I used to make cds for my band in HS all the time off of just a 4 track and a few mic's. Sounded so old school metal. I tried to attempt the same process a few years back and I got nothing but feedback and garbage, I could never get that sounds back. I believe that attic we did the recording in, was the key to the sound.
lol, when we did the guitar riffs we would put the mic in front of the amp and cover the amp with a thick towel, got this incredible metal sound, of course you had to cut out 90% of the bass from the amp.