Engineer Alex Pasco records the kick-in and snare-top mics with a DBX 160 VU in parallel, adding just enough drive for that classic parallel compression punch without heavy gain reduction.
This happens pre-tape on the Neve 8028 console, with the compressed signal printed to its own track while tracking, not bolted on later in the mix. Since it's captured live off the console before conversion, the return stays locked in phase with the dry mics.
He blends the crushed return in underneath the clean signal to taste, keeping the natural transient while adding weight and excitement.
Once the blend feels right, he EQs the parallel return separately from the main drum tracks. Pulling more top end on the return adds bite and clarity without making the whole kit harsher, since the boost only lives on that one crushed channel.