Day 17

Recording: Greg’s backing vocals

Greg

$2.49 Swedish meatballs and lingonberry sauce at Ikea? Best recording session so far.

Tim

Tom had fallen ill with the plague, so we laid down some backing vocals for Part 1 so as not to waste a day. Of course backing vocals never take as long as lead vocals, so we had plenty of time to journey to our local Ikea and feast upon Swedish meatballs of victory!

Day 18

Recording: Lead Vocals

Tim

Tom, having recently conquered the plague, returned to the vocal chamber with a vengeance! We started with Part 3, which has a vast “clean” part in it. These would require the best tone, so we laid down the vocals for this before the hours of epic intensity to come later had taken their toll on Tom’s tone. Part 3 also involves a large Choir of Tom later in the song. To his disbelief I insisted on recording many layered tracks of vocals in this part. We’re not on the level of Blind Guardian’s A Night at the Opera, but it is in reach. The end of the song and album involves a large crescendo starting with just Tom and a clean guitar, and ending in all out armies of sonic destruction. We spent a while on this part, as nailing this part would be important to tie the entire disc together.

After a refreshing lunch at a local establishment, we wrapped the up the day churning out Part 2. Paradoxically, Part 2 is simultaneously the longest song on the album and the one with the least vocals. The vocal parts are rather straightforward in a Primal Fear sort of way. There is quite a bit of variation stylistically in this song, as well, but not on the level of Part 3.

Day 15

Recording: Lead Vocals

Tim

Greg and I have locked Tom in the Vocal Chamber. He will only emerge upon completion of the vocals for the whole album. Although it sounds to me like he’s forgotten the lyrics. Nowhere in any of the songs are the phrases “Help!”, “Get me outta here!”, or “You bastards!”

Tom

I told Tim to leave the goddamn armor, dragon innards, and various other spoils of plunder EXACTLY where they were, but does anybody listen to the vocalists? Of course not. So fine, have it your way, cur! I will stand here hold a C10,000 (it exists, look it up) until your chamber hinges shatter, like so many fragile posers! I demand satisfaction! Doubt me? I’ll do it all day! We won’t get a damn thing done! I’ve got water!

…It was at this point it dawned on me, we had neglected to install a bathroom in the Vocal Chamber (of Steel!) Forward thinking bastards….

Day 16

Recording: Lead Vocals

Tim

Isolation in the vocal recording chamber has begun to take effect. Tom has summoned all sorts of amazing harmonies that can only be conjured when one has spent days in a sensory deprivation-type booth.

Let us pause the Studio Diary here to see how the guitars went.