MaestroRage's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[[madboss] - Waltz of Blades]

Great melody, awesome structure, good perc!

Are you serious, nobody reviewed this!? Murderous bastards >:(

I love the atmosphere it sets, the deep raw brass with that deep thumping, is phenomenal. It without any assistance from anything else, sets up the deep and dark mood required of it!

That dancing melody thrown on top of it is brilliant! So epic, so powerful. I can see great and powerful men striking at each other, their brilliant shining armors, flapping capes. Roars of defiance and annihilation.

I've always found your songs inspirational, why don't you just give up what you're doing and do this full time ;). It would make me a whole lot happier :D!!!

320kbs seems a bit high. 128 being the standard and all.

That crescendo you have at 1:14-1:20, very well laid out. The only addition I can hear to this song is perhaps a deeply reverbed panflute. I could imagine one so well, personally I think it would add a whole new layer to the piece.

Overall, great stuff madboss, please continue letting me know when you have something new up!

madboss responds:

Thanks for dropping a rev! I'm glad you liked this track - I think I'll change my overall composing technique. From now on I'll compose shorter tracks and with not too much instruments (and I don't want to create too complex structures) - hopefully this will include that I'll have more time and more tracks on NG.

About the bitrate: Reason has a bad thing that the mastering suites are taking a lot of quality somehow and I tried to compensate it with this higher bitrate. Since this is just a 2 min long track I thougth 320Kbps won't make it too big and the flash artist could gain from the higher bitrate.

Well you know I'd ove to make you happier and spend all my time making music - but since I don't have a guarranteed job at hollywood as a filmscore composer I must attend my university to secure my future. (Gah... this speech was to big-headed:))

So thanks again and I try to keep up! I'll PM you if I got something new.
Have a nice day!

[Solus- Late Nights]

sexy vibe, great melodic work, trumpets = bad

my first concern for this song stems from the strings, and trumpets. They sound way too midi'ish. I mean the piano sounds freaking fantastic, the mood and atmosphere set is phenomenal, and the sax sounds much better here. The delay and reverb applied to the sax works out well especially when you cut the song suddenly.

As for story, I get the image of one of those detective black and white movies, where the attractive girl customer who asked his drug lord husband to be followed falls into the detective, and he's like "womans, get OFF MAI BACK >:(" but with words that are more romantic, and arrogant.

That change of mood from 3:06 and that trill you play with the strings later on, drastically changed the mood, followed by that bitter strings section, and then that semi angry remorseful piano, playing the same trill as the strings? Very well made connections here my good friend Solus. That part makes me think of a funeral, a requiem of sorts.

Again, brilliant piece, one I enjoyed a great deal, keep up the good fight man!

SolusLunes responds:

Since you told me exactly what was wrong with it and what needs to be fixed, expect the trumpet and strings to be more... full-ish? Whatever word I'm looking for. You know.

Anyways. GIVE ME A FEW DAYS. GOD I LOVE THE EDIT OPTION. IT'S MAH HERO.

[Solus- For Schala]

McAwesome, serene, calming.

First things first, I must let Khuskan know, PANPIPES ARE TEH GODS OF TEH NEW GENERATION >:(!!!!

I lie I know, but I love them too much to recommend swapping them for anything.

I personally think the amount of reverb you put on that piano is not only acceptable, but preferable! It gives it a very dreamy, very fantastic essence which compliments the panflute as well.

The saxophone was indeed a little abrupt, a small crescendo of sorts with the piano would have helped, maybe it's because I don't play the sax, but I personally liked the sax here.

The change at 1:10... why lordy why is it so sweet...

It is an incredibly calming piece, that constant piano riff is just fantastic to hear time and time again. I find you can find some pretty damn excellent progressions with that piano. Damn you I say and all that other jealous jazz I should put down here to attempt to put you down so you lose confidence, make worse music, and ultimately help me sleep at night?

I can never understand how some people think.

In any case, 5'vd, and faved. Sorry for the late review Solus, but this is worthy of a McAwesome my good sir, McAwesome with relish.

SolusLunes responds:

FUCK YEAH FOR PANPIPES.

I tested this song out with less reverb when I was making it, and in all honesty, that makes it sound like shit. WHY ARE YOU GUYS GIVING ME SUGGESTIONS THAT MAKE MY SONG SOUND LIKE SHIT >:(

I SEE WHAT YOU DID THAR.

The whole "abrupt sax" thing, while true, a crescendo on the piano wouldn't have been a bad idea. But I still think it sounds awesome the way it is.

And the reason the 1:10 is so awesome is because... um... Well, I have no fucking idea. But I like it. :D

No such thing as a review too late, my friend.

[Funky Chameleon]

Great vibe, a bit of lifeless energy, well played!

quite jazzy! I like Jazz in my morning, helps wake the mind, and put a bounce to your step!

The percussion, the guitar, and bass strings all perform very very well in this piece. My only qualm is the brass players arn't as lively as i'd like them to be. They hit all the right notes, and are fairly well co-ordinated, but i'm missing that energy, that spirit that flares up. The brass in my opinion are very important to a jazz piece as only they can add an essential quality to a jazz ensemble which makes the whole song come to life.

All in all though, it was a brilliant performance, and a congrats is in order to all involved. That percussion solo was pretty damn neat, though it was a little long without much variety. I was hoping the percussionist would go crazy for a short bit! Though nothing wrong with what happened, it would have been more driving to hear faster variations.

That ending could have used a crescendo of sorts, buildup, and then blast out those last few notes as a climax finisher! Just an opinion though.

Once again, great piece, well appreciatd, thanks for sharing!

Bukkarooo responds:

Thank you very much for your input, Maestro! I agree with everything you said. I would re-record it, not only to add your suggestions, but to improve my solo! But, alas, I have no way to contact some of the people (the brass players) for a redo.
Once again, thanks for the review. I love to have input from such a talented musician as yourself! I may be putting up another song by the same group soon, so keepa lookout haha.

[Without a Ticket]

Very expressive, great vibe!

I don't normally listen to Jazz, but this song was funky enough for me to love it <3.

I really like how it flows, very expressive! The saxaphonist really knows how to play that thing, and everybody played brilliantly! As the keyboardist you did your part too, congrats, I love what the keyboard did for the song.

I have no criticism, but I wanted to drop my support regardless, welcome to the portal! Keep up the good fight!

Marty256 responds:

Your words are much appreciated :) many thanks for the support!

[I Tried to Tell You]

Excellent vibe, very fluent!

This is a pretty brilliant mix you've got here! I really like the vibe of this piece, and those strings you had add so much to the piece despite it's simplicity it's amazing!

The percussion, though simple, carries out it's role well, and you add layers to it as needed. That quick reverse crash you had layered with the percussion, is an interesting idea. I've never even considered using it like that.

The last 30 seconds, were a very good way to wrap it all up!

A bit short, and repetitive, but overall, a very good track! Welcome to the portal, keep up the good fight and keep em coming!

takeflight responds:

Wow thanks! Yeah i'll try to make a full song out of it for sure :}

[Bloodstained Sunrise]

Fairly good loop, appropriate theme, steady.

I know that oriental flute, yet I don't know it's name. It's not the Dizi flute, if you have a name for it, please let me know! That would be swell.

The steady percussion here works quite well, consistent, and driving. The song also loops fairly well. Not flawlessly well, but decently so.

The brass are my favorite part of this song for me. I don't get the feeling of a battle happening, but more a battle preparation for this song. Everybodies running about getting their awesome blades of awesomeness ready to awesomely cut people.

I think the melodic line that you formed itself is very appropriate for this title.

Good stuff Skragga, keep up the good fight and keep em coming!

mechanoid-9 responds:

The flute is called Japan flute, it's in the Reason Factory soundbank >_>

I kinda messed up the percussion in A Clash of Destinies, it came out too chaotic, especially the ending drum solo. I've learned from that, and tried a more steady, less experimental drumline. Good to hear it works.

I have only one response for the third paragraph: OMFGROFLMAOXD

Actually, it's the other way round, the melody came first, so the title is appropiate for the melody :) I think one part of the melody comes from a Samurai Jack episode I watched before I made this song, or at least it's very similar to something I heard in there. That show gives good musical inspiration, I watched one episode today too, and something is in my head now which is likely to turn into a song^^

Thanks for the review, lots of stuff coming... whenever. I have a lot of work to do. What I really want to make nowadays is trance but everytime I start Reason I end up building the basics of a totally different style song... lots of unfinished projects in my Reason folder now... perhaps I'm losing my ability to make trance?? :O

[Burning Heart [Hardcore]]

Super fast motherboard action? Catchy melody!

heh, I personally loved the super fast techno synths. For some reason I kept thinking of a computer motherboard going all insane on my arse while it was going on. Like an epic battle between me and Windows.

"I shall INSTALL MACINTOSH!!"
"LIKE HELL YOU WILL!!!" *spastic and really fast techno elements*
"DAMN YOU I PROCLAIM!" *shuts off, end of song*

but seriously though, the melodic line behind the really fast techno, was brilliant. I wish you had made that more easily audible, and the quick element the more supportive role.

I really didn't like that fast techno at first, now I can't get enough of it XD. It's like audio crack D:

How dare you sir! *le gasp*

The instruments work well together, that fierce bass line works really well. All in all, a very fast, very jam packed piece. Unless you have years of percussional training I suppose, it's quite great!

mechanoid-9 responds:

Haha that makes me laugh... I wasn't planning to make it this computery, but it also came out nice this way I guess. I'm always happy to cause addiction too >:D I really appreciate your positive opinion, endless thanks!

[Sad PianoTheme (Updated)]

Very moving, well played, a bit too short.

as you said, simple, sad, emotional... hmm, truly moving. I really like how the piano speaks here, those low cello chords adds wonders to the overall effect.

When you introduce progressive left hands to the right hand melody, that was when the song really started to shine. It's a shame, that it is so short. Truly, you should make an extended mix.

That delay you had on the piano helped a lot, the reverb was of course, a plus as well.

My only complaint would stem at 0:16 when that cluster of notes suddenly appeared. It makes sense for the cluster to play later on, and maybe it is inevitable to make that first cluster not sound awkward, but those are my thoughts.

It reminds me of the ancient game Sanitarium. I don't know if you played it, but it had this one piano theme in it, that consumed my soul for many months.

Welcome to the portal! Keep up the good fight and keep em coming!

Nameless12345 responds:

Thanks for the review! (I hope I am not starting to sound like a robot... >_>)

I experimented with a different sound for the background, where the deep chords are added in later to create more of a emotional "swelling". I hope that it isn't less effective than the consistent deep strings I had before.

I removed the cluster, and now it sounds better, thanks for the input. The simplicity in the first half delivers a unique, sympathetic sadness, which works well in contrast with the powerful effect delivered by the second half.

Many months? I wonder how much work it would take to make a song that powerful... I'll be sure to listen to it. :)

Thank you, again! You're support is appreciated!

[Just Begun]

Excellent vocals, sweet, gentle vibe.

First review :D!

That mic is REALLY giving you some awesome vibes. That autotune which I assume you used, really REALLY helps hit that sweet spot.

The lyrics of this piece are also quite interesting. I can't quite remember all the lyrics, so if you could tell me them in the response that would be swell.

My favorite part is 2:11 where your voice doubles up very slightly and then jumps into that extra reverbed *was there extra reverb there* high octave.

Though I do love the effects on your voice, you know what would have really been sweet here. If you had a quiet segment, with very quiet instruments, and your voice, pure without effects, or minimal effects, sing then. The contrast would have been... brilliant.

Orchestration wise, the song flows pleasently, no hitches, or at least, nothing that jumped out at me. You as the creator probably have like this one spot you don't like. Not a problem for me at this point.

Oh well, sing and get better, because there is potential here, and when you become a millionaire, i'll know where you live :D!

Keep up the good fight Dan, and keep em coming!

MilkMan-Dan responds:

Sure thing buddy. No need to get into too much detail here, so heres those lyrics and thanx for the speedy review :).

Look at the mirror
As you run to the fields
where it's greener
Do you feel safer

Open your eyes
Let the sense of emotion
Consume you
As you tumble Down

One small mistake
and your whole world changes
to what could have been

Relive that moment
Until the pain is gone
But remember
The battle has only just begun

Here you will find
Where you once felt
The certainty of reason
A measure of treason

Young were your words
In the arms of another
It Cannot replace
The moment of fate
When you thought you didn't love her

*Return to Chorus