Crafting Bring Me The Horizon’s Kick Drum with Fredrik Nordström

Bring Me The Horizon. The name alone conjures images of explosive live shows and, of course, absolutely monumental drum sounds. That powerful, punchy kick drum on tracks like "Chelsea Smile" is a huge part of their sonic identity. Ever wondered how that kind of impact is achieved in the studio? We got an inside look as legendary producer Fredrik Nordström (Soilwork, In Flames, Architects, Opeth) broke down his approach to mixing the kick drum for BMTH's iconic "Chelsea Smile" during a Nail The Mix session.

Fredrik, a maestro of metal production, actually had to recreate parts of the "Chelsea Smile" mix, as the original session is over a decade old. This gave us a unique opportunity to see him build that formidable kick sound, blending old-school wisdom with modern techniques. Let's dive into his methods.

Starting Point: Recreating a Classic Kick

Mixing a song as revered as "Chelsea Smile" years later means getting as close to that original vibe as possible. For the kick drum, Fredrik started with the original acoustic tracks but knew that samples would be key to recapturing its signature weight and attack. This blend of organic and sampled sounds is a common thread in modern metal production, but Fredrik's approach has some unique twists.

Surgical EQ on the Acoustic Kick: Taming the Beast

Before even thinking about adding samples, Fredrik addresses the raw acoustic kick drum tracks. His primary goal? To clean up any problematic frequencies that could muddy the final sound.

Identifying and Carving Out Annoyances

Fredrik employs a classic, highly effective EQ technique to pinpoint and eliminate unwanted resonances or harshness in the acoustic kick. Here's how you can try it:

1. Insert your preferred EQ plugin on the kick drum track.
2. Select an EQ band and apply a significant gain boost.
3. Set a very tight Q (bandwidth) – as narrow as your EQ allows.
4. Slowly sweep this boosted, narrow band across the frequency spectrum while the kick plays.
5. Listen intently. When a particularly nasty, ringing, or "annoying" frequency jumps out, that's your target.
6. Once identified, switch the gain from a boost to a cut, effectively carving out that offensive frequency.

This "seek and destroy" method ensures that the foundational acoustic kick is clean and focused before any sample reinforcement. For more strategies on shaping your low end, check out these EQ strategies for mixing modern metal.

The Sample Game: Fredrik's Custom Power

With the acoustic kick cleaned up, it's time for samples. This is where Fredrik brings in some serious firepower, including his own secret weapon.

The "T-Rex": A Producer's Personal Touch

Interestingly, for this recreation, Fredrik turned to one of his own custom-made kick drum samples. This particular sample, affectionately nicknamed "T-Rex" (a tongue-in-cheek tribute to his wife!), isn't commercially available. He found it to be the closest match to the vibe of the original "Chelsea Smile" kick. This highlights a valuable point: developing your own unique sample library can be a huge asset, giving your mixes a signature sound that no one else has.

Blending for Impact: The Art of Layering

Fredrik doesn't just rely on one sample. His kick sound is a carefully constructed blend:

• Acoustic Kick (Shure SM91): The primary microphone signal from the original recording, providing the organic body and feel. After the surgical EQ, this forms the core.
• "T-Rex" Sample: This custom sample is a dominant layer, providing much of the weight, punch, and character Fredrik is looking for.
• "Click" Sample: A third sample, described as being reminiscent of a "Far Beyond Driven" type kick (think Pantera), is blended in very subtly. Its main purpose is to add a touch of high-end definition and attack – that audible "click" that helps the kick cut through a dense metal mix.

How does he balance these elements? Purely by ear. He listens to the samples individually, then the acoustic track, and then meticulously blends them together until they achieve the desired impact and cohesion. While he uses Pro Tools, the fader levels are determined by what sounds right, not by staring at meters.

Gluing the Kick: Master Bus Processing

Once the individual kick elements are balanced, Fredrik processes them as a group on a kick drum master bus. This is where he adds the final polish and power.

The Waves SSL EQ Touch

A key component on his kick bus is the Waves SSL EQ plugin. His settings are a great example of targeted enhancements:

• High-End Boost: Adds air and presence.
• High-Mid Boost: Helps the kick's attack translate on smaller speakers.
• ~400Hz Cut: Dips a common muddy area, cleaning up the low-mids.
• 60Hz Boost: Enhances the fundamental low-end punch and weight.

Alongside the EQ, a touch of compression is applied on the bus. Fredrik notes this processing "really brings it to life," tightening up the combined kick sound and ensuring it hits consistently. This kind of bus processing is crucial for a cohesive and powerful low end. Dive deeper into metal compression secrets to understand how to make your rhythm section undeniable.

The "Ears Over Eyes" Mixing Philosophy

One of the most enlightening parts of watching Fredrik work is his emphasis on listening rather than looking. He frequently uses a physical control surface (a Decom Command Unit in this session) for EQ and compression adjustments.

Why? Because it forces him to use his ears. By having hands-on control without staring at a plugin's graphical interface, he avoids being "fooled" by what the visual display shows. He can make bold EQ moves that might look "wrong" on a screen but sound incredible. This approach, born from his years working on analog consoles, allows for a more intuitive and musical mixing process. It's a powerful reminder, especially in an age of visually-driven plugins, that your ears are your ultimate guide.

Small Tweaks, Massive Kick Drum Results

Fredrik's approach isn't about one magic plugin or a single drastic move. It’s about a series of well-chosen, often subtle, adjustments that collectively create that massive Bring Me The Horizon kick sound. For example, he might cut some harsh high frequencies from the SM91 acoustic track, knowing he'll supplement that top-end shine with his carefully selected samples. It’s this meticulous attention to detail and understanding of how different elements interact that sets pro-level mixes apart.

Get the Full "Chelsea Smile" Mix Experience

These insights into Fredrik Nordström's kick drum techniques for Bring Me The Horizon's "Chelsea Smile" are just a taste of what you can learn. Imagine having the full multi-tracks to this iconic song and watching Fredrik mix it from scratch, explaining every decision, every plugin, every fader move.

That's exactly what you get with Nail The Mix. You can access the very session this article is based on, plus a massive library of other courses and tutorials from the world's best rock and metal producers. It’s your chance to go beyond presets and truly unlock your sound in modern metal mixing.

If you're serious about elevating your productions and learning the techniques behind bands like Bring Me The Horizon, At The Gates, and Architects, then witnessing masters like Fredrik Nordström at work is invaluable. Don't just read about it; grab the "Chelsea Smile" multi-tracks and full mixing session and see for yourself how these legendary sounds are crafted. Your journey to pro-level metal mixes starts at NailTheMix.com.