Results
Okay, I've decided to take the approach I used in my last roulette in terms of scoring. I like the breakdown of criterias which allows me to go inbetween instead of your usual 8 or 8.5. Makes things nice and interesting later on. Most was quite close here because even though the styles are so different, I still enjoyed on a similar level.
bl5150 - Anthem - Sacred Trace
This was easily the best song of the round. As a fellow guitarist, I can tell and always have that Brent knows his shit when it comes to shred. Perhaps one day he and I will form the most incredible guitar duo since Smith/Murray or KK/Tipton! Anyway, this was pretty much perfect and I replay it over and over again. The structure is wonderful and just the smooth, simple style is so crisp and freeflowing with the guitarist definitely one I need to look into a bit more. There is so much TMac influence here it's not funny, with some Moore thrown in plus some others. The outro solo was the best section of any song this round, such a perfect lead which actually reminded me of the outro of MAB's Rain Forest, same style and just a perfect climax to the song.
Style - 9
Instrumentation and vox - 9
Songwriting and Structure - 9
Replay value - 9.5
Would I purchase - 9
Score - 9.1
jingle.boy - Lost in Thought - Beyond the Flames
This one actually didn't really do much for me at first. I thought it was Chad being somewhat safe going for a standard DT/VP style band, but I was wrong, this grew into a monster. When the vocals kicked in I thought I was listening to an Awake leftover. More listens actually steered me away from that style and this sounds a lot like JLB's EOP album, which is good. i love vocals, even though he thinks he's JLB, he has the pipes. The chorus is what got me here, wonderful, melodic and just well done. Not much to say but I was surprised this grew into my second favourite. This band has all the chops and definitely going to check the rest of the albums. Replay value just got half a point down just because of it's a style we all know so I'd hope it would have the lasting power, but so far so good. Nice submission Chad.
Style - 9
Instrumentation and vox - 9
Songwriting and Structure - 9
Replay value - 8.5
Would I purchase - 9
Score - 8.9
Luoto - Mygrain - A Clockwork Apocalypse
This one surprsied me. Again, initially I thought it was cool but seemed to just fade into the rest but the more listens I really started enjoying it. The chorus I think here is the kicker, it's so damn memorable and catchy and easily to hum along too. The vocals are strong. It's more your American style vocals as opposed to your usual melodic death metal to me in the verses but I have no problem with that. The little solo in the middle is a nice touch too and the main one is nice and simple without overplaying and adding to the song. The chorus here is the kicker and I hope they produc more like it. Great song
Style - 9
Instrumentation and vox - 9
Songwriting and Structure - 8.5
Replay value - 9.0
Would I purchase - 8.5
Score - 8.8
TAC - Daydream X1 - Watch Me Rise
Here we another another of your standard prog bands, but these guys have the chops. Obviously this and Chad's submission were similar but this one didn't have the lasting power or stick that Chad's did. Everything about this is great and really well done, and the melodies are very good. My fav part of this one is the solo, really good and well structred shred here. Will definitely check the album as again these guys have all the chops
Style - 9
Instrumentation and vox - 9
Songwriting and Structure - 8.5
Replay value - 8.0
Would I purchase - 8.5
Score - 8.6
Big Hath - Demon Hunter - Artifical Light
I'm pretty sure I've heard this song before, but can't put my finger on it. Anyway, the band name I can't recall but this was right up my alley. You can hear they are an American band by the vocals and verses straight away, but the prechorus and chorus was fabulous and really reminded me of that later Soilwork sound that I really like. The chorus was very catchy and makes the song easy to replay. Nice solo to boot. I see these guys are a Christian band, but that's fine with me. Sounds like the rest of their stuff I feel might lack variety but that's just assuming but deserve to be checked out. Good song.
Style - 9
Instrumentation and vox - 8.5
Songwriting and Structure - 8.5
Replay value - 8.0
Would I purchase - 8.5
Score - 8.5
Evermind - While Heaven Wept - To Wander the Void
This is right up my alley. Ruslan mentioned how these guys use to be a doom band, and I myself can hear that with the tones and instrumentation. Everything about this is good, great playing and wonderful vox, really really good. Love the odd time signatures also. The only thing is, this just sounds so much like The Apparition to me from Fates Warning it's distracting. The ahh's are just so much like it. I wonder if anyone else heard that when they made it. Anyway, besides that which did distract me, love the structure and the second half too. Again, they deserved to be looked into. I think I have heard another song from this album as the cover is familiar. I think it was a 14-15 minute song and that was cool from what I remember.
Style - 9
Instrumentation and vox - 9.0
Songwriting and Structure - 8.0
Replay value - 8.0
Would I purchase - 8.5
Score - 8.5
Kattoelox - Naglfar - Sheol
Now this was fucking cool. I'm not a big black metal fan at all. It's a genre I can really appreciate but can only take in small doses and the lack of variety makes it hard for me to stick with it for a long period of time. This though, was original. This is like melodic power black metal. Dunno who these guys are but they've taken a Children of Bodom style approach and really taken different styles and made something different, although still very heavy in the black metal style. Love the vocals and everything about this is raw and brutal and I'm not having any problems replaying it. Again the style makes me question how much of what these guys do I could take in one sitting, but this was a great submission
Style - 8
Instrumentation and vox - 9.0
Songwriting and Structure - 8.5
Replay value - 8.0
Would I purchase - 8.5
Score - 8.4
Bolsters - Bare Infinity - Sands of Time
This started out really excellent, great riff, nice and hard hitting, but then the vocals came in. A female. Hey, I love my females, I'm a straight as they come, but something about female singers in metal bands just never did it for me. I don't mind some and it may be discrimination but in general they just lack the variation and timbre that men do. Saying that, this wasn't too bad at all and I'm surprsied I enjoyed it as much as I do. It's hard cause everything about it is good and I do enjoy listening to it, just not sure if it's enough to convert me. The middle instrumental section was amazing though.
Style - 8
Instrumentation and vox - 7.5
Songwriting and Structure - 8.5
Replay value - 8.0
Would I purchase - 7.5
Score - 7.9
Parama - Amendfoil - Darken Waters
Gotta admit Parama, I was surprised you were so eager to join my roulette again. Saying that, it was fun and I was keen to hear what you came up with. This though was surprsrising. Never heard of these guys but this was cool, love the chorus and vocals. That's what did it for me. The verses had that odd style I know you love that was passable but year the chorus was very cool. Not sure if I see myself becoming a fan, but it would be respectful to see what else they do. Really cool, well done.
Style - 7.5
Instrumentation and vox - 7.5
Songwriting and Structure - 8.0
Replay value - 8.0
Would I purchase - 7.0
Score - 7.6
Tomislav95 - Hypocrisy - Eraser
This sould be right up my alley indeed and I did enjoy it, just not as much as some of the others. I've heard the band name but can't recall if I've heard anything from them before. I love my In Flames and this is obviously what they are going for here. The vocals were great and really the chorus was nice and catchy and there is nothing wrong with this submission. It just didn't stand out as much as it should I guess given the style. Still never watned to skip it, so that's a good sign.
Style - 8.0
Instrumentation and vox - 8.0
Songwriting and Structure - 7.0
Replay value - 7.0
Would I purchase - 7.0
Score - 7.4
Elite - King Goat - Conduit
This is an interesting song and was hard to get into, but when I did it was interseting enough to hold my attention. It has the Mastodon feel to me and the vocals I thought were very good. The clean vocals also were very strong and the atmosphere was very nice. It's just a hard song to rank and really need to hear more from the band. I think it just plodded along a little too much but the riff at the end was massive. I think a lot of time put into this could pay off. It's just hard to see if they would be for me and if I'd have the time to get into them. It was enjoyable though.
Style - 7.5
Instrumentation and vox - 7.5
Songwriting and Structure - 7.5
Replay value - 7.5
Would I purchase - 6.5
Score - 7.3
lowdz - Syu - Spearhead
This kind of pains me to rate a bit low cause it should be right up my alley. This guy I have heard of but never checked out anything from him. This was a fine listen but something about it I just found a bit pedestrian and just seemed to lack originality and purpose. He is obviously a very talented guitarist and I will definitely should listen to more but yeah it's a shame Paul cause anyone would think it would be a home run but it's just something I've heard all before. While not bad and happy to listen to, it just kind of flies by without really grabbing my attention.
Style - 8.0
Instrumentation and vox - 8.0
Songwriting and Structure - 6.5
Replay value - 6.0
Would I purchase - 6.0
Score - 6.9
Puppies_On_Acid - Woe of Tyrants - Kingdom of Might
I don't mind this style but like the black metal, I can't listen to it for very long, but appreciate it. A couple of bands like The Faceless and BTBAM obviously is a rare fav of mine but it's a tricky style. I just found this though quite bland and lacked variety. Everything about it is strong and well performed but just didn't hold me attention and thought it was quite generic for the genre.
Style - 6.5
Instrumentation and vox - 6.5
Songwriting and Structure - 6.0
Replay value - 6.0
Would I purchase - 5.0
Score - 6.0
Lethean - Solefald - Waves Over Valhalla
This on the outside sounded pretty cool and well done, but I just couldn't get into it. Everything was fine but yeah, just couldn't hold my attention and I found my attention drifting. The clean vocals were very good and he has a very nice tone, but unfortunately just didn't do it for me. Not sure what it is but just missed the mark.
Style - 6.0
Instrumentation and vox - 6.5
Songwriting and Structure - 6.0
Replay value - 5.5
Would I purchase - 5.0
Score - 5.8
Stadler - Kiss - Shout Mercy
yeah, this was never going to work. I don't like Kiss and never did and really don't like any of their songs at all. I gave this one as many chances as the rest but had to end up skipping it. I just found it genereic and average and unfortuantely not worth my time and not what I'm looking for. Sorry Stadler.
Style - 6.0
Instrumentation and vox - 5.5
Songwriting and Structure - 4.5
Replay value - 4.0
Would I purchase - 3.0
Score - 4.6
Round 2 open