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Colin Brittain mixes "War" by Story of the Year
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Few songs slam as hard and stretch stylistic limits in under three minutes like Story of the Year’s “War.” Armed with relentlessly aggressive guitars, shout-along choruses, and powerful dynamic shifts, this track from their 2023 album “Tear Me to Pieces” showcases the band’s return to full-throttle post-hardcore intensity. Lyrically raw and compositionally layered, “War” is a standout entry in both their modern output and the broader genre.
This Nail The Mix session dives deep into how producer and mixer Collin Brittain brought clarity and punch to this chaotic, emotionally charged anthem. Known for his work with artists like Papa Roach, Basement, and Dashboard Confessional, Brittain has built a reputation for high-impact mixes that retain dynamic detail without sacrificing impact. His approach in “War” highlights his skill at marrying intensity with precision.
The session covers a dense and gritty multi-mic drum kit with aggressive transient sculpting and advanced gating to retain attack while cleaning up bleed. The low end requires particular attention with drop tunings and rich distortion battling for space around a sub-focused kick. Guitars are doubled, panned hard, and layered with just enough modulation to create separation without mud. Lead vocals feature saturated compression chains and precise automation to sit on top of an already thick wall of sound. The real challenge lies in balancing sonic aggression with emotional dynamics across a tightly arranged mix.
These multitracks demand thoughtful handling. Download the session and dig into creative problem-solving around energy management, vocal layering, midrange saturation, and large-scale mix optimization.
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