ChronoNomad's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[-Wildflowers 2-]

Yeah, okay! I see you, Creeperforce24.

I enjoyed listening to your track, and it gave me some uniquely nostalgic vibes, probably because at times it reminded me of some old-school video game music. This is probably going to sound a bit ironic, but I think you suffer from the same issue that plagued me early on in my musical career: bad samples. But on the plus side, I'm not going to dock you much for that because what's here is solid.

I actually really like those staccato strings that get things going, but when more instruments enter the mix things start to get muddy due to conflicting frequencies and some samples sounding oddly detuned. Those low, legato strings are probably the most noticeable of the lot.

I find the stripped-down section at 1:46 to be really nice, honestly. Letting those soundscapes shine was a really good decision, with the birdsong and soft rain permeating the background. Once again, a better guitar sample would have made your chord progression sound even better, but we all work with what we have.

OMG, that shakuhachi (Japanese flute) sample is SUPER nostalgic! I used to put the in my music WAY too often back in the day. The key doesn't really match the lead-in on the track, but it made me laugh to hear it in there anyway. Those legato strings are there, hanging on at the end a bit too long, so I'd suggest a quick fade. And then it's just the rain in the background, but without any instrument layers it sounds pretty hissy, and there's even a random pop.

I mean hey, for something you cranked out in just five and a half hours' time, I'm pretty impressed. There's plenty of room for improvement and spending more time in post to fix audio issues could help a lot, but the track itself is solid. Thanks for inviting me to give it a listen, man. Keep compos(ed)ing.

Creeperforce24 responds:

Hmmm… the bad samples do make sense, as well as all the other stuff.

I have a feeling the reason the samples sound so bad is cause I am a mobile user XD. Yep, I made this on Fl Studio Mobile… I’ll definitely try and improve the slight off keys in the songs, and the about the shakuhachi, really @Trevor8 is the only reason I put that in… and about the pop, that was an attempt at trying to fade out the rain, that didn’t go well obviously XD.
Thanks for the critique, I’ll see how I can get better!

[KJörd - Space Valkyrie]

That initial lead-in is pretty lengthy without any changes. I kept expecting some percussion to kick in right around the next bend, so I ended up being kind of disappointed on that front. That was the point when I explored the song page a bit more and noticed the solo bassist tag.

I'm certainly less disappointed now, and the solo bass vibe is nice and grungy, but without at least some kind of percussion (I mean, anyone with rhythm can finagle some sort of drum-like sound) or guitar lead, it feels incomplete. Currently preparing to be lynched by bassists from around the world, but hey--that's my honest take. Just doing my job.

There's just one other problem here in the mix, and that's the constant hiss in the background. Probably a mic or technical issue, maybe due to having the input raised so high, but it's definitely a shame that that's in there. I won't ding you too much for that, but I hope you can get it cleaned up for future recordings.

That said, I believe that Newgrounds really needs more talented bassists. Submit some more tracks, and try to incorporate some new elements into your work...even if it's something as basic as a layer where you're playing a shaker or cajon drum. While this track is great from a bass perspective, it could have really benefited from at least some hi-hat action to drive the tempo. There are always drummers and guitarists looking for a good bassist to round out the mix.

Score: 5.7/10

Unitron2112 responds:

Thanks for the compliments and constructive suggestions! Hey no problem, I get the need of some drums/percussion, and I was originally planning on experimenting with some additional instruments like a drum machine, and maybe even guitar and vocals, but I didn't have the time by the time I had a song ready on bass for the Battle of the Bands. I'm definitely planning on doing that in the future though! With that said, personally I feel the bass can be its own percussion like on my other songs, which are in a completely different style I call harmonic rock and is composed to be solo bass, but for music like this I would definitely love to play with some drums!

I think I know what you're talking about with the hiss, haven't really noticed it much myself but that's probably because my computer audio has some light static (both speakers and headset) and I more notice just the general roughness of the mixing. However listening back to my original recording, I can definitely hear the difference unmixed (was actually debating on releasing it unmixed, but felt it was a little too muffled). This is the first time for me mixing anything with distortion, I've been experimenting a lot with finding the right ways to record and mix it. I felt like this was good enough for a first distortion heavy recording, but I've got some ideas of how to maybe improve the mixing. If you've got some recommendations of how to get a good clear sound I'd love to hear some! I've got a few different setup options I could go about it with.

Thanks, and I agree, the world can always use more bassists (and other musicians too)! I've got a lot more harmonic bass rock coming, and I'm definitely wanting to record some drums/percussion in the future and practice my guitar playing and layering audio for this and other styles, and even better if I can find a drummer to do some live drums or get a kit for myself. One of my main intentions for entering this was actually to hopefully find some other musicians that resonate and would want to collaborate. Oh, and thanks for the favorite too!

[(SOTHC) What Is A Man Without Their Flesh?]

I was so engrossed in the unfolding dystopian melodrama that I didn't even notice how much time had elapsed until the end. And the 9.5-minute runtime isn't even the most amazing part, but it's still an impressive feat. When the music swallows all sense of time, I deem that a win.

Fortunately, I still have my flesh, though it is currently in a state of horripilation.

I'm struggling to come up with things to critique here, but if I really had to nitpick, I would say that the vocals could be a touch louder within the mix. Even so, I can hear and understand the words despite everything else going on. It's actually a real testament to your mixing ability that the instruments and percussion, despite how utterly dominating they are, don't completely wash out your vocals.

It's so heavy with rust and grit, blood and bone, and you could have gone hard for the full length of the track, but then you also give us this amazing break just after the four-minute mark. Mad freaking props for that, and your transitions feel so seamless. The lyrics themselves are appropriately dark and deep; a not-so-subtle and thought-provoking commentary on our world, or other worlds not dissimilar from our own.

Score: 9.8/10

LD-W responds:

Thanks for the review

Wasn't expecting a very high score for a demo piece, but I'll take it haha.
I've been preparing an updated-mix variation (alongside a new logo) to hit streaming services shortly, mainly targets some vocal mix updates (slightly more compressed, but louder and with some extra surgical DeEssing). I'll hold off of updating the entry here until the judging period is over etc.

The downtuned fretless-bass processed & acting as the main guitar really does alot of the heavy-lifting tbh. It's not done that often within the genre's (especially a fretless) and it's harder to work with compared to a regular bass, but the ability to smoothly legato-slide across the entire neck without any note-jumping gives such a satisfying result (especially when I really went wild with it in the 8:04 to 8:53 section).

I've had plenty of my metal contacts already begging me to do a full album under this style, I guess that's a lump of my schedule for next year booked up while I also finish off my Dark Ambient album at the same time!

[LocaGreñasRojas]

You guys were clearly having fun during the song, and that energy puts a smile on my face. While my Spanish isn't quite good enough to understand the entire song, the Skate Punk vibe shines through. I don't think I'll ever forget those harmonic bursts of "Quiero!"

The instrumentals in the track are really fun and frenetic, but they really take a backseat when compared to the loudness of the vocals, which is a shame. The playing is great, so I really feel like they should have been more balanced within the mix. The vocals themselves are also pretty good, and I love the use of male/female harmony throughout the song.

There are definitely some timing issues, and this becomes especially notable between the guitar and vocals around the 1:30 mark. Some other elements within the percussion sound a little loose, but it gets difficult to pin down the actual cause once the vocals outstrip the rhythm. It's also possible that I was just hearing some off-beat reverb effects or something.

This is a good song that's fun to listen to, but it's impossible to ignore the unbalanced mix and lack of proper timing. I'm also kind of on the fence when it comes to the introduction. It's fun to hear a little noodling and talking, but it also feels like unnecessary padding. Maybe something that's better suited for a Behind The Scenes type of cut rather than a track being submitted to a contest, but hey--it's your music! The journey is yours, and that's what artistic license is all about. QUIERO!

Score: 7.6/10

Jerossan7 responds:

Thanks for the feedback :)

[apple pie feat. Rosie Ultraviolett]

Okay, just to temper any expectations out of the gate, this is ultimately going to be a very mixed review. What I mean by that, quite simply, is that the instrumental side sounds great. On the other hand, while the lyrics themselves are perfectly fine, the delivery of the vocals starts out okay, but by 0:58 they're mostly flat and pretty much stay that way until the end. When the vocal layer sounds like it's actually in a different key than the music, well...that's not so good. To make matters worse, the lyrics supersede the instruments with their huge amounts of echoing reverb, so the mixing of these two elements could definitely be better.

Hopefully at this point you're not filled with quiet rage and prepared to slash the tires on my car. I'm just doing my job, and the last thing that I ever want to do is drive someone away from making more music in the future. Quite the opposite, in fact. I believe that effort and hard work in the name of improvement on is one of our finest human traits.

Singing. Is. Hard. Anyone who tells you differently is straight up lying, because even the chart toppers put in an absolute ton of work to get their vocals on point and maintain that level of professionalism. As a singer myself (and not exactly a chart-topping one), I know that quality can rise and fall with the simplest of things. Here's a free lesson about what to do before singing: avoid dairy products! Just imbibing and little bit of dairy can clog the vocal passages and create excess phlegm in your throat. Yeah, I know...it's gross. Hard cheeses are the only exception to the rule, so those are okay before singing. And if you've already consumed dairy, it can help to gargle with water and spit it out, a couple of times if needed.

While the instruments carry the day this time this time around, I believe in your potential. I really hope that you do, too. Keep compos(ed/ing)

Score: 6.9/10

RosieUV responds:

I had a cold when I was recording the vocals for it so trying to sing at the right pitches was harder but I appreciate the review (I didn't want to wait for it to pass as then it'll be too late). I basically made all the vocal stuff after the main track and went based on ear for the keys which I haven't really done before as usually I make the music bit myself after I've done all the vocal stuff. Still though, 6.9 is a good score in my eyes.

[FD - Resolute Flow]

You're taking me on a journey, and I am 100% here for it. Beautiful strains that tug at the soul.

My thoughts as I'm listening:

Yes, there are things that we need to let go of in order to keep going, just to be able to maintain our footing in this crazy life. Sometimes the uphill struggles are so visceral; so real that we can't even imagine cresting the next rise without unloading years' worth of baggage.

Even so, there are always the positive aspects that can stick with us, come what may. No meeting or parting is wholly good or evil, they just...are. Those experiences meld with who we are at the time and help us to become who we're meant to be. We live, we learn, we love, we lose; but the perpetual movement in a forward direction through all of that is what tempers our hearts and minds for what lies ahead.

ForgottenDawn responds:

Thank you so much for sharing your experience. 🙏

[Screed - Queering Cat Rescue]

This is a vibe.

That's it! That's my whole review. Goodnight, everyone.

...But seriously, I feel like the talent this year is so good, it's like early Christmas. The synergy here is fantastic, and this is a perfect example of how a group of artists can create something that would probably never come to pass as a solo act. I mean sure, there's usually someone who takes point, but through that collaboration a variety of thoughts and ideas can come to light and refine the vision. Of course, that kind of collaboration takes time and effort to grow into something that works, which is probably why so many one-offs tend to suffer. That said, cheers! You guys are definitely a band.

If I really have to find something to grouse about, I guess it would be how loose the vocals can be sometimes. Some of those notes just don't get quite where they're supposed to be, but honestly those slightly disharmonious moments are few and far between.

Oh, and that weird bit at the end, where the guy in the booth is talking...not really sure how I feel about that. It spoils the ending in a way, but it did make me laugh, so...meh.

Score: 9/10

P.S. The bit about "matching denim" is missing from the lyrics section. Just thought you should know.

UwUwizard responds:

Ah wow! Thanks so much for the review. Really appreciate the constructive criticism! The voice at the end is from our old bassist Mikey, we threw it in to give a bit of a human touch and because we thought it be nice if they were on the new record even though Kyle took over for bass for the most part. You raise a good point about it shifting the tone though, definitely something we'll keep in mind when mixing in future. Thanks for listening!

[Behind the Curtain]

Every single time I hear a track by you, my hot take is: "Well, that was different." You don't like being pinned down to just one genre, and I respect the flex. From the very beginning of the track to that final quirky touch, I was here for it. This might be a Weird thing to say, but to me this sounds a bit like Al Yankovic taking on the Heavy Metal genre.

You've done a really good job with the different styles of voice you applied to various parts of the song, and I think there's just enough of a Rock vibe to the regular vocals to make it work. I've got zero complaints with your instrumental mix, and am a big fan of those moments where you strip it all down for the vocal breaks. There's a ton of variation across these four minutes, and each section really feels like it builds upon the previous one.

There are several moments where it sounds like there's some disharmony between the vocal harmonies and the instrumental mix. They come and go quickly, and considering the genre it may be intended, but those moments still sound off to my listening ear.

Suffice to say, I have thoroughly enjoyed my peek Behind the Curtain. You rock pretty hard, man.

Score: 8.4/10

Spadezer responds:

I find I really like to make sure that nothing sounds the same between any of my songs. Which does mean that I end up wondering genres lol. Glad you liked it!

[Zombify]

Props on entering the BotB as a solo act. All the instruments really seem to be relegated to the background, except during the breaks, and the sound is lacking in overall dynamics. Now, I know that this is a song about burnout, and that's a solid theme for the Punk genre, but even though it seems counterintuitive to the theme, there needs to be some passion in the vocals. I mean, while sounding as bored as humanly possible was probably the stylistic choice here, Punk is all about teenage angst and raging against societal norms. The lyrics themselves aren't bad, but the delivery comes across as sounded kind of fed up, but really more...bored. Like if music could be a yawn, that's how the vocals sound. While it's not entirely unfunny considering the subject matter, it also fails to pull my listening ear into the jam.

All in all, I feel like collaborating with at least one other person could have opened this up to a bigger and better sound. As a solo project, I can't be too harsh about it, and yet-as a judge-that's kind of my job. I respect the vision, but I just don't feel that the final result fulfilled its promise. But man, you're just getting started, so keep on honing the craft. That's the only way to get better, and we all start somewhere.

A track that's under three minutes long deserves the royal treatment when it comes to mixing and mastering, but it's hard to complain when I don't even know what your setup looks like. Still, I believe that you can do even better going forward. While a solid brick wall of sound is a choice, I generally prefer a more nuanced sound.

Score: 6.2/10

CrabbyXX responds:

Thanks man even if I don't win at least 6.2 outta 10 isn't a 0

[At The Seams ("Deathslab!" 's BOTB ENTRY)]

This track definitely has a very unique vibe, one that I'm not entirely sure I could pinpoint if I tried, and it's almost crazy how quickly those seven minutes go by. You guys held my attention from one end to the other, and oh my goodness those lead guitar licks are fire. The experience almost feels like an out of body one, the whole trip being so incredibly surreal; slipping from chaotic disharmony to harmony, and back again. I really enjoyed your use of panning effects, but even more impressive is the dynamic quality of the track, which is anything but a solid brick wall, and very much appreciated.

The lyrics are strange and wonderful in equal measure, vocalized beautifully despite some rather odd syntax from time to time. The percussion just plain fits all the way through, never detracting from the other instruments and vocals, but adding just the right amount of rhythm. During the verses about time, those ticking clock-like effects really bring the idea home.

Seriously, you guys just really brought the overall production quality to the table. I'm listening through for the third time already, and trying to absorb something different each time, but your mix is so full and rich that it's hard to merely focus on the individual layers. Beautifully mixed, mastered, and so fantastically bizarre. I'm not sure what else to say, but WOW. Keep the band together and make a career out of it. Seriously.

Score: 9.7/10

carboluka responds:

Wow, that's the best response we could've ever hoped for!

It's nice to hear that the transitions were not as jarring as I thought they would be, that the drums fit (those are real btw, thank god Dark is a mixing master) and the guitar solos were the right amount of wacky! I was worried that communication and artistic choices among us would greatly differ (especially after sketching the bare-bone track), but the way everyone managed to enhance the initial vision was amazing!

About the vocals, I was merely option B; we were on a tight deadline and Dark was already working on guitar and bass and was unable to write lyrics and sing on top of that: I'm unfortunately not a singer AND Italian 😭, so yeah, sorry about the synthax lol

But we're glad you managed to enjoy it and that you're still listening to it! That's dope 😎