UK death metal band Unburier have released their latest EP, Nebulous. In the lead-up to the launch, we caught up with bassist Stan Mitchell to discuss the gear and processes behind the album.
My philosophy for bass is always the same – how do I act as a translator between the drums and the guitars?
Stan Mitchell
Mitchell chose a Warwick Corvette Standard for its distinctive growl and detailed single coil pickups. “Warwicks just have that growl, man,” he said. “And the single coil pickups really sing on it. I like using single coils as opposed to humbuckers for metal – I find they’re a little more detailed and expressive.”
The EP’s recording saw a mix of Seymour Duncan Studio Bass Compressor, Boss CEB-3 Chorus Pedal, and Darkglass B7K Ultra V2: “The studio sound is the secret of our producer, Sam. To replicate it live, however, I use a Seymour Duncan Studio Bass Compressor, a BOSS CEB-3 Chorus Pedal, and the Darkglass B7K Ultra V2. Neither on the EP nor live do I currently use any real amps or cabinets, actually. I have a cab sim on the Darkglass for a bit of extra oomph, live, but I generally prefer a well-sculpted DI tone. Easier to transport, and it has that techy vibe you’d hear in something like Spawn of Possession.”
Joining late in the album’s development, Mitchell had a week to write and record his parts. “I actually joined the band very late into the process of creating Nebulous, so most of the bass was written and recorded in about a week. My philosophy for bass is always the same – how do I act as a translator between the drums and the guitars? A lot of the lines on Nebulous are constructed like that; you’ll often hear me break away from the riff to accent Uther’s drum fills and kick patterns.”
Nebulous marks a shift towards Technical Death Metal, moving away from the band’s early thrash influences: “Compared to our previous work, ‘Nebulous’ is a full dive into Technical Death Metal. We’re still respectful of our early thrash roots, but it’s just not representative of the band going forward. Twisted Existence [EP, 2022] was a transitionary effort, in that regard, and Nebulous was the destination. It’s kind of a mission for the band as a whole. If you’re completely new to the band – Nebulous is sci-fi tech death with teeth.”
For those interested in Unburier’s latest work, you can order Nebulous at this location.
