Andrew Wade’s Fleshgod Apocalypse Guitar Attack Transient Trick

Let's face it, getting heavy guitars to explode out of your speakers with clarity and punch, especially in a dense mix packed with orchestral layers like Fleshgod Apocalypse, is a monumental task. You want that aggressive chug and searing lead lines to hit hard, but how do you achieve that without turning your guitar bus into a muddy mess or an ice-pick nightmare? We got a killer tip from producer Andrew Wade during the Fleshgod Apocalypse Nail The Mix session that sidesteps common pitfalls and delivers pure, unadulterated guitar attack.

The Quest for Guitar Punch: Why Compression Isn't Always the Answer

When guitars feel a bit lifeless or aren't cutting through, many of us instinctively reach for a compressor. And while compression is a vital tool in any mixer's arsenal, it can be a bit of a blunt instrument for accentuating the attack of distorted metal guitars.

The Trouble with Traditional Guitar Compression

As Andrew Wade pointed out, slapping a standard compressor across your guitar tracks can often do more harm than good when you're chasing that initial transient impact. Here's why:

• Low-End Woes: Heavy chugs and palm-muted riffs are rich in low-frequency information. A compressor reacting to these powerful lows can start to "pump" or create weird, unnatural artifacts in the guitar tone. Andrew mentioned that the best-case scenario for guitar compression often involves a compressor that bypasses low frequencies (say, below 600Hz), essentially a multi-band approach or using a sidechain filter.
• Smothered Attack: Instead of sharpening the pick attack, some compressors can actually soften it, especially if not set carefully. This is the opposite of what you want when trying to make each "blob of guitar," as Andrew colorfully put it, really pop.
• Loss of Natural Dynamics: While control is good, over-compressing can squash the life out of a performance, making it feel less dynamic and exciting.

If you're wrestling with these issues, it might be time to explore beyond just making things loud. For a deeper dive into how to wield compression effectively in metal, check out our metal compression secrets. But for this specific guitar attack problem, Andrew has a more direct solution.

Andrew Wade's Secret Weapon: Transient Shaping for Brutal Attack

Instead of trying to tame or shape guitars with compression, Andrew Wade showcased one of his favorite techniques for adding energy and attack: using a transient designer. Specifically, he reached for the SPL Transient Designer Plus plugin.

Meet the SPL Transient Designer Plus: Your New Best Friend

Transient designers are tools specifically built to manipulate the initial hit (the transient or attack) and the decay (sustain) of a sound. Unlike a compressor that reacts to overall levels, a transient designer lets you directly dial in more (or less) punch at the very beginning of a note, or lengthen/shorten its tail. For enhancing guitar pick attack, this is surgical precision.

Dialing It In: Andrew's Settings for Maximum Impact

Andrew's approach is beautifully simple and effective:

1. Focus on Attack: He primarily uses the "Attack" knob on the SPL Transient Designer Plus.
2. The Magic Number (ish): In the demonstration, he boosted the attack by a whopping +9dB. Now, he noted that the scaling on this particular plugin might mean it's not a literal 9dB perceived boost, but it’s a significant crank. The key is to use your ears!
3. Targeting the Hits: The goal is to modify the transient at the beginning of each guitar riff or chug – those "little blobs of guitar" – making each one more distinct and energetic.

He demonstrated the effect by playing a passage, first without the plugin, then with it engaged. He even cranked it to an extreme level to make the effect super obvious, showcasing how it adds that distinct "pop" to the start of each note before dialing it back to his preferred, more subtle setting.

The "Pop" You Can Hear (And Feel)

The result? Even at more moderate settings, the guitars instantly gained a new level of definition and energy. Each note had a more pronounced initial impact, cutting through without needing excessive volume or harsh EQ. Andrew emphasized that while the effect can be subtle, it's this kind of detailed work that separates a good mix from a great one. Understanding and working in this "world of subtlety" is crucial for professional-sounding productions.

Why This Matters for Fleshgod Apocalypse's Wall of Sound

For a band like Fleshgod Apocalypse, whose music is a maelstrom of symphonic bombast and technical death metal, clarity is paramount. Every intricate riff and blast beat needs its own space. By using a transient designer to sharpen the guitar attack, the guitars can maintain their aggressive edge and definition even when competing with a full orchestra, thunderous drums, and guttural vocals. It’s about making the guitars felt as much as heard, giving them an incisive quality that slices through the densest arrangements.

Bring This Technique to Your Own Metal Mixes

Andrew Wade's transient shaping technique is a fantastic tool to add to your mixing toolkit. If your metal guitars are sounding a bit flat or getting lost in the mix, try reaching for a transient designer like the SPL Transient Designer Plus (or any similar plugin you have access to) before you automatically go for a compressor or more EQ.

Remember, a solid foundation is key. This technique will work best on an already well-recorded and well-EQ'd guitar tone. Experiment with the attack control, listen carefully to how it affects the initial impact of your riffs, and find that sweet spot that adds energy without sounding unnatural.

Get Deeper Insights with Nail The Mix

This transient shaping trick is just one small piece of the puzzle when it comes to crafting a world-class metal mix. Imagine having Andrew Wade, Jacob Hansen, and other giants of metal production walk you through their entire process, from raw tracks to finished master.

With Nail The Mix, you get exactly that. Every month, we give you the actual multitracks from huge metal bands and let you watch the original producer mix the song from scratch, explaining every decision and plugin chain. You can see firsthand how pros tackle challenges and achieve those massive sounds, like in the full Fleshgod Apocalypse mixing session.

Ready to go beyond presets and truly elevate your productions? Explore our comprehensive courses like Unlock Your Sound: Mixing Modern Metal Beyond Presets and join a community of passionate metal producers. It’s time to make your mixes hit harder.