STUDIO BACKGROUND/SCOTT ATKINS

Once guitarist with UK metal band Stampin' Ground, I now run GRINDSTONE STUDIO producing metal / hardcore and rock bands. After years of witnessing some killer talent lay waste to venues the world over, it pained me to get their demos home only to hear them sound like shit. I know how it felt to be in a band with few options to get your songs recorded how you wanted them, and not be ripped off for the privaledge. So, in 2003, I applied what I learnt from a decade of recording with S.G and set about doing it myself. Very soon I was getting better results than some well known people in the business. Now in 2009, the studio is going stronger than ever, with many of its bands garnering great reviews and press features, leading to many signings and consequent large scale touring plans.

GRINDSTONE STUDIO is located near Ipswich, U.K and functions as a fully-equipped recording and production studio; a Mac G5 powered Pro Tools HD2 Accel system with all the necessary outboard, plug ins, backline and mics you will need.

The studio is used by afull range of clients, including well known metal labels such as Earache, Roadrunner and Nuclear Blast, smaller labels such as Transcend and In At The Deep End aswell as unsigned bands hoping to take that important next step.

"Not surprisingly, the production (along with mixing and mastering) of Scott Atkins is hotter than Hades." Blabbermouth 8/10. 'Sylosis - Conclusion Of An Age'

LATEST NEWS - JULY '09.

Plenty to write about right now, but i'll keep it short and sweet (check myspace blog for more blogs). So, jumping back to earlier in the year, projects like The MAN MUST DIE album and the MUTANT EP were taking shape, and are now available (MMD on pre-order thru Relapse), both great bands. Hot on their heels is the DAMNATION ANGELS EP 'Shadow Symphony'. A must for fans of KAMELOT. I love polished symphonic metal and this is right up there with the competition. Hailing from Doncaster, U.K, it makes a nice change for them not to be from mainland Europe. Good luck to them. During May i engineered with COLIN RICHARDSON (Machine Head, Slipknot, Trivium) on the BEHEMOTH new record. Thats due out Aug 1st. It's a right handful. I just finished the SAVAGE MESSIAH mix. CHRIS TSANGARIDES produced it. The band obviously love Judas Priest's 'PAINKILLER' album CT produced, as their direction is comparable, with a drip of Testament. So, i'm now mid way mixing an album for the 'Spanish Killswitch Engage' - YIDORAH, and an EP for Newcastle's finest BOLTDOWN.
Output will be reduced for a while now, as i'm building a new improved GRINDSTONE STUDIO through August before manning the desk for the next GAMA BOMB record in Sept. Its all fun and games.


Previous News Nov'08

With 2008 almost over I guess its time to write the round up for the year. The year got underway with the Sacred Mother Tongue single '2800' which went to dent the HMV top 10 download chart. It was my first time in the producers chair with them, and im currently wrapping up the mix for their debur album right now. Its a corking record with some great solo's courtesy of lead shredder Andy James. Feb saw Earache thrashers GAMA BOMB come in for their debut album, spearheading a new wave of thrash metal that promises to be as exciting as it was back in the late 80's.
In March i was asked by Roadrunner Records to mix a live set for CRADLE OF FILTH, recorded at Halloween in Philadelphia on their last tour. This lead to me co-engineering their album (Godspeed On The Devils Thunder) when Andy Sneap headed off to the US for a tour with his band SABBAT.
April/May i tackled the shredders from Reading 'SYLOSIS for their debut album for Nuclear Blast Records. The album is out now, and its a masterpiece. Go check it out.
In June i began the aforementioned SMT album which has taken shape over the summer months. Its due out Feb '09. July saw the return of CINDERS FALL for their 2nd EP. The band are currently writing for their 1st album due for recording in '09. Killer band; a must for anyone into genuinely well written songs.
Around this time Earache Records got in touch again and asked me about producing a deathe metal band for them. This project wrapped up last week and its turned out so much better than i expected. The band is called IGNOMINIOUS INCARCERATION. They are touring with Cryptopsy right now and have recently been touring with Bring Me The Horizon.
So, whats next. Well, im about to start an EP for thrashers MUTANT, and then the 2nd album for MAN MUST DIE for Relapse Records. Its been a very busy year, with stilll some good stuff to look forward to.