FightingSeraph's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[Abduction]

This is pretty badass.

Why is it that nobody has reviewed this? This is the kind of song that Johnny Utah and Maelstormm/Aggamare would make if they took mescaline while playing Audiosurf. Now with that out of the way...

When it comes to the sound design, you did a great job on mixing hard and acid together to create something pretty badass. That's clever use of layered 303s and pounding drum samples. It felt really freaky in the best way possible and nice use of automation. (Another acid staple.) Composition is a tricky category to analyze considering how limited 303s and similar synth can be. However, that lead melody was really catchy given the styles used. I've tried making my own acid tracks, but they suck hairy cock when compared to this. As for other aspects, I can see this being used in a game or a movie of some sort.

The Good:
-Interesting mix of styles
-Original
-Catchy lead melody
-Great percussion
-Cool sound

The Bad:
-Nothing at the moment

Overall: DJ Peanutbutter here's a ten from me. (5/5)

[Tinketell & Windfrank]

Interesting take on a chiptune.

This sounds like something that Kirbopher would make if he hung out with Bunnymajs while taking mescaline and played Wizards and Warriors too many times. If anything, more people on NG ought to turn to you guys for their music needs.

Sound Design: The synths remind me of something that you would hear on the NES/Famicom or the TV show Captain N, but with a hint of psytrance mixed in. That and your drums weren't overpowering. Oh, and nice use of Industrial sounds.
Composition: For an experiment, the composition was very nice and I had to play it several times over. As I said before, this is definitely worthy of being used as BGM in a movie or a game. Truth is, I'm not much of a music critic, but I do know a good song when I hear it. As far as I'm concerned, this beats what gets put on TV and the radio.
Other: You sure took advantage of those new Audio Portal categories, didn't ya? Too bad they didn't include sections for Hardcore, Hardstyle, Breakbeat, Disco, and Jungle.

The Good:
-Original
-Great instrumentation
-Nice use of Techno drums and Industrial sounds
-Clever composition
-Versatile

The Bad:
-Nothing really

Overall: Here's a ten and you three ought to make some Schranz some time. (5/5)

DESHIEL responds:

One of the best reviews I've ever seen on this portal.

Sadly I don't know who Kirbopher is, but knowing that you've mentioned him must mean that he's some local badass huh.

I can only hope that the staff adds more and more distinctive subcategories, so that anybody has to fear the negativity of not fullfilling the category's standarts.

[Space Age G]

Hisayoshi Ogura would be proud!

This definitely sounds like something that Zuntata would make, but that's a good thing. When it comes to subject material, the Darius series is overlooked in many ways. Personally, this seems like a mix between G Darius and Darius Burst. However, that's just me.

Instrumentation: As said before, this is definitely something that Hisayoshi Ogura would make with Tamayo Kawamoto and Yasuhisa Watanabe. Your synths and soundscapes have the very distinct Zuntata sound to it, and I like the use of a breakbeat. I think people on NG should turn to Taito for material for cartoons, remixes, and games. It's too bad that very few gamers remember that company and what they accomplished over the years.
Composition: In addition to having great sound design, your composition was very cinematic and ethereal. I can hear this in many submissions if anyone discovered this. Were you listening to various intelligent* genres in addition to the G Darius soundtrack? (*E. G.: Drumfunk/Intelligent Jungle, Intelligent Dance, and Intelligent Techno.)
Other: This is just another example of a sleeper hit that slipped under the cracks while people were masturbating to Oney and Hans Van Harken sixty-nining each other. (Ok, that's an exaggeration, but I just had to say it.)

The Good:
-Perfect recreation of Zuntata's sound while being distinct
-Original
-Great composition
-Versatile
-Clever use of a breakbeat

The Bad:
-Too few people remember Taito and what that company accomplished.

Overall: Here's a ten from me. (5/5)

[Surreal]

Feels more like Illbient than Trance, but still great.

That is, unless you were going for Breakbeat Trance. Of course, this is one of the more brilliant Dark Trance songs I have heard.

Sound design: Your synths are excellent for that grit that you were aiming for. I mean, this is something that you would hear in one of Transwave's songs. As I said before, that breakbeat seems out of place for a Trance song. I mean, it doesn't have a sense of rhythm going on.
Composition: This has a very nice composition in spite of the rhythmic disconnect. If you were going for an unsettling mood; it was achieved. I can hear something like this a background music.
Other: Not much needs to be said.

[+]
-Original
-Great sound design
-Nice composition
-Clever sense of mood

[-]
-Feels more like Illbient than Trance

Overall: Here's a nine from me. (4.5/5)

[Voyage To the Netherworld]

You did this with REAL hardware!? Color me astonished!

As much as I love to watch hardware jams and have contemplated getting an Electribe MX/SX. I just don't have the time or the space to put all that hardware. Anyways, this definitely sounds something that Goa Gil/The Nommos, Braincell, and Blue Forest/Galactic Mantra would make.

Sound Design: It isn't easy programming all those instruments to get something that's salient, especially with actual hardware. Your lead, bass, and pad have that otherworldly-but-not-Psytrance feel to it, which is good. I have to say that you have done well in this department although I heard static in the background. Of course, I'm willing to bet that you have gotten a better microphone over the years, so I won't be harsh. You have definitely got the Goa Trance sound down perfectly.
Composition: As said before, this definitely feels like something that was made by either Goa Gil/The Nommos, Braincell, or Blue Forest/Galactic Mantra. For a live jam, you did well given your limited, but powerful hardware. As much as I like LMMS and whatnot, there's just something about a hardware jam that is just exhilarating.
Other: Aside from the static, the only things that I have to complain about are the "dead zones" in the first three and last twelve seconds of this song. Those should have been edited out when you had the opportunity.

What I like:
-Original
-Real Hardware used
-Great sound
-Excellent composition
-Reasonable filesize

What I didn't like:
-Static in the recording
-There were silence in the first three and last twelve seconds of the song.

Overall: Here's a ten from me and I may have to look forward to future releases from you.

[xCx - Later Day Saints]

Were you listening to Cosmo while making this?

Seeing that no one else has reviewed this, looks like it's up to me.

Sound Design: Whichever VSTs you used to get that Dark Psytrance sound; all of them were used well. I mean, this sounds like something that Cosmo or Hypnotic Mushroom would make. (And that's a good thing.) In addition, I like how this builds up as it progresses. It isn't often that you hear this genre of music being represented, especially of this quality.
Composition: Now Darkpsy may not have the capacity for melodic/harmonic variety, but this song's scores are definitely professional grade. Aside from the aforementioned build-up, the atmosphere that you were aiming for was well conveyed. However, the echo effect at the last ten to fifteen seconds of the song feel like they were drawn out far longer than needed.
Other: What else I can say? I like (dark) psytrance.

What I did like:
-Original
-Very atmospheric
-Excellent sound design
-Catchy
-Judicious use of soundbytes

What I didn't like:
-The echo effect at the end felt overly drawn out.

Overall: Chemich, how would you like a ten from me? (5/5)

[Space Walker]

Interesting mix between Drumstep, Neurofunk, and Psychill.

Mod15/DJ Spire posted a link to this, and I have to say that this is very impressive! It isn't often that music teacher such as yourself would delve into the electronic scene, much less submit to Newgrounds. But lets not kid ourselves...

Sound Design: Interesting take on the Ambient Breaks/Illbient/Chillstep genre. You have a nice bass that didn't overpower the other instruments, along with the use of a Trance square lead. Oh, and your percussion was well-chosen with clever automation.
Composition: Unlike most people who make dubstep or other UK garage variants, you have shown a great deal of restraint regarding the aforementioned bassline. The melodies and harmonies are definitely dreamy even though you were working in a Percussion/Bassline/Effects driven category of music. A sign that you have genuine creativity in my book.
Other: There isn't much that I can say about this.

The Good:
-Original
-Interesting take on a genre
-Great composition
-Nice sound design

The Bad:
-Not much really

Overall: Here's a ten from me. (5/5)

GGould responds:

Thank you for your kind words.

[Collective Consciousness]

Another review from me.

Well, this is a very interesting romp coming from you and definitely worthy of the high score I'm about to give.

Sound design: I'm going to be honest with you on the instrumentation; it feels more like Techno or Tech Trance than Psytrance. However, you did an excellent job with Harmor and LPD 8, which results in something that's very salient. For somebody who has been on NG almost as long as I have; it's baffling that you aren't as well-known as Paragon X9, Nemesis Theory, Chronamut, or many of the early portal pioneers.
Composition: I don't know what to say; this is just plain excellent! You have some interesting compositions going on here and they're pretty damned catchy. That, and the arrangement is also kick ass! Oh, and I liked how you kept things varied and interesting.
Other: The only flaw this has is that it ends five-and-a-half seconds earlier than expected.

What I liked:
-Nice composition
-Great sound design
-Original
-Interesting take on techno or tech trance.

What I didn't like:
-Ends earlier than expected
-Not really psytrance

Overall: Here's a ten for another excellent song. (5/5)

[Yellow]

Musical beauty!

I too thought about making a song with the same title, but this is far better than what I am able to do. Why is it that I am the only person that has voted on this fairly? Honestly, this is one of the best legit ambient songs that I've listened to. Guess people would rather listen to wash/rinse/repeat rap acts that offer nothing truly creative; pretentious, biased as fuck protest songs that have nothing to say; pop musicians that are empty and false; an unfunny soundbyte based off of a badly-written review; and bands that are far past their prime over an ambient song with a little touch of psychedelic, but not enough to be called Psybient. Oh, and in the tags, you misspelled ambient.

Sound design: When people use drum beats in ambient music, they're usually very pronounced breakbeats that make it more like a slow breaks song. However, you decided to use a more subdued four-on-the-floor kick pattern. Atypical, but effective. That and your instrumentation is also well tuned for the mood; along with appropriate use of sound effects and voice clips.
Composition: Another reason for the high score is the composition, which was very uplifting and I can see why you used such a title. This song has an incredible sense of harmony and your melodies are just awe-inspiring. Has anyone told you that you have an impeccable sense of atmosphere?
Other: This has to be one of the most creative songs on here, and you decided to take a big risk.

The Good:
-Original
-Magnificent composition
-Excellent sound design
-Judicious use of soundbytes
-Splendid atmosphere

The Bad:
-The fact that this got such a low score for no good justification.

Overall: Fauxdai, here's a ten from me. (5/5)

[Hopeku- Phloritznterixter]

Crazy mix between Psy Dubstep and Darkstep/Neurofunk DnB.

How come no one has reviewed this yet? I think Joelasticot and Ultra Pitchfork chose wisely when they commissioned you to make music for their game projects.

Sound Design: You sure know how to make basslines like no one's business. Were you listening to Boy in a Band's Darkstep song while you were making this? It's like a runaway neurofunk train on peyote laced with PCP. That and your percussion was pretty badass!
Composition: It takes a lot of balls to create melodies in basslines since anyone else would have done so poorly. While it doesn't have a lead like Sunwave, it didn't particularly need one. The bass composition had a wild, anarchic feel to it without being in-cohesive.
Other: Aside from having a sense of uniqueness; there's nothing else to say.

The Good:
-Original
-Great composition
-Crazy sound!
-Nice mix of genres
-Versatile

The Bad:
-Nothing to say really

Overall: Here's a ten from me. (5/5)

hopeku responds:

''Crazy mix between Psy Dubstep and Darkstep/Neurofunk DnB.''

haha I didn't intend to make any of these genres, seriously, I just did some kind of weirdo videogame drum'n'bass song

But thanks ! :)