Round 3 results!This round is just really damn good overall, apart from the bottom 2 songs or so, I had a super hard time ranking the others. I won't be surprised if this ends up being the round with the highest average score.
Bolsters: Almanac – NevermoreThe vocals have killed what in my head was alreday a bit of a middle ground tune.If there's anything I'm not that into in metal, it's vocals that lean more on the power metal side of things. My dad got me into Iced Earth when I was super young, and this reminds me a little of them in a way, but not quite as unique. Regardless, that's a style that I've not been interested in anymore and it
rarely grabs me. Everything that happens in this song has a purpose, it's a well-crafted song with not overlong solos, a catchy chorus, and very metal riffs.. it's just one ear in and out the other for me.
5/10Kattelox: Shattered Skies – FlipsideIt's fairly memorable, but not leaving any positive impression or desire to relisten on me.It's an odd tune. I was pretty excited about this band, since it's an album I've seen mentioned a whole lot, and used to be very excited about djent (I still am, but not so much about all of the new Periphery/After the Burial clones). Furthermore, the song lonestar sent me (Aesthetics, as I told you) was really cool and at the same time nothing like what Shattered Skies supposedly sound like. This song has a truly catchy riff that I can't really get out of my head but all the same am not super into. I'm generally a much bigger fan of minor over major in my metal, this sounds super upbeat. The vocals are my definition of
fine, really nothing I haven't heard before..
6/10Evermind: Julien Baker – Hurt LessThere's a nice subtle build to this, I'm liking it, just wish it had some more personality to it.The personality thing is maybe an odd comment, I've just heard so many piano ballads in my life thus far that anything with a somewhat standard format blends together a lot. This is what I expect Adele's music to sound like if she had a more appealing voice.
The piano is definitely the most practical instrument for ballads like this that build towards some kind of climax though, the build in intensity is very well done. Despite everything, it's not one of the songs I'd go back to the first, as it sounds like a lot of other music I've heard in the past and isn't doing anything particularly unique. I'm glad she started wearing safety belts though, safety first!!
7.5/10ariich: Everything Everything – Night of the Long KnivesGood vibes music, I'm not sure how much it will stick out this round but I'm generally pleased with the sound of this.I had one main gripe from the beginning and that's that the verses sound strange.. I wasn't that into this fast speaking, if that makes sense? But I was super into everything everything else. It's somewhat of an indie anthem, mixed with some funk. I love epic melodies along with this kind of music, and the fairly simple nature of the musicianship puts more focus on those vocals and makes them shine, and also on those thick synth layers. Solid song, very curious to see how this fits into the whole album, and happy to see that you haven't sent me anything I don't like yet (I think you and Sacul are the only ones without a sub 7 score)!
7.75/10home: JPEGMAFIA – Jesus Forgive Me, I Am A ThotThere's some stuff to like here, but this one element is mostly killing my enjoyment.I recognize this is a grower now, it took me some time to get over the repeated melody in the verses, it was ruining what was mostly a fun and very smoothly composed little song. When the vocals get more intense and the song transitions to a bit of a heavier passage briefly is when it gets truly interesting. I feel like it's similar to the Frank Ocean song in that regard, though this song does it better for my taste. Fast back and forths, memorable melodies, and a great bass sound. I'm really curious to check out the album, even if I'm not 'sold' just on the fact that it's a bit of a short tune that doesn't give me enough opportunity to truly figure out how much I would be into it.
7.75/10TAC: Illyria – Autumn Fades AwaySpent almost the entire song waiting for something to happen, there's some questionable songwriting choices, but I find it engaging enough.I'll just come out and say it, this song doesn't get interesting for me until the middle of the song. I don't want to sound like these "hurrr not metal enough" people, I'm just not huuuuge on that acoustic folky side of things. The part where it's still acoustic, but they introduce the riff that comes back in the end of the song is really good. It's a lovely chord progression, and already knowing what it's going to be bursting out into makes it even more epic. I wonder how much I would like the song Parama sent me, but it's officially banned now. I will probably check out the album pretty soon, cause while it's not necessarily among the best songs of the round, I've been wanting to check out this band for a while now and this got me interested enough.
7.5/10Elite: Have A Nice Life – BloodhailNice blend of styles, honestly not what I expected from this artist going into it.I had this image in my head that Have A Nice Life was somehow slow ambient music, but this is surprisingly energetic. The mix sounds perfect, with a really nice atmospheric sound to it, particularly the bass. It's a very chilled tune, but nonetheless really engaging and diverse. The guitar around the middle mark is reminiscent of the sound you'd hear on some alternative metal / post-rock record. Everything feels very complete when the song nears its end and all the elements previously introduced come back together at the same time. I don't really remember what There Is No Food sounds like which you sent me in a previous roulette, but I don't think I was impressed with that one as much as with this one. Yes.
8/10Cyril: Taylor Swift – Cruel SummerReally digging the atmosphere, I'm pretty positive this will grow on me even more.I actually listened to the wrong song once and am glad you stepped up and pointed out my fuck up. That song was not that good as far as I remember. This one is super catchy, there's a general happy overtone to it (even when she's probably singing about breakups or something) and anthemic vibe that pumps you up. It's also short enough not to bore me, the chorus is great and doesn't suffer from Blood Brothers syndrome! I recently listened to 1989 again, and received 2 songs from that album in my first roulette. I was really into those at the time, but I think this one is better. Excited to see what Mrs. Swift has to offer in 2019!
8/10Puppies: Esoteric – Beneath This FaceThis is the magnum opus I've been wanting you to send.Getting into this song, it sounds like the music is somewhere in-between doom, black and post-metal. Post-blackened doom metal?? It's interesting, because I normally don't like doom that much since it tends to be a bit slow and uneventful for my taste. It relies a lot on creating a certain atmosphere and painting a picture, but combine it with some more dynamic instrumentation, fucking agonising as fucking fuck (seriously
) vocals, and very sick chord progressions.. and you have a freaking hit! They do this thing that I love with the guitars going from a tame palm-muted riffing style slowly into open chords for those really subtle transitions, and then BAM into blast beat mode. Of course I heard of Esoteric, but I didn't really know what they did apart from 'extreme metal', this has definitely sold me.
8.25/10Sacul: Susanne Sundfor – AcceleratePotential round winner here, very lovely vocals and super cool instrumentation.I absolutely love the blend of dark singer-songwriter music with retro/synthwave, it's genius. The instrumentation is outdoing my expectations, I fully expected a more vocal-focused song from this girl after the two songs I've received by her before. Surprisingly, the chorus is probably my least favourite thing of this song, which is somewhat of a disservice, but it's not bad by any means. It's great how they change up the drum sound over the course of the song too and give it a little more punch as the synths get a little more epic, and then pull out the goth organ.
Very much an "I need to delve into this artist NOW" kind of submission, should I check out this album now?
8.5/10StandingsSacul: 23.5
Evermind: 23.5
ariich: 22.75
home: 22.5
TAC: 22
Cyril: 21.5
Elite: 20.25
Puppies: 20.25
Kattelox: 19.5
Bolsters: 18.75
Topic: Big Big Train of Daftness Roulette! POST-ROULETTE CEREAL HOURS (Read 33103 times)