Guest Blog: Hate Eternal Frontman Erik Rutan Discusses the Challenges and Rewards of Producing Other Bands

Between 1993 and 2000, guitarist Erik Rutan played with legendary Florida death metal band Morbid Angel before stepping out with his own group Hate Eternal, which, since its 1999 debut, Conquering the Throne, has released four albums. The group’s latest, Fury and Flames, came out February 19 and encapsulates all of the ferocity and musical agility the band has become known for, along with a level of heaviness and speed it hasn’t displayed in five years. In addition to working with Hate Eternal, Rutan has spent the last seven years engineering, mixing and producing other bands, including Vital Remains, Through the Eyes of the Dead and Demiricous. Now, here’s Rutan to talk about the rewards and perils of production.

I often think about the positives and negatives, the good and the bad, in all facets of my life, for I believe in always having the ability to turn a negative into a positive. I have realized that a lot of people that are not musicians or in the music business sometimes do not understand what it takes to complete an album or what goes on in the studio. When I have told friends who are not in the industry what I do for a living, a lot of times their response is, “Hey, did you bust open a keg tonight or what, man?” An even more common reaction is, “Wow, what a tough life.” Let’s just say they are unaware of the full efforts required to complete an album — something I know all too well about as a producer and a musician.

I have so much respect and admiration for recording albums, for this is such a rewarding process. Is it one big party in there? Of course not. Any musicians that I have produced know this (they don’t call me “drill sergeant” for no reason). Remember, a slogan we live by here is “results, not reasons.” But the rewards, achievements and accomplishments of what we strive for immeasurable. Thus, we can achieve harmony and happiness. Thus, we can fulfill our dreams.

So much focus and clarity is needed to pursue the creation of the ultimate album and everyone involved in the process is always striving for perfection. I always look at each band’s album individually, for everyone always has a different opinion or vision of what they want. Therefore, producing an album is a tremendous responsibility. The whole process is like the birth of something cherished and essential to people’s lives.

As a musician, I have always looked at an album as a moment in time, part of a legacy in your life and the band you’re playing with. As a producer, I approach albums with that same mentality. I do so out of respect for the artist and the vision they have for their music, knowing that this is a piece of musical history that will last beyond our days. It’s also something that I will always, in some capacity, be associated with and hopefully be remembered for. I try to think of myself an extra member of the band, who is engineering, mixing and producing the record rather than the guy on his mighty producing throne calling all the shots. It is so crucial and important to be absorbed in each album at any moment of time.

I always have a vision of how I think each band should sound, and through open communication we work towards our common goal. Obtaining the band’s ideas and visions for the record and vice versa is so integral to achieving the best results in the studio — no pulling punches, just straight up honesty so we can all come to what I call “a compromised happiness.”

Through all the pressure, you have to block out any and all negativity and focus on the moment at hand. With all the different types of personalities and levels of talent at play, it is essential for every musician to acknowledge his or her attributes and shortcomings and make things happen on tight deadlines. As a producer, sometimes you have to act like a counselor in order to keep people’s morale high and energetic and not letting the pressures get them down or allow them to lose focus. And since making records can be frustrating, it’s important to not let things get too heated in there. You always have to be aware of people’s musical levels and breaking points. You always want to push them to their furthest limits possible, but you cannot break them down. There is a fine line between pushing them to their best performance and driving them into a state of despair. All I ever ask from musicians I work with is that they give all they’ve got – 110 percent of their effort, dedication and musical ability and that they never quit on me! At the end of the day, that is all anyone is capable of.

This essay does not even begin to touch the surface of all the details involved in recording an album; it’s more a summary of the overall process. I am living a dream in so many ways by being able to have two careers in music – musician and a producer. For that, I am so grateful. It’s amazing to play and work with such awesome musicians and to produce such great bands. Yes, this is a business, yes it is very hard, but it’s also life experience that is priceless and rewarding beyond belief. Follow your dreams, they might just come true!

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