Ross Robinson

Ross Robinson
Also known asThe Godfather of Nu Metal
Born (1967-02-13) February 13, 1967 (age 57)
Angleton, Texas, U.S.[1]
Genres
OccupationRecord producer
Years active1991–present

Ross Robinson (born February 13, 1967) is an American record producer who discovered acts such as Korn, Glassjaw, The Blood Brothers, Slipknot, and Limp Bizkit. Robinson has also worked with Tech N9ne, The Cure, Sepultura, and many others.[2]

Biography

The son of Bob Robinson and inspirational speaker Byron Katie,[3] Robinson began as a thrash metal guitarist for the bands Detente and Murdercar and picked up his knowledge of producing from the studios where his band recorded demos and also worked at Blackie Lawless's studio, Fort Apache, in Burbank, CA. Robinson received his first production job for the 1991 Fear Factory album Concrete. Robinson would use the album as a showcase of sorts in helping him land producing slots with other acts, particularly the up-and-coming band Korn.

Robinson is regarded as "The Godfather of Nu Metal",[4] along with Korn frontman Jonathan Davis, despite denouncing the nu metal movement later on for becoming complacent and the newer bands for not expanding on the style that he helped create with Korn's first album, Korn (1994).[5]

Robinson has also been successful in the post-hardcore genre, producing At the Drive-In's album, Relationship of Command in 2000, as well as Glassjaw's albums, Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Silence (2000) and Worship and Tribute (2002). Robinson has also worked with the likes of The Cure on their eponymous album (2004) and From First to Last on their album Heroine (2006).

In 2003 he produced The Blood Brothers' ...Burn, Piano Island, Burn, which was a departure for both the band and Robinson. In contrast to The Blood Brothers' previously raw, often under-produced songs (which lasted as short as 90 seconds at times), ...Burn, Piano Island, Burn featured much longer and more complex compositions.

Robinson was the owner of the IAM: Wolfpack label. In 2007 it was announced that he was starting a new label IAM: Wolfpack, which released the debut CD from Black Light Burns titled Cruel Melody. He is a co-owner of semi-private NY nightclub The Plumm, along with David Wells, Jesse Bradford, Noel Ashman and others.

From 2008, Robinson decided to produce new talents he discovered via Myspace. He recorded and mixed a young French trio called My Own Private Alaska, which mixes classical piano and scream based vocals. Their Amen album was released on March 1, 2010, through his label I Am Recordings.

He worked with the Slovenian band Siddharta on their new project Saga. He also produced Repeater's second album, We Walk from Safety.

Robinson has been producing indie rock bands such British bands Klaxons and Dananananaykroyd. In late 2008, the Luxembourgish dance rock band INBORN! were approached by Robinson. Having heard the band on the net, he offered to record their first official long player. The band entered Robinson's studio on October 1, 2010.

In 2010, Robinson returned to produce Korn's ninth album, 14 years after last working with band. Korn wanted to recapture the raw energy of the first two albums which Robinson produced.[6]

In 2013, Robinson produced Tech N9ne's rock EP Therapy.

Robinson also worked with Sepultura for their 2013 album The Mediator Between Head and Hands Must Be the Heart.

As of 2017, he has recently worked with The Used, Suicide Silence, and Frank Iero and the Patience among others.

Robinson had a minor role in producing Limp Bizkit's sixth studio album, then titled Stampede of the Disco Elephants,[7] however such contributions were later discarded after the album's refactoring and 2021 release.

Musician

  • DetenteRecognize No Authority (1986) (guitar)
  • Murdercar – unreleased album (1990) (guitar)

Albums produced

References

  1. ^ "Packing Heat: Ross Robinson, Record Producer". Altsounds.com. Archived from the original on August 30, 2011. Retrieved October 28, 2011.
  2. ^ Prato, Greg. "Biography: Ross Robinson". Allmusic. Retrieved March 14, 2010.
  3. ^ Adato, Allison (November 24, 2002). "How a Self-Help Guru Is Born". Archived from the original on November 7, 2012. Retrieved October 3, 2018 – via LA Times.
  4. ^ Hammerpublished, Metal (July 13, 2021). "'Nu metal godfather' Ross Robinson is on the new Metal Hammer podcast". loudersound. Retrieved June 7, 2022.
  5. ^ McIver, Joel (2002). Nu-metal: The Next Generation of Rock & Punk. Omnibus Press. p. 123. ISBN 0-7119-9209-6.
  6. ^ "Roadrunner Records Latest News". Roadrunner Records Official Website. Retrieved October 3, 2018.
  7. ^ Graff, Gary (May 13, 2013). "Limp Bizkit Sprints to Finish 'Stampede,' Explains Album Title and DJ Lethal Split". Billboard.
  8. ^ "station.lu". www.station.lu. Retrieved October 3, 2018.
  9. ^ "ANTHEMS OF THE HERO". SoundCloud. Retrieved October 3, 2018.
  10. ^ Simon (October 30, 2013). "REVIEW: WE ARE KNUCKLE DRAGGER – THE DRONE". The Monolith. Retrieved December 23, 2013.
  11. ^ "Night Verses Set July Release For Ross Robinson Produced New Album - Theprp.com". May 26, 2016. Retrieved October 3, 2018.
  12. ^ "Touché Amoré Singer Became Spokesperson for Grief". September 23, 2020.