Ross Robinson (born February 13, 1967) is an American
record producer
A record producer is a recording project's creative and technical leader, commanding studio time and coaching artists, and in popular genres typically creates the song's very sound and structure. Virgil Moorefield"Introduction" ''The Producer as ...
who discovered acts such as
Korn
Korn (stylized as KoЯn, or occasionally KoRn) is an American nu metal band from Bakersfield, California, formed in 1993. The band is notable for pioneering the nu metal genre and bringing it into the mainstream.
Originally formed in 1993 b ...
,
Glassjaw,
The Blood Brothers,
Slipknot, and
Limp Bizkit
Limp Bizkit is an American rap rock band from Jacksonville, Florida. Its lineup consists of lead vocalist Fred Durst, drummer John Otto, guitarist Wes Borland, turntablist DJ Lethal and bassist Sam Rivers. The band's music is marked b ...
. Robinson has also worked with
Tech N9ne
Aaron Dontez Yates (born November 8, 1971), better known by his stage name Tech N9ne (pronounced "tech nine"), is an American rapper. In 1999, he and business partner Travis O'Guin founded the record label Strange Music. He has sold over two ...
,
The Cure
The Cure are an English rock band formed in 1978 in Crawley, West Sussex. Throughout numerous lineup changes since the band's formation, guitarist, lead vocalist, and songwriter Robert Smith has remained the only constant member. The band's ...
,
Sepultura, and many others.
Biography
The son of Bob Robinson and inspirational speaker
Byron Katie
Byron Kathleen Mitchell, better known as Byron Katie (born December 6, 1942), is an American speaker and author who teaches a method of self-inquiry known as "The Work of Byron Katie" or simply as "The Work". She is the founder of Byron Katie Int ...
, Robinson began as a
thrash metal
Thrash metal (or simply thrash) is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal music characterized by its overall aggression and often fast tempo.Kahn-Harris, Keith, ''Extreme Metal: Music and Culture on the Edge'', pp. 2–3, 9. Oxford: Berg, 2007, . ...
guitarist for the bands
Detente and Murdercar (featuring future
Machine Head drummer
Dave McClain) 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
Fear Factory is an American Heavy metal music, heavy metal band formed in Los Angeles in 1989. Throughout the band's career, they have released ten full-length albums and have evolved through a succession of sounds, all in their main style of ...
album ''
Concrete
Concrete is a composite material composed of fine and coarse aggregate bonded together with a fluid cement (cement paste) that hardens (cures) over time. Concrete is the second-most-used substance in the world after water, and is the most ...
''. 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
Korn (stylized as KoЯn, or occasionally KoRn) is an American nu metal band from Bakersfield, California, formed in 1993. The band is notable for pioneering the nu metal genre and bringing it into the mainstream.
Originally formed in 1993 b ...
.
Robinson is regarded as "The Godfather of
Nu Metal
Nu metal (sometimes stylized as nü-metal, sometimes called aggro-metal) is a subgenre of that combines elements of heavy metal music with elements of other music genres such as hip hop, alternative rock, funk, industrial, and grunge. Nu m ...
", 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
Korn (stylized as KoЯn, or occasionally KoRn) is an American nu metal band from Bakersfield, California, formed in 1993. The band is notable for pioneering the nu metal genre and bringing it into the mainstream.
Originally formed in 1993 b ...
'' (1994).
Robinson has also been successful in the
post-hardcore
Post-hardcore is a punk rock music genre that maintains the aggression and intensity of hardcore punk but emphasizes a greater degree of creative expression. It was initially inspired by post-punk and noise rock. Like post-punk, the term has bee ...
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
''Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Silence'' is the debut album of American rock band Glassjaw, released on May 9, 2000 by Roadrunner Records. It was produced by Ross Robinson. Since its release, the album has received positive reviews ...
'' (2000) and ''
Worship and Tribute
''Worship and Tribute'' is the second studio album by American post-hardcore band Glassjaw, released on July 9, 2002, through I Am and Warner Bros. Records. As with their first full-length album, ''Worship and Tribute'' was produced by Ross Robi ...
'' (2002). Robinson has also worked with the likes of
The Cure
The Cure are an English rock band formed in 1978 in Crawley, West Sussex. Throughout numerous lineup changes since the band's formation, guitarist, lead vocalist, and songwriter Robert Smith has remained the only constant member. The band's ...
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
''Cruel Melody'' is the debut album of American rock band Black Light Burns, released on June 5, 2007, through Ross Robinson's label I AM: WOLFPACK. The album is an outcome of frontman Wes Borland's efforts after ...
''. He is a co-owner of semi-private NY nightclub
The Plumm, along with
David Wells
David Lee Wells (born May 20, 1963) is an American former baseball pitcher who played 21 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) for nine teams, most notably the Toronto Blue Jays and New York Yankees. Nicknamed "Boomer", Wells was considered on ...
,
Jesse Bradford
Jesse Bradford (born May 28, 1979) is an American actor. He began his career as a child actor at the age of five and received two Young Artist Award for Best Leading Young Actor in a Feature Film nominations for his performances in ''King of th ...
, 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
Slovenia
Slovenia ( ; sl, Slovenija ), officially the Republic of Slovenia (Slovene: , abbr.: ''RS''), is a country in Central Europe. It is bordered by Italy to the west, Austria to the north, Hungary to the northeast, Croatia to the southeast, and ...
n band
Siddharta
Siddhartha or Siddharth is the birth name of the founder of Buddhism, Gautama Buddha.
Siddhartha may also refer to:
Books
* Siddhartha (novel), ''Siddhartha'' (novel), about a fictional contemporary of the Buddha, by Hermann Hesse
Film and TV
* ...
on their new project Saga. He also produced
Repeater
In telecommunications, a repeater is an electronic device that receives a signal and retransmits it. Repeaters are used to extend transmissions so that the signal can cover longer distances or be received on the other side of an obstruction. Som ...
's second album, ''
We Walk from Safety''.
Robinson has been producing
indie rock
Indie rock is a Music subgenre, subgenre of rock music that originated in the United States, United Kingdom and New Zealand from the 1970s to the 1980s. Originally used to describe independent record labels, the term became associated with the mu ...
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.
In 2013, Robinson produced
Tech N9ne
Aaron Dontez Yates (born November 8, 1971), better known by his stage name Tech N9ne (pronounced "tech nine"), is an American rapper. In 1999, he and business partner Travis O'Guin founded the record label Strange Music. He has sold over two ...
's
rock EP ''Therapy''.
Robinson also worked with Sepultura for their 2013 album ''
The Mediator Between Head and Hands Must Be the Heart
''The Mediator Between Head and Hands Must Be the Heart'' is the thirteenth studio album by the Brazilian metal band Sepultura. It was released on October 25, 2013 in Europe on October 29 in the United States via Nuclear Blast. The album is based ...
''.
As of 2017, he has recently worked with
The Used,
Suicide Silence, and
Frank Iero and the Patience
Frank Anthony Iero, Jr. (, born October 31, 1981) is an American musician who is the rhythm guitarist and backup vocalist of the rock band My Chemical Romance and post-hardcore band Leathermouth. He is also the guitarist in the metal band L.S ...
among others.
Robinson had a minor role in producing
Limp Bizkit
Limp Bizkit is an American rap rock band from Jacksonville, Florida. Its lineup consists of lead vocalist Fred Durst, drummer John Otto, guitarist Wes Borland, turntablist DJ Lethal and bassist Sam Rivers. The band's music is marked b ...
's sixth studio album, then titled ''
Stampede of the Disco Elephants'', however such contributions were later discarded after the album's refactoring and 2021 release.
Musician
*
Detente – ''Recognize No Authority'' (1986) (guitar)
* Murdercar – unreleased album (1990) (guitar)
Albums produced
*''
Concrete
Concrete is a composite material composed of fine and coarse aggregate bonded together with a fluid cement (cement paste) that hardens (cures) over time. Concrete is the second-most-used substance in the world after water, and is the most ...
'' –
Fear Factory
Fear Factory is an American Heavy metal music, heavy metal band formed in Los Angeles in 1989. Throughout the band's career, they have released ten full-length albums and have evolved through a succession of sounds, all in their main style of ...
(1991)
*''
The Crimson Idol'' –
W.A.S.P. (1992) (engineer)
*''Creep'' – Creep (1993)
*''
Neidermayer's Mind'' –
Korn
Korn (stylized as KoЯn, or occasionally KoRn) is an American nu metal band from Bakersfield, California, formed in 1993. The band is notable for pioneering the nu metal genre and bringing it into the mainstream.
Originally formed in 1993 b ...
(1993)
*''
Korn
Korn (stylized as KoЯn, or occasionally KoRn) is an American nu metal band from Bakersfield, California, formed in 1993. The band is notable for pioneering the nu metal genre and bringing it into the mainstream.
Originally formed in 1993 b ...
'' – Korn (1994)
*''Feed-Us'' –
Cradle of Thorns (1994)
*''
Adrenaline
Adrenaline, also known as epinephrine, is a hormone and medication which is involved in regulating visceral functions (e.g., respiration). It appears as a white microcrystalline granule. Adrenaline is normally produced by the adrenal glands and ...
'' –
Deftones
Deftones is an American alternative metal band formed in Sacramento, California in 1988. They were formed by Chino Moreno (vocals, guitar), Stephen Carpenter (guitar), Abe Cunningham (drums), and Dominic Garcia (bass). During their first f ...
(1995) (production on "Fist")
*''
Injected'' –
Phunk Junkeez (1995)
*''
Roots'' –
Sepultura (1996)
*''
All Is Not Well'' –
Manhole (1996)
*''
Life Is Peachy'' – Korn (1996)
*''
E-lux
''E-lux'' is the sole studio album by American band Human Waste Project. After signing to Hollywood Records in June 1996, Human Waste Project set about recording an album with producer Ross Robinson. Stylistically, ''e-lux'' was inspired by horror ...
'' -
Human Waste Project (1997)
*''
Three Dollar Bill, Y'all'' –
Limp Bizkit
Limp Bizkit is an American rap rock band from Jacksonville, Florida. Its lineup consists of lead vocalist Fred Durst, drummer John Otto, guitarist Wes Borland, turntablist DJ Lethal and bassist Sam Rivers. The band's music is marked b ...
(1997)
*''
Soulfly
Soulfly is an American heavy metal band formed in Los Angeles, California, in 1997, and later based out of Phoenix, Arizona. Soulfly is led by former Sepultura frontman Max Cavalera, who formed the band after he left the Brazilian group in 1 ...
'' –
Soulfly
Soulfly is an American heavy metal band formed in Los Angeles, California, in 1997, and later based out of Phoenix, Arizona. Soulfly is led by former Sepultura frontman Max Cavalera, who formed the band after he left the Brazilian group in 1 ...
(1998)
*''
Cold
Cold is the presence of low temperature, especially in the atmosphere. In common usage, cold is often a subjective perception. A lower bound to temperature is absolute zero, defined as 0.00K on the Kelvin scale, an absolute thermodynamic ...
'' –
Cold
Cold is the presence of low temperature, especially in the atmosphere. In common usage, cold is often a subjective perception. A lower bound to temperature is absolute zero, defined as 0.00K on the Kelvin scale, an absolute thermodynamic ...
(1998)
*''
Hard to Swallow
''Hard to Swallow'' is the third studio album by American rapper Vanilla Ice. Released by Republic Records in 1998, the album was the first album Vanilla Ice recorded after a four-year hiatus following the 1994 release of '' Mind Blowin''. Vanil ...
'' –
Vanilla Ice
Robert Matthew Van Winkle (born October 31, 1967), known professionally as Vanilla Ice, is an American rapper, actor, and television host. Born in South Dallas, and raised in Texas and South Florida, Ice released his debut album, ''Hooked'', ...
(1998)
*''
The Burning Red'' –
Machine Head (1999)
*''
Slipknot'' –
Slipknot (1999)
*''
Amen
Amen ( he, אָמֵן, ; grc, ἀμήν, ; syc, ܐܡܝܢ, ; ar, آمين, ) is an Abrahamic declaration of affirmation which is first found in the Hebrew Bible, and subsequently found in the New Testament. It is used in Jewish, Christian, and ...
'' –
Amen
Amen ( he, אָמֵן, ; grc, ἀμήν, ; syc, ܐܡܝܢ, ; ar, آمين, ) is an Abrahamic declaration of affirmation which is first found in the Hebrew Bible, and subsequently found in the New Testament. It is used in Jewish, Christian, and ...
(1999)
*''
Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Silence
''Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Silence'' is the debut album of American rock band Glassjaw, released on May 9, 2000 by Roadrunner Records. It was produced by Ross Robinson. Since its release, the album has received positive reviews ...
'' –
Glassjaw (2000)
*''
Relationship of Command'' –
At the Drive-In (2000)
*''
We Have Come for Your Parents'' – Amen (2000)
*''
Strait Up'' –
Snot
Snot may refer to:
* Snot, slang for nasal mucus or dried nasal mucus
* Snotter, Scottish slang for nasal mucus or dried nasal mucus
* Snot, a character from the US television show ''American Dad!''
* Sid Snot, an ageing biker character performed ...
w/ various artists (2000) (production on "Absent")
*''
Iowa
Iowa () is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States, bordered by the Mississippi River to the east and the Missouri River and Big Sioux River to the west. It is bordered by six states: Wiscon ...
'' – Slipknot (2001)
*''
Start with a Strong and Persistent Desire
''Start with a Strong and Persistent Desire'' is the debut album by English alternative rock band Vex Red. It was released on 4 March 2002 through I Am records. The album charted at number 48 on the UK Albums Chart and also spent two weeks on th ...
'' –
Vex Red (2002)
*''
Concrete
Concrete is a composite material composed of fine and coarse aggregate bonded together with a fluid cement (cement paste) that hardens (cures) over time. Concrete is the second-most-used substance in the world after water, and is the most ...
'' – Fear Factory (re-released 2002)
*''
Worship and Tribute
''Worship and Tribute'' is the second studio album by American post-hardcore band Glassjaw, released on July 9, 2002, through I Am and Warner Bros. Records. As with their first full-length album, ''Worship and Tribute'' was produced by Ross Robi ...
'' – Glassjaw (2002)
*''
...Burn, Piano Island, Burn'' –
The Blood Brothers (2003)
*''
Join, or Die'' – Amen (2003)
*''
The Cure
The Cure are an English rock band formed in 1978 in Crawley, West Sussex. Throughout numerous lineup changes since the band's formation, guitarist, lead vocalist, and songwriter Robert Smith has remained the only constant member. The band's ...
'' –
The Cure
The Cure are an English rock band formed in 1978 in Crawley, West Sussex. Throughout numerous lineup changes since the band's formation, guitarist, lead vocalist, and songwriter Robert Smith has remained the only constant member. The band's ...
(2004)
*''
Rule 3: Conceal Your Intentions'' –
Septembre (2004)
*''
Team Sleep'' –
Team Sleep (2005) (production on "Blvrd. Nights" and "Live from the Stage")
*''
The Unquestionable Truth (Part 1)'' – Limp Bizkit (2005)
*''
Heroine'' –
From First to Last (2006)
*''
Redeemer'' –
Norma Jean (2006)
*''
Wolves
The wolf (''Canis lupus''; : wolves), also known as the gray wolf or grey wolf, is a large canine native to Eurasia and North America. More than thirty subspecies of ''Canis lupus'' have been recognized, and gray wolves, as popularly u ...
'' –
Idiot Pilot
Idiot Pilot is an alternative rock duo from Bellingham, Washington, consisting of Michael Harris and Daniel Anderson.
History
After their previous band, pop-punk outfit Azero Cherry, broke up, high schoolers Michael Harris and Daniel Anderso ...
(2007)
*''
Worse Than a Fairy Tale
Drop Dead, Gorgeous was an American post-hardcore band from Denver, Colorado. It consisted of frontman Danny Stillman (lead vocals), Kyle Browning (lead guitar), Jake Hansen (bass), Dan Gustavson (rhythm guitar), Jonathan Leary (keys/synth/prog ...
'' –
Drop Dead, Gorgeous
Drop Dead, Gorgeous was an American post-hardcore band from Denver, Colorado. It consisted of frontman Danny Stillman (lead vocals), Kyle Browning (lead guitar), Jake Hansen (bass), Dan Gustavson (rhythm guitar), Jonathan Leary (keys/synth/prog ...
(2007)
*''
Cruel Melody
''Cruel Melody'' is the debut album of American rock band Black Light Burns, released on June 5, 2007, through Ross Robinson's label I AM: WOLFPACK. The album is an outcome of frontman Wes Borland's efforts after ...
'' –
Black Light Burns (2007) (mixing on "Mesopotamia")
*''
The Anti Mother
''The Anti Mother'' (sometimes referred to as ''Norma Jean vs. The Anti Mother'') is the fourth studio album by American metalcore band Norma Jean. It is the first release to feature new drummer Chris Raines, making Chris Day and Scottie Henry t ...
'' –
Norma Jean (Aug 2008)
*''Saga'' –
Siddharta
Siddhartha or Siddharth is the birth name of the founder of Buddhism, Gautama Buddha.
Siddhartha may also refer to:
Books
* Siddhartha (novel), ''Siddhartha'' (novel), about a fictional contemporary of the Buddha, by Hermann Hesse
Film and TV
* ...
(2009)
*''
Korn III: Remember Who You Are'' – Korn (2010)
*''
We Walk from Safety'' –
Repeater
In telecommunications, a repeater is an electronic device that receives a signal and retransmits it. Repeaters are used to extend transmissions so that the signal can cover longer distances or be received on the other side of an obstruction. Som ...
(2010)
*''
Surfing the Void'' –
Klaxons (2010)
*''Amen'' - My Own Private Alaska (2010)
* ''PERSONA'' –
INBORN! (2011)
*''
There Is a Way'' –
Dananananaykroyd (2011)
*''Birth, School, Work, Death'' –
Hyro Da Hero (2011)
*''Anthems of the Hero'' – Kraddy (2011)
*''VI'' – Siddharta (2011)
*''Haria'' –
Berri Txarrak (2011)
*''abcdefghijklmnoprstuwxyz'' – semantik punk (2012)
* ''
Therapy
A therapy or medical treatment (often abbreviated tx, Tx, or Tx) is the attempted remediation of a health problem, usually following a medical diagnosis.
As a rule, each therapy has indications and contraindications. There are many differe ...
'' EP –
Tech N9ne
Aaron Dontez Yates (born November 8, 1971), better known by his stage name Tech N9ne (pronounced "tech nine"), is an American rapper. In 1999, he and business partner Travis O'Guin founded the record label Strange Music. He has sold over two ...
(2013)
*''
The Mediator Between Head and Hands Must Be the Heart
''The Mediator Between Head and Hands Must Be the Heart'' is the thirteenth studio album by the Brazilian metal band Sepultura. It was released on October 25, 2013 in Europe on October 29 in the United States via Nuclear Blast. The album is based ...
'' –
Sepultura (2013)
* ''The Drone –''
We Are Knuckle Dragger
We Are Knuckle Dragger are an English/ Northern Irish rock band from Newcastle formed in 2008. The band consists of vocalist/guitarist Aran Glover, bassist Pete Currie and drummer Shaun Abbott. Their debut album ''Tit for Tat'' was released i ...
*''Blood Maker'' EP –
Wild Throne (2014)
*''Denbora da poligrafo bakarra'' –
Berri Txarrak (2014)
*''
My Dreams Dictate My Reality'' –
Soko (2015)
*''
Searching for Zero
''Searching for Zero'' is the fifth studio album by the Canadian hardcore punk band Cancer Bats. It was released on 10 March 2015 and was recorded in Ross Robinson's studio in Venice Beach, California.
Track listing
Personnel
;Cancer Bats
* L ...
'' –
Cancer Bats (2015)
*
''Harvest of Darkness'' –
Wild Throne (2015)
*''
Only Ghosts
''Only Ghosts'' is the third album by the American stoner metal band Red Fang, released in 2016 via Relapse Records.
Track list
All tracks written by Red Fang.
Personnel
Red Fang
*Aaron Beam - bass, vocals, synthesizers
*Maurice Bryan Gile ...
'' –
Red Fang
Red Fang is an American rock band from Portland, Oregon, formed in 2005. It is composed of guitarist and vocalist Bryan Giles, bassist and vocalist Aaron Beam, guitarist David Sullivan and drummer John Sherman. The band has released five studio ...
(2016)
*''II'' –
De La Tierra (2016)
*''
A New Wave of Violence
''A New Wave of Violence'' is the debut album by the hardcore punk supergroup Head Wound City
Head Wound City is an American hardcore punk supergroup consisting of Jordan Blilie and Cody Votolato both of The Blood Brothers, Nick Zinner of th ...
'' -
Head Wound City
Head Wound City is an American hardcore punk supergroup consisting of Jordan Blilie and Cody Votolato both of The Blood Brothers, Nick Zinner of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, and Justin Pearson and Gabe Serbian, both of The Locust.
History Formation, d ...
(2016)
*''Into the Vanishing Light'' –
Night Verses (2016)
*''
Parachutes'' -
Frank Iero and the Patience
Frank Anthony Iero, Jr. (, born October 31, 1981) is an American musician who is the rhythm guitarist and backup vocalist of the rock band My Chemical Romance and post-hardcore band Leathermouth. He is also the guitarist in the metal band L.S ...
(2016)
*''
Suicide Silence'' –
Suicide Silence (2017)
*''
Dead Cross'' –
Dead Cross (2017)
*''
The Canyon'' –
The Used (2017)
*''Everything Is Fine'' -
Amigo the Devil
Danny Kiranos (born June 26, 1987), better known as his stage name Amigo the Devil, is an American singer-songwriter, guitarist, and banjo player. His music is influenced by American folk, country, rock, and heavy metal, with themes of murder, d ...
(2018)
*''
Lament
A lament or lamentation is a passionate expression of grief, often in music, poetry, or song form. The grief is most often born of regret, or mourning. Laments can also be expressed in a verbal manner in which participants lament about somethi ...
'' –
Touché Amoré (2020)
*''
ANTI-ICON -
Ghostemane (2020)
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Robinson, Ross
Record producers from California
Heavy metal producers
American heavy metal guitarists
Living people
Kerrang! Awards winners
People from Barstow, California
1967 births
20th-century American guitarists