Gravey's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[Xi:Xi]

Cool...

I feel a little Dillinger Escape Plan in this song.

The riff that kicks in around the 0:40 mark is awesome. Then the next section after that is fucking kickass! Really I love all the guitar parts in this song except the riff around the 2:00 mark. It kinda annoyed me, but you win some and you lose some right?!

The drums aren't the best, they need to be faster in my opinion. What can I say, I'm a blast beat enthusiast!!! :-D Overall though nicely done!

5/5 and 9/10, cause I think it is a great song, but not quite perfect.

-Gravey-

PenguinBomb responds:

lol I'm glad you know about dillinger, I used to listen to them a good amount, not a fan of their new stuff though. lolz the part at 2:00 is actually my favorite. I like weird dissonant tapping riffs :D :D

And yeah, drums, I'm not a huge "death"/brutal metal kind of guy, so I don't like really agressive drums, and because I don't have means of recording real drums, I work with what I got. Thanks for reviewing my stuffs though, you leave better reviews than everyone else :D From the sound of your music you also obviously know what you're talking about too. Cheers!

-P.B.

[Black Canvas Order Redux]

Interesting...

The guitars are alright sounding, but I think you should go with a heavier distortion. This distortion doesn't grab me by the balls like I want metal songs to. The guitar that comes in around the 1:00 mark is awesome though as a lead. Good choice there.

I have to second BlackFear's opinion on the drums. Really really bad. First off, the cymbals need to be cleaner. It sounds like they have a wah wah effect on them or something. Not clean sounding at all. The kick could be crisper as well, but it wasn't nearly as bad as the cymbal crashes.

I couldn't hear much of the bass at all, which is something I hate about metal. Obviously in the beginning I could cause nothing else was playing. But after that it kinda vanished, and the bass is a lost art in metal.

Overall though very nicely done. I liked the overarching sound you got with this. Maybe some vocals to along with this sometime? ;-) 8/10 and 4/5, because there is still some work to be done.

Good luck man, and I hope this helped somehow.

-Gravey-

himenow responds:

The guitars aren't "wide" enough, yknow, I can't really do that :/

And yes it did help, thanks for the comment, bro. :)

[Operation: Annihilate!]

Interesting...

I like the guitar sound you picked. It sounds a lot like Mnemic's guitars. Not the style so much, but the actual sound itself when hitting those low notes in the riffs.

I like the hit near the 1:20 mark. That section is really cool, especially when you expand it near the 1:35 mark. That makes it really kickin'! Fucking groovy, and cathartic.

Not the riff around the 2:05 mark is fucking kickass! I LOVE that section! And it just keeps getting heavier as you progress through that riff into the next little sub-section.

Oh, and then the clean guitar section has a nifty little feel to it. I'm not really sure it fits with the song or not, but I like it anyways. The solo though is fucking awesome! Even though it kinda repeats itself. Maybe you didn't really consider it a solo, but rather another riff in a descant role. If so then perfectly done it was!

My only issue is the lack of fullness. Either you need to mix this into a richer sound, or add some extra stuff to it. Vocals always help, but that is not always an option, which I understand fully. You could always add a keyboard to it to help enhance the sound.

But I think I know what the main problem is. the bass, or lack thereof. I really don't hear any bass at all in this song. Which is a big issue. If nothing else you could get Fruity Loops and add a bassline with that program if you can't play bass. But being able to play guitar, I'm guessing that isn't an issue. But if it is, you should think about adding a bass part with Fruity Loops.

Fruity Loops' electric guitar sounds blow, but the basses in their Slayer section aren't half bad. Especially when mixed right in a song. Just something to contemplate anyways.

Overall I like this a lot! 5/5 and 9/10 for originality. I would normally only give you a 4/5 on it, but I'm guessing like most entries you got zero bombed at least a dozen times. So this should help balance that out ever so slightly! :-D

Nice work, and let me know when you post more stuff if you want.

-Gravey-

PenguinBomb responds:

First off, thanks for the extensive review :D

Yeah, Mnemic was one of the bands whose guitar tone I'm pretty fond of, so I try to get their neato sound with low notes. Glad you like the part around 2:05, that was actually my least favorite part, I messed it up a few times while recording, so if I ever re-record this one I'd make sure to play that part more accurately. Lolz, the clean part is actually my favorite, and no it's not a solo just a random melodic line in like 13/8 or something (until the lower guitars come in anyway). I actually do have a bass guitar, and it is recorded in there, but I have it processed like a guitar so it actually sounds like a really low guitar occasionally. And I guess the volume of the bass is this song is a little bit low, but I guess from all my recording I can definitely pick it out. I still haven't found a bass tone I'm completely satisfied with, so I'll have to do some more experimenting. As for fruity loops, that's not really my deal, although I do like to mess around in electronic stuff occasionally I like my music to have all parts played by actual people playing actual instruments (obviously this is not completely possible because I live in a dorm, so recording drum would just be IMPOSSIBLE), so aside from the drums I like to keep everything legit. Anyways, glad you liked it and thanks a lot for the review!

[Through the Heart of the Drago]

I Gotta Say...

I typically don't like the synth orchestra, but you do it very well. If I ever get a metal band like I want, I'm having you do background orchestral scoring for us! Cause you really come up with some epic stuff sometimes. I mean for real man, I can hear a metal piece with this playing in the background.

:-D

4/5 and 9/10. Nice piece overall.

-Gravey

Aeris responds:

Cool, sure, give me chords or music, and i'll give you something sexy.

thanks C:

[Jungle Gospel (edit)]

So...

I am sitting at my pc, and just got around to realizing you have a lot of entries on here. And I really like all the stuff you have sent me so far, so I'ma go listen to everything I haven't listened to yet.

I remember hearing the original of this song, but I'm not sure I heard this new edit. I like it. It is fuller than the other version, which is always nice. I like the ending. Although, it is kinda odd. Good work here. 4/5 and 8/10.

-Gravey-

P.S. - When you post the final version of this, make sure there isn't 0:30 of blank space at the end of the track! X-D (The one mistake I've found in all your songs. I had to poke a little fun at it!)

Aeris responds:

lol i just noticed they were doing that, iTunes auto-cuts them so i never knew x3

thanks for being such an awesome reviewer :D

[Spill the Sands of Time]

Damn Man...

You have the whole concept writing down. This is fucking amazing! And it reminds me of clocks, which is awesome!

I love the transitions from major to minor, and even to a diminished chord in a few select places. The overall sound you got was very nice indeed.

Now, to go a little more into the music itself. I like the quiet, dark intro. It sets the mood very nicely, and gives this song a peculiar feeling right away. When the instruments come in around the 0:20 mark, it isn't too loud. Yet you can definitely tell the song has truly started.

I am not sure I like the strings up to the 1:00 mark. Strings are a good choice, but I'm not sure those strings are. Now the background strings are perfect, but I'm talking about the harmonic strings that are arpeggiating. There is something just not right about their sound. I think you need more percussive strings for that part. Maybe what you could do, is put a piano part playing the exact same thing. It would give it that percussive edge it needs, and if done correctly might just fit nicely into the mix.

I love the "Wah Wah" sound you have going throughout the piece. Very original and nifty, if I may say so. The piano at the 1:00 mark is simply beautiful. Not really that complicated, but the quality of its sound truly enhances the overall mix of instruments. I like it when it comes in earlier as well, but it really shines at the 1:00 mark on.

Now, is that an oboe at the 1:30ish mark? Cause it adds a very dramatic quality to the piece, and really brings this song to a nice close musically. Very nice choice there, very nice indeed.

And am I mistaken, or are there some clock sounds going on in this piece? I love the sound because it gives you that constant that every song needs. I am extremely pleased at how you composed this song. 5/5 and 9/10, because I'm not sure it is perfect. Like I said, I would change those strings in that one section. Other than that though, perfect!

-Gravey-

P.S. - I hate people who vote 0/5 on everything. I vote 5/5 and it averages out to 3.2, because the person before me voted so low. I'ma come back and vote 5/5 a few times to raise that score to where it belongs! :-D

Aeris responds:

i'll look into those string timbres, i think you're right... maybe cuz it's kinda supposed to be swelling. But ya i'll fool around with it.

yes i did use clock sounds, in fact, they're the same ones from Dreamin' Clocks x3
I was unhappy with how the sound was portrayed, so i tried again and BAM i'm happy.

That is actually a clarinet, I found that it made an awesome distortion sound.

And yes, unfortunately somebody was a dick and zero-bombed my song, but it's making its comeback.

anyway, night, sleep well
-Aeris

[Canon 4 the Seventh Sun (2:23)]

Interesting...

Very warm tone. It has a very solemn mood and timbre as well. Only problem is, it doesn't go anywhere.

Like the guy who reviewed before me, I think this sounds like a jam tape. Just you getting some ideas out of your head and into the guitar. Which is not bad, but typically jam tapes don't really give much aesthetically as a listener. It does to the writer, but unless you are looking for a good tunes to sit back and get high to, jam tapes really don't do much.

I do love the overall sound however. Simply beautiful. The sound and tonal qualities are very rich and warm. This has such a wonderful texture to it. I would love to hear a real song come out of this. With or without vocals, I think this could turn into something very wonderful.

I'm giving you a 2/5 and 5/10 because there is potential here. And like I said, I love the sound. But there really doesn't seem to be much in the way of writing. Just kinda go along with the flow, and that is ok sometimes. But a little variety is necessary in everything. So I hope you expand on this. If you do please send me a pm. Cause like I said, I would love to hear it.

-Gravey-

WinTang responds:

Thanks and I guess I agree. Might remark that I never intended it to sound like a jam tape - it is a pretty simple experiment with three guitars playing the same basic progression in canon. While that results in some interesting harmonies, I share the feeling that it lacks any actual direction or variety.
I do plan to expand on this, I just don't know how yet. Your comments were once again welcome! Thanks a lot.

[K'nex and the City (1:46)]

Uh....Wow...

Can't say I like it, at all. Although it is....interesting. I will say nice job on coming up with a video game tune. This would be perfect in all those old school original Nintendo games.

There is one sound in it that reminds me of the sound that Mario makes when he goes into a tube on the original Mario Bros. Maybe I'm an idiot, idk. But yea, other than that I really didn't dig this. Sorry. Maybe use some different sounds in it, to give it a little...balance? Yea, that might be the word I'm looking for, but I'm not sure. I'll give ya a 2/5 and 3/10.

Hope this didn't seem like a hate-fest of a review. I didn't intend it to be, if you took it that way. :-/

-Gravey-

WinTang responds:

No man I don't mind at all... as long as you don't mind that I don't intend to step away from the "bleeps" on this one... It's intended to be a trying listen, hence it's not for everyone.
There are a lot of more easy-listening tunes on my profile if you're still interested... you might dig tracks like "Time for bed", "Galactic summer" or "Crystalline".
Thanks for listening and taking the time to word an honest opinion!

[Trance - Wake Up]

Nifty...

I didn't realize you posted any music on here. I guess it is my time to return the comment favors! :-D

First off, nifty loop and beats. Especially around the 1:40 mark. That secondary sound is really cool. Not the thumping bass, but the high pitched, fast hitting sound. Also, around 2:20 the bass hum gets a bit overhyped. Maybe tone that down a notch or two, to help the song out a bit.

Overall I like it, nice little trance-like tune. 4/5 and 8/10, mainly cause I wanna hear a new version of this that is remixed. And if I give ya a 5/5 then you won't do it! ;-) Nice job man.

-Gravey-

Badspreekill responds:

Hehe thanks bro.
Now i know what to correct!

I will be also posting a new audio too.

[Test Subject A]

YES!

So I wanted to find your first submission on here, and compare it to what you are writing now. It is nifty indeed.

I love the strings that come in a little after the 1:00 mark. And that sound around the 1:30 mark is fucking intense man. Cool as all hell. I really love the dissonance in that section. What sounds did you use for that industrial effect? The machine effect is so cool, I wanna use it in something myself.

Then the strings come in VERY nicely. Creates a very stimulating effect aesthetically. Really makes the ears rise up in attention, that is for sure.

Going in my favorites immediately! 5/5 and 10/10. I truly love this piece.

-Gravey-

Aeris responds:

thanks :D

I used an 3x oscillator, the major oscillation being a tone, and the 2 minors are fuzz.

I used the same effect in Desdemona, except with a few more mixer effects.
Also check out simsynth, it's part of FL already. It's got a good oscillator.