In the world of heavy music, the producer is often the unseen member of the band. They are the architects, scientists, and sculptors responsible for transforming a song’s raw energy into a polished, powerful, and unforgettable recording. The sound of modern metal, its clarity, its crushing weight, and its complex textures, is being actively shaped by a new guard of studio visionaries.
From the organic punch of hardcore to the digital precision of “thall,” these are the six producers whose names in the album credits guarantee a world-class sonic experience.
1. Will Putney – The Architect of Organic Aggression
If a modern metal record sounds massive, raw, and frighteningly “real,” there’s a good chance Will Putney was at the helm. Operating out of his famed Graphic Nature Audio studio in New Jersey, Putney has become the undisputed king of capturing pure, unfiltered aggression without sacrificing an ounce of clarity.
Also a musician in bands like Fit for an Autopsy and End, Putney understands heavy music from the inside out. His signature isn’t about digital perfection; it’s about making the drums sound like they’re being hit with hammers, the guitars sound like buzzing saws, and the vocals sound like they’re being screamed directly in your face. Will Putney is the go-to producer for bands that want to sound huge and “live” in the studio.
Defining work includes Knocked Loose’s A Different Shade of Blue, Body Count’s Carnivore, Every Time I Die’s Low Teens, and Thy Art Is Murder’s Hate.
2. Zakk Cervini – The Radio-Ready Hitmaker
While some producers focus on a niche, Zakk Cervini focuses on making hits. A master of the crossover, Cervini is the producer bands turn to when they’re ready to break into the stratosphere. His production style is polished, crisp, and unbelievably huge, blurring the lines between metal, pop-punk, and arena rock.
Cervini’s mixes are known for their massive, layered vocals, punchy drums, and a guitar tone that is both saturated and perfectly clear. He was a key collaborator with Bad Omens on their breakout album The Death of Peace of Mind, and his extensive work with artists like Blink-182 and All Time Low informs his ability to inject unforgettable hooks and pop sensibilities into the heaviest of tracks.
Defining work includes Bad Omens’ The Death of Peace of Mind, Architects’ The Classic Symptoms of a Broken Spirit, Bring Me The Horizon’s Post Human: NeX GEn, and Motionless In White’s Scoring the End of the World.
3. Drew Fulk (WZRDBLD) – The Genre-Bending Wizard
Known by his moniker WZRDBLD, Drew Fulk is less a producer and more a creative force of nature. He doesn’t just record bands; he collaborates, co-writes, and completely deconstructs and rebuilds their sound. His signature is a seamless fusion of genres, injecting pop structures, hip-hop grooves, and cinematic electronics into aggressive metalcore.
Fulk’s productions are explosive, dynamic, and relentlessly catchy. He’s the wizard behind the curtain for bands looking to make a bold, theatrical, and genre-defying statement. If you hear a song with a crushing breakdown that flows perfectly into a danceable, synth-driven chorus, you’re likely listening to the magic of WZRDBLD.
Defining work includes Motionless In White’s Disguise, Ice Nine Kills’ The Silver Scream 2: Welcome to Horrorwood, A Day To Remember’s You’re Welcome, and Knocked Loose’s A Different Shade of Blue.
4. Buster Odeholm – The Father of “Thall”
While many producers on this list build on established sounds, Buster Odeholm invented one. As the mastermind behind Humanity’s Last Breath and a key member of Vildhjarta, Odeholm is the chief architect of “thall,” a sound defined by dissonant, impossibly low-tuned guitars, otherworldly atmospheres, and a rhythmic feel that is both mechanical and groovy.
His “no rules” production philosophy involves unique techniques, like extreme multi-band saturation on drums and treating bass as a chaotic, distorted force. His mixes are unmistakable: dense, cold, and terrifyingly precise. He has turned a niche internet joke into one of the most innovative and imitated subgenres in modern metal.
Defining work includes Humanity’s Last Breath’s Välde, Vildhjarta (måsstaden under vatten), Thrown’s Extended Pain, and Currents’ The Death We Seek – Mix/Master.
5. Jens Bogren – The Master of Hi-Fi Metal
For decades, Jens Bogren and his world-renowned Fascination Street Studios in Sweden have been the gold standard for high-fidelity metal. Bogren is a master of clarity, dynamics, and creating a soundscape that is both powerful and breathtakingly clean. He’s the go-to choice for progressive metal, symphonic metal, and melodic death metal giants.
In a world of hyper-compressed, loud-for-loudness’-sake mixes, a Jens Bogren production stands out for its “expensive” sound. Every instrument has room to breathe, the low end is tight and powerful, and the stereo field is wide and immersive. He is a legend who continues to elevate the genre by making complex music sound absolutely pristine.
Defining work includes Opeth’s Ghost Reveries, Amon Amarth’s Twilight of the Thunder God, Devin Townsend’s Empath, and Arch Enemy’s Deceivers.
6. Jordan Fish – The Electronic-Metal Visionary
While Jordan Fish is widely known as the keyboardist and co-songwriter who revolutionized Bring Me The Horizon’s sound, his role as a producer and creative visionary is just as critical. Starting with Sempiternal, Fish perfected the art of seamlessly integrating electronic music, orchestral arrangements, and pop song structures into a metal framework.
His true genius lies in using synths and samples not as a gimmick, but as a core atmospheric and melodic tool. Since his departure from BMTH, Jordan Fish has become one of the most sought-after producers for bands looking to evolve, lending his “sound of the future” sensibilities to artists like Architects and Poppy.
Defining work includes Bring Me The Horizon’s Sempiternal and That’s the Spirit, Poppy’s Zig, Architects’ “Seeing Red,” and Beartooth’s “I Was Alive.”
