Finnish metal VST specialist Ugritone is releasing one final drum sample pack as it halts operations.
In a message to customers, the company notes that it is closing its doors after seven years of “striving to push the boundaries of what could be achieved in the underground music scene”.
“The harsh realities of life and the unforgiving nature of the free market have finally caught up with us. Despite our unwavering passion and relentless drive, the stark truth is that we’ve faced burnout after burnout, stretching ourselves thin, and simply lacking the resources to make the necessary moves to bring this project up to the speed it deserves,” the message continues.
“The industry demands more than we can currently give, and it’s either all or nothing.”
In February 2022, when we reviewed KVLT 2, we got some insight into the demands which were plaguing the small producer.
While the pack had great sounds and was well-suited to programming or triggering via a keyboard, its MIDI mapping was not optimised for e-drums.
Our review concluded that the absence of MIDI maps for popular modules and the lack of ‘MIDI learn’ functionality, combined with the limited articulations (no drum rim sounds) and the limited hi-hat open/closed options severely limit playability for e-drummers.
Ugritone’s final offering, Final Metal Drums, consists of eight presets based on a Gretsch Catalina Maple kit and a Ludwig Supralite snare.
The pack promises “the raw power of the 2000s (with) crushing riffs and thunderous beats”. “Packed with authentic, hard-hitting sounds, it delivers studio-quality yet natural tones that defined the golden era of metal,” according to the marketing blurb.
The pack is on sale for $10 – midway in Ugritone’s product pricing which ranges from $10 to $20.
digitalDrummer is disappointed to see a VST option disappear, especially one that was doing something different. At the time of our review, we gave Ugritone some advice on making its products more e-drum-friendly. We were told the team had tried reaching out to the e-drum community numerous times and “received zero emails back, so there’s only so much we can do without the data and user experience”.
The bottom line is that if we want diverse offerings and broader choice, we need to engage with the VST producers, many of which are very small operations – often just a couple of people. By explaining the pain points to them, we can help them tailor products to the specific needs of e-drums and ensure their own survival, while assuring ourselves of the broadest choice.
The founders note that they will pull the plug at the end of December, “but this isn’t goodbye forever”.
Co-founder Ron D. Rock will continue offering metal samples and presets (including drum packs) under his Loudstakk brand, while partner Toni Kauko will be announcing his next projects soon.
We wish Ron and Toni all the best for the future.