[Bankie]

https://soundcloud.com/bankie666/going-under

I haven't completed anything for a while. Lots and lots (and lots) of WIPs, so it was time to pick one and finish it, and this is the track I picked. I started it back in 2019 while playing around with my (at the time) new ESP guitar. This is melodic hard rock, which my voice isn't well-suited, so vocals are by Eric Castiglia, who I found on Fiverr.

Lyrics
This is a dawning of a new revolution
Wash the world away of all persecution
And so the price is just a simple solution
Though it could be nothing but a mass illusion

The beginning of a crazy deception
Your thoughts to only be a private possession
Curtail and censor is the new self expression
All of the time, it's the new obsession

Coz I'm going under
Save me, save me, I can't breathe
Yeah, I'm going under
Drowning in a silent sea

Why can't we talk about a new integration?
Not too late for rational reclamation
An antidote for oversimplification
A catalyst for potent socialisation

So instead we've got this so-called progression
Yet this movement doesn't answer the question
My God, now there's no place for oral aggression
Just stay hushed, it's the new oppression

Coz I'm going under
Save me, save me, I can't breathe
Yeah, I'm going under
Drowning in a silent sea

I embrace a change of times
Embrace a change of times

Coz I'm going under
Save me, save me, I can't breathe
Yeah, I'm going under
Drowning in a silent sea

[ChrisPrice]

I like this. Powerful guitars from the off and some nice chord work, You can hit the high notes with your vocals that I no longer can (I'm not as young as I was!!) This would be a great live track methinks. Right up my street. I enjoyed this.

[bigFishAndTheSmallPondets]

The impact of this song is just immense. It hits you with such raw emotion and breathless excitement. It may have that fist-pumping, head-banging overdose of primal affirmation but the lyrics also contain a potent and galvanising message that gives the song real depth. So many disaffected people will find their voice through this song. I'm so glad to have started my morning with this. Rock 'n' roll just as it should be. Blown away.

[moraamarolaloba]

Hola @Bankie

Very good melodic hard rock, everything sounds in its place, the atmosphere and mix  have this pure style, I really like the lyrics.

Stay well

Mora

[Bankie]

Thanks all for the comments.

@ChrisPrice The vocals was the one part I didn't do (other than the backing) - I definitely can't hit those notes myself.

@bigFishAndTheSmallPondets Those are very kind words, and so eloquent. You should be writing for a music mag/site

[pompeyjazz]

I thought this was great @Bankie Gee, those vocals sure hit the high notes.I loved the guitar sounds and the attitude. Nice tight performance but retained that looseness as well which all added to the great feel of the track. Excellent 

[bigFishAndTheSmallPondets]

Thanks all for the comments.

@ChrisPrice The vocals was the one part I didn't do (other than the backing) - I definitely can't hit those notes myself.

@bigFishAndTheSmallPondets Those are very kind words, and so eloquent. You should be writing for a music mag/site

And you, sir, should be on a stadium tour.

[PaulyX]

Hi, great no nonsense powerful intro. Some nice dynamics - I particularly liked the break down around the 2:45 mark, before you rebuild for the outro. And I love the sudden ending too. Vocals - I liked them in the deeper chorus part and outro (a lot), to me the verses felt a bit like the vocalist was struggling to get all the words in though, and maybe the vox is EQd a bit ‘thin’ in the verses? Tonnes of energy to this track - definitely one for the mosh pit.

[Bankie]

and maybe the vox is EQd a bit ‘thin’ in the verses?

@PaulyX Thanks - do you mean it needs a little more lower end, or do you really mean it could have been thickened by (for example) double-tracking? The reason the choruses won't show any of that is that there is quite a bit of my backing singing at those points.

[PaulyX]

Hi Bankie, well I guess it could be either really - just that the verse vocals to me sound slightly 'reedy' as the singer is reaching up towards the top of their range - in contrast to the choruses, I didn't feel the verses had as much welly.  So more lower end in the EQ would probably help, but so would BVs or double tracking probably.  I'm certainly no genius at mixing though!  So just a minor observation, it didn't detract from my enjoyment of the track much though.  It's a winner.

[Bankie]

@PaulyX Thanks - I especially value feedback like this; things to consider in future. I'm a bit weak on the mixing/mastering side of things and spend way too much time on it, so any pointers like this are worth a lot.

[Kafla]

Hi Bankie Devil….see what I did there 🙃😆

This is a speaker rumbler….in a good way. Aggressive guitars and beat give way to an equally polished vocal performance.

It’s ace 🫵🏻🥰

[Jamie]

@Bankie

Hi, love the guitars, they sound great. Brilliant riffing and the vocals and melody suit the genre. Excellent!

Very nice work!
 
Cheers

Jamie

[Skub]

Sounds great on my speakers.

A great,tight,punchy track. It appears you are enjoying the new guitar,sometimes fresh gear brings inspiration. Deffo deserves a repost.

[PaulAds]

Great rocking number!

That vocalist can really dish it out...although I sort of felt that he was much stronger singing a little lower down his (enviable) range. Is Eric a native English-speaker? I just wondered...

Great guitars...maybe a little tighter and more metal-sounding than I normally like...and the drums were very modern-sounding too...really brilliant though! I should move with the times...I'm just a bit of a dinosaur, I think!

I really like the sentiment behind the lyrics too...no dissent will be tolerated...

Cracking stuff!