Writeups will be brief (for the most part), and to the point. Though I said this was an in/out decision, I will rank them in (mostly) the order I liked them - from best to worst. The margin of difference was pretty small across the board. Every song that made it thru was stellar in one way or another. Even those that didn’t will get some replay value.
Elite:
Theocracy - I Am
Way better than the last Theocracy tune I got (Kris/YtseBitsySpider in Roulette #1). This song had a little bit of everything… great lyrics and melodies (“I am the melody that weaves it’s way inside your soul”), excellent vocals, hard and soft elements, pace changes. It was the total package. I particularly loved the celtic breakdown in the middle. Is this the typical style of Theocracy - because I wrote them off after Kris’s substandard submission?
bl5150:
Rox Diamond - Familiar Strangers
Doesn't get much better than this for melodic rock - or what some of us used to call glam/hair metal. Leave it to Brent to be the only one going deep enough that Spotify doesn't have the tune. This one tickled me right on my musical funny bone
Zook:
Shear - Turmoil
Great riffage here. Vocally this was really good… got better with every listen. I almost always love my female fronted music.
wolfking:
Ride the Sky - New Protection
Vocals are right up my alley - they’re a perfect blend of smooth and gruff. Oh here’s why - his is fronted by Bjorn Jansson from Tears of Anger - love their two albums. Pretty safe submission - but there’s nothing wrong with safe.
Lowdz:
Anubis Gate - Snowbound
I’ve seen the band name all over the place here, but never checked 'em out. Pretty much what I expected from this band; great melodies , excellent vocals, and everything else that is the standard formula for the melodic rock/metal that appeals to me.
TAC:
Lords Of The Trident - Shattered Skies
Blind Guardian vibe coming through pretty strong. Now THESE are some massive cheesy lyrics, and my god… why did I look at a band profile pic! Good thing the music stands well on it’s own.
Prog Snob:
A.C.T. - Wailings from a Building
John led with a different band, but got a warning that what I do know if that act hasn’t been overly favourable - I won’t say who, as it still might be a viable option (as opposed to the below, who I’ll tell all of you is a BIG risk). This reload option was funky, rockin, proggy… not at all what I was expecting from A.C.T. And not at all like anything anyone else submitted.
lonestar:
Deadly Circus Fire - Threnody
Voyager was RJ’s first choice, and he bailed on it after I told him of my (not so exciting) experience with them at the Evergreen show just 10 days ago. So, he rage-submits this on me. Some big ass crunchy guitars coming through loud and clear - his roulette calling card these days. I feel like I was left with an "RJ was here" business card. Loved the little feedback-y screeches that came along the main riff. For a brief moment during the intro, the combined drum run and guitar riff reminded me a hella lot of Spoonman.
Big Hath:
Harvest - Roundabout
This gave me an Anathema vibe. Gorgeous female vocals, and musically, it's not too heavy, but not too light . Perfect blend.
Evermind:
Rustfield - Waxhopes
Big Subsignal vibe throughout. It somehow manages to be a prog-metal song but never feels overly heavy or proggy. I don't know how else to describe it.
jjrock88:
Accept - Losing More Than You've Ever Had
Really like Udo's vocals. Solid metal, holds up pretty good for 1980s music. I’d probably have liked this more 25 years ago, but still enjoyed it plenty hearing it for the first time here.
Bolsters:
Better - The Screaming Jets
Solid rock. Nothing that floored me, but there was absolutely nothing wrong with this. Loved the frantic outro.
Nekov:
Rival Sons - Electric Man
Man, this is some blatant old school rock 'n' roll. No kidding when they describe themselves with influences from Bad Company, Deep Purple, Zeppelin, and the Doors. It's certainly a potpourri of all of that and more. Hated to say that this was at the low end of the winners, cuz it was a great tune!
Mystery Machine:
Sphere of Souls - Sweet Sorrow
Borderline between really good, and just ok. I should’ve enjoyed it more, having come from the vocalist of Sun Caged, and keyboardist Joost van den Broek (Star One, Sun Caged, After Forever). I was thinking that Bolsters' anti-climatic comment was going to be spot on, but this got better with multiple listens, and it came down to this and ...
Sacul:
Last Crack - Energy Mind
Highlighted by a plodding guitar riff that didn't do much for me. Nice vocals and solo however. It came down to this and Mystery Machine's tune, as the last safe one, and I’m going to defer to Mystery - I'm intrigued by what he/she might come up with - considering the band they used in Mason’s (fairly obscure and under-rated btw). I have a feeling I know that your tastes and mine are, by and large, not in alignment . No soup for you.
senecadawg2:
Orden Ogan - Nobody Leaves
This one started great, but then the double bass kick put it on the edge of thrashy… I’m not a fan of thrash. The chorus was great and I found more to like about it with each listen. Despite Doc's 8/8 in his roulette, this didn't quite align with the things that float my boat. I find that while Doc and I have a lot in common, we also have a lot not in common. Which leads me to...
Dr. DTVT:
Ghost - Cirice
Beautiful song, for sure, but it just didn't click. There's something about really HEAVY songs that carry a slow pace - they usually don't jive with me. I dunno what it is with me and you and Roulette’s. We just don’t seem to click, despite our obvious “SUPER” compatibility - at least, according to last.fm (before they fucked with the interface).
Train of Naught:
Pendulum - Witchcraft
Electronica? According to my ears, definitely so (and confirmed by Wiki). Clearly you missed one of the VERY FIRST THINGS I STATED IN MY OP! This was certainly entertaining, and catchy as fuck, but then again, so is influenza, and herpes. Not my thing man. I’ll probably come back to it on occasion, but this just didn’t cut it with this crowd. At least you kinda figured this was coming.
So here’s the deal for Mystery Machine… you’re gonna have to wow the shit out of me if you want to make it. You’re on probation for barely sneaking in. Mason and Nelson... Both your songs had things to like, but against this competition, fell a little short. However, you're both saved with a get out of jail free card. I know you both have something for me, so wow me. If you don't, I can't save you twice.
And on this round, there are no get out of jail cards. So don't fuck up.