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rhythm guitar from “my will be done” by unearth | ToneDB

my will be done

unearth

rhythm guitar

90% ai confidence

Tone Profile

A crushing, tight, and articulate high-gain metalcore rhythm tone, characterized by aggressive midrange, controlled low-end, and percussive attack perfect for fast riffing and breakdowns.

Signal Chain

Instrument: Ibanez RG Series or S Series Guitar (with EMG 81 in bridge position, tuned to Drop C)

Amp: Peavey 6505+ Head (Lead Channel)

Microphone: Shure SM57

Processing: Maxon OD808 Overdrive (settings: Drive 0, Level 10, Tone ~5), ISP Decimator Noise Gate, Studio Parametric EQ (for cuts in low-mids and boosts in upper-mids/presence), Light Studio Compression (potentially on a guitar bus)

Other: Signal Path: Guitar -> Maxon OD808 -> ISP Decimator -> Peavey 6505+ Input -> Peavey 6505+ FX Send -> ISP Decimator (channel 2 if using G-String version) -> Peavey 6505+ FX Return -> Mesa/Boogie Rectifier Standard 4x12 Cabinet (with Celestion Vintage 30 speakers) -> Shure SM57 (close-mic'd, slightly off-axis, aimed at the edge of the dust cap). Guitars are double-tracked and panned hard left/right.

Recording Notes

  • The album 'The March' was produced by Adam Dutkiewicz, known for his signature tight, aggressive guitar tones, often involving Peavey 5150/6505 amps.
  • Guitars were likely double-tracked (at least) for each part and panned wide to create a full stereo image.
  • Fresh, heavier gauge strings suitable for Drop C tuning (e.g., .011-.054 or .012-.056) would have been used for optimal tension and tone.
  • The Maxon OD808 (or similar Tube Screamer circuit) is used as a clean boost to tighten the amp's low-end response and add saturation, not for its own distortion.
  • A noise gate (like the ISP Decimator) is crucial for achieving the sharp, percussive attack and silence between notes characteristic of this style.
  • Mic placement on the Celestion V30 speaker would be critical, with the SM57 likely aimed at the edge of the dust cap or where the cap meets the cone for a balanced tone.
  • Significant post-processing EQ is common to fit the guitars into a dense metal mix, typically involving cuts around 200-400Hz to remove mud and boosts in the 1.5-5kHz range for clarity and aggression.

Recreation Tips

  • Use a guitar equipped with high-output active humbuckers like the EMG 81 in the bridge position.
  • Tune your guitar to Drop C (CGCFAD).
  • Utilize a high-gain amplifier such as a Peavey 6505/6505+, Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier, or a quality digital model of these amps.
  • Place an overdrive pedal (Maxon OD808, Ibanez TS9, or similar) in front of the amp with Drive near zero, Level at maximum, and Tone adjusted to taste (usually around noon).
  • Employ a fast-acting noise gate pedal or plugin to achieve tight, staccato rhythms.
  • Practice precise and aggressive palm-muting technique.
  • Record at least two takes of each rhythm guitar part and pan them hard left and hard right in your DAW.
  • In your DAW's EQ, try a high-pass filter around 80-100Hz, a cut in the 250-400Hz range to reduce muddiness, and a boost in the 2-5kHz range for pick attack and clarity.

Sources