Humanity’s Last Breath: Pod Farm & IRs for Ultra-Low Guitar Tones

The bone-crushingly heavy and dissonant guitar tones of Humanity’s Last Breath are legendary. When you’re tuning down to oblivion, clarity and punch can be a real battle. Ever wondered how Buster Odeholm, the mastermind behind their sound (and also the drummer/producer for Vildhjarta), wrangles those ultra-low frequencies? We got a peek into his process during a Nail The Mix session, and it’s a masterclass in using familiar tools in smart ways.

Forget overly complex chains; Buster’s approach to Calle Thomer’s guitar tone for Humanity’s Last Breath is surprisingly straightforward, relying heavily on a well-played DI, clever use of Line 6 Pod Farm, a specific Impulse Response (IR), and targeted EQ. Let’s dive into how you can adapt these techniques for your own low-tuned onslaughts.

The Foundation: A Pristine DI and Player Precision

Before any plugins even enter the picture, Buster emphasizes the quality of the raw Direct Input (DI) signal. For this particular track, Calle plugged his guitar straight into a Whammy pedal, then directly into a Focusrite interface. That’s it. No secret pre-amps or elaborate DI boxes. The core tone starts with a clean, strong signal.

But a great DI is only half the story. Calle’s playing style is crucial. He chugs hard. To achieve the sustain and note definition needed for those low tunings without excessive string buzz or flub, his guitar action is higher than what many shred-focused players might prefer. This higher action allows the strings to resonate more freely and cleanly, especially when attacking them with force – a key element for powerful low-tuned riffs.

Sculpting the Core with Pod Farm

With a solid DI in hand, the primary tool for shaping the amp tone is Line 6 Pod Farm. Buster walks through a two-stage process within the plugin.

Pre-Amp Boost: Not Your Average Tube Screamer

First up is a distortion pedal model within Pod Farm, acting as a booster. The settings are key here:

• High Mid Boost: This is crucial for that “springy” attack and pick definition.
• Mid Frequency: Around 51%
• Treble: 60%
• Bass: 60%

What’s particularly interesting is that this “boost” isn’t cutting low-end like a typical Tube Screamer (TS808) or a Fortin Grind pedal would. Buster explicitly mentions wanting to keep the low-end present, even enhancing it at this stage, rather than tightening it by filtering it out before the amp.

Dialing in the Amp Sim

Following the boost, the signal hits a Pod Farm amp model. The settings here are pretty much what you might expect for a modern metal tone, aiming for saturation and a specific midrange character:

• Gain: 50%
• Bass: 15% (fairly low, as the boost retained bottom end)
• Mid: 85% (a significant mid-push for aggression)
• Treble: 60%
• Presence: 70%

It’s worth noting that there’s no compressor on the DI inside Pod Farm before this amp and pedal chain. The dynamics are being shaped by the player and the amp simulation itself.

The Vildhjarta Cab IR: A Dark Canvas

The cabinet simulation is handled by a specific user Impulse Response (IR). This isn’t just any random IR; it’s one with a history, described as the “Vildhjarta cab.” Apparently, Vildhjarta live used a Pod XT Live running into a Palmer DI pedal that had an IR loaded in it. Calle managed to find this exact IR as a file.

The crucial characteristic of this IR is that it’s dark – really dark. Buster mentions it has “basically no high end whatsoever.” This might sound counterintuitive, but it provides a very specific, controlled starting point before the EQ sculpting begins.

Aggressive Post-Cab EQ: Bringing the Tone to Life

Because the chosen Vildhjarta IR is so dark, the subsequent EQ moves are substantial and vital. This isn’t about a full “tone match” in the traditional sense of perfectly replicating another sound, but rather about taking what the IR offers and shaping it to make the guitar sound better in the context of the mix. A significant high-end boost is the first order of business to counteract the IR’s natural darkness. For more deep dives into EQ strategies, check out our EQ hub page.

The Mid-Channel Mid Boost Trick

One of Buster’s signature moves involves mid-side EQ. He often boosts the midrange frequencies specifically in the mid channel (the mono sum) of the guitar signal. This clever trick helps the core fundamental of the guitar notes poke through more clearly, especially on playback systems that are more mono-centric, like Bluetooth speakers or phones. It ensures the guitar’s body translates even when stereo width is lost.

Taming Resonances and Final Shaping

Beyond the broad strokes, the post-cab EQ also tackles problematic frequencies. Buster mentions removing a “weird resonance in the high end” – a common surgical move to clean up harshness. There’s also an overall reduction in the low-end, which might seem odd after trying to preserve it earlier. However, this is about context; the initial low-end from the DI and boost helps with feel and power, while the final EQ ensures it sits right in a dense mix without becoming muddy.

The result of this EQ process, when soloed, might sound thinner and more mono than you’d expect. But Buster emphasizes that this is intentional; it’s what helps the guitars sit properly and cut through in the full Humanity’s Last Breath production.

Bus Processing and Dynamic Control

Once the individual guitar tracks are shaped, there’s some group processing. Buster mentions his usual chain, which includes:

• Multi-band Compression: Applied to the guitars, but typically excluding the very low end to keep the chugs impactful.
• Stereo Widening: He uses a tool like “TM Widening.” Interestingly, he notes that he might be widening certain frequencies while narrowing others simultaneously to achieve a controlled spread without phasey-ness.
• While he mentions a “Stressor” (likely an Empirical Labs Distressor plugin) on the bass, the principle of targeted dynamics processing is key across his mixes.

Sidechain for Clarity

To ensure the guitars don’t fight with the kick and snare, sidechain compression is employed. The guitars are subtly ducked by the main drum transients. Listening to the “delta” (the difference signal, or what the compressor is actually removing) helps dial this in so it’s effective but transparent. If you want to get a better grip on how metal pros use compression, our metal compression secrets hub page is a great resource.

Gear Talk: Calle’s Tools of the Trade

For those curious about the specific gear Calle Thomer uses:

• Guitar: One of his signature Aristides models. These are often baritone scale lengths (the one mentioned was a 27-fret, 27 or possibly 28-inch scale model with an acoustic-style headstock).
• Pickups: Lundgren M6. These are renowned for their clarity and output, especially in low tunings.

Buster’s Mixing Philosophy: Solo First, Then Context

Buster’s workflow for building tones is pragmatic:

1. Solo First: He dials in the initial sound of the instrument in solo to get its core character right.
2. In The Mix: Then, he listens to how it interacts with everything else and makes adjustments as needed. The final decisions are always based on what serves the song.

He also has a “do what’s necessary” mantra. When asked if he rolled off high-end on the DI, he said he didn’t because it wasn’t needed for this particular source. It’s a good reminder: don’t apply processing automatically just because it’s common practice. Every move should be a response to what you’re hearing.

Bringing It All Together for That Crushing Sound

Crafting the monumental guitar tones of Humanity’s Last Breath involves a blend of precise playing, smart plugin choices, and a willingness to make bold EQ moves. By understanding the role of a clean DI, the nuanced use of Pod Farm for both boosting and amp simulation, leveraging a dark IR, and then aggressively sculpting the result with EQ, you can start to incorporate these ideas into your own productions.

Want to see Buster Odeholm himself break down these techniques and mix a Humanity’s Last Breath track from scratch? Check out the full session here. You’ll get the multitracks and watch him explain every decision, giving you unparalleled insight into achieving these kinds of modern metal tones. If you’re serious about elevating your productions, exploring Nail The Mix gives you access to a wealth of knowledge from producers like Buster, helping you Unlock Your Sound: Mixing Modern Metal Beyond Presets.