Well, here we go. I had to split to post in two because it exceeded the characters limit. In the first preliminary round. I know, right?
Well, you'll just have to bear with me.
Preliminary Round #1 Results:
In like Flynn:
Tomislav95: Redemption – Black and White WorldOooh, someone from the invitees is probably going to be disappointed. Redemption was an obvious hole in my list, the one I’m surprised no one took an advantage of in my first roulette, and one of the invited folks has already asked me about this band’s absence in the list — and all for naught, since you were quick on the trigger indeed, effectively blocking that person by sending this magnificent little gem to me.
This is by far the best song of this round. Everything about it is perfect to my ears, from the wonderful keyboard intro fitting so much with the album cover and the general atmosphere of the song to the deep and soulful Ray Alder’s vocal performance. Love songs can come off as really forced and facepalm-worthy, but in the instances they’re done right, they can be captivating and touching, and I think this is a great example of this. The lyrics are deftly written, and Ray’s voice just adds the magic to this tune through these carefully written longing vocal melodies. The prominence of keyboards and bass throughout the track is another highlight, and the happy, uplifting ending with the simple yet gripping harmonies seals the deal for me. This is too good to be wrong, indeed. I’ve nothing to complain about. In fact, I liked this song so much that when I was in the record store in Friday I’ve tried to find anything from Redemption there, but sadly they didn’t have anything. Still, I’m aiming for some purchases of this band’s material here.
You’re in straight to the main competition. You don’t have to send for the next preliminary round, but you can send something if you want to. Note that if I like your song enough, the artist will be banned. This is a good way to cockblock someone or to check out my tastes with something you’re unsure of.
(9.5/10)Train of Naught: Avenged Sevenfold – A Little Piece of HeavenThis was, by far, the best grower of the round. After a first listen I was thinking about eliminating you, because something about this song just didn’t click with me, and then I found out I was humming the chorus melody to myself every now and then. I guess what I needed to do is embrace the playful and quirky atmosphere of this sprawling song, and after I approached it with not all that seriousness I was able to appreciate the hell out of it. Thankfully, I’m not against the grossness in the songs while it’s all good-hearted and fun.
This song is remarkable due to the huge theatrical vibe, loads of unusual instruments in your standard metal song and of course, there are those different vocalists. There are lots of subtle orchestration, sound effects to enhance the experience, and the dramatic sections with raging vocals are alternating with the fairly calm choruses, including the severely annoying
“my baby don’t crah – ah – ah – ah – ah – y” which is probably the most earworm-ish moment and fits perfectly in the whole Broadway vibe of the song. Needless to say, I love the dramatic sections the most, and my favourite part is probably the bridge where they’ve got the guest female singer to contribute.
“Well then I’ll grant you a chance”, this part is just fantastic. But I’ve got to say, the song works spectacularly well as a whole composition, and this was another highlight of the round. It has a bit of mood from Scaretale by Nightwish, except I actually like your song, and it has a bit of that madness of Sonata Arctica’s Unia, and the outcome exceeded my expectations. I don’t see myself enjoying an album full of the tracks like that, but one or two occasional tracks like that, yes, this would appeal to me. And anyway, this song is a lot of fun. So did he rape her dead body first and then got on with eating that heart he ripped out from her?
You took a risk and send the band that was in “I didn’t like it” list, and it paid off big time. This song was much better than Afterlife. You too are in straight to the main competition. You don’t have to send for the next preliminary round, but you can send something if you want to. Note that if I like your song enough, the artist will be banned. This is a good way to cockblock someone or to check out my tastes with something you’re unsure of.
(9/10)Almost in like Mr. Bean (okay, I’ve got nothing for this one)
Bolsters / Big Hath: Arion – Out of the AshesWell you guys are certainly good at sending the same songs. First you both went with Shadows, and then you’ve both settled on this one, so I assume Shadows is Arion’s best song and this is the second best? This makes sense, since I liked Shadows a lot but just forgot to check out the rest of these guys’ work, and if this song is any indication, I should do it as soon as I can.
This song is somewhat relentless kick-ass power metal, but it’s quite different from your usual double-bass onslaught you can hear in a lot of new power metal bands, this track has somewhat of a progressive edge. There are symphonic parts (played on keyboard I guess, but still), pounding riffs and the very memorable vocal melodies, with the singer knowing where to go powerful and where to go high-pitched to the point it sounds like someone is squeezing his balls. It’s a great tune and my only complaint is the production could be a bit clearer; this song sounds a bit muddy. After Shadows and this song I can definitely see why you guys would like this band, I need to check the whole album for sure.
You both proceed to the Preliminary Round #2. Your song was quite great, so you have a bit of advantage over the rest of participants in that round. Just don’t send the same song again.
(9/10)Tyrias: Brand New – HandcuffsI’ve got two ballads in this round, and I liked yours much more than the other one. While I didn’t think Sowing Season was anything special, I connected with this song instantly and this may yet inspire me to check out Brand New. The chill guitar, the soft, uncaring singer’s voice makes this song very appealing and enjoyable, and the inclusion of cello during the further “I’d arrest you if I had handcuffs” passages takes the song on the whole another level. It’s a great example how one well-thought-out vocal melody can make the song, with the fitting instrumentation behind. That’s not to say I didn’t like the rest of this tune, because it was quite good and definitely not out of place, but the aforementioned passage is the one that kept popping up in my mind here and there. I was actually disappointed when it didn’t show up one last time in the end, I feel this song could use another run of this beautiful melody. Or maybe it could use a sequel instead. How about
“I’d buy you dinner if I had money / I’d lift you if I had a car”? Write the next two lines yourself!
You proceed to the Preliminary Round #2, and along with Bolsters and Big Hath you’re on top of this food chain, so to speak. You’ve got a bit of advantage over the people down this list.
(8.5/10)splent: Kansas – Song for AmericaWell, this was another grower, and while at the first listen I was worried your participation in this roulette would be over in just one round, I’ve come to appreciate this song quite a bit over the subsequent listens. It came to the point I can safely say that out of three longer progressive rock songs I received in this round, this one is undoubtedly the best, and while the other two are fighting for survival as we speak, you’re definitely in the safe zone.
I was familiar with some Kansas songs (their main hits mostly), and I can’t even say I’ve liked those, so I was quite apprehensive about this tune, but it’s actually quite a pleasant ten minutes ride. You mentioned in your PM this song doesn’t feel like it’s ten minutes long, and I completely agree with you, it feels much shorter. The vocals could be more impressive, but they fit the song well, and so do the instrumental parts – my favourite things are the up-front bass, which was something the progressive bands from 70s and 80s loved to do, and of course the lovely violin making its appearances throughout this tune. The keyboard solos are also lovely. I’m usually not too big about those happy progressive rock songs – it takes something unique to interest me in these – but I admit I should’ve checked Kansas years ago, this song seems right up my alley and after the initial not-so-good impressions I enjoyed it every time I had to spin it during this round. Well done. I’ll dive into Kansas discography after this roulette.
You proceed to the Preliminary Round #2, and you’re somewhere in the middle there. You don’t have a huge advantage over everyone, but you aren’t in that bad position either. Your song was solid, and to get further you should maybe up your game a notch, but you still have pretty good chance to make it.
(8/10)Sacul: Marketa Irglova – Time ImmemorialYou are one of those participants whose previous record works against you, because except Pure Reason Revolution that I didn’t quite dig and Swans that I didn’t quite dig, you didn’t have anything applying to my tastes to offer me in my first roulette. I wasn’t sure what I should expect from you there, but you opened with a really nice and beautiful ballad, which, despite not being the best song and even best ballad of the round, was enough to get my full attention.
If we take into consideration both my first roulette and this one, this is probably your best song yet. You of all people should know I’m a sucker for ballads, and this one hits it quite close to the spot – the whole acoustic background and Marketa’s voice are entwined to create a thing of beauty, a wonderful little song. I feel her voice is even a bit under-utilized here, and she could be a bit more powerful in a few moments considering the subject, especially in the last part starting with
“Since time immemorial there’s been conflict and war”, but otherwise it’s a fine song and I’ve enjoyed it a lot. If you have more things like that, I’d be glad to see you in my roulette… it’s just somehow I doubt that. Feel free to convince me otherwise in the next preliminary round?
You proceed to the Preliminary Round #2, and you’re somewhere in the middle there. You don’t have a huge advantage over everyone, but you aren’t in that bad position either. Your song was solid, but considering your previous track record, you definitely should up your game a notch if you want to get in. Still, you’ve got a pretty good chance to make it.
(8/10)425: Coheed and Cambria – Key Entity Extraction I: Domino the DestituteYou’ve jumped upon this train quite late, but it won’t diminish your chances to make it as long as you send me great songs! You might want to try harder than that if you really want to play in the main part though. You probably didn’t know that, but my main problem preventing me to check out C&C was the fact I couldn’t stand the vocalist voice. I’ve mostly checked out some bits of their music here and there, but I never checked out any whole song by them. I even fell for the joke regarding Metallica’s Welcome Home being the cover of Coheed and Cambria’s song due to my ignorance once.
Well, it was high time to rectify that, and listening to this song with an open mind, I can’t quite say I hate the vocals here. They’re quirky, yes, but they’re not that much quirky that I won’t give them a chance, and while on some occasions during this song I cringe a bit, in the other moments the vocal style works just fine. There are also some moments I don’t quite understand their necessity yet, like the laughs in the middle of the song or the spoken samples, but I don’t know the whole back story, so I’ll just let them slip for now. I can’t honestly say I loved this song, but I liked a lot of parts in it, and while I might have found it disjointed, I’ll write it off as me not being familiar enough with the song. I can’t digest a complex song in only a day while I still have to listen to twelve others.
Still, I’ve liked enough what I’ve heard so you proceed to the Preliminary Round #2, but you’re not in the favoured position, and not even in the middle, somewhere just a smidge below that. Your song was good, but to get in the main part you’ll either have to send something better than that and hope the other participants will screw up too, or send something incredible that will make me drool and jump in a sheer exultation or something. Another song like the one you’ve sent this time won’t do the trick.
(7.5/10)Scorpion: Heart of Cygnus – The Mountain KingYou’ve played in my first roulette and while you’ve sent some great tracks, you submitted some duds either. You were close to make it through the eliminations, but you’ve lost it in the Tiebreaker to ErHaO, sending that Theocracy song. I’m quite interested in Theocracy now, actually, but I still think that song wasn’t too good. Anyway, I was quite intrigued with what you had to offer this time.
I’ve read over the Internet this band includes only two musicians, one of drums and one on everything else, and that’s certainly impressive. I guess the string parts are the samples then, or did they get some guest musicians on that record? Anyway, I love how authentic and folky the intro sounds here, like it’s introducing some magical land far away. Considering the cover and the melody in the beginning, this song reminded me of Heroes of Might and Magic III for some reason. Anyway, this was one of those longer progressive rock songs I didn’t really appreciate on the first listen and I still remain unconvinced. The vocal melodies here are a real downer. I think a song with such a small vocals presence could use them to a greater effect, and instead they feel kind of unneeded to me here. I also thought this song drags a bit and it didn’t warrant the full nine minutes to get its point through. It’s enjoyable, yes, but my attention drifts off if I don’t force myself to stay alert, and that’s never a good thing.
You’re barely through and you proceed to Preliminary Round #2, but not only you’re not in a favoured position, your next entry pretty much has to leave me in awe. I’d say you’ve got to send the best song of the next round if you want to get in.
(7/10)Elite: Kino – Losers’ Day ParadeI was intrigued both by your participation and by this band, seeing how they’ve got Pete Trewavas (I hate typing this surname in, really, it'so difficult to type) on board, but in fact this was more underwhelming than it was enjoyable. I mean, when this song gets good, it’s certainly quite a great one, but the lows are sticking out and quite persistently bring this song down. The stripped down part beginning from 2:20 is the greatest example of that, and I have to gather all my tenacity to sit through it, and it doesn’t help when we get reprises of this theme later. When this tune gets more intense, however, it becomes progressively more interesting. My favourite part is probably the ending, where the band goes all out with “Dead nobodies in company cars”, and yeah, this is the kind of music I love, but it took them six minutes to get there. Even after six listens, I wasn’t able to grow to like this song as much as I wanted to, and that makes me think that maybe it’s not that great after all.
Please don’t read this as me being condescending, but here goes: in all honesty, I should eliminate you right at this point, but I’m really intrigued in what you have to offer, so I think you deserve one more chance. Therefore, you’re barely through and you proceed to Preliminary Round #2, but to earn yourself a place in the main competition, you have to wow the fuck out of me. I know you can do it. Maybe it’s time to take some risks?
(6.5/10)