Round 2
Women In UniformPUPPIES-Ladies Of Metal"I liked most of this. One song nearly lost me, but you brought me back with an amazing track."This is certainly a consistent EP. I felt it was a sleeper. I really liked The Aging Man. I'm going to check them out for sure. I'm finding out that Jinjer is not for me. The Messa grew on me from the first listen. I was really WTF the first time, hence the First Impression comment. The YYNOT is a fantastic song, which earned you a Bonus Point. I found the Dreadnought very interesting.
1. The Great Discord-The Aging Man 8.5I like this. Has lots of cool parts. It builds as it goes, and I like the chorus.
2. Jinjer-I Speak Astronomy** 8.0There's really nothing to latch onto until the mellow part three and a half minutes in. The second half was a lot better.
3. Messa-Leah 7.5This takes a while to unpack, but it does have kind of a cool vibe.
4. YYNOT-Etheria 9.0This song is awesome. So much energy. I really like it. Actually has a Rush hard rock style. This stands out as quite different on this EP, but I really like it. I knew immediately this was likely getting a Bonus Point.
5. Dreadnought-To Luminous Scale 8.0This is really interesting. Pretty intense to be sure.
6. Oceans Of Slumber- A Path To Broken Stars 8.0This song starts off well enough, but I don't know. It kind of loses me. These are really good vocals, and decent enough music, but they just to mix well to my ears.
8.0+(8.0+8.0)+7.5+9.0+8.5+8.0=56.5/7=8.07*2=
16.1Meets Theme=
1.0Theme Bonus=
1.0Total=18.1---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CYRIL"Wow, that was really interesting. I can't wait to listen to it again. Lots to chew on here."I loved the Bent Knee track, and The Earth And I. Both were close to getting a Bonus Point. The Unexpect was cool enough. I'd check that out for sure.
1. Oceans of Slumber - Winter** 8.02. Messa - The Seer 8.0This is pretty cool and creepy.
3. Bent Knee - Way Too Long 8.5I love this. it's quite different, but it works really well. It's weird, and addicting.
4. Dreadnought - Immolate 7.5This got better as it went on with the instrumental part. The first half wasn't working out so well.
5. The Earth and I - The Timekeeper 8.5This is an excellent song. Real nice hard rock with
6. Unexpect - Until A Few More Deaths Do Us Part 8.0This is really cool. But ultimately it lost a little more luster with each listen.
(8.0+8.0)+8.0+8.5+7.5+8.5+8.0=56.5/7=8.07*2=
16.1Meets Theme=
1.0 Total=17.1--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
KATTELOX-The Pussycats Of Poontang"The first half of this EP was so awesome. Then WTF happened?"I find that I'm really lukewarm on Nightwish. I find the symphonic elements highly distracting, especially when overdone. I loved Suckerpunch. It has a great energy about it. Hyperdrive showed up on a handful of EPs and it's a really strong track. I've checked in on Triosphere before, but I really need to give them some real effort. I felt the second half lapsed a bit, but overall a strong and consistent EP.
1. Nightwish-Storytime 8.0A little too symphonic for me. I mean, it's not bad. It's not overdone. The chorus is quite catchy. This song actually kind of grew on me.
2. Devin Townsend Project-Hyperdrive 8.5I like the vocals in this, especially the chorus.
3. Delain-Suckerpunch 8.5Quality tune. Really catchy chorus. This song has a nice pace.
4. Triosphere-My Fortress 8.5Solid tune. It rocks pretty good. Nice solo section.
5. Nightwish-Weak Fantasy 8.0I like the vocals on this. I wish they'd leave out the symphonic elements on this. I find it really distracting.
6. Nightwish-Yours Is An Empty Hope** 8.0I should like this more than I do. I don't know.
7. Epica-Unleashed 8.0These are some serious vocals. But I feel like that is all this song has.
8. Delain-Masters Of Destiny 7.5I liked Suckerpunch a lot more than this. But this isn't bad. I feel like musically, this is a step back, but the last minute is a great way to end the EP.
8.0+8.5+8.5+8.5+8.0+(8.0+8.0)+8.0+7.5=73/9=8.11*2=
16.2Meets Theme=
1.0Total=17.2----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ARIICH-Girls Just Wanna Rock"This EP needs some trimming. Lots of tasty hard rock but I find a lot of it generic. It ends pretty strong though."I would like to rename this EP to the Three Bears EP. One band ...almost. One band...not quite. One band...just right.
The After Forever tracks were excellent, earning you a Bonus Point. I've sampled Kobra before, and they're definitely nice enough. They are not a "must have" band for me.
But unfortunately the Halestorm didn't work.
1. Kobra and the Lotus - Velvet Roses 8.0I like this song. It really goes by in a flash, but very enjoyable.
2. After Forever - Equally Destructive 8.5Another song that's easy on the ears. Those are quality vocals right here.
3. Halestorm - Mz. Hyde 7.5I don't really have an opinion of this song. It's not bad, I guess. This round a much better vocals, and the song is just OK.
4. Halestorm - I Miss the Misery 6.5I've definitely heard this song a few times on the radio, so thank you for solving the mystery of who made this totally sucky song that I can't stand. lol
5. After Forever - Envision 8.0A quality tune with some great vocals. I definitely like this. Good and solid.
6. After Forever - Energize Me 8.0Beginning reminds me of Pat Benatar. This is really nice music.
I like this band. These vocals are great.
7. Kobra and the Lotus - Light Me Up** 8.0Nice enough song. I don't have much to say about it. It's really just there.
8. Halestorm - I Am the Fire 7.5This is the best of the three Halestorm songs. Sounds like Kelly Clarkson on bat shit steroids.
9. Kobra and the Lotus - Burn! 8.0Like a lot of other songs on this EP. It's good.Nothing more. Not much to say on it.
10. After Forever - Cry With a Smile 9.0This is a great song. I'm very impressed with this vocalist. Very powerful track. Reminds me of early Pat Benatar. I think is song is amazing. That chorus absolutely slays.
11. Kobra and the Lotus - In the End 8.0The EP ends with a song with some character. This song has a nice flow. That part around 3:30 where the guitars pick up for a brief time is cool.
8.0+8.5+7.5+6.5+8.0+8.0+(8.0+8.0)+7.5+8.0+9.0+8.0=95/12=7.92*2=
15.8Meets Theme=
1.0Theme Bonus=
1.0Total=17.8--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BUDDY HUNTER-Ladies And Djents"The EP title is appropriate. These bands sounded a lot alike on first listen"I really struggled on scoring this EP. It definitely didn't suck, but I really had trouble connecting with a lot of it. Destiny Potato proved to be a moving target, while you reaped the rewards of Hyperdrive. And definitely the best EP Title of the round.
1: Destiny Potato - Indifferent ** 8.0Really nice vocal. This song feels more hard rock than the other two.
2: Jinjer - Teacher, Teacher! 7.5I wasn't in love with this, but the last half of the song was decent.
3: Destiny Potato - UYM 7.0The electronic elements in the first half really don't agree with me. It does eventually develop into something decent though.
4: Devin Townsend Project - Hyperdrive! 8.5I like the vocals in this, especially the chorus.
5: Jinjer - Perennial 7.0The beginning of this song is a bunch of noise. The harsh vocals are...harsh. The clean female vocals are nice enough but not enough to save this song.
6: Destiny Potato - Addict 8.0Cool enough song with lots of interesting parts.
(8.0+8.0)+7.5+7.0+8.5+7.0+8.0 54/7=7.71*2-
15.4Meets Theme=
1.0Total=16.4------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
JINGLE BOY-That's What She Said"I liked this a lot. You've hit the spot with a lot of this."Really strong and consistent EP. Was really looking forward to the Vandroya, and it did not disappoint. I really need to follow up and make them stick. Triosphere is solid AF and of course to me, the band of the round was After Forever. Unfortunately, you should've quit while you were ahead and made this a 7 song EP.
1. Beautiful Sin-Lost 8.0Not a bad song at all. Quite enjoyable.
2. Vandroya-No Oblivion For Eternity 8.5This starts of really progressive. Really strong vocals in the chorus.
Sounds like Perfect Symmetry/Parallels era Fates Warning. Musically this is excellent. the guitar solo sounds really familiar.
3. Triosphere-Worlds Apart 8.0Can't say this was a great song, but I loved the changeup for the instrumental section. That was amazing. And it carried the song out to the end.
4. Vandroya-Why Should We Say Goodbye 8.5I love the vocal in this song. And that second half of the guitar solo is outstanding.
5. Ad Infinitum-I Am The Storm 8.0This is nice. Excellent vocal.
6. After Forever-Equally Destructive** 8.5Another song that's easy on the ears. Those are quality vocals right here. Has Pat Benatar feel to it.
7. Beautiful Sin-Take Me Home 8.5Excellent solo section. This is a solid tune to be sure. This actually really grew on me.
8. Arch Enemy-Walk In The Shadows 7.0Ooff.
8.0+8.5+8.0+8.5+8.0+(8.5+8.5)=8.5+7.0=73.5/9=8.16*2=
16.3Meets Theme=
1.0Total=17.3----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WOLFKING-The Bitches Are Back In Town"Half of this EP is excellent, and half is really good." I appreciate the crash course in Arch Enemy. Damn, their music is ridiculously killer. But those vocals...wow. Females are not supposed to do this. I'll be honest, I didn't love their vocals, but their music is fantastic, especially the Schenker inspired nemesis.
I am getting that Sinergy album. Spit On Your Grave earned you a Bonus Point for the best song of the round. And I found The Superjesus really charming. A total bonus track if there ever was one, but I enjoyed the hell out of that song.
1. Arch Enemy-Blood On Your Hands** 8.5This song is total metal. Not sure I'm totally on board with this chick's vocals. Kind of creeps me out.
2. Arch Enemy-Nemesis 8.5I like this one a lot, vocals notwithstanding. This song is loaded with Schenkerisms, and you know I appreciate that.
3. Sinergy-Spit On Your Grave 9.0Tis song kicks some serious ass. I like this. I see it has Alexi of CoB. That's cool. THis tune is top notch.
4. Beautiful Sin-This Is Not The Original Dream 7.5This feels a bit out of place here.
5. Sinergy-Midnight Madness 8.5Excellent metal tune. I like the vocals, and they fit the music pretty well. This band is a find.
6. Arch Enemy-The Day You Died 7.5This one is rough. I like a lot of the guitar though. Reminds me a lot of Accept, actually. These vocals suck though.
7. Sinergy-Suicide By My Side 8.0Not sure I like this song as much as the other two, but it's still pretty solid.
8. The Superjesus-Down Again 8.5I think this is actually pretty neat. I love the feel of this. The vocals are really endearing and inviting.
(8.5+8.5)+8.5+9.0+7.5+8.5+7.5+8.0+8.5=74.5/9=8.27*2=
16.5Meets Theme=
1.0Theme Bonus=
1.0Total=18.5