Score: 9

"Impressive"

submission: §Arbiter§ - War of The Mice

date: July 27, 2006

Hello _Arbiter_

An interesting piece.

I like the spic introduction, right away you've set a light stepped, paced kind of mood. I keep seeing this mouse jumping from one foot to the other as he's walking in synch with those strings, trust me the image is much funnier then i'm wording it XD.

The crash at 0:12 was really well introduced with those horns just before it.

I can see the mouses just goiing crazy poking and scratching people's heels at 0:27.

Spreading rabis >:(

Damn mice.

It really was a tad short, but it is a very well structured song, and as i've already listened to it near thirty times since this review writing started, one can also very easily say its relistenable.

I didn't find it catchy, but it was image invoking, I hope you know what I mean.

I liked the way you ended the song, that triangle sound at the very end made me think of a mouse backhanding a cat, and running into a hole.

Mafia mouse O_O!

Around 0:15-0:26 those horns made me think of dancing mice... I don't know why, don't question my imaginations >:(!

But it was a good segment.

I think so far this is your best structured song thus far.

Keep it up Arbiter.

Score: 9

"Awesome"

submission: KoT - Mightnights

date: July 26, 2006

Hello Killer_of_trolls

lets begin our review by analysing mood and atmosphere the song presents.

Those tubelar bells introduction serves to make for a good ominious feeling. At that point I was thinking he could go all holy dark, or tense dark, and when the strings clicked into place right away the tense harmony came into being.

I like the string/bells combo, they wack a good wallop together. The mood is definatly set in.

Lets talk about instruments and melody works

The piano in the background of those bells, at the beginning, and again near 1:18, I question myself, what would they sound like, if they were softened. I think right now they're a tad too harsh.

If you cut their velocity to half, and copy pasted like 5 times, you'd get a softer, and more "reverbed" kind of feel, which I think may serve a better purpose. It's not a professional trick, but one I use from time to time ;).

I like the various strings, you've used different elements from different strings sections to really drive a unique feeling home. Especially around 0:48 with those strings there, they really worked well.

I know this is an older piece, still I think you overused those bells, they work great, but near the middle you have them loop I think 4 or so times, it makes them lose their power.

The only thing I can think of adding to this song would be slow string chords, not so much as to add melody or mood, but as a foundation assistance, to enhance the other instrments.

Thats all I can think of for now Killer_of_trolls. Good stuff man, keep them coming ^^. Glad to see you still submitting.

Score: 8

"Awesome"

submission: FFX - Battle

date: July 25, 2006

now why didn't they have THIS while I was pwning some serious monster ass?!

There were some flaky parts, but the middle section where it really begins to scream is awesome.

The end was pretty strange, I think you played the wrong keys.

Good work man, I don't have much to say a this, enjoyable, you play well.

Score: 9

"Impressive"

submission: i2 - Burst

date: July 24, 2006

Hello i2abbitz.

I've been meaning to leave you a review for a WHILE now, I kept thinking I did, and then realized that all the thoughts I had written about your pieces, never actually made it on here, so lets change that shall we?

Lets begin our review by analysing mood and atmosphere the song presents to the listeners shall we?

That piano start had a kind of angry, sad start to it. As if a person was standing against a loose barrage of energy, and the way the song accumulates only furthers this image.

At 0:41 the song forcefeeds all of its energy down my throat and makes me knock my chair back and dance. At around 1:21 the song calms down, and around 1:40 starts to build up again.

Energetic, I suppose is the best word to infuse with this song.

That piano ending makes me think that the person standing in defience losteded :'(

>:(

Lets talk a bit about melody and instruments.

I would say your repetitive use of that loop in the background would be bad, but you've added layer after different layer makes the song diverse enough to completely hide that fact, and hide it well.

Now I know this is purely my classical side just spitting in my face, but I keep hearing these french horns in my mind, that would compliment the melody just perfectly! Of course I don't really expect you to consider it, this is just my over active imagination >:D!

I know that synth program you're using for those high pitchy sounds, but I forgotelled its name, you will have to tell me please ^^. I want to try making some Trance/Techno myself you see, and I will need nice synths like these.

Nice use of the pads in the background. I also liked the gated instrument you have slamming in my face around 2:08, excellent stuff.

Thats all I can think about for now i2abbitz, keep your chin up and the spirit strong. Above all keep them coming ^^.

Goodbye i2abbitz.

Score: 9

"Nice"

submission: Blue Summer

date: July 22, 2006

Hello orange_peel

Lets begin our review by talking about mood and atmosphere.

This song's mood is a very laid back one, but a bold one. Like the sunlight streaking through the window of a fort you know, peaceful, but strong. Resilant and resistant. This mood is nailed on the dot the moment you bring in that violin.

For some reason I see that window, with that light shining down it, gently feeding a small frail plant that managed to make a home in the cracks of the floor. The brass makes me think of voices outside, farmers, gaurds being ordered around. A peaceful life.

Sorry, my images are always medieval :D.

Anyways, lets talk a bit about instruments and melody.

The instruments are really well used, they flow well together. I didn't hear clashing parts. I felt that the melody was woven well. It tells a story, and does so with the same voice it starts.

I wonder, how this song would sound like if you added a flute as well. I can imagine a flute so well with the brass in this piece. I think a flute would have really given that "summer" feel.

The melody is diverse, yet simple.

That is all I have for this song orange_peel, good stuff, keep your chin up, and the spirit strong, keep them coming ^^.

Score: 7

"A few points"

submission: -SOES-Amber

date: July 22, 2006

Hello Deflektor76

Lets begin our review by mood and atmosphere.

Hmm, i'm sorry to say, I didn't quite agree with most of your description, especially that last word. The song just doesn't strike me as "hateful".

I find, a song sounds alot more hateful if you have the same notes going again with a layer on top of it. You heard my piece While Heaven Burns correct? I believe that is in the taste of Evil, or MaestroSorrow's Dancing with Darkness, Waltzing with Madness. When I think evil, or darkness, those are the songs I think of.

This is more defiant in my mind. I also really didn't think the constant halting and going to a new melody worked that well, jumping back and forth. I could imagine maybe it was done as a kind of telling the story going from one end to another in either case it was confusing.

I'm sorry, this is just my opinion on its construction, but lets talk about the instruments and melody.

I found both of these criteria filled in very nicely. The instruments flow well together, and the melody IS catchy.

Sorry man, I just didn't click with this one. I hope you understand, I don't mean to sound like an ogre, this is just my honest opinion. Keep your chin up, and the fighting spirit strong, keep them coming ^^.

Score: 9

"Damn fine"

submission: -SOES-Saphirre

date: July 22, 2006

Hello Deflektor76

Lets begin our review with mood and atmosphere.

Before we begin though, I don't think you should have put this in ambiant man, this is classical.

I see a bold, passionate women, I see also a good deal of troubles in her mind. Does this make her weaker? Maybe, or maybe it gives her insane drive, to be the best, I think the latter would be more appropriate, the melody is very driving.

The atmosphere created by the instruments you picked were pretty damn neat. Those drums made it sound a tad military like, I however don't think those snares made a big enough dent to change that image I had, only kind of distort it.

I read your description later to see if my image fixated with yours, and to be honest I didn't see a future happiness, and yet when I took a step back and looked at it again, the song has a very epic excited and confident sound to it, as if the future that comes to them is one they would easily take the reigns of and command to their purpose. A future for them and them alone.

Lets talk a bit about instruments and melody.
That violin and accordian really worked well together Deflektor, it has given me several ideas of my own, that i'll probably try out sometime tonight.

Those celeste bells? (that or xylophone) makes for a pretty damn good atmospheric and melody support, those chords played in the background serves to emulate a epic feeling.

I think those drums should be changed, they sound a bit too bland, I think you should either beef it up, or just remove it entirely, I think this song would work pretty well without any form of snares.

I also thought the end was a tad too abrupt.

An idea I was thinking of was flute. I think the flute would have worked great in this song, though in reality it is not an essential addition, its just another take on it.

Anyways, thats all I have for it at the moment, chin up, keep the good fight up Deflektor76 ^^, keep them coming.

Score: 9

"Good stuff"

submission: Dryad Whispers

date: July 18, 2006

hello Grumbleduke.

lets being our Review by looking at the mood and atmosphere this song presents.

My first thought is that harp. It sounds very serene, very laid back. I must ask where you get your samples, I am quite fixated by them. I am not looking at your title, so the image I paint for you is purely the image I get from the song itself.

I see a great open field, with long blades of grass sticking out, swaying lightly to the winds gentle push. At around 1:09, I see a scarecrow in the middle of the field. Alone, yet smiling. A child is leaning against the stick holding up the scarescrow as he gazes up to the sky.

A brilliant, vivid image. One I am glad you were able to invoke.

Lets talk a bit about the instruments and melody.

As I stated earlier before, the harp opening was very pleasent. Normally I would suggest adding more to the song, but I feel the solo harp opening would suffice plenty.

That flute melody, now there I feel you could expand on easily, I would have liked to hear you bring in a counter melody with another flute, preferrably up on octave. Points like 0:49 is a great point to go into duel flute action! I liked the oboe segment. It was the oboe that made me thing of the scarecrow, something dead, sad, yet happy at its place.

The double flute thing idea goes again around 1:46 where the deep cello stops.

Overall impression was pretty good Grumbleduke. I won't lie, I felt the song also had a bit of a cliche feel, it sounded done before, but thats not to say anything about your skill. I would have liked to hear a more diverse, a bit more spicy happy ;).

In the end however, you are the creator, and I the mere suggestor, take what you will from the review, it is entirely up to you.

5/5 from me Grumbleduke, keep up the good fight, and keep them coming ^^.

Score: 10

"10's across the board!"

submission: §Zellbot§ Theme song

date: July 17, 2006

I know everything now!

You know who this is ;).

50/5 for you!

Score: 8

"Cool"

submission: -SOES-Nora

date: July 16, 2006

Hello Deflektor76.

Lets begin our review with mood and atmosphere the song presents.

Neat use of the harp, it really gives a neat feeling, not "sad" per say, but more "mysterious sorrow", there is subtle traces of sadness in there, but I feel more mystery.

I like the flute you introduce shortly after the begining, it really adds another layer of emotion, when you bring in that oboe as well, that was a good idea.

But be very careful with those strings at 0:43, there was a very distracting clashing notes going on there, definatly look over that part, it sounds as if you're off key at that point.

The strings gave it a very confident feel, a very "justicey" air I suppose ;). I keep seeing a woman of nobility, standing over a corpse of some kind. She killed this person, but she had some kind of connection with. I suppose this would be the "sad justice" part.

Anyways, a bit about instruments and melody.

I've already talked a bit about melody, lets dive a little deeper with that.
I really like the harp and flute/oboe combination, especially when the harp changes from its initial melody.

The strings were effective in the mood they portray, but again, those string notes, look closely, make sure they're in the same key, and that you're not playing two keys beside each other, this is called dissonance, and is useful for building tense moments, but not for a song like this.

Instrument wise, I was quite happy, some suggestions, let see, you said unholy justice right? Maybe an organ? Some deep brass instead of those strings?

Thats all I can think of for now Deflektor76, good stuff, keep up the fight, and keep them coming ^^.