Far Out examines five musicians or bands who criticised producer Rick Rubin’s notably hands-off studio approach.

– Black Sabbath’s Geezer Butler found the experience strange, particularly being asked to disregard the band’s heavy-metal identity.
– Slipknot’s Corey Taylor said Rubin largely observed from a sofa rather than contributing actively.
– Former Red Hot Chili Peppers guitarist Josh Klinghoffer felt producers, including Rubin, sometimes prevented the band from recording songs at their best.
– Velvet Revolver dismissed Rubin during work on its debut, frustrated by the slow pace and lack of direction.
– The Mars Volta’s Cedric Bixler-Zavala argued Rubin tried to make the band’s sound more commercially accessible.