MaestroRage's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[Pseudo Silk Kimono Orchestral]

Damn fine!

Some very very interesting samples your using here WuSchell! Quickly! Tell me what you're using, and where I can find me some of this good stuff >:(!

But that aside.

I felt the melody was very very sweet. Bitter, aggrivated, yet defiant. Like watching your home burn, and holding the torth that set it off during the whole thing... Oboe + cello chords = yes!

That constant oboe melody... that was what really nailed the atmosphere for me. Despite it being so repetitive I found that it was infact this repetition that accumulated in power as the song went by. This tells me that repetition is not always a bad thing, and I learned something valuable today, so thank you.

I don't think I know where any of these sounds come from. Are they all from one source? That brass is really something else, and i'd definately like to try using them myself.

That triangle ping, was pretty damn good. Really surreal feeling in just that one instance.

That guitar/plucking harp like instrument, that seemed like such an interesting addition. I don't think I would have considered using that, yet it does get the job done no?

All in all, I really enjoyed it. Top notch stuff, 5/5 from me WuSchell. Keep them coming!

WuSchell responds:

I'm just using the normal Reason Orchestral patches with a healthy amount of effects (hall!)

The Harp is absolutely Vollenweider Style ^^

[Above All]

Impressive

This has a very very menacing ambiant feel to it.

At the beginning you had a slam and hi hat sound. I think if you echoed and reverbed that slam, and took out the hi hat, that would proof to make it a very dark addition to the song. A door slamming to a face of a maniacs victim? Who knows.

Your mix of sounds and dynamics was pretty damn good, I would think perhaps making that cello sound in the background a tad deeper would serve to make it a bit more powerful.

I thought I heard some kind of voice in the back, if I heard what I think I heard, that was incredibly well done, really gave me a scare.

Some ideas.

Perhaps an organ? I know the song would lose it's menacing ambiance, but it would take on a darker feel, a more vile, corrupted, ruthless feel.

To go with that organ, I would also think a nice deep bell, echoed and reverbed as well of course.

Nothing more to suggest or criticize, I really liked it. I would like you to check out some of my stuff sometime ^^. 5/5 from me, keep them coming!

boomsquad responds:

First of all, thanks for the review. I see what you mean with the Slam and splash, I too now think that would have been a better idea.

When done any lower the Cello decided it wanted to disappear in the mix and i didnt want to boost it's gain from so low down because the sound it made started to distort on the slightly higher bits.

I wanted to keep this as ambient as background as I could. I have tried peices with organs but other than have it as a Drone Note I suck at it.

Later Boss, i'll give your stuff a check sometime ;)

[Forge Ahead (demo)]

Interesting

It really did have a pretty intense video game feeling.

I liked the feel, it was pushing, but it wasn't very alertive.

Some things to consider that could have made it more driving.

Orchestral hits. You know, horns blaring after those quick buildups by the brass. You already have them, but they're not loud enough in my opinion. The percussional aspect was pretty damn fine, I thought they served well, though again I felt they were a tad quiet, especially once the brass come in.

Perhaps some fast stabs of strings? I always find those serve to make a good push feeling, though not so much for video game for music, so i'm not entirely sure. Still it might be worth experimenting with.

Other then that, I really enjoyed it. I would like you to check out some of my music sometime. I am a big fan of game music, and I try to make most of my pieces with a gamey feeling to them. 4/5 from me F1uk3, for what you have here, it's damn fine.

F1uk3 responds:

Thanks a lot for the kind words, but especially for the advice. I'll definitely experiment around with string attacks, louder brass, and such.

[Derailed]

Neat

Hello DarthFett.

Lets begin with the feel of this song. I didn't really think this was a industrial song. When I think Industrial I think brutal, heavy percussion, and you really just have some claps. I would this was general rock moreso then industrial, but thats beside the point.

The guitars melody is quite nice, I didn't quite like it when it hit that really high note, maybe if you add some distortion to it, some raw eneregetic crushing action you know >:O!!!

Anyways, it was a pretty good second song, I'd like you to check out some of my stuff sometime.

Darthfett responds:

It's an honor to recieve a review from someone like you! I'm a big fan. :D

I was a bit new to the genres, and since this is one of my first few submissions, I though general rock was mostly recorded rock music, not anything made on a computer. :P

The high note could definitely use some work, but being new to the editor and all, I didn't know how to get the effect. Now that i've been working about a year now, I might be able to get that sound we're all looking for ;)

Thanks very much for the review, it's greatly appreciated!
~Darthfett

[lullaby-child of gaia (demo)]

Impressive

I would be interested in making v2 with you! I were unable to fully understand the lyrics because that echo effect you had in the background was kinda distorting. For solo voice, especially if you have lyrics, I would suggest only using a deep reverb. That would give the feeling of singing in a great temple or ruin, silently passing through the stone, weaving itself with the fabric, and everything it gingerly touches.

If you like my style, send me a pm, with some ideas of what you would want to be in this piece (instrument wise), lyric wise, and we'll toss ideas back and forth.

I look forward to hearing from you. Another 5 from me. Keep them coming.

heather-lanham responds:

I'd love to do a collab with you!I'll send you the lyrics now. ^_^

[angels care--]

Damn fine

Now that I know it's you singing, I can review the piece fairly better :D.

Again, you've got that trance quality in the piece, it's really really calming, and yet this one sounds warped. Like there's a reversed voice in there as well? Do you have a reversed voice in there? It really sounds freaky, and yet enticing at the same time. If I saw this in a live performance, i'd swear one of the singers were possessed!

For just vocal work this is really well done. I would really expect nothing less though, this is the voice of angels after all. However if you were to add instruments to the piece I think a nice deep cello would accompany the voice excellentely. Perhaps a light flute to sing along.

I would also even so far as to suggest an organ! Now there's a sound I think would dramatically alter the core of this piece. Powerful, trance, darkly possessed (that reverse sound feel), and just damn entertaining!

Anyways, that my two cents, I would like you to check out some of my files sometime. This gets my 5, keep them coming!

heather-lanham responds:

no reversed voices, but I did try for more emotion in this one, more than one emotion I mean, as far as the reviews have said, I hit the nail on the head.

I had to do about ten seperate recordings, including the shutting door, (you can hear the door to the stairwell shut in the end of the piece, but it added such a nice touch, I left bit there.)I'm investing in some nice recording software sooner or later, so I'll be able to add instumental tracks to my vocal ones eventually.

[The Cliffhanger]

Impressive!

I've been listening up on your pieces for a while DrZ, I decided it was time for me to show my support.

By samples, I believe madboss was referring to the quality of the instruments, I realize you play all the notes in through your piano, but you should consider hooking up your keyboard to the computer and get a program like Fruity Studio's, and then get some VST's for some high quality sounds.

Still putting that all aside, I really enjoyed the tense feel you present here with those toms. Especially in the middle with that constant thumping. I could imagine a dark robed and hooded figure slowly walking towards you on a cliff, his robes swaying gently with the wind, dark storms gathering across the skies and so forth.

The "ooh" choir is quite neat! I have difficulty finding a good place to use the "ooh" choir, but you seem to have found a neat home for it.

The spic strings beginning didn't really set a tense atmosphere for me right away, but of course as it went, it fixed itself. I would just work a tad at the beginning, it's just because you have such a driving force in the middle it seems out of place.

Anyways, thats my 2 cents, I really like your stuff, I would like to ask you to listen to a few of my tracks and see if you like them. 5/5 from me DrZ, keep up the good fight!

DrZonka responds:

wow, you know maestro rage...I enjoyed your review not only because it was positive but because you really put some thought into it critiquing me. After I did post that tidbit about my samples thing, I kinda thought about it and kinda came to the same conclusion, but thank-you for clarifying and I just might look into that and find better samples because I'm even getting bored of the same sounding instruments on my keyboard,lol...Anyway thank-you again, I'll check out your music for sure-DrZ

[be free (2004)]

Damn impressive

For an old track this is really really well made.

This is definately a commercial track worthy song. I have absolutely no idea what to add or remove from this piece. 5/5 from me all the way!

Keep up the good fight, I know it's not a very constructive review, but I wanted to show my support regardless.

DeeFourDance responds:

Thanks for your nice review. To say "I like it" or "I don't like it" is most time contructive enough. :)

greetings
Frank

[dj_padman - Madman loose]

Pshaw said Barney

your madman makes me not like crazy people :'(

But really, the insane driving force, how the hell do you come up with this stuff? it's like, your brain sniffs a bag of pebbles, and steps on crack before it begins.

The sudden ending makes me think of a crazy guy suddenly sit still and smile into space... he's so damn crazy...

Anyways, as usual, I really enjoyed the track, unfortunately I have nothing to add or subtract, I loved it this way.

easily a 5/5 froms me padman1, always good to see you submit more stuff then i can review in a day...

Keep em coming!

dj-padman1 responds:

Maestro, long time no see! I haven't been around for a while, but I've got a bit more time on my hands recently.
Some typically wonderful Maestro imagery there as well, much appreciated! Kind of makes me hungry...
I laughed at your visual interpretation of the ending..classic! Well, I needed to rest sometime didn't I? :)
Thanks for the review mate.

[<KZ> Underwater Chills]

Damn fine

I loved the sound effects at the beginning! I also hate pools >:(

So you get a 0 for making me think of the freezing cold pools at life guard duty...

I joke, I jest, I jibe... YOU GET 1 :D

No no, seriously now.

I liked the main lead, high and shrill, like the kind that cuts straight through water. There is good feel to this piece too. I'm going to have to study your DnB songs more, to understand how to makes it better.

This song also loops perfectly, you made me dive into the pool again before I realized that it looped...

>:"(

Unneeded pool time!

Anyways, great stuff, keeps them coming, another 5/5 from me (just sign here on the dotted line)

Kirizzle responds:

lol... jibe.

The song isn't suppose to loop, but the bells are suppose to hypnotize the listener into missing the ending and then listening to the song 5 more times! Muwaha, me so devious ;P

Thanks a bunch for the good review and vote, Maestro!