So, here it comes. Before you start looking for your song to say something about this round: as a whole it was very very strong round. I can't really compare it to anything because it's round 1 but the average score is very high. Many songs got sam score, it was too hard to decide which I liked better. And I didn't give higher scores because I don't think what will other rounds be like and I'm comfortable with this so there's that. Now, drum rolls...
Round 1 Resultstwosuitsluke: Pantera - FloodsWe all know Pantera, I heard some of their songs, can’t say I like any of them minus Cemetery Gates (and it's completely different than anything else I heard from them). And this is different in the other way. It’s sludgy and doomy, I didn’t expect that. Deep spoken parts are pretty metal, yeah. And while I don’t like Anselmo’s vomiting style singing, I think chorus is the best part of this song (that one line). Yeah, sadly it is, for me, not solo nor outro as you’d expect. Strumming part is pretty cool as well and part when it gets heavy again is headbangable. You’ll probably hate me for this but I don’t like the solo very much, nor Dimebag’s tone. I can’t say why, I just don’t :/ However, outro is pretty good. Maybe after you said it’s your favorite outro I expected little more. I enjoy drums in it, and drumming is one thing about Pantera I like, so you can further recommend me some of their songs with kick-ass drumming but I don’t think I’ll ever be a fan, sorry.
This is not a bad song, but when I see songs that got 0,5 point more I can’t give it the same score. And I’m sorry, I’d like to like Pantera but I just don’t see anything special in their music.
6.5/10Elite: Meshuggah - NostrumI listened to Meshuggah before, their album Koloss, and I know a few songs off Obzen. I liked them but it never grabbed me enough to listen to them actively. So I rally wanted to like this. Right at the beginning, there’s Haake’s famous drumming, everything is very heavy and exactly what I’d expect from Meshuggah. However, first thing I noticed is guitar tone. I think it sounds different, and better than on older albums. I’m still not a fan of singer, I know he is supposed to sound that way, more like additional instrument than singer but I like real melodies more. Place where chugging stops is when it gets interesting. That riffs is so heavy and sounds so rich (nuggetz!) I often want to repeat it and listen it again. And then vocalist kills it a bit for me again :/ I see they do classic solos now, it works surprisingly good and not weird at all. The beginning of the solo is pretty good but second part lost me, and I rather listen to rhythm guitar underneath it, to be honest.
I quite like parts of it but as a whole I find it hard to listen to and I don’t know how would I last for whole album without getting a headache. It’s not bad at all, it’s actually pretty good but just too heavy for me or something.
7/10Fluffy Lothario: Damien Rice - ElephantI listened to the live version of this. After the first listen I didn’t have much to say about it. It’s pretty nice but it didn’t grab me. Fortunately, I could listen to any song how many time I want
It did grow on me. Not very much as some of the others but it did. One problem I had with it is that I just didn't feel the emotion. It is emotional song, obviously, there’s no denying it. But not at any moment it touched me in way Katy Song or Give Up did. When comparing those three, I think Damien Rice has easily the best voice, in terms of he can do with it. And it’s very dynamic, progressing from calm and quiet in verses to passionate and loud in chorus. My favorite thing in this song is when electric guitar kicks in, it adds different dimension and at that moment also his voice gets really gritty, like blues growling.
I feel I should give it a 0,5 more but 7,5 song are just a little better. I wish I could connect with it on some level but I can’t. It’s just a very good song to me.
7/10home: Coldplay - ShiverObviously, I heard of this band before because who didn’t. And I like that one, If I Could Fl… I mean Viva La Vida. I knew what to expect here and I got just that. Right from the opening, there’s classic pop-rock melodic guitar and what I like, very audible bass. I have to admit, on the first listen this was easily my least favorite song
I just couldn’t find anything else I like that much. Well, that changed a little. Vocal melodies are really nice, especially “…And on and on from the moment I wake, to the moment I sleep…” part. That’s really catchy melody, I often find myself singing it. Prechorus is nice, as well but then it goes downhill. I don’t like falsetto, like not at all. And it ruins chorus for me, unfortunately. Bridge saves it a little but it’s really a variation to the theme. Lyrics are cheesy love song type of thing and that’s cool but there are much better lyrics in this round.
Well, I’d like to like this band more. My friend tried to introduce them to me recently, with song I can’t remember anymore (even though I said it to you few day ago). I guess if I tried hard enough I’d like them and maybe I’ll even try. Repeated listens helped this song a little, it’s not really a catastrophe
but there are better songs this round.
7/10Scar: Ascendia - Remember MeI had no idea what to expect here, as I never heard of this band before. There’s some cool riffing right at the beginning and symphonic parts (keyboard, I think) are pretty great. I feel like it lacks some breathing room, there’s always something going on in the background. That wouldn’t be a problem if it wasn’t samey. But it’s cool. Now, on chorus. Chorus is really great, catchy, singer does an amazing job. There’s actually something about him that reminds me of Myles Kennedy but maybe it’s just me
Solo is just what I’d expect, I’m not too crazy about it. This song would definitely get higher score if bridge was more powerful but it just pales in comparison to chorus. I don’t know if it’s album thing, maybe concept or flowing into the next track but abrupt switch to classical guitar seems weird
Yep, it a pretty good song, very catchy and nice to sing along. But it lack something to lifts it up a bit and make it more special, like that outro in Fear of the Night. I think this is ok score for this song.
7.5/10Sacul: Submotion Orchestra - Hymn for HimThere’s nice piano opening, and then more-than-nice female voice at the beginning. A formula for a great song. And atmosphere is haunting, I knew you won’t disappoint in that regard
. Then beat kicks in and it gets groovy and trippy and chilly. It easy to immerse yourself into this warm bowl of piano, strings and some brass instrument (trumpet? I can’t say lol). Whatever it is, I like it. I’m glad there’s not just one basic beat, over and over, there are definitely variations. And singer is back, she’s got a very sexy voice, if I may say. I don’t even know what’s she singing about but it’s pleasant to listen to, I feel I could listen to it the whole day. I wish trumpet played more than those few notes though.
This song is hard to describe and comment on, as I’m the new fan of the genre and not as big fan as you are but I can see myself listening to it, I like it very much. I expected it to grow on me a little with further listens but it’s just what I heard the first time. I have no bad things to say about it but there are definitely better songs here.
7.5/10Train of Naught: Elder - GeminiGuitar tone at the beginning sounds literally like metal. Not metal music but like someone is grinding a piece of metal
After that there’s a change to more classic vibe and some Sabbathy riffs. Their groove game is definitely on the point. Minor complaint: I miss some grittiness in singer’s voice, I’d like it if he belt something out from time to time instead of staying in comfortable range, no matter how bad it may sound. Bluesy melodic leads are very basic but I like them, it again gives classic metal vibe. And then there’s great guitar solo, with huge delay/vibrato, it reminds me of Maggot Brain (and that’s one of the best solos ever). I think I’d like song more if it was little shorter. I know it’s stupid complaint because the song is great but there are maybe too many different ideas thrown in together so I can’t remember what the beginning sounded like by the end of the song.
I hoped it’ll get half of a point or a point more until the end of this round but I just couldn’t give it more because I like 8s more. It’s a still great song and I’m looking forward to checking this album out as I feel I will love the album even more than this song alone.
7.5/10Parama: East of the Wall - The ApologistBefore listening I had idea about how it might sound but it still surprised me a bit. Intro is really nice and warm and I expected it to sound something like it, but the rest of the song isn’t. Only growls sound like Neurosis (which I expected). However, music is nothing like it. This is more on the progressive and post-hardcore side. As you guessed, bass player is the winner of this song. I find bass lines very entertaining unlike in the most songs ever where bass is just the support. Sometimes, I just listen to bass and ignore the rest, it’s that good. Also, instrumental is technical but not too much, nothing wacky going on, fortunately. Two minor complaints are snare tone (sounds buried and too low for my taste) and ending which kinda drags, it’s probably better when there’s another song following. Not to end on negative tone, I love how dynamic this song is, ranging from quiet, almost post-rock parts to full powerful riffs.
I hoped this would grow on me even more, but it unfortunately didn’t. However, I enjoy it very much and I’ll definitely check this album out.
8/10Evermind: Absolute Priority - Fear of the NightLet me just say I didn’t really like this song on the first listen. I thought overall sound wasn’t really good, didn’t like keys or verses and it sounded kinda basic. Well, it really has grown on me. I liked the intro from the first listen, it’s just bass and then when other instruments kick in, it’s huge! Singer shows he’s got some range and that’s always a good thing, right. Verses also have grown on me but chorus is still an improvement and it’s probably the best chorus of the round. I just had to find lyrics so I can sing along
Keyboard tone in the solo is kinda basic, but I don’t really mind it. BTW I’m not really a fan of lead keys. Guitar solo is something what I’d expect from prog metal band, it’s ok. As I said, I’m not the biggest fan of the keys but those underneath guitar solo are pretty great, it really lifts it up, giving it sort of symphonic vibe. Then comes the best part. Outro is pretty much chorus repeated a few times but there are multiple vocal line, crazy drumming and that crazy high note.
This was really a grower, second biggest of the round, if I remember correctly.
8/10Luoto: Communic - Waves of Visual DecayOn the first listen, this was my favorite song. It didn’t get worse but most of the songs got better. I like build up where every instruments gets in one at the time, especially when distorted guitar kicks in. I wasn’t sure about the singer at first, he sounds kinda like Warrel Dane (Nevermore), maybe even too much at times. After few listens he got new dimension and identity in my eyes(ears), other than one thing I’ll mention later. Not only he sounds like Dane, chorus gives Nevermore vibe, I can’t deny it. And it’s super powerful chorus, prominent double bass is always plus in my book and guitar riffs are nothing short of great. There are also some subtle backing vocals which add even more awesomeness. However, the best thing about this song is guitar tone and playing. I have no knowledge to describe this tone so I’ll just say it’s chocolate cake, you know what I’m talking about
Riffs sound technical but still they are not wacky or overly complicated, contrary, melodies are really catchy. There’s falsetto scream at the end and it sounds like Warrel Dane’s falsetto so there’s that. All in all, this song is heavy, real powerhouse and I like how there’s still some breathing room, not just heaviness 24/7.
I thought this song will grow even more on be but I feel like I heard everything I had to on the first listen, I’m really sorry I can’t give it higher score.
8/10 Scorpion: Red House PaintersI knew this will be depressing, as you said it in PM and I heard them before, just can’t remember what. And right from the beginning, combination of clean guitar and singer’s flat voice sounds really depressing. No offense to the singer, it works here and I like it. The more I listened to this, the more and more I liked vocal melodies. It’s nothing special but it sounds so good. I probably said something similar in some of the other write-ups, I like it when bass can be heard, when it dictates the heavy atmosphere like it does here. I was afraid this is going to be same thing over and over for 8 minutes. Fortunately, I was wrong. Firstly, there are guitar variations here and there. And later, there’s real change. Different vocal melody where he’s singing practically just ‘lalala’. It sounds jazzy and brighter than melodies before, maybe symbolizing hope after all that happened. I like how in this part the instrumental, even though it’s all acoustic, sound very heavy and if there were electric guitars it would probably sound heavy. In fact, drums sound heavy the way they are. This last part is repeating over and over and I don’t really mind it because guitar is playing different thing from time to time and it’s also very jazzy. Song, as it is, seemed much shorter than 8 minutes.
I was thinking about giving this even higher score but I don’t know, I like it less than the best song of the round so I don’t think I should give them same score. It is a great song, really, I’m looking forward to checking these guys out.
8/10Shadow Ninja 2.0: Low Roar - Give UpBefore listening to it I never heard of this band but I assumed it’s going to be sad because of the title and who sent it, I know you have many of those in your library
Right from beginning when I heard accordion, or whatever it is, I knew I’m in for treat. Combination of it and acoustic guitar reminded me of The Decemberists, maybe less folky and more sad but still. It’s very warm, I like how full it sounds given it is pretty simple song. I googled them and it seems this album was recorded only with laptop which sounds kinda cool. It was low budget project and it shows, to be honest. But this kind of production works with the music so it’s ok. Singer could sound like nothing special to some but to me, with emotion in his voice and also just timbre, he’s something else. And also, it’s important what he’s singing about, and it gave you, my friend, this extra 0,5 point and got you the winner of the round title
. It’s not just because it’s sad and I like sad songs but lyrics are really accurate, sound very honest and I could find myself in them, contrary to the other sad songs in this round. And those melodies, simple, yet beautiful, just how I like them. And backing vocals are haunting in the chorus.
There’s nothing bad to say about it, it’s emotional and just pleasant to listen to but also it’s really simple and it’s hard to compare it to the rest of the entires. I don’t want to give it score too high because I don’t know what will happen later in roulette. Relative score to the other songs should be fine, I think. You also won best song of the round title, congrats! You get bonus, pick whatever you want (you can do it here as everyone will know what you picked anyway).
I won't wake,
Without a song to sing
Nothing to some
Everything to me8.5/10STANDINGS:
1. Shadow Ninja - 8.5
2. Scorpion - 8
2. Luoto - 8
2. Evermind - 8
2. Parama - 8
6. Train of Naught - 7.5
6. Sacul - 7.5
6. Scar - 7.5
9. home - 7
9. Fluffy Lothario - 7
9. Elite - 7
12. twosuitsluke - 6.5