Kor-Rune's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[Asperges Me]

This is stunning! Powerful melodies and chords that make a fantastic listener experence. I thank you. I'm almost willing o buy you a mic only to hear that great voice in all of its glory. Great writing, and the classic piano and string combo is gorgeous.Please keep it up, and go for that mic, you're too good!

Troisnyx responds:

I'm glad that it moved you so. <3 Thank you.
I'll do my best to get that mic -- I'm skint at the moment, and sometimes the little I have is taken away from me -- but I trust that mic will come at the right time. x

[Stuck (Entry for RAC7)]

Awesome timing! The guitars are pretty tight and well-played and composed! It could use some lead melodies or vocals, but I imagine you left space for those on purpose.

Descara is right though; a bass would definitely fill the mix out. I did the octave lower clean guitar trick many times before, it gets the job done as long as you get the right frequencies out.

I feel like the hihat could use an accented rhythm at 1:53, it sounds a little robotic. I'd also do the same for the fills, just to humanize them some, and give them some life.

Anyway, good work and keep it up!

adilovemetal responds:

yep, I left those spaces deliberately, because I plan on getting my hands on a good mic, I have written some really cool clean and growl lyrics, can't wait to sync em up with the song, and also, add bass, with the lower octave trick ;) I fiddled around with the octave pedal for half an hour, and it gave amazing results. :D thanks anyways.. I hope to record this soon, but I am afraid wont be before 1st sept.. I have my term examinatios coming up.. If I lose in RAC7 due to this submissio, I wont feel bad cuz this aint my 100%.. so yea, A re recoring is required :) Thanks though

[-*}CaSH{*- King Benjerman]

C'mon man, how am I supposed to compete with orchestral masterpieces?

The timing of everything is super, and the mix is awesome! I can hear and analyze everything with ease.

The tension building at 2:10 is incredibly gripping, I love the progression and how the instruments will weave in and out. Writing and producing something like this has serous dedication. Props, I don't know how you orchestra/classical guys have infinite ideas running through your head. super jelly

Good luck in the competition, not that you need it you clever bastard~

camoshark responds:

Wow, man, I'm flattered, especially coming from someone like you!

I think this is the first time anyone has told me they like my mixing, and considering the number of hours I took to make every part come out, so this goes straight to the heart. :'D

Also, I'm glad you noticed the 2:10 progression and build-up, as they're both my favorite in the track!

Lastly, I hardly consider myself an orchestral/classical guy, as I mostly do jazz stuff (Adam Rogers and Allan Holdworth are my favorite guitarists, just so you know :P). I also hardly think I have unlimited inspiration, as I've had a bit of a hard time finishing this track near the end. I'm glad you put me in the same basket as the others, though!

In any case, I'm really glad you enjoyed, and that you took the time to leave such an awesome review!

Good luck to you too, I absolutely adore your track, just so you know! :P

Cheers,
Samuel Hebert

[timeslip]

Wow, this is great, I love the subtle chorus that comes in on the guitar, and the chord changes everywhere are absolutely beautiful. The soft and warm melodies from the sax really speak to the listener.

Peaceful track, and a worthy competitor! Good luck on the 19th man!

acmeDyne responds:

Thanks K-R!
-- When I heard how awesome your submission was this morning, I almost didn't bother working on this anymore.

I wish I could have put the bass and keyboard parts on this...
Alas, I ran out of time.

[Impromptu - Spring]

Gorgeous. It seems like every chord you grace my ears with is hardwired into an emotion. I love how you hang for a bit with your timing to help the listener engage themselves into the next chord. Every keystroke feels right at home.

It's amazing how well you can select the progressions and execute them with such grace. The strings and percussion at the end really add great closure. omg you rock 5 stars

BlazingDragon responds:

Part of the sensation of hanging on comes from me trying to be expressive, but part of it also comes from me slowing down momentarily and thinking what to do next. While I had a rough idea of melody and chords for this, it was improvised playing. I thought of a song structure in advance, decided on chords, and then improvised the piece. Then I went back, cleaned up mistakes in my DAW, increased the tempo in certain spots where I hesitated, etc. Then I added strings, percussion, etc.

I like basing some pieces off of improvisation because it usually comes out more organic. I don't play as stiff when I do it on the fly.

Thanks for the awesome review!

[Focused Noise (NGADM '12)]

This is very meaty! I might give the drums some more dynamic, but it's metal so it doesn't matter much. The riffs kick ass and are really tight. I'm a fan of the more modern tones, but yours are played so confidently that it's got a serious raw.. dirty.. fat tone. Yes.

I think the solos can use more of that shred and speedy space filler to make it pop, but otherwise, they kick ass. Keep making music and good luck competing!

Demon-Slayer12 responds:

I agree man, I tried to 'humanize' the drums as much as I could, but the dynamics were very subtle when mixed with the guitars and bass. So my main goal was to get everything to cut through haha.
I was actually going for a more modern tone, I started using the Engl Powerball amp on my podxt live, but I ended up making it really a thick, fat tone indeed..haha
I wanted to really spice up that solo, but I had a really annoying blister on my left middle finger that prevented me from playing to my potential, it made the strings feel weird.
If I make it to the next round, I'll definitely work on some better solos. Thanks for checking it out man, good luck to you as well!

[Shiver me Liver]

This is fantastic! I really enjoy your voice and the lyrics! Very flavorful and themed, and the sounds are great. A worthy death-match competitor!

acmeDyne responds:

Hey-- thanks, man!
I'm looking forward to hearing your submission! I'm kinda struggling with mine...

[Immortal Phantom [Kogasu]]

I might change it up more!

It seems to all follow a single theme in the background, almost like solos over a backing track. The solos also don't seem to connect really well, they're very clearly sectioned out every four bars.

They are pretty neat solos, though! I might do thicker vibrato so you can add some serious dynamic to your playing, but you definitely got speed down! I'd worry less about speed and more about connecting with the rhythm and the chords better.

Otherwise, it sounds pretty neat! I'd just focus more on thinking out your playing or changing the song around some.

Kogasu responds:

Yeah, I know it sounds very repetitive that's why I cut out a lot of it. There was SOME variation in the old one but it was very little compared to how much of the song is actually the same LOL. As for it sounding like a backing track, that's essentially what it has become now hehe a horrible loop song .

The solos are also supposed to sound sectioned out. It's supposed to sound sort of like a guitar trade off of solos, like if there are two guitarists. That's why the solos have two different tones and are panned slightly left and right and they eventually come together at the last part. Each "guitarist" needed to have an equal number of bars (even though the chorus guitar actually got a little bit more) to be "fair" hehe.

I will definitely consider that advice about my playing! :D I just can't help playing fast, I just like the rush.

Thank you for your review and advice!

[Solar Overdrive!]

Damn right energetic

Holy shitsack, how come I haven't listened to you here on NG before. What's wrong with me. :<

This is wonderfully intense and it stays interesting throughout, it doesn't bore you with excess repetition and it makes me joy with your playing.

The riffs are great, and the leads are sexy, some of the vibrato in there is so wonderfully thick. lovethis

DanJohansen responds:

Appreciate your compliments and thanks for listening man! :D Glad you like it, making a album out of this style/song.. so more will be coming.

[Vulcan-Metaljonus]

Kickass feel

I love the compound time and the harmonies, and the harmonized runs! Absolutely beautiful. C: Everything is so solid and precise. I just feel like the rhythm guitars are a little tiny in the mix for some reason. You can still hear everything great though, and fuck is it solid. The leads are sick as always.

Metaljonus responds:

Ya I thought the same too I am messing with the transitions in the beginning. It seems a little empy but I dunno. I'm still messing with the mix. Thanks for the review mang!

-Jon