Results time.
SomeoneLikeHim: Circus Maximus – ‘Architect of Fortune’
I feel like this could be used as a defining song for progressive metal; it really has just about everything I associate with the genre. It has the soaring vocals, the intricate instrumentation, the interesting and powerful drums, the beautiful keyboard melodies and rich textures, the great guitar playing with awesome solos, and the unpredictable structure. It’s the whole package. That being said, while all of these elements are there, none of them are particularly outstanding to me. Nothing in this song really blows me away. There’s nothing wrong with it, either – in fact, it’s consistently very good. But for me, it never climbs much higher than the ‘very good’ mark. Still, I thoroughly enjoy it from start to finish. And for a ten minute song, it goes by remarkably fast; it never drags, and it has a great flow.
lonestar: Maestrick – ‘Aquarela’
Beautiful and captivating. This is exactly the kind of musical journey I associate with the word ‘progressive.’ I really feel like this song takes me on a ride, steering me through a variety of moods and feelings while always keeping a focus on moving forward and building higher. It’s a very colorful song, with lots of wonderful little musical surprises and a whimsical structure that holds my interest and keeps me guessing and wondering where it’s going to go next. At times it feels very light-hearted and carefree, but there are also sections where it has a distinct intensity to it, which makes for a really interesting combination. And the vocals have a way of really keeping me on my toes, with some vocal passages that turn in totally unexpected directions. I look forward to getting to know this song better.
jingle.boy: Star One – ‘Human See, Human Do’
Wow. First things first, this song boasts one hell of an ensemble of vocalists. Every one of the singers is on fire here, especially the lady – I’ve seen Floor talked about quite a bit, but this is my first time actually hearing her voice, and… damn. She nails the living hell out of that chorus. But as I said, every vocalist does very well with their role, and the combination of them all provides a very nice variety that keeps the song constantly feeling fresh. Of course, there’s more to it than just the vocalists, and the instrumentation is excellent all around. I particularly love the drummer, and some of the core guitar melodies are awesome. Some terrific work on the keys as well. With a cool concept, a frantic pace, and a hectic style, this song really works on every level. I love it.
wolfking: Vanishing Point – ‘Hollow’
Excellent. Very melodic, but very powerful at the same time. This song starts off strong with a fast pace and a lot of energy, and it never really lets up – loses a bit of momentum during parts of the instrumental section, in my opinion, but it quickly regains control. Driven by awesome drumming and guitar playing with sweet symphonic flavorings in the keys, this one also features a great vocal performance with some wonderful vocal melodies. The chorus in particular is amazingly catchy – even on first listen I found myself singing along with it before the song was over. Great stuff.
adace: Alcest – ‘Autre Temps’
Very nice. Aside from some pretty energetic drumming during certain parts, this song has a really nice laid back feel to it. It’s quite calming, even soothing, with a dreamy, airy atmosphere and lovely vocals that are an absolutely pleasure to listen to. To be honest, though, it doesn’t really hold my attention. When I’m listening to this, my mind drifts off and I find myself thinking about other things. Which could actually be a very good thing in certain circumstances (this could be a great song to have on in the background while writing), but for the purposes of a competition, I’m not sure it really makes a strong enough impression. Still, a very pretty song overall.
kingshmegland: King’s X – ‘Smudge’
Out of all the songs I’ve received so far in this roulette, this one stands out to me as unique. It’s… grunge prog? I’m fairly certain ‘grunge prog’ isn’t actually a thing, and probably you all think I’m an idiot for even saying it, but it’s honestly the closest I can get to describing this song’s distinct and unusual style. Outside of the chorus (which is great, by the way), it has kind of a subdued vibe, slow and hypnotic, with some very nice bass and guitar work and a few moments of explosive heaviness. Interesting vocals, too – I think the vocal style is partially where the ‘grunge’ feeling comes from for me. I’m honestly not sure how I feel about it overall. Kind of a strange song, but still pretty cool I think.
Round Six rankings:
1. jingle.boy
2. wolfking
3. lonestar
4. SomeoneLikeHim
5. adace
6. kingshmegland
Sorry, king. I really feel like this song could grow on me over time, but it just hasn’t clicked with me quite yet. I’m afraid you’re out. Thanks very much for taking the time to participate in this; it’s been great having you, and I’ll probably be getting in touch with you to chat a little more about I Mother Earth.
Meanwhile, congratulations to jingle.boy! There was some tough competition, but in the end, your song’s outstanding vocal performances gave you the edge. You’ve earned immunity from elimination in the next round, which guarantees you a spot in the final four. You’re playing very well, so keep it up!
Moving right along…
Round Seven: A Softer Side
I feel like a lot of the songs I’ve been receiving have been fast-paced high energy rockers, and while there’s nothing wrong with that, I’m looking to mix things up a bit this round. I want you guys to send me something a little bit calmer, a little bit more mellow, maybe a little bit more relaxing. As usual, I’m not going to be very strict about this theme; just keep it in mind as a guideline when picking your songs.
Submit your songs by January 31st, and I’ll try to be quicker about results this time around.
Also, after this round, we’ll be down to the final four, which means no more immunity rewards. Chad is protected for now, but once this round is over, nobody will be safe anymore. Get ready to put your best foot forward with each and every submission from here on out.
Topic: Jaffa's Prog Rock and Metal Roulette - Final Results posted!!! (Read 42760 times)