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

[Last Days of Summer =WB]

Gronmon pretty much hit the nail on the head ;)

i didnt think this was that bad, but i dont have much more to say. well i just listen to this threw a couple times and see how it turns out :P

some interesting ideas both mixing wise and melody wise. Composition from you is solid as always.

I like the synths and that warm flanger effect on them. The light panning sparkly synths sounds really good, and the keys are nice and bright and cheery- perfect for the mood of the track. the main bass is a bit too overpowering, needs to lose less stereo panning on the flanger effect (it gets pretty distracting when not used subtley), or you might want to find a different texture. i really like the high pitched melody, it does kinda break the barrier and hurt my ears, you might want to put a high pass filter on it (not sure if that would solve the problem). some good interlude melodies, nice flow, and the beat is nice and catchy- doesnt sound too generic. I like how you pan the bass in the next section (its not so distracting when its not straight up in the front). i dig the ascending chords at 3:20ish. after around the 4:00 minute mark the ideas get kinda bland, i thought you could have introduced a new theme or just jumped straight to the ending. just a qualm on my part. the ending doesnt sound too abrupt, although i would have left the remainder and just the final energy give out for just a couple more bars.

so the bass does kinda kill it, but its only during certain parts. as far as mixing besides the bass, you've taken a great leap from your last tracks I've reviewed IMO- especially since techno/electronica styles generally take more time to get the levels and FX right. speaking from personal experience, atleast. as for the drums- i would make the kick more audible as its a major source of energy to the track, and possibly slap some reverb on the clap :D had to put something about reverb in hear, you know.

good work Writersblock!

WritersBlock responds:

Thanks, man. Very helpful review, I'll probably try and polish it up and have an update on this soon.
Cheers.

[Iconoclast (rough mix)]

mmm

i listened to this all the way through, really couldnt find much wrong with it. the last 20 or so tracks that I have reviewed have had exceptional quality making it hard for me to critique and leave more in depth reviews.

on a personal level i enjoy this very much- but most would recognize this as a very professional sounding piece. I pretty much like everything about this track, except the second half could a little more variancy, but its all good. this actually reminds me of one of those early 90s TV movies, with someone like Treat Williams going to a bad neighborhood to kick some thugs ass. its a perfect theme track right before entering battle. I really love the samples and synths utilized in here, they are real crisp and great sounding. the loose snare sounds great, I love the clicky hi-hats, the basskick seems bitcrushed which is always nice, I think it could be raised a bit, but it might be my headphones. all in all, very nice industrialized drums.

I love the lead melody, and the chord progression that lays in the background. the bassline interlude with short moments of silence sounds badass. the next phase sounds mint as well, this has got an excellent groove. I love everything about this track, not much more can be said.

:)

such an awesome industrial track!

LeftHandPunk responds:

Thanks for the feedback, I appreciate it a lot.

[Dirty Aerodynamics]

no super-short reviews here

great track- this definetly had my head bobbing, although i'm not a really a fan of this style.

Bass sounds very powerful in my headphones, yet doesn't clip or mud everything out, and it's at a good level with the kick. the acidish (?) synth you start with is nice, and the interlude is great (would that be well programmed FL slayer work?) love the drum work, good dynamic work on the hats, nice job with the toms, and that nicely sampled snare. excellent job with keeping the same theme, and gradually bringing in the more active beat, and adding the strings. the guitar melody could definetly use more variation as it pretty much stays the same.

one thing I think you did a superb job with is the mastering, everything has great clarity, and enough space never once competeting for attention. Tons of different FX devices make this sound of professional quality. I love the interlude with the EQ drops, and the slow, gradual rise. the phaser at 3:06, and the load of decay in combination with fading out the track. very interesting.

good work man! and give my shoutouts to the Swirl!

Anima-Theory responds:

I shall :D

Thanks for the review

Anima

[.:Descent Into Hell WIP:.]

very tight!

another good one. Piano sounds are okay, I thought it could use more thickness (maybe start off with the dark sounds, and when the double bass comes in put some more thicker reverb on and make the sound more stereo oriented, with a longer release on the notes) I do like the chords and upper melodies tho, and the delay effect you use. This track reminds me of some dark caped figure (not batman), standing atop a chapel beneath gray clouds, watching a city amidst chaos.

I like the drumbeats, double bass is good, texture is pretty decent so there is enough sculpture between each kick. if you could find a picolo snare for this it would fit great for the style. (should be one in the sample inks in my blog) also some tom rolls during transition would be great along with the blast beats. Guitar chords are good, maybe more variation could work in these bits by adding some triplet riffs every now and use more melodical changes, but it does its job for the rhythm. Guitar solo is well built up too, fits in well, and ends on a good note. I would love to see a duel between two guitars in here at one point maybe. as for the sounds- like your other track, they are good but they could be better even for FL slayer. (i wouldnt know how of the top of my head because I never use it- but look at Hating4AM, he uses FL slayer for a lot his stuff.) a more metallish tone (bass and treble raised, and mids cut) might sound better as a backing guitar, while there may actually be a bit of over compression on both tones. But really its all in taste- and my suggestions may be way off as I never use the plugin.

all in all man, another excellent composition. If you had better access to some more realistic sounds, this would be truly excellent, but as it is right now just keep up the good work and producing well rounded tracks.

GronmonSE responds:

Dark caped figure standing atop a chapel overseeing a city engulfed in chaos? It's a bit off fron the original intention, but similar imagery was intended, albeit it's a very different case.

I used Slayer 2 rather than Slayer 1 this time (default settings too, go lazyness). I checked out Hating4M's gallery and it screams heavy metal. I don't compose heavy metal, not digitally at least, so I'd rather not spend weeks working with complex layering and knob tweaking (like some artists do) because most of my future tracks won't include guitar. I've tried making realistic guitar sounds and the process is tedious.

Thanks for the review.

[.:LoZ: Dark World Remix:.]

great as your other tracks!

it indeed does sound like a track you would hear in zelda, with some nice rock touches.

preset or not- I like the bellsynth sounds you used in the track and I think they are perfect fit to retain an ambient naturesque sound. I like the organ chords you use in here but it could probably use a bass tone to fill up the lower spectrum just more. (and maybe just raise it 1DB, as it can kinda of get muddled behind the lead sounds and drums in the front, but it doesnt really matter much for just being a background sound) the guitar is good for what it is, much better than most FLslayer sounds, not overly loud or having that oh-so painfully sharp texture. the chords actually sound good too, and are not too overpowering. Plucked sounds are good, I think I nice thickness by a bigger chorus and reverb would be a nice fit too. Drums are good for what they are as well-they don't sound entirely FPCish tho here-did you do something to modify them?

the composition side of this is great- very enjoyable melodies, and the piece as a whole flows quite well, can't find any flaws in the section. I like how the bell and plucked sounds have euphoric melodies, while the organ gives off a more jazzyish/pop feel while the guitar is a mix of both.

so can't think of anything really wrong or anything to add with this one really, its a solid piece! good job dude!

GronmonSE responds:

I love the Sytrus bell (not actually called that, mind you) for two reasons, one being that not many people use it as much as they use other instruments (as far as I'm concerned), and the second being that it just sounds great considering it's a default instrument.

The bass was incredibly muddy in my first remix of the song 7 months ago, but I worked on fixing it for the most part. After a certain point, I just stopped caring :P The Slayer guitar (which indeed sounds better than most of the slayer crap you hear nowadays) has some effects to make it sound prettier. The default plucked sound....ugh...I didn't bother touching that up, it was a last minute thing. As for the drums, double layering for the snare, in additing to effects and I tweaked the waves a bit to make it sound more snare-ish. Triple layering on the bass drum and some compression. I implemented all I've learned on mastering in these past few weeks on this track, and I'm proud of it :P

Thanks for the review!

[FUBAR]

Good Gravy!

What an awesome hip hop track. Usually with most hip hop tracks I hear (consisting of mainstream mostly, so mind me), they have a simple theme, something easy to rock to, that is easily rememberable and easy to hum too. What you did here, was fuse some very catchy hip hop elements with some complicated sounds and a series of interesting FX. So it's real refreshing to hear an uploaded track like this. I absolutely love the main percussion themes, sounds like a beat you would hear in an IDM genre. I love the main synth and the reverse effects, the phat kick and rim-snare, combined with those clicky things that produce an interesting, unique rhythm. I would love you to take this a step further (although not sure if thats possible with the "giant virus") and make something more out of it, maybe with a brand new lead, and of course keep the intricacies going.

Keep producing original beats man!

BrothaGaget responds:

thanks man. I would love to make some new music but I blewup my computer and have to build a new one now.

[KR- Hidden Palace (Sonic 2)]

decent rendition, but could be better

I remember this tune from the options screen, don't remember if I remember reaching this track in Sonic2. good job with this one mate, it sure is recongizable.

the main problem, sound quality-yes, it could be better, but I hear some improvements compared to your other tracks. Atleast there's no clipping in this one. I know FL keys is the not the greatest piano generator, but you can certainly get a better sound of that. for starters, the compression preset and a default reverb setting would do (I think i might have suggested this already?) . More specifically, since this track features heavenly, mystical sounding melodies, I would shoot for a large the room size and increase the decay just a bit, to lets those notes ring out and create an airy atmosphere. Brass is a good touch in here, but I would tilt the brass and pianos more to the opposite sides, while centering the choir/voice thingy and bass. and i'm not too sure what the cellofan is.

feels like there's definetly something missing in here, which makes this track not too interesting. This could certainly use something to keep the track moving, like a slow drumbeat to accompany everything. that might be unsuitable for the classical touch, so you might want to incorporate some strings. Just some elements to fill the background. The bass is really weak, trying finding a more bold insrument or synth and lower it one octave, as this track is pretty much all high end texture throughout. I really like the ambient choir sound, and think it should be utilized more. Might want to increase the volume on them just a tad, and/or experiment with using chords.

if its not too much too ask (i'm beginning to think it is, because I request this on 90% of remix submissions!), dont be afraid to give it your own original twist! Composing your own sections from scratch to fill thoise voids like a said above could be a start. halfway through its gets repetive and boring, this is an excellent opportunity for you to spice things up. i dont know, i'm sure many people would just love to hear the same composition with more up to date quality, but I personally look for changes in new renditions, as remixes can be argued as being dramatic changes within in a piece by altering the notes, and possibly putting in your own additions-not just replacing with different instruments.

really though, the only underlying flaw in this track is the mixing. just fiddling around with the suggestions that I made shouldnt take more than 30 minutes tops. otherwise man, good job with the remake!

-Review Request Club-

knuxrouge responds:

Actually, I'm working on adding an original twist to one of my songs now. I postponed it so i could redo it with more originality. Thanks.

[Gillenium Vault: Selection 5]

the pad man :D

man you are so good with making pads, i wish I had your abilities :D Pads are indeed my favorite part of electronics music, so it's always great to come listening your music for some relaxing ambient works. There's not too much to this track, but the pad has an excellent texture, soft, and swells perfectly with little ambient tidbits in the background. Beautiful for what it is!

Gillenium responds:

That's kind've why I don't do more slow ambient stuff like this - I'm picky about pads. If I can't find the right pad, a song like this will not exist! It's about time to go searching the internet for new pads, I think.. Thanks for the review!

[Dream Machine (feat. Bamsukka)]

Been a while

i've been listening to this one since its debut but just haven't figured to leave a review. One of the best tracks on NG.

A bunch of lost souls dwell in the deep trenches in the middle of the ocean. it's a desolate section of the world as no moretal dares to enter this sacred place. they have no memory and little feelings, but feel a slight sense of purpose. There is no fight amongst the souls, but a lack of love. at peace they may be, but they are hypnotized by a distant bright light in the eternal night sky. Every day they see this vision from a different perspective- and as they get so close to escaping their aqua-confinement, their architect wakes up, destroying their run and damning them back to the bottom of the sea, deleting their memories of what they were so close to accomplishing. Just like a dream. But there is a gentle wind and a friendly atmosphere around them, giving them a glimmer of hope that one day may find their release. Maybe this is the wrong world, but some place out there there will be good and that's worth striving for.

this was my vision of it- not sure if it made much sense, either. it was probably vague, but I like people to make their own vision and interpration out of it.

excellent collaboration of organic sounds (bass I'm pretty sure) and electronica. I love that infinitely deep and slowly moving pad that you open with and build off upon in the track. Amazing reverb effects. the pad has an excellent warm texture, that has a droning sound both in the low and high end with the sparkling feedback sound. The bassline perfectly compliments it, slowly moves, and each note has makes an imprint-well done Bamsukka, if he's the one on the bass. I absolutely love how the experimental percussion rhythms, with a blend of excellent, unheard of samples that are a perfect fit for an ocean/dream theme, work their way in and do their job throughout. it even sounds like you've got some orchestral and guitar string sounds in here during some parts. might just be the mass of effects and filters utilized in here that creates the compelling sounds, but whatever it is, it's just really, really, damn nice.

There is not really one huge melodical, remorable melody in here, but each note in here has a meaning, that I could probably take any ten seconds out of this track, loop it, and not get bored of it for hours. Excellent soundscape. This is perfectly sequenced and structured, you are the master of ambient music. Can't think of much more to say without being even more redundant. Not a bunch of specific distinguishable synths or instruments, nothing too overpowering. It's like one beautiful cluster of sounds. Excellent job using EQ and effects to their fullest.

absolutely still love this.

Gillenium responds:

Day-um! One of the best reviews I've had in a while! Thanks for writing it. Bamsukka (Kevin) did do all of the guitar/bass and helped with pads and fx. It was a true 50/50 effort, so half of the props go to him, for sure. If I took his name and mine off of this, though, no one would probably be able to tell that it was made by two people. Our styles are pretty much parallel.

I usually start collabs to have something to work with, to venture into the unknown. Like, with Nebula or a song like that, I had a guitar part to work with and I built around it. But when Kevin sent me his stuff for this, I was like "haha, damn, this sounds exactly like something I would make! This doesn't help me at all :D" The success of this collab (my first in a couple years) has made me aware of how good they can be sometimes. I'm already looking into a couple possibilities for future collabs.

Thanks again!

[Shamed Gaia]

yo dude

How many times have you submitted this track :P the name looks familiar

absolutely love another brilliant composition for you. some great talent once again utilized in here. lots of different but simiar styles, some nice rock ballard chords to sit in the background, and I love the bluesy and harmonic minor riffs that you incorporate.

Track progressed a litte slow but you have some great melodies and intuitive chords that doesn't entice once to fast forward the track. tapping has a creepy touch to it, sounds a little slopy and unsynced during the first portion, might be due to an offtime echo/delay effect or just your playing.

Delicious cleans tones indeed. I like the crispyness on the backing guitars, nice levels of reverb yet not too much to dilute the track, and maybe a nice thin chorus (?). I love the sharp lead, which has just a touch of distortion, and the wah snippets. when you do the trills around 00:35-00:43, I think it would be sweet if you put a delay effect and increased the reverb decay.

really good track once again dude, its great to listen to when i'm by myself as usual on a thursday night and just reflect. I like the absence of drums and bass in the track to create some genuine solitude, although maybe a nice soft pad or strings in the background would be a nice fit :P nah, this track is already good as it is. keep it rocking dude! you're an outstanding guitar player :D

Kor-Rune responds:

The is my second submission of this track because I had accidentally posted an unfinished version yesterday instead of this one, lol. It's actually the third if you count the old one I did and deleted recently for this one.

I put the blame on the lack of synced playing on audacity and my slow computer, it's quite a chore to sync things, but the sloppiness in general is just me. :P

Thanks for the solid review! :D