Suspended-3rd-Chord's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[4 Minute Guitar Workout]

Crits

your guitar playing is actually pretty decent (skill wise, but the composition doesn't really have a substance and is overly random, even if its just for a workout), I'm only giving you a 6 because your guitar tone really hurts my ears. Trying lowing the treble and put some compression on your guitar :P

I would cut back on the shredding/tremolo riffs a bit, or try practicing it on a clean tone at first, as you're shredding is a bit sloppy at some times and comes in too randomly. I do like you're pentatonic licks more. The other stuff you incorporated was a bit too abstract for my tastes without any ideas to support and help structure your soloing

As for starting, I would start with an appealing melody, yet nothing too complex or fast. it can be a pentatonic rock riff, a catchy dissonant metal riff, or a sad slow ballad lick, whatever you're going for. I hate to put limitations and say whats right (don't take my advice unless you personally can agree to an extent) but generally just jumping right into shredding doesnt sound good, atleast with me. Gradually add on to this by adding more complex and faster bits-every now and then add a quick hammer on/pull on riff (I would be much more interested in a legato fill then tremolo picking) and build tension as you move forth. Try using more bends and slides to bridge into different riffs. And as you reach the climax, or resolve from the climax, fast tremolo picking and whammy jazz will generally fit better hear. This is also a good place were you can transition into different sounding ideas.

anyway-you certainly got talent, just don't waste it trying to impress people with fast playing :P I hate when people do that just for the sake of trying to show off. I'm not saying you're trying to do that, but try utilizing shredding more sparingly and when appropriate.

Hope this helps!

[Schism cover.]

The Pieces do fit!

wow this is great man, looks like you nailed the bassline, drums, and guitar dead on! 10/10 job if I was just grading this for the sole factor of covering! (you get my 5 anyway). Melodically this song may not be very hard to play, but the rhythms and different time signatures makes this harder than it sounds, so kudos on that. Near perfect matering too.

Drums sound nice and clean, are those live real drums or just programmed drums that were mastered well? Guitar tones are almost emulate the exact ones in the original track, bass is real solid too, but it could use a bit more boom to fill a void. Guitar could use a bit of decay in the chorus sections to give it that touch of ambience that the Schism songs sparks, as I personally think its an essence in what made the track. Right at 0:04 it would be nice if you had a volume swell of some guitar feedback too lead into the main guitar riffs. Also, you need to lay down the mellow guitar chords in the intro-but ah whatever I'm being too critical, I'm sure you know that. This a great start for a WIP! Keep up the good work man!

Zyclon responds:

Thanks a lot man. You pretty much nailed everything I thought about it in this review. I'm gonna finish the rest of it soon as well as rerecord the guitars. The drums are done using ezdrummer which is the best drum VST I've used. All the detail it use to take hours to do only take minutes. Check it out if you are into drum programming.

[[TMM43]Ride on me]

Another one :P

Well, indeed another nice track here indeed mate!

I really could really say the same stuff I said in my review yesterday (or early today actually)

I can't give you an accurate score regarding originality because I havent heard the original track, but regardless great main themes with nice synth textues, again very danceable. The crash hits were compressed so they dont clip this time aroud, a good job with the mixing and I'm liking the reverb you use with this one again. I think the hook you used to get into the more epic phase around 0:27 was a bit on the weak side. And this track ended to abruptly IMO, there was no real climax in this track, even for being this short...

But once again, nice work man, hopefully you can finish it and include some unique, cool ideas, like in your old track HXC. Peace!

[-Emotion Burst locomotion]

real trippy

I agree with WritersBlock, I'm liking the upbeat style of this tune, definetly lots of energy this track gives off. Jumpy drums sound real nice, I like the violin and piano in combination with the synths, nice stuff. Melodies are real happy and catchy and flow quite swell with the bassline. Progresses real nice, section at 2:10 was a good addition, gives room for tension to build up once you hit back with the chorus. I just think the last chorus could place more emphasis on new riff if you were aiming for that to be the focal point of the track. Conclusion was wrapped up quite well.

Mixing job is near excellent in my opinion, I just think the piano sounded a bit cheap, just need some thickness and a more defined sound. I'm not too fond of the poppy techno sound here, but very cool track regardless!

Waterflame responds:

a intelegent and nice review :D thank you for the constructive criticicm! i actually agree with your points . infact all of them :P and im glad you took the time to give a serious review altho youre not really into this style. thats the worst mistake pepole usually do, judge the songs after personal taste. again thanks! :D

[[TMM43]The Final Cut]

Head bopping S3C

pretty sweet track, i haven't heard the original piece so i can't give you a fair rating based on originality-but very nice clip you got here. All your tracks are so danceable and catchy w00t!

anyways, good sound overall, the melodies and bassline are a bit on the generic side but whatever. I like how the reverb gets larger after the huge crash hit..(or am I just hearing things?), and how it sounds like you're in a stadium. The synths are fitting, samples sounds good. Just the crash hit is too powerful, try lowering the volume or take out a layer or two. The kick sample sounds almost perfect (could use a tad more bass), but the claps and snares could be adjusted up a level IMO. Also a slow synth string melody would be a nice addition alongside the lead saw!

Great work once again!

[Drugs In That Bag Boy!]

10/10

great story man. would read again. :)

AudiosErgeon responds:

An epic story i one day will be able to tell my grand children about!

[Total Eclipse]

ya ya ya ya

haha thats a sweet wah/yah effect thingy...I have that same type of effect on my guitar pedal-and this is the first time I've heard this effect used in newgrounds. I really liked the choice of synths you used in here, its a real unique selection. I like the plucked string, and how you make it do the fast legato runs making it sound like a guitar riff. The backing synth sounds real nice and sits real well with the drums and that other lead. You should probably lower that effect that you have on the strum once the main section starts, it feels a bit loud and is overpowering, so lower it or just decrease the stereo portion. Some nice soft reverbed pads would be a good fit in here, and I can just hear a tight saw synth waiting to come in!

you and you're friend did a great job with this one. Unfortunately its unfinished, but splendid job so far.

[shadow dark touches]

> : )

Haha, this sounds really cool, very evil and dark like the showdown right before you face an evil boss. Very interesting blend of sounds, the plucked sounds are really good, the pads give off a nice radiating feel. The beat is pretty sweet and mix in quite well (although I can't hear the specific samples specifically). This could use a clear, sharp lead over the top. It is a bit too short for my liking, I think the loop could expand into an overall larger idea. But it loops flawlessly, and I definetly like the concept here. Good work!

NekoMika responds:

it would be a perfect loop if i had left off that one hit in the start then it would be evil and flawless.
Glad you enjoyed.

[==(Climbing a Snow Mounta]

SPYRO THE DRAGON

haha, this so sounds like an old school spyro game when the main instruments kick in! I love it!

pretty sweet "falling star" effects at the beginning, and I love how the percussion comes in and gracely follows with some soft strings. Main mix sounds real good, with nice interesing rhythms, melodies are very euphoric sounding while the strings are a bit stressing. The strings chords were sequenced quite well. And I love the percussion you used-tablas are my favorite percussion instrument. every bit is panned real nice. variation of volume levels are perfect. Just wished I could hear some of slap-bend (tabla) sounds more, do you have any samples of those? :D Piano sounds real nice, volume smooths in real well and the high pitched bells (xylophone?) snippets are a real nice touch too.

Lots of imagery here-although personally it doesnt remind me much of a snow mountain too. (But close, I invision some mystical castle up high in a mountain) It needs some of the chilly ice sounding synths that have a rich chorus, if you have any idea what I'm talking about. And maybe some jingle bells now and then, or maybe a hit layered with the snare.

Mix is overall excellent! Quite enjoyable :D

[(WF1) Stuck In A Dream]

China-man

Different type of mix, has an asian flavor and sounds a bit like your last track "Mythago". Sounds like a samurai in meditation right before he embarks on a long mystic quest.

I like the instruments/synths that you used in this, they compliment the asian melodies quite well. FL Slayer (if thats what you use) doesnt sound too bad because it doesnt clip and have that annoying screechy sound. I like the synth strings and the reverbed chorusy bells. and you keep bringing the intensity with adding more and more instruments, like the harmonica solo, and that very cool solo vocalist part in the interlude. Composition flows really well and is very relaxing, parts are well sequenced and never clash.

Drums are a bit overly simple for my tastes but it fits the feel you were going for. In the breakdown around 00:48-1:00 when the kick kinda mimics a heartbeat rhythm the beat sounds awkward, you might also wanna fix that. And you might wanna make the kick a little louder or give it a midboost(may just be my temporary headphone replacement). Other percussion that would be cool in this track, china cymbals, taiko drum, and a gong. I think layering the last section with a shakuhachi would be tight as well...you can get all these souds legally for free if you search for them too. ...Otherwise, this track was mixed quite well.

anyways, very cool song. I hear improvement, "keep on keeping on" ;)

wyldfyre1 responds:

LOL hah so much here where to start.. *has a look*. yes it was slayer hahah I feel that to many poeple use the screaching horrid generic guitar sound to much and that alot can be done with it if used right. I mean don't get me wrong the screaching sound is cool if used correctly but you CAN use the uplugged version and give it a accustic sound as well. The beat breakdown that you said had the heartbeat feel to it i almost took out but i had to many poeple tell me that it led up to the actual area that went RIGHT back into sinc and i feel if i were to take that out that it would ruin the feeling for that part. When first writing that i didn't like it either but its sort of grown on me hah. What else? hmm.. The vocalist solo was actually my voice that i made a instrument into the program me going "Ahh" LOL so that was simple but worked out. I may mix up some of the drums later on in the song but i'm not sure.. I'm really happy with how simple and nice this turned out.

anyway though I always love the long reviews i get from you with the helpful tips! Thanks again for the great review and keep on keeping on hahah