He can stick around if he wants to and participate until the end. If he wants someone else to drop in for him and take over and every body agrees with that, I have no problem with it.
Anyway, results time.
Tyrias - Epica: Kingdom of Heaven: Part 1
The band even has epic in their name. Epic sounding vocals, has solid guitar riffs with some fun instrumental sections. It felt a bit too long at certain sections but I can see why they were added into the song to go with the concept behind it. The chorus as well was good but not really attention grabbing anymore as the song went on for me. Basically it was too far and between in moments that really got me pumped saying and feeling that this really stood out as being an epic section of music but I liked the song and thought it was solid.
Score: 8/10
Sacul - Alter Bridge: Blackbird
The difference for me between this song and the one I just posted above this one in regards to epic sounding for me just makes me wonder why we feel some sound more epic than others. I say that because this one has more of an epic feel and sound to it compared to the Epica song even though the Epica has a lot more going on for it and even has symphonies in it that almost always makes everything sound more epic. Reasons why for me in this song are mostly thanks to the guitars in it. The riffs and chords just give off that feeling. Then comes the soloing towards to the end that have for me that, "playing a guitar solo at a mountain top" type of feeling and thought it was awesome. The vocals were good as well and the drums sound like they would be fun to play in this.
Score: 9/10
LordCost - Oceansize: Trail of Fire
With this song I thought it was a solid and interesting song to listen to but not much stood out for me. I can see why you sent me this song and agree that its a build up song to the end and thought the second half was the highlight of the song while the first half was just okay for the most part. I feel like I need to listen to it a couple of more times so it will click for me because while I think the end as well did sound somewhat epic, I think other songs in this round did it better.
Score: 7/10
adace - Saor: Pillars of the Earth
So I know about this band but have only listened to the first off of the album this song is from and that's it. I like the beginning because I feel like its setting up something or preparing for something and then the guitars kick in. I usually would have problems with the production of albums like this one but can see why bands do this and that it fits the music and in my opinion it does for this song because it gives a big sound to the song from everything to the guitars, drums, and even the vocals. That for me usually helps a song sound epic if that's what its aiming for which I feel this song is doing.
Score: 9/10
sneakyblueberry - maudlin of the Well: Excerpt from 6,000,000,000,000 Miles Before the First, Or, the Revisitation of the Blue Ghost
I like how the song starts off, especially the string section which makes me feel like I should prepare for something awesome. At first listens, the slow section with the vocals kinda didn't gel with me but the more times I listened to the song, the more I felt like it fit with the song and liked it. I can see why this song was chosen for this round but it just didn't give off that epic feeling like other songs in this round for me. It was more of a relaxing and chill type of a song you listen to at night with some really beautiful moments in it.
Score: 8/10
Lucien - Peter Tchaikovsky: Swan Lake Finale
A classical piece sent in this was a smart idea. I feel like I've said this before here but can't exactly remember and am too lazy to go back and check but I've been wanting to check out more classical music. With this song, at first took a while to grow on me but the more listened to it, I would feel like the pay off was worth listening to it all the way to the end. Just listening to it and hearing how the instruments work their way to pulling off a grand finale and giving it that epic feeling and sound to it is awesome but I wish the whole song had that feel and not just the end. Also maybe, and this isn't really a knock or anything negative about this pick, but I always feel like its shorter than what it is so maybe I should listen to it with all the other parts included.
Score: 8/10
Scorpion - Seventh Wonder: The Great Escape
So when I first started playing this song, I didn't look at any of its info so was thinking if it was just going to be a vocals and guitar song then it better be fucking awesome. But meanwhile listening to it I check and saw it was 30 minutes long and then I understood and prepared myself. So let me just say that I thought the song was really good with lots of badass moments mostly thanks to some of the awesome guitar riffs in it. The problem though is that that's what they were for me, badass but not epic. The other issue I had with it was that I understand like the Epica song that this is a concept song and those usually tend to be long and in the Prog realm and lots of them are awesome just like this one but they tend to suffer from being too long. I felt like certain parts of the song could have been cut or condensed and it would still be badass but overstay its welcome or lost my attention in certain parts.
Score: 7/10
Nekov - Frost*: Milliontown
So another long song at 26 minutes and another good song which all the ones in this round were. But to keep this short since I can do in this what I just said about the long song is condense this. I liked this song but didn't enjoy as much as say the Seventh Wonder song which I thought a couple more awesome moments than this one. The one thing this one does better than that one is play a bit better the epic sounding part because I feel like some of the sections were a bit more epic sounding instead of just playing cool sounding things on their respective instruments. Bit this one for me also overstays its welcome or at least I feel that way sometimes. I feel as if though I will have to give this one and the Seventh Wonder song a couple of more listens to see if its the songs that I feel could be shorter or I'm just not feeling the long length type of songs which I'm usually a big fan of.
Score: 7/10
Scores
Tyrias: 29.5+8=37.5
Lucien: 31+8=39
sneakyblueberry: 34+8=42
adace: 32+9=41
Sacul: 36+9=45
LordCost: 32+7=39
Scorpion: 31+7=38
Nekov: 31+7=38
Next round, 6, I will just make it an open one since I feel like I'm not enjoying too much grading these songs on a restriction like a theme instead of just basing on how much I like the song and feel like its a bit unfair at times. Maybe its just because I feel this way right with certain songs in this round that I'm sure would be rated higher and maybe some would be lower compared to the some I got this round. So it might stay open until the end unless I change my opinion over night which could happen. Or maybe I'm just lacking in sleep and should go to bed now. Anyway, looking forward to your next selections.