Rossults
Cyril
Falling Back To Earth.....8.8
Wow, this song was wonderful.
Interesting beginning. At about the :53 mark, this reminds me of Rishloo. The first 2:19 seems to set the song, giving way to the chorus, which is fantastic. I am all for the wanking from 2:37 -4:40, especially at 4:04 when it heavies up. While I do prefer my wanking in the first half of the section to be heavier, I can live with what it is. It’s still well composed. Nice classy section at 6:00 and it continues as the vocals join. Nice beefy riffing at 9:22. This song has patience without meandering. Love the soft bit before the final chorus explodes. So good.
Pareidolia....7.7
This song needs more listens, has a lot of potential.
This song, just in the first couple minutes feels so similar to a lot of things, though I’m having trouble placing the connections. The verses seem to move along uneventfully, but this has a really nice chorus. Has a cool instrumental section leading to a not quite haunting section at 4:40. This middle section does keep a decent pace even though it’s not rocking out. I feel like I like these middle couple of minutes over the first couple minutes of the song. 7:19…YES! This song ends strong, and it really takes its time getting there. A nice show of patience in the songwriting.
8.8+7.7=16.5/2=8.25
Romdrums
The Endless Knot....7.6
Lots going on in this relatively shorter song.
So, not sure what I was thinking when I posted the First Impression. The songs plods a bit for the first two minutes, but at the 2:00 mark, it goes into a nice vocal line. I don’t even mind the electronic treatments in the following part right before the awesome guitar solo. Nice vocal bridge after that. The slowdown at 4:00 is a nice touch building up to the final chorus.
Pareidolia....7.7
This song needs more listens, has a lot of potential.
This song, just in the first couple minutes feels so similar to a lot of things, though I’m having trouble placing the connections. The verses seem to move along uneventfully, but this has a really nice chorus. Has a cool instrumental section leading to a not quite haunting section at 4:40. This middle section does keep a decent pace even though it’s not rocking out. I feel like I like these middle couple of minutes over the first couple minutes of the song. 7:19…YES! This song ends strong, and it really takes its time getting there. A nice show of patience in the songwriting.
7.7+7.6=15.3/2=7.65
LudwigVan
Prosthetic...7.5
This song rocks. Pretty simple and straightforward.
Heavy Haken!! The rhythm under the verses is really cool. I like the chorus. 3:30 is a nice section starting with the solo .4:19 -4:32 is the best part of the song.
I should like this song due to the relative heaviness, but at 6 minutes, it really doesn’t offer a lot. There are way too many other interesting bits and passages in this round.
The Endless Knot...7.6
Lots going on in this relatively shorter song.
So, not sure what I was thinking when I posted the First Impression. The songs plods a bit for the first two minutes, but at the 2:00 mark, it goes into a nice vocal line. I don’t even mind the electronic treatments in the following part right before the awesome guitar solo. Nice vocal bridge after that. The slowdown at 4:00 is a nice touch building up to the final chorus.
7.5+7.6=15.1/2=7.55
Kingshmegland
Veil....8.5
Pretty incredible song right here.
Starts out strong. Love the underneath at 2:22. This verse is cool, and the chorus is nice. I like the part at 3:37..keys/horns? Then the whole instrumental section that ends at 5:46 is awesome. I’ve heard some electronica try and poke its head out a couple of times, but thankfully they whack-a-mole-it. Nice solo at 7:17. The song mellows a bit for the next few minutes, but it still maintains my interest leading to a slightly wanky solo section…which I don’t mind in the least. Easily one of the strongest songs in the round.
Carousel...8.0
This is a good song, but there’s no way I can dissect it in one listen.
This begins with some nice vocals, and the band starts off great. It builds a bit. Right at 1:57 for a couple of seconds, I love what I think it's going to do.....but it reverts back to a verse. Overall though, I like the heaviness it begins with. I like the cool mellow part in the middle. The instrumental section that follows it is…I like these kinds of sections. Sets up that nice chorus that emerges from it. It ebbs and flows some more till the end. Listening to this, it reminded me in bits of Train Of Thought. This is a quality track.
8.5+8.0=16.5/2=8.25
Lonestar
Darkest Light....7.0
This song feels a lot longer than it is. Not necessarily a complaint, but more of an observation.
I’ve had a hard time wrapping my head around this song. The structure seems simple enough, but this is probably the least pleasurable to the ears song in the round. The keyboards are kind of grating, and if Ross sang like this in every song, I’d be very upset.
Atlas Stone....7.5
The last two minutes of this was fantastic.
I like the piano it the intro. The chorus in the build up is a nice touch. It’s taken me a few listens to merge the verse with the chorus. So this has a jazzy section which, well, at least it’s not electronica. Quick nice solo follows it. That bass at 5:22…nice. Those are some sick vocals at the end.
7.0+7.5=14.5/2=7.25
Buddy
Veil....8.5
Pretty incredible song right here.
Starts out strong. Love the underneath at 2:22. This verse is cool, and the chorus is nice. I like the part at 3:37..keys/horns? Then the whole instrumental section that ends at 5:46 is awesome. I’ve heard some electronica try and poke its head out a couple of times, but thankfully they whack-a-mole-it. Nice solo at 7:17. The song mellows a bit for the next few minutes, but it still maintains my interest leading to a slightly wanky solo section…which I don’t mind in the least. Easily one of the strongest songs in the round.
1985....7.5
Not quite as immediate as some of the other longer songs.
Starts off pretty upbeat. Ah..Asia keyboards and electronic drums? Is this the 80’s? Is this what they’re going for? Not sure about the verse. The chorus is nice though. I have to admit, this song is pretty easy on the ears, even if unspectacular. Can’t say I love this part at 4:40ish. But the part at 5:10 is pretty cool.
5:47 is definitely an 80’s style solo section. 6:56 Holy Octavarium, Batman! That final chorus seems so much stronger than before. I think the instrumentation is stronger underneath. The last minute or so, instrumentally is excellent.
8.5+7.5=16/2=8.0
Kwyjibo
Nocturnal Conspiracy....9.0
Wow! Holy shit!
So..the first 2:30 of this song is absolutely phenomenal. Ross is fucking nails in this section. Amazing control, rising seamlessly in a couple of impactful moments. And then to even crank it up for the nxt brief section. 2:58-3:19…so freaking good. Smoking solo at 4:22, and the instrumental section that follows it, but before the wank, is awesome. The following vocal ends with a Freddie Mercury note at 8:15. The vocal that begins at 9:23 is amazing. Now this I feel. The ride cymbal and electric piano between the vocals are so good. If I have one complaint, the final 30 seconds is quite underwhelming, but the previous 12 and a half minutes are amazing.
Deathless....8.5
One of the mellower songs, but has a nice steady pace and build.
This song is really beautiful. Such a luscious opening. I kept thinking, how are they going to muck this up? Real tasteful playing in these opening verses, particularly the piano and drums. The chorus totally fits the verse. I like the guitar behind the next verse. Needs some Gary Moore right there but this is really nice. The song beats to the same pulse for 8 minutes, but I don’t mind. This is a beautiful song. The piano at the end, appearing out of the song as the rest of the other instruments fall away is brilliant.
9.0+8.5=17.5/2=8.75
425
Drowning In The Flood....7.8
Strong Structural Disorder vibe on this one.
Interesting vocal to begin the song. I do like the second vocal section that ends with the song title. From 2:01—3:17 there’s an awesome guitar solo and then the keyboards join in. Not sure I love the keyboard choices in the section. At the halfway point it slows right down. 4:25-5:50 what a classy and moving passage. Even when the vocals join it, it stays amazing. The band becomes whole again at 6:50 for a really grand section. If this were DT, for the last entire minute we’d be going Jordan WTF?
This is a fantastic song, but I can’t help but feel it punts the ending.
In Memoriam....7.0
I hope this song grows. It was a bit underwhelming at first.
Not a favorite, unfortunately. It’s kind of annoyingly keyboard in the beginning, save for the very first piano intro.. The only part I like is at 3:03, which is really cool. The chorus isn’t bad, but not nearly as memorable as some of the others.
7.8+7.0=14.8/2=7.40