LD-W's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[Archway to the Unknown]

(VGM Challenge Category Review)
(Score is hidden as standard for all entries in the category)

The first thing which comes to mind when checking this VGM entry out for the category is 'Rogue Legacy' for some reason, in particular imagining the almost spacy-like forest section from that game in some ways. Maybe also a touch of Minecraft's 'End' dimension almost from certain design touches you've made in the piece.

While this doesn't go in the direction of a more cinematic and terror-like state like I've personally envisioned for the theme if I was to go and enter my own piece for the category (maybe sometime later in the year haha), this kind of entry does explore more on he probability of a more mystical, somewhat tangible result on the possible outcome of entering into various Outer Realms. Perhaps more decipherable, but still nethertheless a lot of danger.

Mix sounds pretty fine to me, design choices for the direction also match up pretty well. It does stand alone pretty well as a VGM piece and it can certainly fit the theme under certain circumstances. The category theme in itself has alot of chance to it, so it's sort-of the same for alot of other individual's entries where it can or can't fit depending on the environment that is on the other side!

Kassich responds:

Thank you for the detailed review! I agree that this category could go in a lot of directions and it was great to hear how you would have gone different with it!

[FD - Into the Chasm]

It's a pretty basic track in composition (which isn't an issue for this scope of genre's), I'd definitely say that anyone else listening to this should and would be focusing much more on the design choices made, as it's what makes this track.

The track is best enjoyed on speakers. Headphone listening can be just as good under the circumstances that it's mainly a consumer pair of on/over ears or earbuds, as I've found the tape hiss in proportion to the tracks somewhat low amplification to be pretty distracting when checking it out on monitoring systems.

First thoughts when running through this for the first few times is that it's a tad more Berlin School in design choices while taking the simpler dungeon synth and dark ambient composition approach (sort of like a slower Offermose in some ways). It's pretty refreshing to hear the warping tones coming from likely either the analog-esq synth patching alternating up/down in it's tuning, or a tape emulator pulling the duties well. It fits the 'empty chasm' theme approach you're going for. That kind of theme trope is usually done either in a more subdued and simplistic matter, or a sparkly and almost crystalline/ancient vibe. You've definitely got the first one sorted for sure.

If you're definitely committed to doing a full story-style Dungeon Synth (with Berlin School design) album, let me know when you're getting closer to completion and I'll definitely listen to the whole thing ;)

ForgottenDawn responds:

Wow, now that's a review! Berlin School, definitely, and I'm glad you caught that. I'm influenced by 60's and 70's classics, as well as 90's "black ambient" (Les Légions Noires) and Aphex Twin. I was being... very enthusiastic about the tape emulation thingamajigger I grabbed a while ago, so I wanted to immediately put it to good use. Funny thing about the hiss is I actually lowered it from -40 to -55 dB because I thought it was masking everything a tad too much. But yeah, I agree it's better enjoyed on speakers. Just testing the waters, is all. Thanks for your feedback and I'll surely share my next work with you~

[Northern Travels EP - Wintry Ambient Music]

Albion Tundra and Adagietto really does make for such a expressive combo!

The overall production, resulting atmosphere, design choices and the approach to composition that you've done throughout all of the tracks is to a level I'd certainly consider Professional for sure. You could drop any of the tracks into a large budget open-world game or as piece to play over documentaries and it will work. Not much else to say, great job overall ;)

I'll buy it when I can. Been recently stung for money having to replace a few things breaking on me haha

Everratic responds:

Indeed! I thought Adagietto was a shitty library for years, but one day I was looking for the right strings sound for my composition, and I rediscovered Adagietto's arcs and was amazed by their utility. 8DIO's arcs are "game-changing".

Thank you for the nice comments. I'm happy to hear that my studying of ambient music paid off.

I'm sorry to hear about your financial situation. I hope you get back on track soon and wish you success with the libraries you're working on.

[a plaintive cry from space]

Looking at this from more of a design perspective, it sounds like it could slot right into the first Metroid Prime OST as a zone ambient piece. The space whistle-like lead (plus how it's notated), the textured atmosphere and the bleep/blips alternating between their duties as a background aid and the more present short pulses all add up to the incredibly similar vibes that are present throughout several parts of that OST.

5'd and fav'd

Troisnyx responds:

Funny you mention Metroid Prime, that series' OST is excellent and I've taken a few musical cues from it. 😮 Also Ar tonelico, the more synth-heavy elements of it, as well as synth-heavy doujin works of it.

You read my musical influences pretty well, I'm flattered.

[Calm Before the Storm]

Ayy #428hzgang

It does have quite the melancholy edge to it, the frequency shift has changed the timbre of everything (especially the strings). A much more stormy, moments-before-disaster vibe throughout most of the piece. The kind of vibe I'm always down for ;)

Solid work on a one-hour time limit l a d. Humanization and also the mix sounds alright considering the time limit, I'm sure if you had longer you'd probably be tweaking it some more.

Everratic responds:

Yeah, I think so too. I'm really liking the timbre of the violin here. The tone shift + nonvibrato gives it a pristine sound.

Regarding the mix and humanization, the main things I would change are creating a better hierarchy during the busier section so the melody is on top and make the "majestic horn" sound a little more dynamic and smooth.

Thank you for the review and idea!

[AIM - Children of the Sea]

Congrats on the front page!

Some very tasty libs here, especially what you're using for your strings. They do sound like they came straight of a live recording session, excellent dynamics control and articulation choices. The overall composition is also by far the 'closest' to the artwork of any entry I've listened to so far.

It would be an outrage if you get anything lower than 90% on the final score haha

Everratic responds:

Thank you!!

It's nice that the work I put into humanization is appreciated :) Lmk if you have any questions about the libs - you probably already noticed that I listed them in the song's info section.

[hallowed silence]

We totally need to jump onto making the metal version of this now that it's finished!

When I listen to the piece you've made overall with the vocals, piano-work, organ-work and ambience-work, it reminds me sometimes of a more 'positive-sounding' (in mood) Evig Natt style track at certain points (from around their work on the 'I Am Silence' album).

I think if I was to nitpick just to try and get at least one constructive piece into the comment section, the piano playing on the lower octave at around 2:14 lost abit too much of it's mid-presence. Automating an EQ to boost it's mid-freq tones specifically at that segment of the track (then disabling it after that segment's finished) could be beneficial in the future if you're looking to do a future revision.

Gets a thumbs-up from me overall!

Troisnyx responds:

Noted; I'd actually turned down the mids on the lower piano to make some room for that bass pad and the other mids but that might have been a tad excessive.

Thank you so much <3 Let's talk WAV / FLP stems for this some time soon~