Apr 18, 2005 8:00 AM, By Mix Editors

3 Doors Down vocalist Brad Arnold has never shied from exploring the simultaneous guilt and glory of playing in a rock 'n' roll band, and this theme permeates the band's newly released Seventeen Days.

The album was written and recorded within a super-tight time frame, essentially so that the Mississippi-based band could return to the road, which prevented them from over-thinking its songwriting, resulting in a more accurate snapshot of the band's personalities.

"In the past, we've been so worried about pleasing everybody else," bassist Todd Harrell explains. "Now we're just writing songs that we like, and we definitely have that southern influence. For years, people didn’t want to be labeled as a 'southern' band, but that's what we are and we're not going to hide it."

Producer Johnny K worked to capture the energy of the band's live performances on record; guitarist Matt Roberts brought in his Peavey Triple XXX and 6505 guitar amps, and bassist Harrell used his extensive Pro Series rig and, for the first time, his Peavey bass rig.

"You can hear my bass on this record," he raves. "We miked it in a room by itself and turned it wide open."

Harrell has used his Peavey Pro 500 head, Peavey Pro 810 cabinets and Crest Audio Pro 5200 power amps since 3 Doors Down's summer 2004 tour with Nickelback. "I've got my Peavey rig slammin', man, and everything's good," he says. "I've got my cabinets next to the pyro, and you ought to see 'em. They're burnt pretty good and they still slam!"

To find out more about Peavey amplifiers and other products, visit www.peavey.com.

Mix Books

Modern Recording and Mixing

This 2-DVD set will show you how the best in the music industry set up a studio to make world-class records. Regardless of what gear you are using, the information you'll find here will allow you to take advantage of decades of expert knowledge. Order now $39.95

Mastering Cubase 4

Electronic Musician magazine and Thomson Course Technology PTR have joined forces again to create the second volume in their Personal Studio Series, Mastering Steinberg's Cubase(tm). Edited and produced by the staff of Electronic Musician, this special issue is not only a must-read for users of Cubase(tm) software, but it also delivers essential information for anyone recording/producing music in a personal-studio. Order now $12.95

Newsletters

MixLine

Delivered straight to your inbox every other week, MixLine takes you straight into the studio, with new product announcements, industry news, upcoming events, recent recording/post projects and much more. Click here to read the latest edition; sign up here.

MixLine Live

Delivered straight to your inbox every other week, MixLine Live takes you on the road with today's hottest tours, new sound reinforcement professional products, recent installs, industry news and much more. Click here to read the latest edition; sign up here.