MaestroRage's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[Sliding Lights]

So soothing...

Lovely... so soothing... simply wonderful.

The production and recording is damn impressive. What is your equipment your using!?

I'm sorry I don't have much to say, I just wanted to drop my support, keep up the good fight! I'll be taking a short nap here with this in the background.

ibbotsoni responds:

Thank you. That is a lovely comment. I use a Roland VS 1880 to record with. Quite an old machine now, but the sound reproduction is superb.

Thanks again for your review. Means a lot. :)

[The Empire in the Sky]

Impressive

I felt the kicks were far too overpowering, distorted the song a great deal, but wether this was actually beneficial to the song or not is up to debate. On the one hand I feel that they ruined the flow, yet due to the nature of the song, the deep, distorted hits may have actually furthared the image.

I'm a little iffy about which one I think that kick did, but what I do know is be very careful with it :O!

Melody wise, it's immaculate, truly, very energetic, very hardcore. Definately worthy of being in a video game of sorts. What is your gear, what are you using VST and software wise? That guitar is damn beastly, is that a real guitar?

The percussional was pretty slick, moving, and insistant. Just that kick I have some debating to do.

Slick organ, loved it.

Overall, this easily gets my 5. Good stuff Le-Best, I can see how you progressed by earlier songs, leaps and bounds my good sir, leaps and bloody bounds. I'd like to invite you to check out my works sometime. Keep up the good fight!

Erectronik responds:

Thanks for the honest, critical review MaestroRage. The problems with the kick may have been to the final mastering stage, as I don't have sound monitors and I added a bit too much punch I guess, to the kick as it was way too quiet before mastering. I actually use Reason 3.0 for my works as of now, all software based composition. The guitar is also synthesized :)

And of course I will check out your tracks, Le-Best

[|-| Destruction |-|]

Impressive!

Pretty damn brutal >:(

It makes me want to kill something, and in an unpleasant way, like rip things apart, skin things alive and the such.

The drums are well made and compliment the guitar well. The guitar itself is screaming rather well, well played indeed. I would say the only problem was I didn't think the quality of the recording was the best, but I understand the scenario, and really without a multi million dollar studio with uber expensive recording software this is as good as it gets, so beyond that, it's bloodtastic!

Well done to both of you! Gets my 5 no problem.

DarKsidE555 responds:

yeah, that is bugging me too my good man. >:(

Though, I'm getting a better mixer in the next time so maybe this problem will soon be forgotten.

Thanks for teh review MaestroLoL!

[Dance Of Illusions]

Impressive

I remember long time ago, when I was listening to a lot of midi songs, so unlike some people I have learned to listen past the samples and the actual melody itself.

Injected-Reality, I must say I am quite impressed by this track. The violin swift and sudden notes are very well performed, and are in fact a skill I am training in myself. It is difficult when you do not play the instrument as you cannot fully comprehend how to make it speak fluently. I however feel that you have made it speak rather effectively.

The organ in the background served a great purpose, it really spread the core of menace, of a moonless night. A pitch black sky, shadows dancing around one's mind, soul, and eyes.

There are great overtones of masculinity in this piece, meaning there is a rough, angry tone. Like a subtle rage. Have you seen the Count of Monty Christo (I think it's spelled like that), it reminds me of him, and the insane amount of anger in his soul.

I wonder what would it sound like if you had some french horns in there as well. It would in my opinion give it a more angry, subtle feel, though it would bleed from it's pure evil core and lean towards the evil destruction side.

In any case, it was a rather neat track, I definitely enjoyed it!

I'd like to invite you to check out my work sometime Injected, keep up the good fight, and keep them coming!

Injected-Reality responds:

Thank you if you want i could email you the SFs i used they are my best quality
SF2s and french horns all mine suck sooo yah... i couldnt add any. But hey any ways
let me know if you want to get them sound fonts ;D

[-={CC}=- The Journey Begins]

Impressive

heh, OCON I must regret to inform you that I am not the other. Though in truth I would be quite happy if I had the ability to create electronic arts like this, I practice, but thus far I still trail behind. One day maybe ;).

In any case the song itself is one that held interest in me. An interesting mix for sure, when that reverbed snare came in the songs core actually changed, whilst keeping the same face. As if you look at somebody and watch their personality dissolve into something new.

I believe that is this song's greatest strength. Without much of a great crash, or momentous roar for sudden change, you guys have managed to alter the song drastically, and that is a skill I can respect.

I felt some bass low end synths in this song, I would have liked it to be louder, so that I could hear it pumpin up the leads :D. The song also loops quite decently.

Overall i'm quite impressed by the work. I don't know who the two of you are (I don't even know if it's just two), but whoever you guys are, you are doing good thus far. I'll keep my eye out on you, keep up the good fight! This gets my 5.

Critical-Collision responds:

Haven't been on for a few days, and have built up a collection of reviews. Our apologies for not responding sooner

Sorry about cutting you short OCON, hit enter before finishing, thank you for your review OCON.

Apologies for that too MaestroRage, We appreciate you coming to review for us and are happy you like itm we shall be continuing to submit so feel free to drop by once in a while too

Thank you

-={CC}=-

[Pirates of the Seven Seas p2]

Very impressive

I really really like this opening, that guitar and structure of the song is so smooth, so well flowing, holds a high amount of reserved energy, whilst keeping things relaxed, firm and commanding.

I felt this piece was much clearer, it portrayed a great deal of energy but managed to stay intact much better. I credit this to what I feel is better volume mastering. The quick violins are in the back, with some support violins, and they become loud at the appropriate times.

Great ending btw.

I also hear some more diversity instrument wise, you've got that guitar and flute and that really adds some spice to the piece.

There's really not much to criticize here madboss, I felt this was a very stable, solid piece. A lot of effort went into it, I can hear and appreciate that. easily a 5/5 from me, keep them coming madboss!

madboss responds:

You know it's strange thing because the instruments in this part are the same volume level as they are in the first part. Hm... maybe it sounded more clear because I haven't used that much instruments at once like in the first. But the second part of this song - before the Jack Sparrow's theme-like music - is also a complex job with lots of instruments...

Thanks for the positive comments! I'm glad you liked this one better!

[Pirates of the Seven Seas p1]

Excellent

Hey Madboss. This piece holds a great deal of power in it, you've got a huge mountain worth of energy being portrayed here, and that I think may have worked against you. The song was very loud my good sir, I would consider equalizing the high end a bit more.

Though I can hear the POTC influence I felt this song really was original to it's core. I felt the most excited parts were also the most muddled, you've got so much going on, they are competing for space, but if you lay back and not particularly listen to all the melodies, pick one (my favourite is the horns), then the piece's power nearly doubles.

I think the most chaos comes from the really fast moving violins, they are overlapping, and trying to compete in the same octave, have you considered using another instrument for the second set of fast moving strings (the one that kinda goes up and down really quickly), like an oboe or bassoon? I have no idea how it would affect the piece, maybe for better, maybe for worse.

My favourite part of the piece is near the beginning when the timpini and beat come in before the french horns come in. That part simply has such an adventure feel to it! I loves it.

In any case thats all I can think about for this part, let me head on over to the second. Good stuff madboss, well constructured overal, I felt you did a great job on this piece, with some minor fall backs is all.

madboss responds:

Thanks for the review maestro and thanks for the warnings on some stuff. With this music I wanted to test myself in composing really complex and greatly varied piece. And Reason 3.0 is not the best platform for this but I wanted to test myself.

During the composing process I haven't feelt the high end too dominant but I'll check out.

About the fast moving string: well yes it was really difficult to match them in volume to the whole mass. I think you mention the last part - where there are a string section playing a constant and fast up-down melody and the trombones melody in staccato. Well yes... they are hitting each other. I've realised this too late.

Anyway thanks for checking my music and thanks for your advices and warnings!

[Immortal Crossings]

Simply awesome

such an interesting piece Aresdev... there is such a great mix of emotions. You have this calm, ambient, confused and lost feeling with the sweeps, the high hat reverses.

Then you bring in the timpani rolls, and the disjointed strings and vocals. Spurts of anger, of randomly striking passions.

Such an interesting image, if only I could show you, for sure words fail me horribly...

You've really impressed me with the mix of sounds and presentation of the song, this is pro quality in my eyes. Easily deserves a 5. I'd like to invite you to check out my work sometime. Keep the good fight up!

Aresdev responds:

Thank you so much. I used to be in band for 5 years in school, and chamber music is the most emotional of all genres. I have been experimenting with this beautiful form of music. I will certainly check out your works! Thank you again!

[Wilderness]

Inspiring

what a brilliant tune... really got me all emotional. The choir was really something strange. Where did you get it from?

In any case I remember why I liked your page so much, the melody again was just so bloody brilliant.

The only thing that I felt this piece may have benefited more from is a nice bell, a nice deep resonating tower bell you know... I just love to see images to this. Devastated, gray, bleak, hopeless almost. Rain is another thing that comes to mind.

It's a short song, but a very well made one. Another 5 from medieval7, keep up the good fight, i'll be here to witness it ;)!

medieval7 responds:

thank you!

[Gorgeous Waves]

Neat

theres a great deal of dissonance in this piece, there is a looming kind of feel. A darkness creeping up on you :O!

I don't know about the percussional aspect, I felt that was a tad weak, but the songs feel overall was pretty damn fine!

It's a short loop so I don't have much more to say, but good work! Keep up the good fight!

newskies responds:

oh coolio. thx for your review!

-NewSkies