Eyal Levi, Author at Unstoppable Recording Machine

WILL PUTNEY: Modern Metal Workflow, The Secret Weapon of a Heavy Mix, Vocal Production Psychology

Will Putney is a producer, mixer, and guitarist whose name is synonymous with the cutting edge of modern metal and hardcore. From his Graphic Nature Audio studio in New Jersey, he has produced and mixed seminal albums for bands like Every Time I Die, Knocked Loose, Body Count, The Acacia Strain, and Vein.fm. He is also the guitarist and principal songwriter for Fit for an Autopsy and has an extensive history with Thy Art Is Murder, having produced multiple albums for the Australian heavyweights.

Check out Will on Nail The Mix with Knocked Loose

Get Will’s course, “How It’s Done w/ Will Putney”

In This Episode

Producer Will Putney joins Eyal to pull back the curtain on his start-to-finish production course, “How It’s Done.” This isn’t just another tutorial; Will breaks down how the course captures the real-world pressure of making a Thy Art Is Murder track under a tight deadline, with label and fan expectations on the line. He shares his philosophy on each stage of the process, from the critical importance of pre-production to his multi-amp and multi-mic approach for crafting massive guitar tones. Will also dives deep into why bass is the secret weapon of a heavy mix, the pros and cons of recording drums last, and the psychology behind getting a killer vocal performance. He gets real about the mixing process, explaining that even for pros, it’s not always a smooth ride and often involves backtracking and rethinking your approach. This episode is packed with high-level insights into the mindset, workflow, and creative problem-solving that goes into making a world-class modern metal record.

Products Mentioned

Timestamps

[5:57] The challenge of multitasking a real session while filming a detailed course
[9:26] Putney’s internal drive and why he finds it hard to cut corners
[11:42] Why supplemental material from Fit For An Autopsy was added to the course
[13:50] The philosophy of pre-production: why bad songs make bad records
[16:29] Systemizing the technical setup to maximize creative time
[18:59] Knowing when to delegate tasks (like a full guitar setup) to be more efficient
[23:21] Will’s approach to dialing in guitar tones with multiple amps and mics
[28:33] The importance of developing your own taste and understanding “what’s cool”
[31:52] A reminder that you don’t need tons of expensive analog gear to make great records
[34:54] Why bass is the “hidden weapon” that makes modern metal hit hard
[38:25] The value of getting sounds right at the source so you can make better performance decisions
[42:37] When it makes sense to record drums last
[47:55] Balancing technical perfection with human feel in drum editing
[52:37] How getting vocals to sound “mix-ready” during tracking inspires a better performance
[54:41] The psychology of vocal production and keeping the singer in a confident headspace
[59:47] A quick vocal tip involving pineapple juice and Spindrift seltzer
[1:03:35] Going deep on automation and why it’s one of the most time-consuming parts of mixing
[1:09:32] The reality of mixing: hitting a wall and having to backtrack is normal
[1:17:46] The danger of creative stagnation and why it’s crucial to never stop learning

JAKE PITTS: Producing Black Veil Brides, Learning from John Feldman, and Why You Shouldn’t Have a Plan B

Jake Pitts is a musician, songwriter, producer, and engineer best known as the lead guitarist for Black Veil Brides. He has been a core creative force in the band since 2010, working on their albums alongside producers like John Feldman and Bob Rock. Over the years, he has taken on an increasingly prominent production role, eventually earning the trust to produce and mix the band’s material himself. In addition to his work with Black Veil Brides, Jake and his wife Inna have a project called Aonia, which he also writes and produces.

In This Episode

Jake Pitts hangs out to talk about his evolution from a metal-obsessed guitarist to a multi-faceted producer and songwriter. He shares some incredible stories about working with producers like John Feldman and Bob Rock, detailing how butting heads with Feldman ultimately became one of the most pivotal learning experiences of his career by completely changing his approach to songwriting. Jake breaks down how he earned the trust of his own band, why learning EDM and pop production made him a better rock producer, and the importance of workflow efficiency with killer templates. He also gets into the mindset required for a long-term career, discussing why you have to be thick-skinned, why having a “Plan B” is a bad idea, and the critical importance of being a good hang in the studio. It’s a killer look into leveling up your skills by getting out of your comfort zone.

Products Mentioned

Timestamps

[8:44] Earning the trust to produce his own band, Black Veil Brides
[10:56] The initial conflict of working with producer John Feldman
[16:29] The simple vocal melody trick he learned from Feldman that changed everything
[18:02] Turning producers like Bob Rock and John Feldman onto the Kemper Profiling Amp
[19:51] Shifting from a guitar-first to a vocal-first approach to songwriting
[21:03] How learning to produce EDM completely opened up his creative world
[24:00] The time he secretly edited all the drums on a Bob Rock production
[30:32] Realizing how incredibly difficult and complex EDM sound design is
[33:28] Why you should never stop experimenting with new plugins and techniques
[40:25] The importance of mastering one skill at a time instead of spreading yourself thin
[59:37] How Logan Mader taught him the simple trick of programming drums to the grid
[01:06:31] Using templates to streamline your workflow and stay in a creative flow
[01:14:00] Why a producer’s social skills and “the hang” are critical for a session
[01:22:26] Why writing a simple, infectious melody is often harder than writing complex music
[01:32:09] Being willing to throw out an entire album if it’s not the right move
[01:42:47] Why having a “Plan B” is a recipe for failure in the music industry
[02:06:19] Why understanding and truly hearing compression is one of the hardest skills to learn

Dan Sugarman: Writing for Ice Nine Kills, Detaching Your Ego, and Overcoming Anxiety

Dan Sugarman is the guitarist for horror-metal powerhouse Ice Nine Kills. Before joining INK, he spent nearly a decade in the deathcore band As Blood Runs Black. He’s also a prolific solo artist and a dedicated guitar educator, having launched his “Sugarman’s Lesson Lounge” online community.

In This Episode

Dan Sugarman, guitarist for horror-metal phenomenon Ice Nine Kills, gets real about what it takes to operate at the highest level of the modern metal scene. He pulls back the curtain on the INK writing process, detailing the intense but rewarding dynamic with visionary frontman Spencer Charnas and the creative challenge of translating abstract concepts like “stabby and gory” into killer riffs. Dan shares incredible insights from working with top-tier producers like John Feldmann, explaining his “canvas strategy” for contributing to a project when you’re not the one in the driver’s seat. Beyond the studio talk, this conversation goes deep into the crucial mental game required to survive in music. Dan opens up about developing insane risk tolerance, learning to detach his ego from his ideas, and building the self-awareness needed for a long-term career. He also shares a powerful story about his personal journey through creative frustration and crippling anxiety, and how practices like the Wim Hof method literally saved his life and prepared him for the biggest opportunity of his career. It’s an incredibly honest look at the mindset, problem-solving, and sheer will required to make it.

Products Mentioned

GarageBand

Timestamps

[3:55] Joining a band where everyone pulls their weight
[4:38] Feeling like his ambition overmatched his previous bandmates
[8:02] The danger of contentment and staying in a bad situation for years
[13:21] How his old band’s record deal with Metal Blade was “sabotaged”
[18:27] The mental shift of not labeling things as “good” or “bad”
[20:31] Using meditation to prepare for intense, 10-hour writing sessions
[24:51] The mind-numbing process of writing 15 different versions of one song
[33:30] Producer John Feldmann’s spontaneous and slightly terrifying writing process
[37:21] Using the “Canvas Strategy” to collaborate with visionary personalities
[41:15] The “inception” technique for getting your ideas heard by a band’s leader
[44:29] How he proved his worth in Ice Nine Kills by arranging acoustic songs
[49:35] The career-changing power of under-promising and over-delivering
[54:14] Why he considers himself a teacher and mentor first
[1:13:07] “Red teaming” your own band to expose weaknesses before others do
[1:19:50] The cognitive dissonance of pursuing a music career against all odds
[1:33:10] Why the traditional band interview format is broken
[1:41:28] Learning to accept having your best ideas cut without getting toxic
[1:58:52] How the Wim Hof method helped him overcome suicidal thoughts and prepared him for his big break

SYLVIA MASSY: The art of producing people, lessons from Rick Rubin, and finishing records on time

Sylvia Massy has worked with some of the most influential artists in modern rock, including Tool, Johnny Cash, System of a Down, Smashing Pumpkins, and the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Known for her wildly creative and experimental production style, her discography is a masterclass in pushing sonic boundaries and capturing unique, powerful performances that have shaped the sound of heavy music.

In This Episode

Sylvia Massy dives into the creative mindset and psychological tactics that have defined her incredible career. She explains her unique practice of painting during tracking sessions to maintain focus and how she learned the art of perspective from Rick Rubin. Sylvia shares some killer strategies for managing sessions and artists, from creating an “outrageous” final recording day as a reward for the band to her methods for building trust (like intentionally singing poorly to make a vocalist more comfortable). She gets into the nuts and bolts of knowing when to push an idea, when to back off, and why you sometimes have to let an artist follow a bad idea to its conclusion. It’s a deep look into the art of producing people, not just sounds, and finishing a record on time.

Products Mentioned

Timestamps

[06:27] Painting during sessions to maintain focus
[11:35] Visualizing a song’s arrangement as a drawing
[15:18] How radio production helps create pictures with sound
[17:32] Helping artists find the “finish line” on a project
[20:18] Using an experimental recording day as a reward for the band
[24:23] Throwing a guitar off a cliff for Machines of Loving Grace
[28:19] The “noon to 10” work schedule and avoiding producer burnout
[35:24] Key lessons learned from working with Rick Rubin
[39:42] The value of having a band write hundreds of songs for one album
[49:03] The first step in a session: Identifying “who’s the boss” in the band
[54:13] The psychology of recording singers and building trust in the studio
[56:12] Intentionally singing poorly to make vocalists more comfortable
[59:15] The challenges of fixing Johnny Cash’s vocals on analog tape
[01:01:19] Applying analog tape editing concepts to modern digital workflows
[01:12:07] The challenge of producing a band that already has amazing-sounding demos
[01:26:49] The story behind her 2000-mic museum project
[01:29:59] How a microphone from 1878 actually works
[01:35:36] Pushing singers to their emotional limits (and when it backfires)

JOSH WILBUR: Producing Korn, Learning from Legends, Why Feel Beats Gear

Josh Wilbur is a producer and mixer who’s been behind the board for some of the biggest modern metal albums. His credits are a who’s who of heavy hitters, including Lamb of God, Korn, Trivium, Gojira, and Of Mice and Men. He’s known for his powerful, punchy productions that have defined the sound of a generation of metal.

In This Episode

Josh Wilbur hangs out to share incredible stories and hard-won wisdom from his journey to the top of the metal production world. He kicks things off with his unique, gut-reaction approach to demo feedback and the importance of adapting your workflow to fit the artist—even if it means ditching the “drums last” plan for Max Cavalera. Josh gets real about his early days mopping floors at Soundtrack Studios, learning from legends like Andy Wallace, and that one time Busta Rhymes schooled him on why the artist’s feel beats the gear’s data every time. He also dives into the producer’s mindset, discussing how to navigate creative battles, why a good idea shouldn’t need a hard sell, and the art of helping a band create their best work. It’s a masterclass in flexibility, humility, and what it really takes to build a lasting career.

Products Mentioned

Timestamps

[2:23] Josh’s “gut reaction” method for giving demo feedback
[5:25] Why you have to adapt to the artist’s workflow (the Soulfly story)
[7:25] Learning from legends like Andy Wallace and Machine early on
[12:37] Starting from the bottom: Mopping floors at Soundtrack Studios
[15:25] The ethical line: Navigating an offer to poach another engineer’s gig
[22:07] Surviving chaotic hip-hop sessions with Mobb Deep
[29:16] The Busta Rhymes story: A masterclass in trusting the artist’s ear over the gear
[36:22] The biggest challenge for a producer: Navigating conflict with the artist
[42:23] The danger of referencing other mixes and ruining your own vibe
[44:08] The unconventional “mastering” process for Korn’s The Serenity of Suffering
[48:36] When the rough mix is better than your actual mix
[50:17] Josh’s philosophy on reamping (and why it shouldn’t be the default plan)
[52:55] Why you shouldn’t have to “sell” a good musical idea
[56:07] How Josh landed his first gig at Soundtrack by analyzing his favorite records
[1:24:25] The chance encounter with Andy Wallace that led to working on a System of a Down record
[1:31:20] Andy Wallace passing off a mix to Josh for the first time
[1:56:33] Going to war with a major band to save a song from a bad decision
[2:25:12] What it was like engineering for Tenacious D with Dave Grohl on drums
[2:32:51] Managing the massive, multi-hundred track sessions for Korn’s The Nothing
[2:37:06] Why Korn deserves credit for changing music as much as Nirvana did