Looking for mix critique on low tuned atmospheric metal track
Hey everyone,
I’m currently working on an original instrumental track somewhere between melodic death metal, and atmospheric black metal, and I’d really appreciate some honest mixing feedback from outside ears.
The song is still very much work in progress and not finished yet. Vocals are not planned for now. At the moment I mainly want the instrumental side to stand on its own.
Current arrangement:
2 hard panned rhythm guitars (Amplitube 5)
2 additional lead guitars panned more inward for atmosphere and melodies. (Amplitube 5)
Bass Guitar split into low/high tracks (Amplitube 5)
EZDrummer drums (metal mania)
some synths/samples, clean guitars
The guitars are tuned low (Drop A) and the overall mix is intentionally heavy and dense. That’s also where I currently feel the main issue is. The mix sounds big and wide to me, but I feel like it still lacks some clarity and separation between instruments.
Things I’d especially like feedback on:
Do the instruments feel separated enough?
Is the bass understandable or too muddy?
Are the guitars too dominant?
How does the stereo width and depth feel?
Where does the mix lose definition or dynamics?
Feel free to be brutally honest. I’m mainly trying to improve my understanding of how to make dense metal mixes sound both massive and clear at the same time.
The Track: