diff --git a/build.gradle b/build.gradle
index 64ad3ee48..043f1dcd3 100644
--- a/build.gradle
+++ b/build.gradle
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ buildscript {
 		maven { url 'https://jitpack.io' }
     }
     dependencies {
-        classpath group: 'net.minecraftforge.gradle', name: 'ForgeGradle', version: '3.+', changing: true
+        classpath group: 'net.minecraftforge.gradle', name: 'ForgeGradle', version: '5.1.+', changing: true
 		classpath group: 'org.spongepowered', name: 'mixingradle', version: '0.7-SNAPSHOT'
     }
 }
@@ -19,20 +19,12 @@ apply plugin: 'org.spongepowered.mixin'
 // Only edit below this line, the above code adds and enables the necessary things for Forge to be setup.
 apply plugin: 'eclipse'
 apply plugin: 'maven-publish'
-apply plugin: 'java' // needed for compileJava
 
 version = 'a1.4.1'
 group = 'com.seibel.lod'
 archivesBaseName = 'lod_1.16.5'
 
-sourceCompatibility = targetCompatibility = compileJava.sourceCompatibility = compileJava.targetCompatibility = '1.8' // Need this here so eclipse task generates correctly.
-
-compileJava {
-    // release 8 is needed because otherwise FloatBuffer.flip() will crash
-    // on some machines
-    // example thread: https://github.com/eclipse/jetty.project/issues/3244
-    options.compilerArgs.addAll(['-Xlint:unchecked', '-Xlint:deprecation'])
-}
+java.toolchain.languageVersion = JavaLanguageVersion.of(8) // Mojang ships Java 8 to end users, so your mod should target Java 8.
 
 println('Java: ' + System.getProperty('java.version') + ' JVM: ' + System.getProperty('java.vm.version') + '(' + System.getProperty('java.vendor') + ') Arch: ' + System.getProperty('os.arch'))
 minecraft {
diff --git a/gradle/wrapper/gradle-wrapper.jar b/gradle/wrapper/gradle-wrapper.jar
index 7a3265ee9..e708b1c02 100644
Binary files a/gradle/wrapper/gradle-wrapper.jar and b/gradle/wrapper/gradle-wrapper.jar differ
diff --git a/gradle/wrapper/gradle-wrapper.properties b/gradle/wrapper/gradle-wrapper.properties
index 1d5b29fbd..05679dc3c 100644
--- a/gradle/wrapper/gradle-wrapper.properties
+++ b/gradle/wrapper/gradle-wrapper.properties
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 distributionBase=GRADLE_USER_HOME
 distributionPath=wrapper/dists
+distributionUrl=https\://services.gradle.org/distributions/gradle-7.1.1-bin.zip
 zipStoreBase=GRADLE_USER_HOME
 zipStorePath=wrapper/dists
-distributionUrl=https\://services.gradle.org/distributions/gradle-4.10.3-bin.zip
diff --git a/src/main/java/com/seibel/lod/config/LodConfig.java b/src/main/java/com/seibel/lod/config/LodConfig.java
index 987a25bae..b3d0d111a 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/seibel/lod/config/LodConfig.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/seibel/lod/config/LodConfig.java
@@ -20,13 +20,21 @@ package com.seibel.lod.config;
 import java.nio.file.Path;
 import java.nio.file.Paths;
 
-import com.seibel.lod.enums.*;
 import org.apache.commons.lang3.tuple.Pair;
 import org.apache.logging.log4j.LogManager;
 
 import com.electronwill.nightconfig.core.file.CommentedFileConfig;
 import com.electronwill.nightconfig.core.io.WritingMode;
 import com.seibel.lod.ModInfo;
+import com.seibel.lod.enums.DebugMode;
+import com.seibel.lod.enums.DistanceCalculatorType;
+import com.seibel.lod.enums.DistanceGenerationMode;
+import com.seibel.lod.enums.FogDistance;
+import com.seibel.lod.enums.FogDrawOverride;
+import com.seibel.lod.enums.LodDetail;
+import com.seibel.lod.enums.LodQualityMode;
+import com.seibel.lod.enums.LodTemplate;
+import com.seibel.lod.enums.ShadingMode;
 
 import net.minecraftforge.common.ForgeConfigSpec;
 import net.minecraftforge.eventbus.api.SubscribeEvent;
@@ -37,7 +45,7 @@ import net.minecraftforge.fml.config.ModConfig;
  * This handles any configuration the user has access to.
  *
  * @author James Seibel
- * @version 9-1-2021
+ * @version 9-17-2021
  */
 @Mod.EventBusSubscriber
 public class LodConfig
@@ -87,6 +95,8 @@ public class LodConfig
 		
 		public ForgeConfigSpec.IntValue lodChunkRenderDistance;
 		
+		public ForgeConfigSpec.BooleanValue disableDirectionalCulling;
+		
 		public ForgeConfigSpec.DoubleValue brightnessMultiplier;
 		public ForgeConfigSpec.DoubleValue saturationMultiplier;
 		
@@ -150,6 +160,18 @@ public class LodConfig
 							+ " This is the render distance of the mod \n")
 					.defineInRange("lodChunkRenderDistance", 64, 32, 512);
 			
+			disableDirectionalCulling = builder
+					.comment("\n\n"
+							+ " If false LODs that are behind the player's camera \n"
+							+ " aren't drawn, increasing performance. \n\n"
+							+ ""
+							+ " If true all LODs are drawn, even those behind \n"
+							+ " the player's camera, decreasing performance. \n\n"
+							+ ""
+							+ " Disable this if you see LODs disapearing. \n"
+							+ " (This may happen if you are using a camera mod) \n")
+					.define("disableDirectionalCulling", false);
+			
 			shadingMode = builder
 					.comment("\n\n"
 							+ " What kind of shading should the LODs have? \n"
diff --git a/src/main/java/com/seibel/lod/render/LodRenderer.java b/src/main/java/com/seibel/lod/render/LodRenderer.java
index 03a7bd2fc..a02c73f56 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/seibel/lod/render/LodRenderer.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/seibel/lod/render/LodRenderer.java
@@ -23,7 +23,6 @@ import java.nio.FloatBuffer;
 import java.util.HashSet;
 import java.util.Iterator;
 
-import net.minecraft.client.renderer.texture.NativeImage;
 import org.lwjgl.opengl.GL11;
 import org.lwjgl.opengl.GL15;
 import org.lwjgl.opengl.GL15C;
@@ -53,6 +52,7 @@ import com.seibel.lod.wrappers.MinecraftWrapper;
 import net.minecraft.client.renderer.ActiveRenderInfo;
 import net.minecraft.client.renderer.FogRenderer;
 import net.minecraft.client.renderer.GameRenderer;
+import net.minecraft.client.renderer.texture.NativeImage;
 import net.minecraft.client.renderer.vertex.DefaultVertexFormats;
 import net.minecraft.client.renderer.vertex.VertexBuffer;
 import net.minecraft.client.renderer.vertex.VertexFormat;
@@ -62,7 +62,6 @@ import net.minecraft.potion.Effects;
 import net.minecraft.profiler.IProfiler;
 import net.minecraft.util.math.BlockPos;
 import net.minecraft.util.math.ChunkPos;
-import net.minecraft.util.math.MathHelper;
 import net.minecraft.util.math.vector.Matrix4f;
 import net.minecraft.util.math.vector.Vector3d;
 import net.minecraft.util.math.vector.Vector3f;
@@ -73,7 +72,7 @@ import net.minecraft.util.math.vector.Vector3f;
  * This is where LODs are draw to the world.
  *
  * @author James Seibel
- * @version 9-14-2021
+ * @version 9-17-2021
  */
 public class LodRenderer
 {
@@ -124,7 +123,10 @@ public class LodRenderer
 	 * This is used to determine if the LODs should be regenerated
 	 */
 	private int[] previousPos = new int[]{0,0,0};
+	
 	public NativeImage lightMap = null;
+	
+	// these variables are used to determine if the buffers should be rebuilt
 	private long prevDayTime = 0;
 	private double prevBrightness = 0;
 	private int prevRenderDistance = 0;
@@ -245,15 +247,20 @@ public class LodRenderer
 
 		// get the default projection matrix so we can
 		// reset it after drawing the LODs
-		float[] defaultProjMatrix = new float[16];
-		GL11.glGetFloatv(GL11.GL_PROJECTION_MATRIX, defaultProjMatrix);
-
+		float[] mcProjMatrixRaw = new float[16];
+		GL11.glGetFloatv(GL11.GL_PROJECTION_MATRIX, mcProjMatrixRaw);
+		Matrix4f mcProjectionMatrix = new Matrix4f(mcProjMatrixRaw);
+		// OpenGl outputs their matricies in col,row form instead of row,col
+		// (or maybe vice versa I have no idea :P)
+		mcProjectionMatrix.transpose();
+		
 		Matrix4f modelViewMatrix = generateModelViewMatrix(partialTicks);
 
 		// required for setupFog and setupProjectionMatrix
 		farPlaneBlockDistance = LodConfig.CLIENT.graphics.lodChunkRenderDistance.get() * LodUtil.CHUNK_WIDTH;
 
-		setupProjectionMatrix(partialTicks);
+		setupProjectionMatrix(mcProjectionMatrix, partialTicks);
+		// commented out until we can add shaders to handle lighting
 		//setupLighting(lodDim, partialTicks);
 
 		NearFarFogSettings fogSettings = determineFogSettings();
@@ -278,6 +285,7 @@ public class LodRenderer
 			Vector3d cameraDir = cameraEntity.getLookAngle().normalize();
 			cameraDir = mc.getOptions().getCameraType().isMirrored() ? cameraDir.reverse() : cameraDir;
 			
+			boolean cullingDisabled = LodConfig.CLIENT.graphics.disableDirectionalCulling.get();
 			
 			// used to determine what type of fog to render
 			int halfWidth = vbos.length / 2;
@@ -288,7 +296,7 @@ public class LodRenderer
 				for (int j = 0; j < vbos.length; j++)
 				{
 					RegionPos vboPos = new RegionPos(i + lodDim.getCenterX() - lodDim.getWidth() / 2, j + lodDim.getCenterZ() - lodDim.getWidth() / 2);
-					if (RenderUtil.isRegionInViewFrustum(cameraEntity.blockPosition(), cameraDir, vboPos.blockPos()))
+					if (cullingDisabled || RenderUtil.isRegionInViewFrustum(cameraEntity.blockPosition(), cameraDir, vboPos.blockPos()))
 					{
 						if ((i > halfWidth - quarterWidth && i < halfWidth + quarterWidth) && (j > halfWidth - quarterWidth && j < halfWidth + quarterWidth))
 							setupFog(fogSettings.near.distance, fogSettings.near.quality);
@@ -323,10 +331,8 @@ public class LodRenderer
 
 		// reset the projection matrix so anything drawn after
 		// the LODs will use the correct projection matrix
-		Matrix4f mvm = new Matrix4f(defaultProjMatrix);
-		mvm.transpose();
-		gameRender.resetProjectionMatrix(mvm);
-
+		gameRender.resetProjectionMatrix(mcProjectionMatrix);
+		
 		// clear the depth buffer so anything drawn is drawn
 		// over the LODs
 		GL11.glClear(GL11.GL_DEPTH_BUFFER_BIT);
@@ -495,62 +501,43 @@ public class LodRenderer
 
 	/**
 	 * create a new projection matrix and send it over to the GPU
-	 * <br><br>
-	 * A lot of this code is copied from renderLevel (line 567)
-	 * in the GameRender class. The code copied is anything with
-	 * a matrixStack and is responsible for making sure the LOD
-	 * objects distort correctly relative to the rest of the world.
-	 * Distortions are caused by: standing in a nether portal,
-	 * nausea potion effect, walking bobbing.
-	 *
+	 * 
+	 * @param currentProjectionMatrix this is Minecraft's current projection matrix
 	 * @param partialTicks how many ticks into the frame we are
 	 */
-	private void setupProjectionMatrix(float partialTicks)
+	private void setupProjectionMatrix(Matrix4f currentProjectionMatrix, float partialTicks)
 	{
-		// Note: if the LOD objects don't distort correctly
-		// compared to regular minecraft terrain, make sure
-		// all the transformations in renderWorld are here too
-
-		MatrixStack matrixStack = new MatrixStack();
-		matrixStack.pushPose();
-
-		gameRender.bobHurt(matrixStack, partialTicks);
-		if (this.mc.getOptions().bobView)
-		{
-			gameRender.bobView(matrixStack, partialTicks);
-		}
-
-		// potion and nausea effects
-		float f = MathHelper.lerp(partialTicks, this.mc.getPlayer().oPortalTime, this.mc.getPlayer().portalTime) * this.mc.getOptions().screenEffectScale * this.mc.getOptions().screenEffectScale;
-		if (f > 0.0F)
-		{
-			int i = this.mc.getPlayer().hasEffect(Effects.CONFUSION) ? 7 : 20;
-			float f1 = 5.0F / (f * f + 5.0F) - f * 0.04F;
-			f1 = f1 * f1;
-			Vector3f vector3f = new Vector3f(0.0F, MathHelper.SQRT_OF_TWO / 2.0F, MathHelper.SQRT_OF_TWO / 2.0F);
-			matrixStack.mulPose(vector3f.rotationDegrees((gameRender.tick + partialTicks) * i));
-			matrixStack.scale(1.0F / f1, 1.0F, 1.0F);
-			float f2 = -(gameRender.tick + partialTicks) * i;
-			matrixStack.mulPose(vector3f.rotationDegrees(f2));
-		}
-
-
-		// this projection matrix allows us to see past the normal
-		// world render distance
-		Matrix4f projectionMatrix =
-				Matrix4f.perspective(
-						getFov(partialTicks, true),
-						(float) this.mc.getWindow().getScreenWidth() / (float) this.mc.getWindow().getScreenHeight(),
-						// it is possible to see the near clip plane, but
-						// you have to be flying quickly in spectator mode through ungenerated
-						// terrain, so I don't think it is much of an issue.
-						mc.getRenderDistance()/2,
-						farPlaneBlockDistance * LodUtil.CHUNK_WIDTH * 2);
-
-		// add the screen space distortions
-		projectionMatrix.multiply(matrixStack.last().pose());
-		gameRender.resetProjectionMatrix(projectionMatrix);
-		return;
+		// create the new projection matrix
+		Matrix4f lodPoj =
+			Matrix4f.perspective(
+					getFov(partialTicks, true),
+					(float) this.mc.getWindow().getScreenWidth() / (float) this.mc.getWindow().getScreenHeight(),
+					mc.getRenderDistance()/2,
+					farPlaneBlockDistance * LodUtil.CHUNK_WIDTH * 2 / 4);
+		
+		// get Minecraft's un-edited projection matrix
+		// (this is before it is zoomed, distorted, etc.)
+		Matrix4f defaultMcProj = mc.getGameRenderer().getProjectionMatrix(mc.getGameRenderer().getMainCamera(), partialTicks, true);
+		// true here means use "use fov setting" (probably)
+		
+		
+		// this logic strips away the defaultMcProj matrix so we 
+		// can get the distortionMatrix, which represents all
+		// transformations, zooming, distortions, etc. done
+		// to Minecraft's Projection matrix
+		Matrix4f defaultMcProjInv = defaultMcProj.copy();
+		defaultMcProjInv.invert();
+		
+		Matrix4f distortionMatrix = defaultMcProjInv.copy();
+		distortionMatrix.multiply(currentProjectionMatrix);
+		
+		
+		// edit the lod projection to match Minecraft's
+		// (so the LODs line up with the real world)
+		lodPoj.multiply(distortionMatrix);
+		
+		// send the projection over to the GPU
+		gameRender.resetProjectionMatrix(lodPoj);
 	}
 
 
@@ -858,7 +845,7 @@ public class LodRenderer
 			prevChunkTime = newTime;
 		}
 
-		// check if there is any newly generated terrain to show
+		// check if the lighting has changed
 		if (mc.getWorld().getDayTime() - prevDayTime > 1000 || mc.getOptions().gamma != prevBrightness || lightMap == null)
 		{
 			fullRegen = true;