Who inspires you the most as a mixer these days and why? I really look up to Serban Ghenea. His mixes are always so consistently great, balanced, loud, without being harsh. And it seems like he’s all ITB using standard tools that everyone has access too, he’s just got the skills and ear to make them great.
I jump around a lot, and often like non-conventional mixes.
But recently, Manby Marroquin has really been impressing me. Obviously he’s got a ridicules back catalogue, some of which are my favourite records, but I really enjoyed his mixes on This Is Why by Paramore. I’ve heard a lot who disagree, but I think the mix specifically did lots for the vibe of the record.
I really like the sounds Peter Tagtgren (Hypocrisy, Pain) gets both as a recording engineer and mixing. He shows up so much on late 90’s swedish extreme metal and the sound is super recognizable. Even his more recent albums retain a more old-school sound on guitars, which I really appreciate given that I dislike the “modern metal” guitar sound. Also, the bass guitars on several of the albums he’s produced is crazy. Plus, I really like the drum sounds he’s gotten over the years, particularly the kick drum sound that shows up on most of the Amon Amarth albums he’s recorded and mixed.
I guess Jens Bogren also should get a mention, as he’s been on almost every big metal album for the past decade or two, including Opeth and Be’lakor, which are my 2 favorite bands right now
Jens Bogren just has such an amazing ear for metal. His stuff always serves the music and sounds pristine.