Gravey's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[Soniquest]

Almost There...

As usual, you did a nice job of finding sounds that go well together. As for the song itself, it is a bit repetitive. But then again, pretty much all electro music is. But you should try to vary the melody a bit despite that.

I don't like the dropout around the 1:30ish mark. You should try reorganizing something there. Not sure exactly what it needs, but that section isn't the best. I LOVE the breakdown measure around the 2:15 mark. Very cool moment there!

The ending is basically the same as the rest of the song. Not much variety here at all. lol But other than that I see nothing wrong with it.

3/5 and 7/10, cause you need to mix up the melody a lot. Too repetitive. But I think you could really turn this into a nifty song with a little more work.

-Gravey-

jbarnett responds:

ya, but thats trance... Last i checked, the explanation of trance was, the repetitive beats, alluring synths & atmospheric textures have a hypnotic purpose... so I might just be interpereting it but i think it's supposed to be kinda repetitive. But I can go and change it up for lack of anything better to do lol. As always, thanks for the review. :-)

[In The End...]

Very Cool...

First off, I have to say this has an 8-bit feeling to it. It seems like it should be the background music for some epic 8-bit rpg. Especially for a dungeon level, or something dark like that.

As for the song itself, I like it a lot. There are a few things I think you could do to improve it though.

First, you need to vary the rhythm a bit. The drums you created really just do the same cadence over and over, which becomes a bit repetitive by the end of the song. You need to vary that a bit more, maybe add some snare or something somewhere. Or just change up what you are already using.

Second, I like the sounds and how they mesh together so well. And I really like the sound at about the 1:00 mark. Where everything but that one sound dies out. I think you could add a new melody there, or maybe expand on the idea you already have there.

Lastly, I personally think you could have more of a build up to the end. Maybe add a descant part above everything that is noticeable, but not overbearing. If you don't know what a descant is, (Cause not everybody took choir in school), it is a melody above the melody already in place. You most often hear it in choral arrangements near the end of epic songs.

But all in all, this is really good. Especially considering the fact you are using the demo and can't save anything. So I'ma give ya 5/5 and 9/10. Cause it can be improved, but I remember what it was like using that shitty demo version of FL Studio. And anyone using that deserves a break on their score! ;-)

Hope this helped, and gave you some ideas.

-Gravey-

jbarnett responds:

Ya I admit it is a little repetitive but it's meant to be like background music in a movie, so this wouldn't be the only thing you hear (therefore, less repetitive). also, I WAS going to add snare but none of them that i had went well with the rest if the percussion so thats whats up with that. I was actually experimenting with SAW and square synths with this one. And thanks for the amazing score ^o^

---jbarnett---

[Bitch Servent Draft]

Umm...

Wrong genre I do believe. Not sure how this is really metal. More of an electronica kinda thing. Overall the song is decent, but you should think about resubmitting it to a more fitting genre.

Now that I said that, let me critique the song itself. I like the string/pad as the accompaniment. It is really soft, and has a nice quality to it that fits this style well. What sound is that in Fruity Loops?

The lead, I guess "guitar," has some nifty melody lines going on. I like the overall tone you used in conjunction with the strings/pad in the background.

The song is a bit short to be a real song. What I suggest is not so much lengthening, but make it loop. Because this would be a kickass loop for an old school 8-bit side scroller rpg game. Just my opinion anyways.

Hope this helped in some way. Good song, but not really metal. So I can't give you a great score really. 2/5 and 4/10.

-Gravey-

Walnutasaurus responds:

This was more of an idea then a song. It eventually turned into Von Gina, which is a full metal song, with very poor sound quality unfortunately.

[Three Sixteen [Final?]]

Nice Bud...

I like it a lot actually. You made some very nice changes structurally for this song. I really like the break at 1:22. Fucking awesome moment right there for sure!

And you shortened the intro a bit, thanks you. Structurally I think it helped a lot. Oh and the break around the 2:05 mark is awesome as well. The ending simple, yet tasteful.

Overall really good. 5/5 and 10/10 I'ma give you, because I know you worked really hard on it. And it sounds really good.

-Gravey-

jbarnett responds:

Holy shit thank you!

[Brokensaint - Self-Loathing]

Never Post At 6:30 AM...

You posted this at 6:30 am. Not a good time to post. lol That would be why nobody listened to it, nobody was awake bud! But that is about to change. ;-)

As you know, my opinion is slightly biased, being family and all. But let me try to write an objective review.

As for the overall sound, I like it. Has a nice rock groove to it, not sure how really metal it is though. Definitely more rockish. The riffs are pretty simple and straightforward, which is alright for this style of song.

As for the drums, they change consistently with the song. And you added some nice fills here and there to keep the listener interested. I like the tom sound you got, I could never get any sound from your toms in the studio. So I'm a little jealous about that. :-P Not sure I like the kick. It doesn't sound like it was compressed at all, and is too low in the mix for my taste. But after the sessions we had in the studio when I EQ'd the kick for Motus and Soul Stealer, we all know how much I love massively compressed kick drums!

Vocals, eh, the only thing about the song I don't like. I don't want to hate on the vocalist, but I'm really not into that style of voice. I think the closest I get is with Chrome Division, but they are a biker rock band. Completely different sounding band to go with the style of vocals.

The song itself is very radio worthy. Catchy riffs, with a melody that can be followed by anyone listening. Not really anything happening harmonically other than the bass and electric guitars. Very straightforward.

So I'll give ya 5/5 and 10/10, cause I can! The only issues I have are with the kick and the vocalist. And I can't hate because I don't like the vocalists voice. That really isn't fair. And the kick, well I'm stuck in my ways so I know it wouldn't be fair to hold that against you guys either.

Nice job bud!

-Gravey-

Sicdrummer responds:

thanks bud hopefully people get to hear this song i love it no matter what you say cutie lol but i totally understand what your sayin with that your sayin HAHA

-Justin

[Await the Retribution (vox)]

Nice...

I like it a lot. A nice little metal song, that just punches you in the mouth.

I don't really like the distortion you chose for the guitar. I think you should have went with a fuller sound. But that is just my opinion of course. One thing I like about it is how clear the guitars are. You can hear everything really well.

As for the vocals, not really my style. I don't get into the hardcore metal very much. I'm more of a Dimmu Borgir, Scar Symmetry, Mnemic kinda guy vocally. The screaming doesn't bother me too much, its the singing. I'm not into singing vocals all that much really. I mean unless they are epic as fuck.

As for the drums, they aren't half bad. I think you should compress the kick a bit. It will give you more punch to the kick, and that is the most important aspect for a metal drum sound.

The bass is a little low for my taste, but once again that is just an opinion. I personally see the bass as a lost and dead art in metal. Always being mixed out of the song.

Overall though good solid song. I like it a lot. 4/5 and 8/10, because although I like it, I think it can be improved in ways.

Great job!

-Gravey-

P.S. - I posted a song titled Soul Stealer. You might like it. So if ya get bored go have a listen! :-D

TwilightNecrosis responds:

I appreciate the review, man.
Unfortunately, you didn't read the Author's Comments very well, where I specifically state that I had nothing to do with anything other than the vocals.
If you want to tell deathkllr84 about the guitars/bass/drums, go for it, please.
Regarding the vocals; my vocals are pretty death metal-influenced, which is what Dimmu is (apocalyptic death metal, but death metal all the same). Plus, I don't understand what you mean; screaming 'doesn't bother' you, but you 'aren't into' singing. So you're most fond of instrumentals? I don't understand; please, elaborate.
I am glad you liked the song, though; it was a lot of fun to do vocals for, and I think it's one of the best vocal works I've made in a while.
Thanks again for the review.
Metal! \m/

[Storm The Mind]

Neat...

This would be perfect for one of those horizontal scrolling space shooting games.

I think you could add a few more sounds to get a bit more dramatic effect. Maybe lengthen it another minute or two. Cause if you are playing for any length of time, the longer the song the less likely it will get boring after playing a while. Just a thought.

But overall nice job. 4/5 and 7/10, cause it could use a little something more done to it.

-Gravey-

jbarnett responds:

Ya. I was kinda going towards Command & Conquer/ Starcraft type games.

[Demon Vikings]

Vikings...

Not sure I would put this up there with the viking gods Amon Amarth and Turisas, but this is pretty good all on it's own.

Tasteful guitar distortions and riffs. Not overly complicated, but engaging all the same. I think there is a need to complicated the guitars somewhat. I don't want to say anything specifically, I'd rather see what your creative mind comes up with on it's own. ;-)

The drums are ok, but god you need to raise the kick. I could barely hear it, and my speakers are a $500 set of pc speakers. So compress and raise that kick for punch in the drums.

Overall though this is a nice little tune. Not exactly epic, but very solid. 4/5 and 8/10 overall. Nicely done here.

-Gravey-

P.S. - I hate zero bombers, so I shall come back and vote 4/5 a for a few days to help even it out. :-)

himenow responds:

Obviously I can't be compared to the Viking Gods, although I would very much one day want to be like them.. :)

About the drums, I got better drum software now, so hopefully it'll sound better in the future.
Also, getting a new guitar sometime in the near-future as well, so better sound as well.

Thanks for the helpful comment. :)

[TechnoForce Break-Through]

Nice...

I like it a lot. I'm not gonna critique it until I hear the version with the bassline. :-) But I wanted to leave a comment here anyways!

5/5 and 9/10 cause I can!

-Gravey-

Badspreekill responds:

Hehe Hop on for the 2nd one!

[Stormblast]

Wow...

When I think of Stormblast I think of Dimmu-Borgir and epicness. Didn't really get that feeling from this at all.

I'm not sure what to say about the song itself, cause I don't like any of it really. The riffs are simple and dull. They don't grab my attention at all.

As for the drums, you had some nice blast beats in there, which was cool. But they sound like shit man. EQ and compress the drums. In fact EQ and compress everything about 2 times. That would really help.

And this is so transparent for a metal song. There is nothing going on in the background. I mean yea, not everyone needs 5,000 things happening at once to be happy, but layers are good. Layers are VERY good. So add some more guitars, some keys, some synths, some...well...ANYTHING! Just do something other than throw some really basic death riffs and blast beats together.

Cause this is pretty bad man. And the worst part is it is so quiet. Like I said, EQ and compress, then EQ and compress again if you have to. 1/5 and 2/10, cause this really didn't have much other than the blast beats going for it.

Good luck working on future projects man.

-Gravey-

PENTAhazardous responds:

About the track, it has nothing to do with Gimme Burger at all, it's a one-shot song... others I did in days, in some month or even more... this one was made in a few hours and the idea kinda came while I was listening to Hypocrisy's Point Of No Return... (there is a riff, near the end of the track, that is somehow similar to one from that track). I'm more interested in the structure of the song. I can't be too technical when I'm using VSTs (all of the instruments), and all the instruments are EQed and Compressed and Limited and there are a lot of other plugins... There is a moment when...... for example: the bass is "on", along with some cymbals and the bass drum, after this, the whole instruments kick in... if I'll do what you're suggesting (eq-ing, compressing more then they already are), when the other instruments go "on" the guitars will be a bit too cutted off... this is caused by the low frequencies, bass guitar and bass drum mostly... The way the track is done right now, it's limiting a lot this problem... I'm using 2 guitars of a kind (Left and Right). The difference between them is made by the soft's EQ and some other plugins... and Amplitube. The problem is, if you're putting the same instrument on left and on right, the soft it's going to play it on the middle, like a mono channel, but I avoided this problem, It doesen't need layers. The guitars are filling very well the left and the right channel, so I don't see any problem here, and this track doesen't have in it keyboards because I didn't wanted keyboards... I tried to make an extreme metal track something close to black metal. It didn't turned out very well, but, it's nice as an experiment. I'm not going to change it because you or any other person want that... I mean... to make it longer add some other riffs, keyboards and all that stuff... I didn't wanted to do that with this track, and you don't have to like it. I like it this way and that's what matters.
Now don't get me wrong, it didn't bothered me at all what you wrote about it, actually... finally there is some one that came with ideas and real critics about one of my songs...
Thanks a lot for reviewing man... I hope to here more from you in the future... on other tracks ;)