Northlane Obsidian Studio Diary Part 2 - Jon 

Jon definitely seems to fit the description of a mad genius

Jon is the secret 🐐

As an originally older Northlane fan with Adrian and the Dream Awake days - lately I’ve really dove back into the band’s discography and studied it a lot deeper. Marcus is absolutely incredible, and his story, talent and skills are so special for the genre and in the music industry as a whole. As a musician, it’s so interesting to hear the drummer talk about how even though the parts on this record while less technical, can still be sometimes more difficult in different ways because you have to open up that other different facet of drumming that you haven’t before?….NAILED. Completely clicked with me there. It’s more complex because of the foundational roles you have to play with that drumming structure and it’s a completely different angle. “More robotic…Painting a picture with less colors” etc, yes - because you play a more simple beat to even further foundation that rhythm of it to give everyone else more room. Dang man. When Jon was also talking about Alien and how the different sounding record journeys led up to Alien, I felt like it made sense that this is where they were looking to head in a way. “Dark and ominous” cracked me up. So sorry for the long comment hahaha, amazing stuff guys for real.

Xen sounding good in the background 😎

I completely understand the things Jon is talking about here. This is exactly what metal needs right now - songs like Eclipse. Love that dance vibe.

Can't stress how huge April 1st will be just on the merit of Meshuggah and Northlane dropping bombs of albums! Love these... also 6:21 BRUH

The fact that Northlane is such a batshit crazy mix of sounds is what makes it beautiful to listen to. The juxtaposition of genres seem so comfortable with one another, it's a real credit to the menagerie of composition and production values each band member brings to the table. I hope they never change.

I can't explain how much I love this band

Dude he was spot on describing Obsidian as an extension of Aliens overall sound...thats exactly how I felt upon hearing Obsidian.

Lifelong drummer here, and I totally feel what Nic is saying/explaining. I come from a jazz and progressive background, but have worked with house/industrial music. It's a huge shift to go from flowing over grooves to being essentially mechanical/machine-like. But it's a fun experience. Also, how do more people not know about Northlane!!

This band has made me so excited about all music! Can’t wait for Obsidian

This particular era of sound for them, the Dancy vibe is relevant and fresh, and I guarantee this particular style will sound astonishing live.

Absolutely love the singles. The breakdowns in echo chambers are used every heavy lift in the gym. Already on track for AOTY for me. Let's goooo

These dudes are so insanely good. It’d also be insanely good if they played Animate on their next tour.

This album hit me like a brick wall. It fit so well with the dystopia that was the pandemic. I’ve never had an album vibe with my current mood quite like this did.

Woah! New song at 6:18?? Just the instrumental but sounds awesome! Great update thanks guys

Absolutely love the Obsidian guys, awesome work. Thank you 🙏

these videos could go on forever for me

Great job guys, I'm so pumped for this album! And dudeee, I want to hear that song that starts at 6:18 soo baaaad!! Since the moment you guys teased that song, I've been waiting to hear it along with the whole album!

marcus still recording vocals with mattresses is the best thing ever

Love Jon as a songwriter 🤍

Nic explaining how he’s coping with the changing sound is alllll I needed lol thank you! I was wondering how he was doing with it cuz it’s a big change for him especially

I'm so excited for this album, I love the electronic/techno sound

Really cool and interesting process of creating music. Xen in the background is really nice, can´t wait for the release!

Can’t even wait 1 more second for this album…You are my fav music creators!🔥

Love the sound of this album so far guys! Can’t wait until you can tour the US again!

So pumped for new Northlane AND Thornhill.

I love Eclipse so can’t wait to hear some more songs like that

Loved the electronic implementations on Alien. Can't wait to hear the new album!

I’m excited guys! I came back to comment because I’m listening to Node, and I have to admit that sound is probably my favorite honestly, more so because of the beautiful lyrics and the hypnotic sound. But I love how that evolved in Mesmer. Those two albums had an amazing positive tone as well as insightful, I feel like our divided world needs node and Mesmer these days lol, but also obsidian gonna be insane and I’m very happy and thankful for the music you guys make, YOUR BAND SHOULD NEVER STRUGGLE YOU GUYS ARE LIKE TOP 5 best bands lol.

I've literally enjoyed every single Northlane album, idk how they do it, they just are THAT good

These dudes are crazy good musicians!

That's what I'm talking about boys!! Why I love this band!!😎

Loved this diary video amazing songs loved the sound and the interview story in this video amazing details loved the fact that this music is definitely a banger of course amazing energetic enthusiasm guys amazing lyrics and vocal tracks amazing loved the energetic vibe on the studio too amazing performance u definitely rocked my world my friends amazing job love u guys 🤗🤟

I absolutely love this electronic/dark EDM/trance integration.

Seeing the divide is very interesting. I'm really excited for this one as someone who hated Node and Mesmer and went into Alien with beyond low expectations, but ended up loving it. I wonder what the people who liked Alien dislike about these new singles, they're close in style.

Love you dudes so much. Got some more merch coming and preordered the album. Can't wait till you come back to the states. I should have Said so much more when I met you guys a few years back in Tampa, but I was nervous. Hugs

Thank god it's available!

So sick to see a Make Noise get some use those things are insane. Really stoked to hear the album!

This is so fucking interesting; I'm a huge electronic music fan, more so deep weird smooth dubstep sounds, but also appreciate other forms and I'm so excited to hear the continued influence of your personal taste within this genre. Much love, from Cape Town, South Africa

I’m so hyped guys! This shit is so good so far! I’m very excited guys! I love the techno vibe but as a long standing fan please don’t go to far far away from the heavy, I love you guys! Your music has saved lives mine included!

ayyy a studio upate on my birthday! cant wait for this record

Literally every album is fucking great guys. I’ll keep listening till the day I go. Then sprinkle in some of northlanes first two albums before Marcus and it’s all perfect !

Hyped for album

yeah the boys! bring the cozy house bangers

If northlane’s music does not end up in a video game I’m gonna shit my ass. I literally picture halo, deus ex, or oddly enough the old Turok games. Such good images that this music produces

That second song is the one i've been waiting for ever since their teasers on IG way back when... honestly I don't understand why they didn't choose it as the lead single- it's insanely catchy and far superior to Plenty (and probably echo chamber too). Oh well. Can't wait for this album!!! Keep up the good work NL

Obsidian es el ejemplo de como Northlane ha creado su propio estilo y poco a poco va afianzándose más con el. I love u guys!!

Unreleased song in the background at 6:20

I think the best art comes from artists who are in the midst of struggle and transition, at least in the writing aspect. I love that they're not comfortable making these new songs because it's in discovery that they find really nice gems like Cypher or even songs like Nova, and while those two examples may sound different, it's obvious they're made on the same canvass. Obsidian feels that way - very consistent but managing to sound diverse in terms of songs. I weirdly keep coming back to Obsidian now more than Alien.

“7:58 what? And how? And okay!” Lmao I’m so glad he’s this cool about Jon’s insanity. This music is god tier

Northlane changes their sound and everyone else follows. They are trend setters. From the beginning of their career till now.

This is great guys! What an amazing insight into the creation of this album.

Can we PLEASE get a Node and Mesmer remix / master. PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

They all look like they need a bloody good meal! 😄

I am dying to know what clarity sounds like, the first song of each Northlane album are always favorites of mine

Definitely hearing some Prodigy and Aphex Twin in there

It's interesting to hear Nic's point of view. You can tell he's dialed back the drums a bit.

I really want to know what Jon has been listening to lately in terms of electronica. I've sort of fallen off the electronica train these last few years and would really like to hear some new stuff that helped inspire Obsidian's direction.

Talking about electronic music and metal like it's something never been done before. Check out Sybreed's 2008 album Antares if that's what you're looking for.

Northlane is one of the best metalcore bands out there, they will use top notch equipement. Northlane: 2:22 :D

The song in the background from 6:18 on...sounds like I should be playing Halo to...

what's the song in the background?pllz

Anyone know if they use any digital synth plugins?

So Jon writes all the music?

Am excited about this but slightly worried about a sharper focus on techno sounding music

Truly has a talent for taking all the fun and excitement of a new album out behind the barn to shoot it. Have some excitement! I found myself at multiple points in the video going "oh that might be neat...oh, robotic/you don't like complex. Ok, so you are creating something dull, boring, and repetitive that only you would like."

second instrumental?

Меня беспокоят речи Джона. В первом видео он сказал, что ему надоело писать риффы на гитаре. В этом он говорит, что теперь вообще не слушает рок и метал. И такое ощущение, что остальные товарищи из группы не совсем понимают куда Джон их ведёт

so to sum Josh pushed his own agenda more at Node and Mesmer, while Alien and unpcoming thing is Jon's influence. cool

new song on 6:17

PLEASE COME TO BRAZIL LOL

I would like that from Obsidian, Northlane starts to have more EDM sounds. Min 6:18 Xen?

When I saw the thumbnail, I was wondering what 2002 Rivers Cuomo was doing here

🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤

Sad I didn't know the bassist left the band.

Marcus doesn’t seem entirely content

Lol, they contradict themselves in their commentaries 😂 One says it's similar to Alien, might even repeat some things from that album, the other one says the new album is different, never even heard anything like that before 🙈

i shit a bit.. lol but the album since these singles are fucking. Amazing. Especially this damn song

Kinda sounds like there's some creative differences tbh 😬

Blegh.

I miss the old Northlane

i'd prefer to just check out some clips from the recording sessions, tbh. I understand that this is your artsy phase, but some good pacing would be much appreciated

Dude.. commented this on the 1st studio diary as I was concerned and still am.. Is Marcus okay? The guy looks like he's been doing some naughty shit, get some pies in you bro, hope everything is okay

Great stuff now when are you gonna release real heavy metal music again ? Not techno style not hating just wondering are you guys done with metal ? And if not whens the next metal song coming 2040?

Instead of having the dude make it all and you guys just play over it afterwards, you should all sit down together in a room, with your instrument and do it the REAL way by playing along with each other and forming the song together. The fact that the other guitarist essentially contributes NOTHING to the music except playing it live is embarrassing. It's like having a conversation, you sit down together, communicate with each other and shift it in the direction you want to go naturally, when it's appropriate. You don't have some guy record a monologue of himself and then proceed to interject a bunch of posthoc drivel over it. This approach would also give you a different sound, for a better or worse, but at least you wouldn't be running into the problem of hitting a plateau in your sound and forcing your way around it, all the while behaving like actual musos and not disconnected from the process. Write this off as a hate comment if you want idgaf but nobody else in your echo chamber is going to tell you this.

Well nothing stays forever, a band evolving is always a good thing but I gotta say I'm not excited for what is coming up. Hope they prove me wrong !

So Jon writes all your material? Is this Jon's band or Northlane? I guess I'm just confused as to this whole episode being about Jon Jon Jon when it takes all members to be Northlane. Still a huge fan regardless, just thought this band was a group that wrote as a whole unit, not 1 guy telling everybody what to play ya know

Is it just me, or is the attitude of “I don’t like metal beats/don’t listen to metal beats anymore” a little obnoxious or ignorant when you’re in the position Jon is in now? They’re a metal band, and obviously they’ve gone more electronic over the years, but the overarching tone is metal, so saying you’ve completely stopped tuning into it seems detached and wrong. Plus it doesn’t seem like the band actually enjoys having to do all the shit jon wants to do. Dunno, still excited to see the new album since alien was my favourite, just hope it’s still heavy.

бля мне одному кажется что они что-то типа новых Linkin Park?

I dunno, this is the first Northlane release that I’m not excited about. I did not like the singles so far and hearing that there are techno songs on this album makes me even less excited.