Quarl AIM 2022 Review
Composition/Structure (0-10), Production (0-10), Emotion (0-10), Relevance to Artwork (0-10)
cyan11, Stalwart & Ready For Battle: 8,6,9,9 (32)
So the first thing I noticed was that slowly evolving gated synth line that I immediately associate with classic sci-fi games like Mass Effect or stealth games like Splinter Cell/Metal Gear Solid. I happen to be playing AC Valhalla at the moment so I'm gonna gripe on the elements that don't fit the genre or time period. I just found that synth line a little out of place, not to say you can't incorporate such elements or make it work wonderfully but it might have served best taken out for the sake of the competition? The percussion was wonderfully written, I loved it but will evoke Splinter Cell again at the 2:20 mark. It just felt out of place, granted still wonderfully written. That final techy section also reminds me Ace Combat, very progressive percussion much up the alley for metal producers such as "Chimp-Spanner" and "David Maxim Micic."
The mix down felt very "thin" to be honest and looking at the visualization it's clear that the track is being compressed, please turn off whatever is unnecessarily compressing the audio. There is so much more room for bass and mids. I'm at max volume and it still sounds quite. Since the visualization shows all that extra room, you can use that extra space to amp up what you already have and get a louder sound. I'm not asking you to export what's called a "brick" but I'd rather have the option of turning the volume down on something that's too loud than not being able to turn it up any louder. A PA system can get a louder sound but you have to take into account that most people on Newgrounds won't be using PA systems. You left a lot of space in the mix with what looks like unnecessary compression. I'm going to take points off your score for that one mix issue alone. People give "bricks" the false notion that the extra loudness is a bad thing but you have to mix a few bricks to really know what your limits are.
I hope you're proud of the work, it sounds amazing. I'm not sure if Vikings were noted historically for their musicality but I'd have done some research into that and worked the study into the music somehow. I like to learn things, don't be afraid to gush more about your work so that competition judges have a better look into your thought process and inspirations! We're a community on Newgrounds and at times a family that fights and argues with itself. I like to know more about how y'all are feeling and I can recognize your name at this point. Hopefully in the future I'll see more cyan11 and understand you better :3