Yup. You're free of a theme this round...
I forgot to add the fantasy writeups but fuck it my head hurts
* * *
Indiscipline
Johnny Cunningham - Star Lullaby 9.0 A gorgeous song, this one. Beautiful vocals, but what really makes this work for me is the harp, which is an instrument I love but very rarely hear enough of. Lovely, lovely track.
Chingon - Malagueña Salerosa 9.2 When the hell does this play in the Kill Bill soundtrack? I should already know this song since I've seen those movies so much. I can count on you for some stuff that's really different. This is the kind of song I'd hear on Breaking Bad or Better Call Saul and Shazam! on my phone so I can add it to my playlist on Spotify. Not one fucking clue what he's singing about but I assume it's a tale about some character of legend or folklore. Such a cool tune, not sure what genre this is, but I like it a whole bunch.
Norbert Leo Butz - Moving Too Fast 7.0 The only musical songs I really like are from Disney films... or the film version of Grease. But I think the only stage musical song I like is Defying Gravity from Wicked. This song has some nice piano work and a very gifted singer, but I really dislike that style of vocal delivery, that kind of musical exposition grates on me.
Current Score: 32.89
Round 4 Score: 25.20
Average: 8.40
Movement: 8 spaces
NEW CURRENT SCORE: 41.29
* * *
Elite
Adagio - Fire Forever 9.3 Gus Monsanto, where have I heard that name... OH! I remember this guy from Timo Tolkki's Revolution Renaissance. Had no freaking clue he sang for Adagio (he sounds great here). This sounds nothing like the Adagio I've heard, it's more straightforward heavy metal. And it's really good! Love the keyboards adding a thin layer of synth goodness to the mix, and the chorus is strong and catchy. Far less convoluted than the more symphonic stuff I've heard and much easier to digest. [+1 BP]
Across the Delta - The Loop 8.8 This song makes me feel uneasy. It's really creepy at times, and the guitars and drums create an unsettling atmosphere. The second half is where it gets more interesting. I like the long snare roll under the eerie vocals. The guitar solo is great and the last section is very good but I wonder if the last few seconds are meant to lead into another song, because it really caught me off guard the first time.
Green Carnation - Pile of Doubt 9.5 Whoooa. This rocks. The simple melody over the crisp and clear fast picking is a great motif and they always segue back into it fluidly. It's got great momentum and I love the bell ending. Not much to say about the singer or the lyrics, but he/they work well with the music and it's a real fun metal track, heavy as hell without being so blunt about it, and the super catchy melody/riff in the main theme gets props for being so simple yet effective. [+1 BP]
Current Score: 32.73 [+3 BP]
Round 4 Score: 27.6[+2 BP]
Average: 9.20
Movement: 9 spaces
NEW CURRENT SCORE: 41.93 [+5 BP]
* * *
wolfking
Virgin Steele - The Burning of Rome 7.7 Sounds like 80s heavy metal. Nothing bad here but it all feels pretty standard Maiden-metal. There's not a lot to chew on here, but there's nothing I dislike either. The solos and harmonized guitars are pretty cool. The only reference point I have for David DeFeis is his brief appearances on Avantasia's Metal Opera. I actually think he sounds heavier and stronger there than on this song, but he still sounds good here.
Virgin Steele - Through Blood and Fire 7.5 Strange dichotomy to this song. They're Virgin Steele for the verses and Freedom Call for the chorus. The voice doesn't even sound like DeFeis in the hook! But it's the strongest part of the song. I know it sounds laughable coming from a Rhapsody fan, but Virgin Steele sounds super corny. This sounds like it's from the very early 80s, at least judging by the sound of the synths. Am I right?
Black Majesty - Firestorm 8.2 I struggle to think of an identity that Black Majesty has. They're simultaneously not unique at all yet better than a lot of other bands in the genre. If we compare this with Far Beyond (sent a couple rounds ago), I think this is the better song because the verses and chorus are much stronger, even if the solo isn't as epic. Not a bad song, but if it's ice cream, it's vanilla. I like vanilla, too. But it's not adventurous. Okay, maybe adventurous like French vanilla. But still vanilla.
Current Score: 34.89 [+4 BP]
Round 4 Score: 23.40
Average: 7.80~
Movement: 8 spaces
NEW CURRENT SCORE: 42.69 [+4 BP]
* * *
Parama the Owl-Roamer
Sacrificed Alliance - Verdancy 8.5 I said no growls! This is... actually really good. I wish the vocalist would shut the fuck up and let the rest of the band play because all the music going on underneath is entrancing, it's heavy but shimmering with pretty synths and clean guitars amongst all the distortion. On repeat listens the vocalist really isn't that bad and works with the song, but still every part without him is made better by his absence. Eat a lozenge.
Ne Obliviscaris - Forget Not 8.2 Other than the beast angrily belching into my ears, this is an epic song with some spellbinding violin-metal. I know I've actually heard this album before but they're one of those bands I need to play the album for a week straight and nothing else before I understand any of their songs, so this was like a refresher on NeO. Good stuff. Eat a damn lozenge.
Wilderun - The Means To Preserve 9.0 I know I've heard this album at one point, too, but I think I checked out before finishing it. Either way this sounds all new to me. It's adventurous as heck. The production is huge. I like it, especially when it kicks into majestic symphonic black metal blastbeat overdrive. Those parts sound like Arcturus especially with the vocal style and brass soaring over everything else. This song is all over the map though, it's like 5 different styles in one and it goes from quiet to loud to quiet to loud then louder... it's everywhere. Wild ride, difficult listen, but I suppose that's the point. I dig the last minute or two more with each listen. This is really creative.
Current Score: n/a
Round 4 Score: 25.7
Average: 8.56
Movement:
NEW CURRENT SCORE: 8.56
* * *
Topic: Katt's Roulettes & Dragons v. Final Results (finally) - thank you for playing :) (Read 96775 times)