Here they are, finally! This was hard round to score because of its consistency so there are no big differences again and standings are almost the same
Round 6 ResultsScar: Dracovallis - The SummoningI already feel bad for scoring you the lowest again but can’t do anything about it. This song is, in short, generic epic metal song. Other than that, it’s (almost) instrumental, and I usually don’t get into them easily. Actually, this has some choir chanting but that’s usually miss for me. It starts very nice but it lose its potential pretty fast with that choir. However, not to be negative, this is still a good song, there are some dope riffs, like the one at the 2:45, and it’s used again later in the song. Too bad there’s no longer solo based on it. That part with strings and bass is cool as well (until choir doesn’t come in).
I would maybe listen to this kind of song while studying if I’m bored with that atmospheric stuff I sometimes listen to but I wouldn’t listen to it on regular basis.
6.5/10Scorpion: UneXpect - Unfed PendulumOh, Scorp, I feel so bad about this… but I can’t help it. I have to be honest, on my first listen I didn’t get this song at all. It grew on me but not enough to get a decent score. There are parts of it that are great but also parts I don’t like. At the moments it’s just too weird for me to get into it. My favorite part is that ‘breakdown’ and short guitar solo around 5:00. I feel like I will stumble upon this again sometimes and kick myself for not loving it from beginning. Again, it’s not bad at all, just weird, can’t fully get into it.
7/10Sacul: Hooverphonic - 2wickySo I got a trip-hop from you, what a surprise
This song was one of the hardest to score because it’s not that I don’t like it but I don’t think I would ever listened to it more than once if I didn’t had to for this roulette. Actually, that was a good thing, it grew on me with multiple listens (as always). There’s classic trip-hop beat and bass riff throughout the song which of course add to the trippiness. Another repetitive thing is that cool guitar riff in the second part of the song. But to me, the most interesting thing is the girl’s voice. If there was someone else instead of her, I think I would like the song less. Her timbre definitely makes the song even more atmospheric.
As I said, the song is ok but I don’t think I will listen to it anymore, maybe if I decide to really get deep into trip-hop but with amount of music that’s on my wishlist right now, I don’t think that’s likely to happen soon
7/10Luoto: Anthriel - Haven of GraceYou can probably guess the first thing this song made me think of was Symphony X. I like them very much but similarity can be double-edged sword in some situations because of comparisons I (unwillingly) made. I love how piano is subtly used in heavier parts of the song and, with some of guitar riffs (4:17
), it’s my favorite thing about this song. Singer voice is very good in lower register but unfortunately I don’t like his higher voice most of the time.
I have hard time writing about this song, maybe because of the same reason why I didn’t give it higher score. I feel like I heard it all somewhere before, it’s not very original. But it’s pretty good song nevertheless.
7.5/10twosuitsluke: Chthonic - Supreme Pain for the TyrantYeah, this is the heaviest song you sent so far. I think I actually heard of them in some other roulette, their name is pretty specific
but I never heard them before. It’s heavy from the beginning, drum fills are especially sick, and of course that growl is very distinctive. But to be honest, I wouldn’t like this song this much if there weren’t nods of Asian music with their instruments (I believe there are more than one or do it sound different played with bow and plucked?). I would like if it was used even more often and I’m ready to check them out further if those instruments are used. And about concept of the song and video, that’s sick
: I saw the press said China is afraid of singer due to his political views after he was elected
This song is really really great but I can’t score it higher, maybe I’m just not in the mood for something so heavy these days so I had hard time fully getting into it but, as I said, I’m ready to check them out further.
7.5/10home: Sleep Party People - Change in TimeAs I said to you, I was aware of this band even before this thanks to Spotify’s Discover Weekly. They recommended me their I’m Not Human At All and I saved it on one of my playlist (Discoveries) and sometimes when I’m bored I listen to those. All three songs I heard from them really fit the name of the band
it’s the music to relax and chill and I guess you have to be in certain mood to listen to them. This one (and Shadow Ninja’s song) were my favorites to listen to after I came from lecture tired and wanted to just chill.
As I said to you in PM on first impression, I just love that keyboard tone (not just in this song but everywhere I hear it). You scored with this song once again, I love when the song is this atmospheric and emotional. This is the music for which saying it makes me sleep is a positive thing. My favorite part of the song is that noisy part at the end, especially the thick bass and swirling keys.
8/10Shadow Ninja 2.0: Sleep Party People - Floating Blood of MineFigured that just sending you a bunch of depressing stuff would get kind of old.
-.-
(Check home’s song write-up for intro facts
)
Right from the beginning this one reminded me of Myth by Beach House Scar sent in round 2, really dreamy song. I love that atmospheric bass line that goes on for the almost whole song. Singer’s voice is very weird but I can’t really imagine what would fit better with this music and it especially shows in chorus, everything just match wonderfully. Don’t know if you knew I like voice samples in songs but I would prefer they weren’t here because I don’t feel they add anything to the song but it’s fine.
Definitely will check this band further. P.S. I like this song a little more than Change in Time
(sorry home)
8/10Evermind: Avatarium - Lady in the LampWhen you said this is female fronted doom metal I expected something very different, like old school doom in vein of Candlemass with female operatic vocals. I'm so glad this is nothing like it. I don't know what they usually sound like, maybe more to similar to what I described than to this song you sent. But I'll figure it in time, this is going on my list to check out. Playing in this song is nothing weird, classic slightly distorted guitar, cool bass and drumming and it successfully fits the song. After all, it's singer in the spotlight here. And she is really awesome, her voice is really warm and nice to listen to but also very powerful later in the song. My favorite part of the song is the climax, when she belts out that 'OooOooh' and guitar solo after it. Firsts part of the solo is very Gilmourish and later it gets into shredding territory, not a bad thing here because it sounds great. It is actually one of my favorite solos I got so far in this roulette.
Yeah, this is a great song, nothing bad about it, it just lacks wow factor to get higher score. Still, I think this is more than decent (because 7.5 is decent
).
8/10Parama: Aenaon - OneirodyniaName of this song reflects how weird it is
. Never heard of them before but I knew it was heavy because you said it, nothing else. It escalates quickly, after quiet acoustic intro there are blast beats, growls and heavy riffs, that scared the shit out of me. First thing this reminded me of is Primordial but there is some jazzy sax and that alone makes it better than anything from Primordial I heard before. In fact, I love that bit with saxophone and (almost) spoken vocals. Other thing that reminded me of Primordial is singer’s voice, don’t know maybe it’s just me but it seems pretty similar. And there’s something cool about it, like he’s going into it with everything he’s got which give epic results.
You are pretty much the most consistent participant in this roulette, you never failed but you never hit 8.5 or 9 either. Well, this was pretty close and it’s (with The Apologist, can’t decide which is better) your best entry so far.
8/10Elite: Anciients - The Longest RiverThis band was on my radar for quite some time, especially after they released the new album in 2016 and some of you were playing songs off it on plug.dj. So I was kinda ready for it and I knew what to expect and I got what I’ve expected. I remember that on my first listen I got Mastodon fell from it. There’s nothing that makes me go: ‘Mastodon ripoff!’ or something like it but it hear something in riffing and structure that makes me think of Mastodon. And that’s always good thing for me, I love Mastodon. Another clear influence is Metallica. Again, there are no similar riffs but there’s something in this song. So, I can imagine myself getting into this stuff. Riffs are absolutely bone-crushing, supported by heavy drumming and everything sound really huge. The only thing that will take some time to get into, I feel, are the vocals. I don’t dislike them but I don’t love them either.
Really great song, it was my favorite of the round on first listen, too bad it didn’t grow on me even more.
8/10Train of Naught: Rishloo - Just a RideThis is one of the bands I expected to get, especially after Karnivool scoring pretty high in last round. I know both of those bands are compared to Tool but fortunately neither of those two songs I heard reminded me of Tool. Even though this song feels very emotional, I didn’t cry my guts out to it
I just love this kind of songs and I guess you realized it after Fair to Midland and Karnivool getting high scores. This progressive but not wanky music is really my thing lately so keep it coming. I can’t even describe why I like this song but I do, very much
There is just something about it, combination of music and his voice that leaves emotional impact. And it is pretty catchy, as well.
Once again, you are the winner of the best song of the round title
you can choose your bonus.
8.5/10
STANDINGS:
1. Shadow Ninja 2.0 - 48.5 + 1 = 49.5
2. home - 48
2. Train of Naught - 48
4. Elite - 47.00001
5. Parama - 46.5
6. Luoto - 46
6. twosuitsluke - 46
8. Evermind - 45
8. Sacul - 45
10. Scorpion - 43
11. Scar - 41.5