out in a crowded scene. The soaring topline and dynamic transitions hit hard, but it’s the dense instrumental layering that truly makes this track a powerhouse for mixing.

There’s a lot to pull apart in this track. The multitracks contain heavily stacked vocals with harmonies and doubles demanding surgical EQ moves and dynamic control. The drums are hyper-tight, with triggered and natural kick layers requiring phase alignment and precision editing to sit right in the low end. The guitar work is wide and aggressive but doesn’t overwhelm the lead elements, thanks to careful saturation, stereo field management, and mid-side techniques. Programming and ambience create necessary air and drama without clouding the center.

Mixed by Erik Ron, known for his work with Godsmack, I Prevail, and Panic! At The Disco, this session showcases Ron’s modern hard rock workflow in a pristine full-scale production environment. Serving as both a mix engineer and sonic architect, Ron uses dynamic contrast, harmonically rich saturation, and forward-thinking vocal layering to push the song’s emotional and commercial impact. From the thick wall of guitars to the tight, hard-quantized drums and hook-driven vocal production, everything is dialed to demand attention on both active and passive listens—no small feat at this level of density and genre push.

What sets this session apart technically is how the mix carves clarity in a crowded midrange, sculpts energy in limited headroom, and strategically deploys width without compromising center image power. You’ll encounter intricate vocal comp stacks, multi-stage guitar processing, and drum buses engineered to slam while retaining transient detail. For advanced producers looking to refine punch versus polish, manage tonal build-up, or reverse-engineer one of modern rock’s most commercially viable mixes, this is essential hands-on practice.

Download the multitracks, see how deep the arrangement goes, and put your mix chops to the test.