ROUND 7 RESULTSelefantStone: Unitopia - Tesla
This song is easily one of the most unique submissions I've got this roulette, and in a good way. It mixes progressive rock, jazz, and what sounds like a ton of other influences in a way that sounds really new to me. The funny thing is, I'm not really a big fan of retro progressive rock or jazz, but I really like this song. Maybe it's the way that it blends styles so well that appeals to me, but whatever the reason is, this song is great. The previously-mentioned blending of styles leads to some interesting instrumentation, and it all fits and is performed well. It's a pretty long song, but it doesn't get boring. The instrumental section that starts a few minutes in is easily the highlight of the song for me, and I've definitely caught myself recently humming the "all parts of the whole" part towards the end. This was incredibly unique-sounding song, and it's executed very well.
Score: 8.5
senecadawg2: Sigur Ros - Svefn-g-englar
While I love ( ), for whatever reason, I haven't bothered to check out any more albums by Sigur Ros. Maybe it's because, while I like post-rock, it's a genre that sounds a bit same-y to me. Anyways, onto the song. Well, it certainly is atmospheric, no surprise there. It's very peaceful, dreamy, and quite beautiful. It feels very restrained; it's a quiet song throughout, and the instrumentation is crafted very carefully to create a soft, ethereal sound, while not being too minimalistic. However, there's quite a few songs on ( ) that I prefer to this one. In fact, the constant softness of this song is probably my main problem with it. Many of the tracks on ( ) have a lot of quiet parts, but build up to a big crescendo or bombastic payoff. This song doesn't really have that, save for a few bars towards the end, after which the song quickly retreats back into the softness. And while this song is certainly emotional, in my opinion it doesn't really come close to songs like Untitled 1 or 3. However, this was still a beautiful song that I'll probably put on when I'm in the mood for something quiet, peaceful and soothing.
Score: 8.0
Nekov: Von Hertzen Brothers - Insomniac
This is a pretty simple song, which is good, because I got a crapton of songs this round close to or over the ten minute mark.
The first thing anyone will notice is that riff; it's a damn awesome riff, and that absolutely filthy guitar tone accompanies it well. The vocal lines are quite catchy as well, both for the verses and the chorus. The section after the second chorus is pretty cool, too. And that's basically all I have to say about this one. It's a simple song, and a good one, too.
Score: 8.0
jingle.boy: Yes - Roundabout
Out of all the old-school songs you've sent me in this roulette, this is easily one of the best ones. As I've said before, classic prog isn't one of my favorite genres, but this song was unique-sounding enough to appeal to me, and there's a good amount of positive things I have to say about it. I like the way the acoustic guitar is used; the intro is great and the way it's implemented in the verses works really well. Another highlight is the bass work, which is fantastic and groovy as hell. The song flows pretty well, and there's some really enjoyable sections, like the verses, the part in the middle, and the intro reprise with the atmospheric synth that comes directly after. I've heard a good amount of Yes before (my dad loves them), but this is easily the best song I've heard from them. So congratulations on that!
Score: 8.0
Lucien: The Enid - Tripping The Light Fantastic
This was certainly a pleasant surprise. I mentioned in my write-up for elefantStone's submission that while I'm not a big fan of progressive rock or jazz, the combination of the two seemed to work really well. Likewise, the unique combination of progressive rock and classical music works fantastically in this song, despite me not really being a fan of either genre on their own. Hooray, more unique-sounding stuff! This is a pretty damn great piece of music. The instrument choices and the layering of melodies is fantastic; it's really unlike anything I've ever head before. The calm parts build up to the bombastic payoffs very well, and the melodies are incredibly memorable. It's been proven many times that rock and symphonic music can work together quite well, but this song just takes it to a whole other level.
Score: 8.5
?: Barren Earth - As It Is Written
I can't come up with a good introduction for this write-up, so I'll just say that this song is awesome. It mixes metal with progressive rock in an interesting way; sorta like Opeth, but less heavy. The style of metal kinda feels very old-school, almost Black Sabbath-y, in a way, but it sounds very modern and polished at the same time. The slow, marching groove is really nice, and the riffs and melodies are great, particularly that main synth lead and the riff in the verses. I like how the majority of the vocals are clean; they fit in very well. I love the verses and the choruses, and the song stays interesting throughout. I initially thought the piano break in the middle felt really out-of-place, but it sets up a fantastic instrumental section, so I can't complain. The highlight of the song is easily the outro guitar solo. It ends the song on an amazing note, and leaves you feeling very satisfied. Enjoy your first 9/10.
Score: 9.0
Lolzeez: Ne Obliviscaris - Forget Not
If I were to solely judge this song on the first six minutes, it would easily be one of the best submissions of the roulette. The whole first half of the song before the vocals come in is absolutely fantastic. The violin is used really damn well, and it combined with the acoustic guitar create a great wintery, melancholy atmosphere. The song builds up very well, and then the distorted guitars and double bass drum come in, and the transition into the heavier second half of the song is awesome. Sadly, the second half of the song isn't as good. It's not bad by any means, but nothing from it really sticks out, and it feels a bit monotonous and repetitive. However, I'd say the amazing first half more than makes up for it.
Score: 8.5
LieLowTheWantedMan: Diablo Swing Orchestra - Honey Trap Aftermath
Fun fact: this is the only submission you've sent me where I've actually heard of the band before. You almost had a perfect streak!
So yeah, I've been interested in this band for a while now, as I love myself some crazy, wacky music. This song certainly delivers in that department; it's quirky and very fun to listen to. It's also groovy as hell, which I like. However, I find myself slightly disappointed. I notice you said that it's one of the band's least quirky songs, and I can sorta feel that. I was hoping for a bit more chaos and some metal elements, which this song doesn't have. On its own, it's a good song, but I think it could have been better.
Score: 8.0
Elite: Protest The Hero - Without Prejudice
Oh hey, it's these guys again. I'd definitely say I like this song a bit more than Sequoia Throne, which I got in round two. My main complaint with that song was that it was all over the place, with very abrupt transitions and barely any song structure. In that regard, this song fares a lot better. It feels a lot more concise, the sections last as long as they should, and it all flows pretty well. I really like the fast tempo; the song is very energetic while being pretty melodic at the same time. The riffs are cool and the vocals are nice… I'm still not sure if these guys are up my alley or not, but this song was pretty cool.
Score: 8.0
THE SCORE SO FAR-senecadawg2: 59
-Nekov: 58.5
-?: 58.5
-Elite: 58
-elefantStone: 58
-Lolzeez: 56.5
-jingle.boy: 55.5
-LieLowTheWantedMan: 55.5
-Lucien: 55
-Scorpion: 49
The score is getting close, and the final round is upon us! I've gotta go to dinner now, but I'll post the details soon. Stay tuned!