IN STUDIO: Glenn Fricker and Spectre Sound

Every day this week, I'm going to try and profile a different locally owned and operated studio and producer and show you some of the work they've done. This is just a tidbit of info to point you in a direction if you're planning on recording something this year and aren't sure who to turn to!

Glenn Fricker
Spectre Sound
116 Patillo Road
Tecumseh, Ontario
(519) 816-ROCK
info@spectresound.ca

Over the years, Glenn Fricker's name has become synonymous with Windsor heavy metal. He may not have recorded every major name in the local scene, but everything he's touched has turned to the sonic doom equivalent of unholy gold. With twenty years of recording experience (ten as owner of Spectre Sound), Fricker has had his hands on some of the who's who and essential listening of Windsor heavy metal: from as-yet-unheard gems like Aquila and Bloodshoteye's upcoming new albums, to Betrayer's classic old school metal classic Shadowed Force, or the recent Black Kreek's Power and Reality, to working with Montreal's Despised Icon on their critically acclaimed metalpiece Montreal Massacre, Fricker has helped define a metal sound. He was even behind the boards and the glass for Unrestrained Magazine's 2004 Album of the Year, The Pursuit of the Sun and the Allure of the Earth, from the Windsor-born (now Toronto based) international doom metal giants Woods of Ypres.

What prompted you to start recording bands?
Glenn: Love for the music, passion for the art of recording.

What is your niche? By that I mean, what do you specialize that sets you apart from the other producers?
Glenn: Metal. Ask any heavy band around town.

Who are you working with right now?
Glenn: Aquila, Assassinate the Following, and starting on the new Betrayer record later this year.

Is there anyone locally right now that you'd love to work with but haven't yet?
Glenn: Yeah. Any heavy band that thinks they're going to get a better product for cheaper at another studio.

How do you see the recording industry surviving with the increasing DIY recording that seems to be emerging of late?
Glenn: Could care less. Engineering isn't a skill learned overnight. That's the reason 90% of the unsigned bands on myspace's recordings don't sound very good.

A Sample of Glenn Fricker's Discography

• Aquila Suffer in Solitude (2008)
• Assassinate The Following Assassinate The Following (2007)
  
• Betrayer Shadowed Force (2005)
  
• Black Kreek Power and Reality (2006)
  
• Bloodshoteye Without Any Remorse (2003)
• Bridget Journey in Time (2008)
  
• Celtic Cross The Long Road (2002)
  
• Despised Icon Montreal Massacre (Selected Engineering)
• Dreams Destruction The End of Innocence (2007)
  
• Facedown Blinded By Delusions (2001)
  
• Final Stage Through The Mirror (2007)
  
• Mister Bones The Extra Heavy (2002)
  
• Mister Bones Monster Burn and the Power Seekers (2006)
• Pitbull Grin Pitbull Grin (2003)
  
• ReGael Coastlines (2004)
• Searchingforchin Searchingforchin (1999)
  
• Woods of Ypres Against The Seasons: (2002)
• Woods of Ypres The Pursuit of the Sun and the Allure of the Earth (2004)

What Other Musicians Have Said:

Randy Blythe, Lamb of God:

The nicest project studio I've ever seen...

Alex Petrovich, Georgian Skull, Mister Bones:

Glenn is the best engineer in the city.