SoulSecure's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[The Tomb Shaker]

You (might) know how I am about world music, so let's get my punk ass a review in and get it over with, haha!

First things first, I do enjoy your composition, it doesn't really have any boring parts like some of the orchestra songs on here, where it sounds like they just wrote it while on the loo. Your compositional use of the dan tranh is commendable too, good show! Is it endearingly special, though? I think I'm going to have to say no on that. On that mark your 15 hour sprint shows.

The feel of the song, I'd say, does not really reflect the desert, as you have in your tags. I'm thinking it's more along the line of mountains. Like a mountain with an over-wealth of partially menacing greenery, or perhaps a barren and brown mountain. I just don't really get a desert feel and the main reason for this, I think, is the dan tranh and it's composition. If that was replaced with a different instrument and composition, I could easily see it swaying by way of desert winds. (I am also reminded of the Metal Gear Solid series)

I enjoy that the length isn't overwhelming and can be listened to casually. This is a good marketing strategy, lol. It could always be longer, but I must keep in mind that this is a demo for a VST when it comes to length.

I have an issue with how some things are mixed, though. The strings and choirs are an excellent way of 'beefing up' your track as you say, but they get a little too fatty at some points and become burger-like, rather than a steak (in other words, they get too fuckin' loud, G). I'm not bashing your use of dynamics, it's that they overpower the dan tranh a little too much at some points.

I also wish you would cut some of those low mids on those loud drums. It bothered me a lot on the first listen through, but not so much now (7th listen or so).

To wrap it up, you have a good song on your hands with extremely minor mixing issues that are more than likely just opinionated criticism, but it doesn't 'wow' me enough.

Step responds:

Whoa, big review! Thanks a million, Rehmemhotep!

"First things first, I do enjoy your composition, it doesn't really have any boring parts like some of the orchestra songs on here, where it sounds like they just wrote it while on the loo."

Hey hey, don't diss the loo. Some amazing ideas come out of there. Yup.

"Your compositional use of the dan tranh is commendable too, good show! Is it endearingly special, though? I think I'm going to have to say no on that. On that mark your 15 hour sprint shows."

I can't agree more. I won't say that if I had more time, the melodies would've been better - I would've tried to make some more interesting stuff, but in the end I don't have much control over it. Sometimes I go through droughts and other times through bouts of creativity. This time round I was feeling pretty uninspired, and the tight deadline didn't help.

"The feel of the song, I'd say, does not really reflect the desert, as you have in your tags. I'm thinking it's more along the line of mountains. Like a mountain with an over-wealth of partially menacing greenery, or perhaps a barren and brown mountain. I just don't really get a desert feel and the main reason for this, I think, is the dan tranh and it's composition. If that was replaced with a different instrument and composition, I could easily see it swaying by way of desert winds. (I am also reminded of the Metal Gear Solid series)"

Metal Gear Solid is awesome, so I'm glad it reminds you of it haha. I find that it's quite hard to make something reminiscent of a desert without it sounding thematically typical. I wasn't really aiming for a desert in this track but there are four tags and I'm not very creative with tags :3.

"I enjoy that the length isn't overwhelming and can be listened to casually. This is a good marketing strategy, lol. It could always be longer, but I must keep in mind that this is a demo for a VST when it comes to length."

A good but unintentional marketing strategy! I only made it this long because I didn't have time to lengthen it. In retrospect, that's probably a good thing for the purposes of the VST.

"I have an issue with how some things are mixed, though. The strings and choirs are an excellent way of 'beefing up' your track as you say, but they get a little too fatty at some points and become burger-like, rather than a steak (in other words, they get too fuckin' loud, G). I'm not bashing your use of dynamics, it's that they overpower the dan tranh a little too much at some points."

That's a good point that I hadn't thought about. Upon listening once again, I can hear exactly what you mean. I wanted to go for a massive, overwhelming kind of sound with the strings and choir, but might've gone too far and made a massive, overwhelming burger.

"I also wish you would cut some of those low mids on those loud drums. It bothered me a lot on the first listen through, but not so much now (7th listen or so)."

You talking about parts like 2:06? Because yeah, the low mids over there annoy me a little too!

"To wrap it up, you have a good song on your hands with extremely minor mixing issues that are more than likely just opinionated criticism, but it doesn't 'wow' me enough."

Very fair criticism! I agree - this unfortunately relies too much on loudness, powerful percussion, a fairly quick pace, etc... in an attempt to make it sound epic, but in the composition side, it's lacking in memorability.

Thanks for the super insightful and detailed review!

[Graveyard Shenanigans]

I like it, man. Real Banjo Kazooie sounding. Reminds me a bit of Gex and Mother 3 as well. You did this for the NGADM? Good luck on that there contest.

I don't enjoy giving 5s on things that I don't think deserve them. This deserves it. It's an excellently well mixed and cohesive song.

steampianist responds:

thanks man really appreciate it

[Lighthouse]

Honestly, I wasn't sure of what to expect from this since you only recently started uploading and you got on the top submissions, but I admit this is good music. I mean, starting at 1:33 it sounds like something I would write.

I think your drums feel alienated, though. I'd suggest either to use different samples or reverb, cutting out some of the low mid/bass punch in your snare and try to cut freqs where you can in your bass drum. I'm not telling you to make sacrifices in your bass drum, just see what you can EQ out of the picture, cuz it sounds a bit messy with all these low freqs from the piano (which I'd imagine you don't want to cut too much of).

I also feel a lack of panoramic depth. Play with the panning of your instruments so you can get a sweeter ambient feel.

It's a good song and I get the idea, it just need mixing work.

LunyAlex responds:

So you know that saying better late than never?
Eh. It's not a great saying really but here's a 6 years late reply:

Thank you for your detailed review and your constructive feedback. It was appreciated at the time, but there were times back then when I wasn't in the state of mind to reply. Sorry bout' that.

Now I'm trying to fill the gaps, haha.

Thanks again :D

[CLAB - Jar vs Pachillis]

Pachillis wins. Dude, fuck Jar, total wanker.

Also, beat gets a 5/5 from me. Really awesome production and I love the variety of riffs. Dark feel too, like a showdown at dusk. Totally my kind of shit.

[CLAB - Moses vs Satan]

Black Moses gets my vote on this one. This is fuckin' funny, though.

[Apex Of The Universe]

This is pretty impressive work, man. I can only really criticize a few things, because the instrumental is pretty solid. Digging the Finnish style keyboard solo (hope you get my joke on the Finns).

Your lyrical delivery is making me wince at times. I understand that you're telling a story and that lyrics can sound pretty shitty and unromantic when you do this (I know, because I have written songs that go that route), but in the first half of the song you seem to be trying really hard to cram in some of those lyrics and sing them out. This might just be a product of your writing not working out in the end, but it sounds forced, man. Most of the song has good delivery, but just work on that.

The only other thing is that your vocals are mixed a tad loud.

Yeah. That's seriously all I have to complain about, because it's a pretty good song.

TheDoomrider responds:

The song is exactly how I wanted it to be, I wouldn't change anything and I am glad you enjoyed it, HELLYEAH!!!

[Augmented 13]

I don't really have any advice on this one since what it is, is straight forward. Sounds like you could easily turn this into a song with vocals if you made more parts.

Psilenth responds:

thanks

[My Soul is a Dying Cat]

Lmfao

[Kilimajaro Rises]

Dude. This is one of your best pieces. Fucking epic work, man. Wish I could have been around to hear it for the contest.

Really damn catchy.

[Voices (Inside My Head)]

I enjoyed the dissonant chords and the constant ambiance you created by allowing the sustain to rule. The lyrics are good. I don't mind that the vocals aren't mixed over the guitar, because they meld together in an ambient frenzy.

Love this work, bro.

Vojife responds:

Thank you very much! What you wrote here was exactly what I was going for.
I am glad to hear you like it. :)