Elite: The EP of Death v. Tom is a Lion, These Songs Don't Fit Together and This Title Doesn't Make Any Sense WhatsoeverEuzen – The StageYour songs are the hardest to do the write-ups for
There is literally nothing I listen that is similar to this. Intro is really weird, I was wtf at the first. Later, I wasn’t too weirded with it
The piano part is nice and singer’s voice is a little unusual but that’s what makes this song better IMO, especially those gritty parts. Bad thing about it is that it doesn’t really go anywhere and it is a little weird for me but it sets the right mood for this EP, definitely.
7/10 (#26/40)
Chelsea Wolfe – Carrion FlowersI remember I was checking some of her songs out before because I knew some of you liked her so I wanted to hear what’s all fuss about. And right away I knew it wasn’t for me. Now, when I was actually “forced” to listen to it, it grew on me. Another weird intro, it fits the theme. It is weird how heavy music can sound without having heavy guitars and drums, this is very punchy and dark. I don’t love this but I’m interested to check her music again because it is interesting and not like anything I know.
7/10 (#22/40)
maudlin of the Well – Gleam in RanksOk, by now I was sure the theme of this EP was ‘the weird shit’
and I’m surprised you went that way because most of the music I listen to is pretty straightforward. However, I’m glad you sent some of this stuff because, as I said, I had to listen to them many times and that way I couldn’t give up after just one listen. On the other hand, this is just too weird for me and not memorable at all. There is nothing about it I can remember :-/ There are some cool part but as a whole, I don’t really like it that much.
6.5/10 (#34/40)
In the Mourning – The SmokeThis one is pretty much the most “normal” song of the bunch, or should I say straightforward, nothing weird about it (to someone who knows melodeath). Every time I heard that part with china cymbal I had Devin Townsend singing “balls…balls…balls…” in my head
(can’t remember where he does it). The Smoke is one of the most headbangable song of the round, not just because it is heavy but because it is possible to headbang to it
In contrast to the heavy part there is calm part with cleans in the middle which is actually my favorite, I like his voice and emotions in it. Actually, whole song is very emotional even though it is pretty brutal.
I’m not that big of a fan of melodeath anymore/at the moment but this is well done.
7.5/10 (#15/40)
Mr. Bungle - The Air-Conditioned NightmareThis is where it gets interesting. When I saw you sent this, I was like: "oh, no"! You played one of their songs on plug.dj and it was weird and awful
I’m only getting into Faith No More and Mike Patton is one of the people I want to like so this came in right time. I knew this was going to be weird and funky (I can’t stand funk most of the time) but I went into it open-minded. And it didn’t do anything to me until recently when it finally hit me. First part is just good, with call and response singing (or whatever
). My favorite is latter part, really cool, catchy and emotional.
It is really hard to say why I love it but I do
My favorite out of your weird songs.
8.5/10 (#6/40)
Thank You Scientist - My Famed Disappearing ActMy first reaction was: whoooah! I hear they don’t restrain themselves from playing some wanky riffs. Obviously, I heard of them before but never properly checked them because they sounded a bit too happy for me
This song reminded me of Haken and Coheed & Cambria. I’m not fan of brass instruments but here they work very well, especially when playing same thing as guitar. It’s hard to pick one favorite part but let’s say it’s the chorus, you know how much I love catchy choruses.
I’m looking forward to checking this out, sounds very interesting. I never heard anything like this before.
8.5/10 (#5/40)
Jolly - Where Everything's PerfectThis is the one that got in because I heard Ihsahn and you had to replace it, right. I’m glad you didn’t replace it with something more similar to Ihsahn because it would be too crazy. Where Everything's Perfect is perfect closer for an album like this, I think, to make it breathe a little after all that craziness. I have this album on my wishlist since I saw them on your (I guess) top 50 list but that was a while ago and I didn’t hear anything since then. That piano at the beginning is my favorite piano tone, gives it jazzy feel. I like how music is different to the vocals for the most part. It is almost metal-y and voice is kinda jazzy and emotional. All in all, this was an interesting song, looking forward to hear more.
8/10 (#10/40)
Flow: I know your EP's name is "These Songs Don't Fit Together" but I think they actually do, for the most part. There are some flaws but it flows nicely, no big complaints.
4/10TOTAL EP SCORE: 18.93/25 + 4/5 = 22.93/30OVERALL SCORE: 63+22.93 = 85.93Even though I didn't love some of the songs on your EP, last three made up for it and made your EP 2nd best.
Your way through this roulette was a bumpy road and you barely made it into the finals but you didn't send bad song (well, Gleam in Ranks is closest to it but still not bad). You definitely sent the most weird stuff so it's interesting David Bowie got you through
I know I rated Come On Down the best but actually the two 8.5s on the EP may be my two favorite songs you sent. Great way to close roulette. There's also some other stuff I'm looking forward to check like Astronoid. Thanks for playing.
Train of Naught: Stays Crunchy, Even In Milk!Giant Squid - Sixty Foot WavesI think I said that to you, I heard Giant Squid before (songs from some other album) and, for some unknown reason, I forgot about them even though I liked them. So I knew what to expect. Anyways, this is definitely traincore (as the whole album is) and I think traincore and tomicore have many same elements
Backbone of the song is that bass line and I always like that. It is not in the way of the guitar or vocals but it’s definitely there, rocking in the background. I think that other songs I heard had, to me, better guitar tone. This could sound sludgier IMO.
So yeah, I like the song but it is a little weird and it get boring fast. That reflects on the score (thinking about it now, I was maybe a little too harsh).
7/10 (#28/40)
Giant Squid – MycenaeansAnother song by Giant Squid, it is pretty much the same style, nothing too interesting but good nevertheless. This one introduce some chugier riffs and some strings (I guess), which are main star of its part of the song. Again, I think guitar tone could be better, they maybe went too bassy here. Chorus part is pretty dope, almost an earworm with some unusual melodies.
I like it but, again, I’m not sold on this. I think my problem with both song is that I usually like faster songs in this style.
7/10 (#27/40)
He is Legend – No VisitorsWell, this is guitar tone I like. And thankfully, this one is more dynamic and has some faster parts. It has many vocal hooks which make it memorable, catchy and easy to listen to. On moments (that fast part), singer reminds me of singer from Corrosion of Conformity, which is a good thing. My favorite part is the chorus, it gets really melodic but at the same time, riffs are tight and sludgy.
I was on the edge with this one because it’s not really the most unique song but it’s enjoyable.
7.5/10 (#24/40)
Wild Throne – Shadow DesertI have to admit, intro was weird to me at first but after it gets to normal, it is good. This is again, song in the similar style to songs before. However, it’s not really the classic stoner rock song as No Visitors is. This one relies on contrast in verses, between loud bass and drums and quiet vocals. I love it when voice explodes into chorus with that catchy, screaming melody. It was a really good idea, I think having dynamics like this is an important thing. There’s also that one riff, which sounds like some classic bluesy rock, which I like.
This one was really close to being an 8 but I guess it’s not
(there were many 7.5s as you can see, Shadow Desert is my favorite of them, No Visitors least favorite out of them)
7.5/10 (#14/40)
Painted Wives – DigI don’t think anyone realized and I forgot to mention it before, you were the one who guessed you own (both PW) songs
Yeah, this one was my favorite from the beginning. Again, guitar tone is more to my taste here, even though parts are too loud, I hear some heavy compression here. But I don’t care, that’s part of what’s charming about it, guitars and drums (cymbals especially) destroying everything around. Not surprisingly, my favorite thing about the song is the singer: his timbre, melodies, everything. He sometimes even goes into that nasally John Arch timbre which I like for some weird reason
Middle part with simple guitar solo and those ‘whoa’s would be great to experience live, I think. Did I say how much I like that chorus? I do, very much
This song, again, is on the edge between 8 and 8. 5 but I can’t go higher, sorry.
8/10 (#9/40)
Painted Wives – SaintContrary to the Dig, I had hard time getting into this one. It is not bad at all, I just miss some hooks, nothing really grabs me as Dig did. Riffs are great while I’m listening to it but not memorable. Of course singer is great (well, it’s the same singer from previous song) yet I can’t name one part of the song where I can say: "he shines there". I guess reason is that it misses classic chorus, he just shouts ‘saint’ a few times
(was reprise necessary?)
Nothing more to add, it is ok but not great.
7/10 (#32/40)
Vangough – The SufferingThis one. I’m still not sure if I rated it right, it changed positions all the time. It is more of a song whose elements I love but together they are not that great. Riffs are heavy but still sound pretty technical, drums remind me of Mastodon very much (snare fills and tone) and singer at the beginning sounds like Einar from Leprous
What I love about it is how it has totally different feeling in different parts of the song. Singers voice gives a drop of emotion even when there are crushing riffs and drumming behind. My favorite part is instrumental after the calm part (that with drum fills and chuggy riffs after it), nothing too special but it is a music I like.
(btw I love that album art
)
7.5/10 (#18/40)
Flow: Being stylistically consistent definitely made this EP flow very well. And still, it didn't get me bored even though songs are similar.
4.5/10TOTAL EP SCORE: 18.4/25 + 4.5/5 = 22.9/30OVERALL SCORE: 63.4+22.9 = 86.4Not the best EP but a very consistent one which makes it as good as the others. I would like it if there was more variety but it's still pretty great.
About other rounds: you sent the best song of the roulette (Just a Ride). Even though it got only 8.5 (I know, I know...), I would give it 9.5 or even 10 right now
I listened to that album bunch of times and I love it, they are the best discovery after FtM of the roulette so far. Soen is great, of course, good job for thinking so fast and sending me a single
Actually, all of the stuff you sent were very good, at least. Another song I would mention, which grew on me since scoring it, is Romancing a Stranger. I'm going to check that album out soon, I hope.
It isn't clear at all because the difference between #1 and #2 is less than a half point but the winner is:
Congrats, dude! You definitely earned it with bunch of great songs you sent throughout the roulette and stayed one of the most consistent players. Thank you for playing
Thank you all for playing and sending me all that good stuff. I can't wait to start checking all that stuff out (and stuff I missed because I was too busy listening to your entries
). This roulette was very fun but also tiring and time consuming. I made some mistakes and I think I learnt something from them so I won't make them again in my v2.0 if there is going to be v2.0 (there will, most likely
).
I hope you all had fun. I know my write-ups aren't the best because my vocabulary is limited and I often hardly find words to say why I like or dislike something
Thank you once again and see you around!
(BTW I'm getting emotional because this is over
)