The Total Sound Of The Undergound

Lelahel Metal

Exploring raw emotion and DIY creativity, Ben Rankin’s All Is Well in Hell delves into nostalgia, anger, and personal growth. We discuss its intense vocals, influences, and the journey behind its creation.

1. What inspired the title All is Well in Hell? Is there a particular story behind it?
My favourite songs are the ones that have an engaging name. When I was writing the song, I was playing around with ideas for lyrics, and I knew I wanted to make it more of an edgy song with big, sweeping metaphors. The line “All is well in hell where you’ll be forevermore” just came out of nowhere to be completely honest. I only planned on it being the working title in case I thought of anything better, but I never did.

2. You’ve mentioned this song is a nostalgia trip to the angsty teenage years. How do you think those emotions and themes resonate with your audience today?
We were all angsty teenagers once, I knew for sure that I was. It’s always good to let out some emotion rather than have it all bottled up. You can only think of so many times to say “you broke my heart,” so that comes with the challenge of having to come up with some grandiose metaphors.

3. You took a DIY approach, handling recording, programming, and mixing yourself. What were the biggest challenges and rewards of working solo on this project?
Everything I have released has been recorded and arranged entirely by me, so nothing has really changed since I’ve become so used to doing it for 7 or 8 years. I have always enjoyed working by myself because if I think of an idea, I can go into my home studio and record it straight away rather than having to wait for other people’s schedules. No disrespect to those who work collaboratively, because at the end of the day, it boils down to what works best for the individual.

4. You collaborated with Levi Russell for mastering. What does his input bring to your music, and how has your working relationship evolved since 2023?
Levi has mastered everything I’ve released since my ‘See You On the Other Side’ EP back in 2023. I have no idea how mastering works, and my word, have I tried. Levi actually reached out to me via Instagram while I was in the middle of working on the EP, so it was kind of a happy coincidence. He’s such a reliable guy to work with, and I can always count on him to master whatever I have to throw at him. I think I’ve taken him by surprise a few times to the point that he has no idea what to expect anymore.

5. You’ve cited early 2010s metalcore and hard rock bands like Asking Alexandria and A Day to Remember as influences. How do you balance paying homage to that era while keeping your sound fresh and unique?
Asking Alexandria has been one of my favourite bands for a few years now, and Reckless & Relentless is one of my favourite albums of all time. What I love about that album is the pure aggression and energy that comes out of those songs. I love some of the music that came out in that time, and it was a challenge to make sure I didn’t completely rip them off. It’s possible to celebrate your influences, but to make them your own is the challenging part. For me, it was adding my flavour of gang vocals and multiple harmonies as well as starting to talk before I start to scream.

6. Your vocal performance in this track is incredibly intense. How did you tap into that raw emotion while recording?
So apparently, it’s rude to yell at people directly to their face. I just thought about the core message of the song, which was “this is about people that I hate,” so I’m kind of just imagining that I’m saying everything that I want to say that I wouldn’t necessarily be able to in any other context.

7. You experimented with new plugins in the mixing process. How did these tools shape the final sound of All is Well in Hell?
They were all game changers. It was great to be able to experiment with new drum sounds and digital guitar amps that actually fit with the sound I’m looking for. It was amazing finding a bass sound that could actually work with the song. And if I’m being honest, that helped with the additional sounds like the synths since they don’t stand out like a sore thumb, and they can actually sit in the background.

8. What was the most rewarding moment during the creation of this single? Any specific breakthroughs in the process?
Again, I think the plugins I used were the big breakthroughs because I think they make the song sound cleaner than anything I’ve made before. I also thought I was on to something when I finished the chorus and thought it was the catchiest hook I’ve ever written. I feel like that was also a big breakthrough when I was writing it.

9. Since its release, how has the response from fans and listeners impacted you? Have there been any reactions that particularly stood out?
I’ve had some people message me saying that this was the best song I’ve released so far, which meant the absolute world to me. I’ve been putting songs out since I was 14, and everything I have released since has always felt like an evolution from the previous thing. So, to have people say that about this song has definitely made me happy.

10. If you could perform this song anywhere in the world, where would it be and why?
I could go with the typical answer and say Madison Square Garden or Wembley Stadium, but if I’m being completely honest, I would love to play this song anywhere, and to have people singing and screaming along would be the ultimate dream for me.

11. What’s next for you? Are you already working on new material, or do you have any upcoming shows or projects?
‘All Is Well In Hell’ was written along with 5 or 6 other songs that I wrote in the span of a week. I announced at the beginning of the year that 2025 will most likely be revolved around me releasing singles. Every year since 2019, I’ve released a collection of songs, whether it be an EP or an album. After 4 albums and 3 EPs, it’s felt amazing to just sit back and focus on one song at a time rather than 15. I’m not sure what the future will have in store, but if I’m going to start working on another EP or another album, it needs to come organically and not feel forced. So, nothing’s planned, but you never know. If it happens, it happens.

12. Finally, what message do you hope listeners take away from All is Well in Hell?
I want people to know that it’s okay to be angry at people for something that they did; there’s nothing wrong with having emotions. It’s okay to not like people. What’s important is to have an outlet personal to you that you get to express that emotion. I’m fortunate enough to be able to express that through music. But it’s different for everyone, whether it’s through painting, storytelling, poetry, or whatever works for you. If it works, great! Keep at it! But in some way or another, you need something to express that emotion. But make sure it’s responsible and you won’t get into trouble, don’t go key their car or something.
Be safe!

Ben Rankin | Instagram | Linktree

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