MinorThreat - Out Of Step Remastered HQ

Another fun one that was suggested to me. I’d not delved into these guys at all before, so this was cool. The album actually sounded great, except for one thing, the 2nd worst kick drum sound I’ve ever heard on a professional recording. (#1 goes to Slipknot on Vol3, the whole album sounds amazing except for the kick, which sounds like someone snapping their fingers with zero thump to it, super weird). The main thing I tried to do was open it up a bit on the top as it sounded kinda chunky to me. So some light EQ all around. I also just tried to reign in the jumpiness of a lot of the tracks. I know its not very punk rock do to that, but it irks my ears how sometimes stuff just slaps you in the face (aurally anyway) and then disappears. So some light selective compression. I include the top end in that since, when I opened up the airy-ness a bit, it needed a bit of a tighter grip to not sound tinny. I think it turned out well. Its also interesting to compare to the official remastered version. Because of my insistence on control, mine sounds way more contained and less spacious. So its a good study in what mastering can do. The official version if definitely larger sounding and more “punk“ and mine, based on personal preference, is much more modern metal. Feel free to not like it.