Scott Burns (record producer)

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{{Infobox musical artist

| name = Scott Burns

| image =

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| caption =

| birth_name =

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|YYYY|MM|DD}}

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| occupations = Composer, mastering engineer, mixing engineer, producer

| instrument =

| years_active = *1987–1997
(Full-time)

  • 1998–present
    (Part-time)

| website =

}}

Scott Burns is an American computer engineer and a former music producer of death metal records from late 1980s and 1990s. He was crucial to the emergence of the Florida death metal scene, and has been called an "extreme metal overlord".{{cite web|last1=Stevenson|first1=Arielle|date=October 22, 2009|title=The way the music died: The earliest days of Tampa Death Metal|url=http://www.tampabay.com/features/music/the-way-the-music-died-the-earliest-days-of-tampa-death-metal/1046088|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091027025354/https://www.tampabay.com/features/music/the-way-the-music-died-the-earliest-days-of-tampa-death-metal/1046088/|archive-date=October 27, 2009|website=Tampa Bay Times|publisher=Times Publishing Company|accessdate=April 26, 2016}}{{Cite web |last=Blabbermouth |date=2019-07-08 |title=ATHEIST's KELLY SHAEFER Says Legendary Death Metal Producer SCOTT BURNS 'Was A True Pioneer' |url=https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/atheists-kelly-shaefer-says-legendary-death-metal-producer-scott-burns-was-a-true-pioneer/ |access-date=2024-06-01 |website=BLABBERMOUTH.NET |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Mills |first=Matt |date=2018-07-14 |title=Death: Ranking All 7 Studio Albums |url=https://whatculture.com/music/death-ranking-all-7-studio-albums?page=5 |access-date=2024-12-31 |website=WhatCulture.com |language=en}}

He has produced many records for many famous death metal bands, including Death, Deicide, Cannibal Corpse, Sepultura, Obituary, Atheist, Transmetal, Suffocation, and Cynic. He has engineered some of the top genre-defining death metal albums such as Death's Human, Massacre's From Beyond, Obituary's Slowly We Rot, and Assück's Misery Index. He most recently worked on the album Frozen in Time (2005) by Obituary. Burns has since quit producing full-time to work in computer programming. He said: "Since I was young and having fun, I got pigeonholed. Which is fine, but I was just 'the death metal guy.'"[http://www.mourningtheancient.com/deicide.htm "Deicide Interview"]. Mourning the Ancient. Retrieved January 16, 2012.[http://www.voicesfromthedarkside.de/Specials/SCOTT-BURNS--7090.html "Scott Burns Interview"]. Voices From the Darkside. Retrieved January 9, 2013.

According to Jack Owen, Burns commuted an hour to Morrisound, and would often sleep in the studio or in band members' closets at their residences.{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aGPot3rP53o&t=2413s |title=Cannibal Corpse - Centuries of Torment - DVD 1 - History (OFFICIAL) |date=2013-11-20 |last=Metal Blade Records |access-date=2025-05-20 |via=YouTube}}

In 2023, Burns was the subject of the David E. Gehlke biography The Scott Burns Sessions: A Life in Death Metal 1987–1997, which documents his career and albums produced at Morrisound and features interviews with him and other artists involved in their creation.{{Cite web |last=Shadows |first=Em |date=2023-09-11 |title=Decibel Announces New Book on Scott Burns, Legendary Death Metal Producer |url=https://www.metalsucks.net/2023/09/11/decibel-announces-new-book-on-scott-burns-legendary-death-metal-producer/ |access-date=2024-06-01 |website=MetalSucks |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=P |first=J. |date=2024-01-01 |title=Gehlke, David E.- The Scott Burns Sessions:A Life In Death Metal 1987-1997 (Book review) |url=https://www.metal-rules.com/2024/01/01/gehlke-david-e-the-scott-burns-sessionsa-life-in-death-metal-1987-1997-book-review/ |access-date=2024-06-01 |website=Metal-Rules.com |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=Book Spotlight: Reading (and Riffing!) is Fundamental |url=https://newnoisemagazine.com/column/book-spotlight-reading-and-riffing-is-fundamental/ |access-date=2024-06-01 |website=New Noise Magazine |language=en-US}} Following its release, Burns made a rare public appearance at the 2024 Decibel Metal and Beer Festival in Philadelphia.{{Cite web |last=Kennelty |first=Greg |date=2024-01-15 |title=Legendary Death Metal Producer SCOTT BURNS To Make Rare Appearance At Decibel's Metal & Beer Fest |url=https://metalinjection.net/tour-dates/legendary-death-metal-producer-scott-burns-to-make-rare-appearance-at-decibels-metal-beer-fest |access-date=2024-06-01 |website=Metal Injection |language=en-US}}

Discography

class="wikitable sortable"

|+

! Year

! Band

! Release

! Role

1988

| Death

| Leprosy

| Engineering[https://www.metal-archives.com/albums/Death/Leprosy/599 Leprosy in the Metal Archives]

rowspan=7 |1989

| Amon

| Sacrificial (Demo)

| Mixing[https://www.metal-archives.com/albums/Deicide/Amon%3A_Feasting_the_Beast/10233 Amon: Feasting the Beast in the Metal Archives][https://www.discogs.com/release/487036-Deicide-Amon-Amon-Feasting-The-Beast Deicide / Amon (18) – Amon: Feasting The Beast in Discogs]

The Guff

| The Art of Deception (Demo)

| Engineering[https://www.metal-archives.com/albums/The_Guff/The_Art_of_Deception/212552 The Art of Deception in the Metal Archives]

Sepultura

| Beneath the Remains

| Producer, Engineering, Mixing[https://www.metal-archives.com/albums/Sepultura/Beneath_the_Remains/321 Beneath the Remains in the Metal Archives]

Obituary

| Slowly We Rot

| Producer, Engineering, Mixing[https://www.metal-archives.com/albums/Obituary/Slowly_We_Rot/718 Slowly We Rot in the Metal Archives]

Atheist

| Piece of Time

| Producer, Engineering[https://www.metal-archives.com/albums/Atheist/Piece_of_Time/1147 Piece of Time in the Metal Archives]

Terrorizer

| World Downfall

| Engineering[https://www.metal-archives.com/albums/Terrorizer/World_Downfall/2699 World Downfall in the Metal Archives]

Awake!

| Beliefs (EP)

| Producer, Engineering[https://www.discogs.com/release/12759570-Awake-Beliefs Awake! – Beliefs in Discogs]

rowspan=16 |1990

| Assück

| Necrosalvation (EP)

| Engineering[https://www.metal-archives.com/albums/Ass%C3%BCck/Necrosalvation/67467 Necrosalvation in the Metal Archives]

Cynic

| Demo 1990

| Producer, Engineering[https://www.metal-archives.com/albums/Cynic/Demo_1990/3535 Demo 1990 in the Metal Archives]

Death

| Spiritual Healing

| Producer, Mixing[https://www.metal-archives.com/albums/Death/Spiritual_Healing/602 Spiritual Healing in the Metal Archives]

Cancer

| To the Gory End

| Producer, Mixing[https://www.metal-archives.com/albums/Cancer/To_the_Gory_End/1947 To the Gory End in the Metal Archives]

Deicide

| Deicide

| Producer, Engineering, Mixing[https://www.metal-archives.com/albums/Deicide/Deicide/1124 Deicide in the Metal Archives]

Napalm Death

| Harmony Corruption

| Producer, Engineering, Mixing[https://www.metal-archives.com/albums/Napalm_Death/Harmony_Corruption/429846 Harmony Corruption in the Metal Archives]

Napalm Death

| Suffer the Children

| Producer, Engineer, Mixing[https://www.metal-archives.com/albums/Napalm_Death/Suffer_the_Children/17127 Suffer the Children in the Metal Archives]

Cannibal Corpse

| Eaten Back to Life

| Producer, Engineering[https://www.metal-archives.com/albums/Cannibal_Corpse/Eaten_Back_to_Life/778 Eaten Back to Life in the Metal Archives]

Demolition Hammer

| Tortured Existence

| Producer, Engineer, Mixing[https://www.metal-archives.com/albums/Demolition_Hammer/Tortured_Existence/425420 Tortured Existence in the Metal Archives]

Obituary

| Cause of Death

| Producer, Engineering, Mixing[https://www.metal-archives.com/albums/Obituary/Cause_of_Death/719 Cause of Death in the Metal Archives]

Master

| Master

| Producer, Engineer, Mixing[https://www.discogs.com/release/2382626-Master-Master Master (2) – Master in Discogs]

Atrocity

| Hallucinations

| Producer, Engineering, Mixing[https://www.metal-archives.com/albums/Atrocity/Hallucinations/4602 Hallucinations in the Metal Archives]

Exhorder

| Slaughter in the Vatican

| Producer, Engineering, Mixing[https://www.metal-archives.com/albums/Exhorder/Slaughter_in_the_Vatican/1255 Slaughter in the Vatican in the Metal Archives]

Various artists

| At Death's Door (A Collection of Brutal Death Metal)

| Producer (tracks 1, 3, 6, 8, 9 & 12)[https://www.discogs.com/release/760898-Various-At-Deaths-Door-A-Collection-Of-Brutal-Death-Metal Various – At Death's Door (A Collection Of Brutal Death Metal) in Discogs]

Hellwitch

| Syzygial Miscreancy

| Engineering[https://www.metal-archives.com/albums/Hellwitch/Syzygial_Miscreancy/3744 Syzygial Miscreancy in the Metal Archives]

Overthrow

| Within Suffering

| Producer, Engineering, Mixing[https://www.metal-archives.com/albums/Overthrow/Within_Suffering/38261 Within Suffering in the Metal Archives]

rowspan=19 |1991

| Cynic

| Demo 1991

| Producer, Engineering[https://www.discogs.com/release/9800382-Cynic-Uroboric-Forms-The-Complete-Demo-Recordings-1988-1989-1990-1991 Cynic (2) – Uroboric Forms (The Complete Demo Recordings 1988-1989-1990-1991) in Discogs]

Acheron

| Rites of the Black Mass (Demo)

| Producer[https://www.metal-archives.com/albums/Acheron/Rites_of_the_Black_Mass/69444 Rites of the Black Mass in the Metal Archives]

The Guff

| Refuse to Crawl (Demo)

| Producer, Engineering[https://www.metal-archives.com/albums/The_Guff/Refuse_to_Crawl/91831 Refuse to Crawl in the Metal Archives]

Skeletal Earth

| Eulogy for a Dying Fetus

| Producer, Engineering[https://www.metal-archives.com/albums/Skeletal_Earth/Eulogy_for_a_Dying_Fetus/445866 Eulogy for a Dying Fetus in the Metal Archives]

Sepultura

| Arise

| Producer, Engineering, Lyrical assistance & translation[https://www.metal-archives.com/albums/Sepultura/Arise/273 Arise in the Metal Archives]

Slap of Reality

| Fletch (EP)

| Producer, Engineer[https://www.discogs.com/release/1936994-Slap-Of-Reality-Fletch Slap Of Reality – Fletch in Discogs]

Malevolent Creation

| The Ten Commandments

| Producer, Engineering, Mixing[https://www.metal-archives.com/albums/Malevolent_Creation/The_Ten_Commandments/1039 The Ten Commandments in the Metal Archives]

Devastation

| Idolatry

| Producer, Engineering, Mixing[https://www.metal-archives.com/albums/Devastation/Idolatry/13223 Idolatry in the Metal Archives]

Cancer

| Death Shall Rise

| Producer[https://www.metal-archives.com/albums/Cancer/Death_Shall_Rise/1949 Death Shall Rise in the Metal Archives]

Cannibal Corpse

| Butchered at Birth

| Producer, Engineering[https://www.metal-archives.com/albums/Cannibal_Corpse/Butchered_at_Birth/1525 Butchered at Birth in the Metal Archives]

Loudblast

| Disincarnate

| Producer, Engineering, Mixing[https://www.metal-archives.com/albums/Loudblast/Disincarnate/20822 Disincarnate in the Metal Archives]

Massacre

| From Beyond

| Engineering[https://www.metal-archives.com/albums/Massacre/From_Beyond/1113 From Beyond in the Metal Archives]

Atheist

| Unquestionable Presence

| Producer[https://www.metal-archives.com/albums/Atheist/Unquestionable_Presence/1148 Unquestionable Presence in the Metal Archives]

Pestilence

| Testimony of the Ancients

| Producer, Engineering, Mixing[https://www.metal-archives.com/albums/Pestilence/Testimony_of_the_Ancients/1015 Testimony of the Ancients in the Metal Archives]

Gorguts

| Considered Dead

| Producer, Engineering, Mixing[https://www.metal-archives.com/albums/Gorguts/Considered_Dead/3006 Considered Dead in the Metal Archives]

Death

| Human

| Producer, Mixing[https://www.metal-archives.com/albums/Death/Human/606 Human in the Metal Archives]

Suffocation

| Effigy of the Forgotten

| Producer, Engineering, Mixing[https://www.metal-archives.com/albums/Suffocation/Effigy_of_the_Forgotten/666 Effigy of the Forgotten in the Metal Archives]

Assück

| Anticapital

| Producer, Engineering[https://www.metal-archives.com/albums/Ass%C3%BCck/Anticapital/58071 Anticapital in the Metal Archives]

Master

| On the Seventh Day God Created... Master

| Producer, Engineering, Mixing[https://www.metal-archives.com/albums/Master/On_the_Seventh_Day_God_Created..._Master/10397 On the Seventh Day God Created... Master in the Metal Archives]

rowspan=14 |1992

| Assück

| Blindspot (EP)

| Producer, Engineering[https://www.discogs.com/release/2193363-Ass%C3%BCck-Blindspot Assück – Blindspot in Discogs]

Disincarnate

| Soul Erosion (Demo)

| Producer, Engineering, Mixing[https://www.metal-archives.com/albums/Disincarnate/Soul_Erosion/24139 Soul Erosion in the Metal Archives]

Hideous Corpse

| Demented (Demo)

| Mixing[https://www.metal-archives.com/albums/Hideous_Corpse/Demented/37442 Demented in the Metal Archives]

Sepultura

| Third World Posse (EP)

| Producer (track 1), Mixing (track 2)[https://www.metal-archives.com/albums/Sepultura/Third_World_Posse/4419 Third World Posse in the Metal Archives]

Speckmann Project

| Speckmann Project

| Producer[https://www.metal-archives.com/albums/Speckmann_Project/Speckmann_Project/442357 Speckmann Project in the Metal Archives]

The Guff

| Jackass Live

| Producer, Engineering[https://www.metal-archives.com/albums/The_Guff/Jackass_Live/91830 Jackass Live in the Metal Archives]

No Return

| Contamination Rises

| N/A[https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/no-return-to-release-the-curse-within-album-in-november NO RETURN To Release 'The Curse Within' Album In November in Blabbermouth]

Acheron

| Rites of the Black Mass

| Producer, Engineering[https://www.metal-archives.com/albums/Acheron/Rites_of_the_Black_Mass/575 Rites of the Black Mass in the Metal Archives]

Obituary

| The End Complete

| Producer, Engineering, Mixing[https://www.metal-archives.com/albums/Obituary/The_End_Complete/722 The End Complete in the Metal Archives]

Deicide

| Legion

| Engineering, Mixing[https://www.metal-archives.com/albums/Deicide/Legion/421985 Legion in the Metal Archives]

Malevolent Creation

| Retribution

| Producer, Engineering, Mixing[https://www.metal-archives.com/albums/Malevolent_Creation/Retribution/1040 Retribution in the Metal Archives]

Assück

| State to State (EP)

| Engineering[https://www.metal-archives.com/albums/Ass%C3%BCck/State_to_State/54930 State to State in the Metal Archives]

Solstice

| Solstice

| Engineering, Mixing[https://www.metal-archives.com/albums/Solstice/Solstice/11356 Solstice in the Metal Archives]

Cannibal Corpse

| Tomb of the Mutilated

| Producer, Engineering, Mixing[https://www.metal-archives.com/albums/Cannibal_Corpse/Tomb_of_the_Mutilated/770 Tomb of the Mutilated in the Metal Archives]

rowspan=10 |1993

| Raped Ape

| Terminal Reality (EP)

| Producer, Engineering, Mixing[https://www.metal-archives.com/albums/Raped_Ape/Terminal_Reality/53183 Terminal Reality in the Metal Archives]

Skeletal Earth

| Dreighphuck (EP)

| Producer[https://www.metal-archives.com/albums/Skeletal_Earth/Dreighphuck/23448 Dreighphuck in the Metal Archives]

Various artists

| At Death's Door II

| Producer (tracks 2, 4, 7 & 8)[https://www.discogs.com/release/760951-Various-At-Deaths-Door-II Various – At Death's Door II in Discogs]

Resurrection

| Embalmed Existence

| Producer, Engineering[https://www.metal-archives.com/albums/Resurrection/Embalmed_Existence/8076 Embalmed Existence in the Metal Archives]

Death

| Individual Thought Patterns

| Producer, Engineering[https://www.metal-archives.com/albums/Death/Individual_Thought_Patterns/613 Individual Thought Patterns in the Metal Archives]

Cynic

| Focus

| Producer, Engineering, Mixing[https://www.metal-archives.com/albums/Cynic/Focus/388 Focus in the Metal Archives]

Transmetal

| El Infierno de Dante (also available as Dante's Inferno)

| Producer, Mixing[https://www.metal-archives.com/albums/Transmetal/El_infierno_de_Dante/30638 El infierno de Dante in the Metal Archives]

Loudblast

| Sublime Dementia

| Producer, Engineering, Mixing[https://www.metal-archives.com/albums/Loudblast/Sublime_Dementia/8883 Sublime Dementia in the Metal Archives]

Hellwitch

| Terraasymmetry (EP)

| Engineering[https://www.metal-archives.com/albums/Hellwitch/Terraasymmetry/3734 Terraasymmetry in the Metal Archives]

Loudblast

| Cross the Threshold (EP)

| Producer, Mixing (track 6)[https://www.metal-archives.com/albums/Loudblast/Cross_the_Threshold/20823 Cross the Threshold in the Metal Archives]

rowspan=5 |1994

| Skeletal Earth

| Dē.ĕv'ṓ.lū'shŭn

| Producer[https://www.metal-archives.com/albums/Skeletal_Earth/D%C4%93.%C4%95v%27%E1%B9%93.l%C5%AB%27sh%C5%ADn/527482 Dē.ĕv'ṓ.lū'shŭn in the Metal Archives]

Cannibal Corpse

| The Bleeding

| Producer, Engineering, Mixing, Mastering[https://www.metal-archives.com/albums/Cannibal_Corpse/The_Bleeding/771 The Bleeding in the Metal Archives]

Psychotic Waltz

| Mosquito

| Producer, Engineering, Mixing[https://www.metal-archives.com/albums/Psychotic_Waltz/Mosquito/3999 Mosquito in the Metal Archives]

Obituary

| World Demise

| Producer, Engineering, Mixing[https://www.metal-archives.com/albums/Obituary/World_Demise/723 World Demise in the Metal Archives]

KMFDM

| Glory

| Remixing (track 6, "Move On")[https://www.discogs.com/release/109593-KMFDM-Glory KMFDM – Glory in Discogs]

rowspan=5 |1995

| Jason Rawhead

| Dehumanized

| Producer, Engineering[https://www.discogs.com/release/606807-Jason-Rawhead-Dehumanized Jason Rawhead – Dehumanized in Discogs]

Deicide

| Once upon the Cross

| Producer, Engineering, Mixing[https://www.metal-archives.com/albums/Deicide/Once_upon_the_Cross/630 Once upon the Cross in the Metal Archives]

Suffocation

| Pierced from Within

| Producer, Engineering, Mixing[https://www.metal-archives.com/albums/Suffocation/Pierced_from_Within/629 Pierced from Within in the Metal Archives]

Six Feet Under

| Haunted

| Producer, Engineering, Mixing[https://www.metal-archives.com/albums/Six_Feet_Under/Haunted/3662 Haunted in the Metal Archives]

Internal Bleeding

| Voracious Contempt

| Mixing[https://www.metal-archives.com/albums/Internal_Bleeding/Voracious_Contempt/2983 Voracious Contempt in the Metal Archives]

rowspan=6 |1996

| Sean Malone

| Cortlandt

| Producer, Engineering[https://www.discogs.com/release/4274359-Sean-Malone-Cortlandt Sean Malone – Cortlandt in Discogs]

Transmetal

| México bárbaro

| Producer, Mixing, Mastering[https://www.metal-archives.com/albums/Transmetal/M%C3%A9xico_b%C3%A1rbaro/30645 México bárbaro in the Metal Archives]

Transmetal

| El llamado de la hembra

| Producer[https://www.metal-archives.com/albums/Transmetal/El_llamado_de_la_hembra/30641 El llamado de la hembra in the Metal Archives]

Cannibal Corpse

| Vile

| Producer, Engineering, Mixing[https://www.metal-archives.com/albums/Cannibal_Corpse/Vile/773 Vile in the Metal Archives]

Psychotic Waltz

| Bleeding

| Engineering[https://www.metal-archives.com/albums/Psychotic_Waltz/Bleeding/4000 Bleeding in the Metal Archives]

Monstrosity

| Millennium

| Producer, Mixing[https://www.metal-archives.com/albums/Cannibal_Corpse/Vile/773 Millennium in the Metal Archives]

rowspan=4 |1997

| Assück

| Misery Index

| Engineering[https://www.metal-archives.com/albums/Ass%C3%BCck/Misery_Index/49122 Misery Index in the Metal Archives]

Malevolent Creation

| In Cold Blood

| Producer, Engineering[https://www.metal-archives.com/albums/Malevolent_Creation/In_Cold_Blood/1045 In Cold Blood in the Metal Archives]

Sadus

| Elements of Anger

| Producer, Mixing, Mastering[https://www.metal-archives.com/albums/Sadus/Elements_of_Anger/6432 Elements of Anger in the Metal Archives]

Deicide

| Serpents of the Light

| Producer, Engineering, Mixing[https://www.metal-archives.com/albums/Deicide/Serpents_of_the_Light/632 Serpents of the Light in the Metal Archives]

rowspan=2 |1998

| Suffocation

| Despise the Sun (EP)

| Producer, Engineer, Mixing, Mastering[https://www.metal-archives.com/albums/Suffocation/Despise_the_Sun/597 Despise the Sun in the Metal Archives]

KMFDM

| Agogo

| Remixing (track 8, "Hole in the Wall")[https://www.discogs.com/release/109597-KMFDM-Agogo KMFDM – Agogo in Discogs]

2003

| Gordian Knot

| Emergent

| Producer[https://www.discogs.com/release/439715-Gordian-Knot-Emergent Gordian Knot – Emergent in Discogs]

2005

| Obituary

| Frozen in Time

| Producer[https://www.metal-archives.com/albums/Obituary/Frozen_in_Time/79819 Frozen in Time in the Metal Archives]

References

{{Reflist}}

{{Authority control}}