Check out my KZfaq coaching program: www.finnmckenty.com/work-with-me

People say "It's too compressed" when they don't know anything about production, but pretend that they do so people will care about their opinion.

I've been a professional mix/master engineer for almost a decade now and even I have a hard time telling whenever a rock band mix is "TOO COMPRESSED" or not, people just love talking shit

Fun fact: The founders of Adidas and Puma were brothers.

The problem I find, is that the majority of new bands will start off with a pretty cool unique kind of sound and style, and then by the second or third album they just sound like every other band on Octane. Which I totally get. It's nice to get paid for your music, and it's awesome to be a part of bigger festivals and packages, and it's great to have a bigger fan because you have a more accessible sound. It's a give and take.

“Anything that is hated now will be loved in 10 years” I think a lot of this is survivorship bias. A lot of things just end up getting hated into obscurity, never to be remembered again.

I think at this point Finn purposely says "here's the thing" so the BVB clip can be cut in and I'm all for it

Dude, have you heard the Heavener album after all?

Speaking of liking Creed now, i went to a cover show last week with bands covering Rage Against the Machine, Creed and the headliner was Alice in Chains. The Creed cover band had everyone in the room going absolutely buck. When With Arms Wide Open came on half the people started crying and all i could think was "damn....scott stapp would love this"

Finn, what you're saying about Metalcore definitely has validity. I think it's possible that because you may not listen to modern metalcore as much as some of your viewers (understandable), it's hard to pick out different bands' distinct sounds. For example, when I hear Invent Animate or Currents, I know it's them because I personally feel they've created their own distinct voicing of the genre. Whether the genre is played out or not is a separate topic, and I actually don't feel it really matters that much...because there's still people like me out there who will be in the mood to hear that style of music throughout my week. I actually feel as though Metalcore was burnt out between 2015-2021 or so (which is when I was listening to other genres significantly more), with a lot of Metalcore bands going the Nu Metal direction or Octane-core direction, and now I feel like a lot of them are actually coming back to their roots. Architect's new single is a great example of that, and people love that shit. I think because the prime of Metalcore for people in their late 20s/early 30s (such as myself), where a lot of us were introduced to and engrossed in the genre was over a decade ago at this point (Asking Alexandria, Attack Attack, TDWP, ABR, and many more), there's actually a nostalgic draw to have a NEWER version of that era NOW. Bands like Dying Wish are a great example of that as well. I think they're doing well because they have a modern version of the mid 2000s sound, and people in their late 20s/early 30s miss that sound. If they came out with their most recent album in 2014-2015, I don't think it would have been received nearly as well. In other words, Nostalgia is a helluva drug (particularly for millennials), and artists who capitalize on that are smart, in my opinion. Overall, I don't think Invent Animate or Currents are doing anything groundbreaking with Metalcore necessarily (AND I agree that Metalcore is a bit stale overall), but I do feel there are some bands like these 2 I mentioned who have established themselves now as staples in the genre, especially because neither really made a huge deviation from Metalcore to experiment with other genres since their inceptions. I also genuinely enjoy that sound and like to mix it in with other things I listen to, and I think there's a lot of people out there who feel the same. Everyone knows that Metalcore will likely never be mainstream, but I think there will always be some semblance of a demand for it. Great video as always, appreciate all the thoughts and conversation starters!

Ok how tf do you go from 311 to goregrind?!?!? Thanks for that made me smile.

100% agree that metalcore has become pretty recycled and LP inspired choruses run a bit wild in genre. But I’m trying to understand how Invent Animate fit that criteria. Even without the vocals you would immediately recognise them. They’ve been doing their thing for over 10 years. IMO an argument that they’re copying other bands is a reach, sure they have influences creeping in, but I don’t think they’re ripping off anyone.

I think Invent is doing great stuff for the scene. I first saw them 3 years ago as the second band on a lineup with Alpha Wolf, Like Moths to Flames and Polaris and they wrapped up their first headlining tour a few months ago. I think the song in the video (Without a Whisper) is super accessible for people who aren’t fans of the genre to get exposed to them and listen to more of their music and other bands in the scene. They’re all cool guys too

The reason some genres get stuck in time is because if there's a slight change it will be called something else. I think there are too many subgenres because of this.

Thanks for the Invent Anime recc, they are FIRE!!

Invent animate is amazing I’ll die on the hill

You were spot on with the metalcore take. I'm glad there are bands like August Burns Red who keep their formula but tweak it just enough to keep it fresh. Familiar yet engaging.

Its hard to judge ac/dc because they are so old. they didnt need a dynamic, varied sound because rock music was for getting drunk & parties back then. Get the beer, get the ac/dc album, get your jean jacket on etc...

Every time I like a band (DGD, Invent Animate, Sleep Token), Finn destroys me and my character 😭😂

Ive never been attacked so hard by a KZfaqr and it's hilarious 🤣 I got bk last night I ordered it off my S23 ultra and picked it up wearing my Adidas sweatpants

I grew up on AC/DC and I still fall into a stint of listening to Flogging Molly and Dropkick Murferys every few years. I feel like this video hit me in some many ways lol

I guess the reason I like invent animate is because I've consciously not paid attention to djentcore since like 2013 so didnt even realize its been the same since then, and discovered invent animate in 2022 and it reignited my interest in the genre for the first time since like Number[s]

I’m proud of you for bringing up 311 when you talked about the beat snare sounds. I was like “he better mention 311 😂” They’re one of my favorite bands of all time and they put on ridiculous live shows, still to this day

I’m confused about the Invent Animate take since Invent Animate have a unique sound and choosing heavener as the song for the example I think is the wrong song it’s meant to be soft and ambient but still is recognisable however I do understand if he has something wrong with the singing as a lot of metalcore involves maybe a bit too much singing at times

Invent Animate hate is undeserved

haven't watched the video yet but saying metalcore is generic trash is a pretty cold take, i'm not gonna lie

Invent Animate fans are coming for you Finn. One of the most intense fan bases I’ve dealt with

13:00 Wtf was that sound, i thought something was falling apart in my house lol

4:40 Limp Bizkit has always been great. I’m glad people appreciate them more now than they did years ago. Fantastic musicians, especially Wes Borland and his badass guitar work. I’ve always loved them.

Bro what the actual fuck? Watching on my Android, look to my left, Pepsi in hand... Xbox Series X staring at me under my entertainment center...

The st anger snare sounds like he's banging on a trash can 😂

Metalcore is popular still because it's honestly not bad. It's fine if people don't like it but it makes sense.

Half metalcore bands are boring, half are pretty cool

while i agree that 90% of metalcore bands these days are a dime a dozen, there are still a handful of gems that are buried in the noise. it’s hard to hear about bands like END or dying wish or stuff like that when all you hear about is the last faux-djent-butt-rock-“mydemonswilldrownme”-metalcore bands

The song St. Anger itself is exempt from any and all wrongdoings the community throws at the album as a whole. The snare fits perfectly there (but is troddingly, and too-punishingly, present throughout the album). The verses being a reaction to post-grunge, and the lightning in a bottle timing of the themes of the song being about a prison, is perfect. The chorus “clear… fear” genuinely sound like a 1980 proto-hardcore band reading from a lurics sheet ripped out of their wide ruled notebook, with ridges and all. Perfect song, goes on just as long you would want a song like that to last (not longer or shorter) and I am here to say my 11 year old self was CORRECT to choose to listen to this song. One of Metallica’s best, top 10 if not top 5.

Metalcore just needs that one group of teenagers or a older dad friend group to shake things up, the in between are too busy working,

I knew metalcore was on its Way out when bands started getting on the radio by putting out singles that sound like every rock song on the radio. Because radio rock is its own genre of music. The sound of radio rock comes from a mixture of 70s arena rock ballads, 80s hair metal ballads, 90s/00s post grunge/nu metal ballads, and 00s/10s emo ballads. Until ever rock song that normies know about are down tempo wall of distortion. Even though the songs i listen to by myself are all up tempo or dynamic. And rhythmically complex

Metalcore is an important genre but it has been done to death. Bands could learn a thing or two from Between the Buried and Me and spice it up and add some variety

I love how Finn reads hot takes from other people so reddit can hate them as much as Reddit hates him and comes with the biggest hot take that iPhone is better than Android. He just got talent 😂😂😂

Metalcore has always had a bit of a place, I think the hate comes from the fact that it splays over so many of the metal genre lines. Not saying I was a pioneer, but was in a local band in New England when Overcast, 100 Demons, Killswitch, etc. were just starting. We were all "90's music" kids who just happened to lean into metal more than anything else. We'd open rehearsals with Anthrax and then listen to Whitney Houston while on a beer break and then blast Run-DMC or the Beasties on the way to D'angelos for food. Long story short, we were all music fans that were into metal and always wanted it heavier. So band members would bring bits and pieces. I was the OSDM fan in our band, and remember adding in the death metal growls to one of our earliest songs. Genre purists and pretentious "name thee song" neckbeards are the worst offenders.

Nik nocturnal has entered the chat

In Newcastle this week BMTH tour Ollie stopped the show literally 5 times because people were dropping like flies.

What about the St Anger snare on a HYPERPOP kinda song?

If you've ever heard the live DVD paired with the album... Those rehearsal sessions make these songs listenable. I've always liked St. Anger because I listen to the rehearsal versions.

I'd love to see more cover tier lists. They have an album out there called "pop punk goes reggae" which I think would be fascinating to see you rank

You’re right that there’s always a new hated gateway (hot topic, TikTok, etc) but TikTok is definitely the worst ever. It’s the first time that most of the big new metal bands (plus Deftones) somehow got big off of alt girls making thirst traps.

My line number at the DMV today was 311. I thought of your channel 😂 I waited more than one hour Amber was not the color of my energy.

the concert thing is interesting. plenty of these new fans are teens who are going to their first concert post covid and have skipped multiple years of normal social skill building, so maybe thats got something to do with it. i had many friends when i was young and went to shows who would "teach" me things like dont cross ur arms and all the regular concert et.

Yo, that program looks really interesting. I'm not in a position hardware-wise (camera/lighting/mic/PC) to create videos of the quality people expect, but I've had many friends asking me for years now to put out some content. Very cool that you put a guide together. Now on to the Spicy Takes and Fist Shaking!

Here's a take: I love Erra and Invent Animate but I ALSO agree with everything said here

If Invent animate were bigger band (they are getting there with a steady growth) like spiritbox or bad omens, finn would talk in very different way about them but its ok. Dude likes pop but dont even wait for the hook of a song. He just wants to wind up a some poeple. I like his content but sometimes his takes are lazy.

If that snare in St. Anger was lower in the mix it would actually be pretty good.

About the pit. I wanna stick up for the young crowd as a guy near 40. I haven’t been in a pit since before Covid but December 10th in Sac at a Microwave/Menzingers show, the pit was awesome. The young dudes were doing it exactly right. Rough but also looking out properly if anyone went down. Depends on the scene I think and mid town Sacramento passes the vibe check

Metalcore used to be defined as a blend of hardcore punk and thrash. Hatebreed is an obvious example. Now it's become such a convoluted genre idk wtf metalcore is supposed to be anymore. Most of the modern "metalcore" bands suck anyways so who cares. And St Anger is absolute garbage. The transitions in tempo are terrible. The snare doesn't work for the style. You can't hear the bass guitar. Load and Reload, however, are actually good albums but no one will admit it.

As someone who listens to a good amount of metalcore I think metalcore fans are easily my least favorite music fanbase Only thing that come close in annoyance level are people who think there hasn’t been a good song released since 1989 or some shit

The St Anger snare sounds like they did it as a joke

Hey Finn, what are your thoughts on The Melvins?

I generally agree with your take on the state of metalcore, but I don't think we'll end up stuck in the current iteration of the genre. The Invent Animate stuff is still everywhere, but there are growing bands that are more akin to the metalcore of the mid 2000s. The best example is probably Counterparts. They grew a lot with their new album last year, and they sound more like Misery Signals than Bad Omen. I'm noticing more and more 2000s throwback metalcore out there. It may not get as big as bands like Bad Omens, but it's still out there and not hard to find

Tell me you’ve never watched a Critical Drinker video without telling me you’ve never watched a Critical Drinker video.

I've always liked the snare on St. Anger and was surprised to hear people don't like it lmaoo I had no internet back in the days, and St. Anger didn't really affect me or my friends. They were neutral towards it. And all of the sudden, like 8 years later, I hear about people who hate the snare with a passion, even the entire album lol

My favorite snare sound is from poison the well from way back in the day especially slice paper wrists. Epic

You wanna talk snare? One word...... SNAPCASE

St’ anger was my first album of metallica. And i still love them. Never put me down even then i found out that that no one loves it

Using a piccolo snare for blast beat is something that need to do a come back

Yes, there are many generic modern metalcore bands for sure, but you gotta remember that there are different types and genres of metalcore right-now: 1. Metallic Hardcore (which is the origin of Metalcore with bands like Earth Crisis, Converge) 2. Melodic Metalcore (which is Killswitch Engage, As I Lay Dying and the last Dying Wish album) 3. Progressive Metalcore (which is more experimental, technical/ambient side of metalcore with a lot of genre-bending and styles combined together that include Djent or Thall or some genres including Deathcore and Mathcore, these are: Invent Animate, Oceans Ate Alaska, Northlane, Loathe, Reflections, Veil of Maya, After The Burial, Erra and so on... The reason why some bands sound so different is because they have different roots and combinations of different genres/subgenres, but their general genre is Progressive Metalcore) Invent Animate(Heavener album) combined: Progressive Metalcore, Shoegaze, some parts of Thall and Ambient into perfection. They're not anywhere generic. Oceans Ate Alaska(Hikari album) combined: Progressive Metalcore, Deathcore, Mathcore, Lofi and probably the best ever technical drumming by Chris Turner. As far as i know Chris also used different types of traditional Japanese musical instruments and the whole album felt so unique and so fresh because of it. Northlane with their Obsidian album which absolutely redefines the Metalcore/EDM style and sounds like the best current mix of both, especially songs like: Cypher, Obsidian, Dark Solitaire. Last Loathe album which combined A LOT of stuff including Progressive Metalcore, Shoegaze, Alt Metal, Blackgaze. Allt which is basically a Progressive Metalcore with Thall elements. And so on... There are actually many unique bands, but also there are many generic bands as well. There's no Djentcore, Djent is not a genre, there's a Progressive Metalcore or Progressive Metal, that's it. Thall is not a genre as well, Vildhjarta is basically a Progressive Metal/Math Metal/Thall(which is the element) band. 4. Progressive Metallic Hardcore (Moments Elsewhere by Johnny Booth which sounds like a progressive and redefined version of Metallic Hardcore with interesting experimentation and Mathcore elements included, also last Knocked Loose feels progressive) 5. Nu-Metalcore (which is stuff by Alpha Wolf or Diamond Construct...) 6. Modern Metalcore (which is Pop-influenced, like: Spiritbox, Bad Omens and so on) 7. Post-Metalcore (Personally i don't know as much about this term myself but it seems like it was an alternative term to Deftonescore or Shoegazecore bands, especially Loathe, Holding Absence(they were always a Post-Hardcore band though) and so on... I'm not sure where it's all going now so i will just leave this term here) 8. Metalcore/Alt Rock/Post-Hardcore. There are bands that combined Metalcore and Post-Hardcore, for example: early If I Were You, early Secrets, Woe is Me and similar bands in general. Also current Bring Me The Horizon is basically Alternative Rock/Metal with Metalcore influence. Moreover, there's no shit like Baddiecore or Thallcore or Crabcore, none of those terms sound convincing, yall dreaming mate.

Dying Wish is the best example of evolving the metalcore sound. A great mash of metalcore/hardcore/death metal.

The future of metalcore is the bands getting back to the roots like Balmora

My favorite ringy snare of all time is on From First To Last's first album Dear Diary. However, there are two different mixes released. I'm referring to the original, lesser known, release. The second release was mixed by one of the dudes from Saosin and the snare was changed.

Invent Animate is metalcore perfection.

Aint no way yall actually listening to this boomers takes lol

funny that by the end you mentioned both Maggie and Lolo since they are exactly the two acts I think are the more interesting in this post "new wave pop punk" scene. oh and btw, have you checked the new Lolo song that just came out? it has a reeeeeeally good chorus.

What a hilarious episode “flaming hot takes” and your comments on metalcore, so so funny. Also good point on pop music on being the evolving genre

How in tf are u gonna use "millennial" as an insult when all Gen Z artists literally rip off ideas straight from millennials? 😆 Gen Z comes up with nothing original, it's all rehashed stuff Millenials did. thats not even to mention, how come Gen X was never used pejoratively? youre skipping an entire demographic cohort as an insult?

Why are you so pissed about modern metalcore just living and thriving thanks to the bands like "Invent, Animate". If you don't like them, then just leave them the hell alone. It's your opinion... sure, but you didn't need to show "Invent, Animate" in such a bad light, to the community that's already suffering from gatekeeping, unpopularity and other problems. Stay hard and positive)

I'd actually take the generic crabcore bands over newer Metalcore acts, even if the band was awful you could laugh at the funny stage moves and get some sort of kick out of it, now everything is boring, moody and serious. The genre used to be so much fun, but bands stopped having fun and started listening to indie/shoegaze.

I think that its also worth mentioning that the bar for what's not "generic" has been significantly lifted over the last decade. There are very experimental bands like Periphery or Sleep Token who, by contrast, make everyone else sound generic when that's not the case at all. Invent Animate has a great blend of vocal variation on top of droning distorted riffage that I can't directly compare to many other bands. Compared to Periphery I might call them generic. Compared to many more popular metalcore bands they might as well be the Salvador Dali of the genre.

Ha, you picked one of Invent animates more tame songs to make that comment towards, casual.

2000s metalcore is what I will always expect metalcore to sound like.

Critical Drinker catching strays is so out of pocket 😂

as you know, metal is like an apple: everything's good but the core.

I honestly think most of the best and most unique bands releasing music today are in the Metalcore genre.

"Metalcore is played out" with Heavener as the argument is strange. That particular song is more "fresh" than any song from latest Spiritbox EP (except Ultraviolet maybe), who made slightly watered down Eternal Blue. Heavener at least goes in Loathe direction which is still kinda new and niche and have enough space for experiments. Any song from IA's latest album would be more suitable argument

The clip of invent animate you played sounded like dayshell. This is also coming from someone who’s never listed to invent animate lol

I dunno man, these new bands sound nothing like Killswitch Engage and the early 00s era… The genre has evolved more so than most others imo.

Invent Animate doesn’t belong on this, actually an insanely cool band. Not a lot of bands create an atmosphere like them. A front man replacement is tough for most bands but they’re even better now. Pretty impressive.

Invent Animate is literally miles ahead of any modern metalcore band in the scene. Rare Finn L

I went hard into Metalcore when the OG’s (A7X, Atreyu, 18V, Bleeding Through) when they were on the rise. But within 5 years, all of them either moved onto other things or just moved on period. All the subsequent generations of metalcore contributed a whole lot of nothing to the scene other than making me feel old. The best thing that could’ve happened to metalcore was for it to fade as fast as 90’s swing revival music so that it could come back 20 years later and be cool again. That 20 year mark would’ve been right about now.

For real: wtf is metalcore nowadays? Any current bands that have screaming vocals and some form of downtuning are called metalcore but they do not sound the same at all. The current bands people call metalcore are way more of a djent pop thing than what was called Metalcore 18 years ago. Metalcore used to have this Gothemburg sound influence mixed with hardcore. Currently It's probably the dumbest ever label invented to categorize a form of metal. Everything from KsE to Spiritbox to even BMTH has been called metalcore at one point. If it fits everything, it means nothing.

I always loved 311 snare. Got that pop to it

When you were talking about the “10 year” thing and mentioned it took longer for LB , I’m just trying to figure out , to who? Is that a metal elite club who determines who is “g*y” or who isn’t at the time? The only reason I ask is, LB really started to get a little traction in 1996, they played at least the Jacksonville date of Warped. Next thing you know, they were everywhere. By 1998 or 99 they were playing colosseums and arenas. I think that group who thought they were “g*y” was a very small group. Being from Jacksonville and being involved in the music scene, not as a band member, but as someone who’s best friends were in one of the biggest local bands in Jacksonville in the late 90’s/early 2000’s we had a lot of issues with Fred, but I can’t take away what that band did back then

Why is your voice so damn deep on your advertisement in the beginning? Lol 😂

every one has musics and foods and fashions that fit their memory. every one hates what hurts their memories. and then god created the internet. all hells broke loose. freedom of hurt speech.

17:49 Finn my first, middle, and last names are all first names, does that make me untrustworthy or is it like a double negative type deal and make me trustworthy

I am of the opinion that metal mixes from the early 90s (1988 - 1994) were the absolute perfect middle ground with crispness and definition but also space and dynamics. Many of those albums still hold up now and take me to another world while many modern metal mixes lack the ambience that makes me feel that way. Like I’m hyper aware that I am listening to a digital studio recording. There’s loads of great bands out now, but the more mainstream ‘core’ bands sound kinda samey to my ears. But, that’s just my ears I guess, I like what I like.

Now whenever I wear anything puma I have a little voice in my head that says okay second placer. Last time I ate at Burger King a guy with his kid had to complain because there were used syringes right outside the entrance and the food was not even warm.

The newsboy hat won't come off and now I'm cursed with going to the six day gen x punk cruise to the Bahamas.

I think the moshing issues is more in rap than it is in metal. Like you have kids going to anything from Travis Scott shows to suicideboys shows and throwing elbows, kicking people, all kinds of shit. I went to a suicideboys concert last November and some 17-18 year old girl got her nose broken because some grown ass man decided to punch her in the face. That’s where the issue really is for me.

I think the metalcore take might be abit to generalized, so many awesome albums coming out the last few years, maybe grouping in deathcore and hardcore in general. Most innovation these days is just the mixing of genres. But there's definitely some stuff that is played out like the IA genre, however I find they do that style really well and I personally like them

Hating on old music is not a trait its twice as worse as being addicted to smoking weed and playing nba 2k on the Xbox

Its funny how moshpits are more active now in the edm scene (riddim in particular) than in rock/metal,…. Like they even Give you Bad faces if you start moving arround