Foreign Language Main Assignment Grades
5
Puppies: Dordeduh-Descant
The name of this band must be Romanian for Voivod.
This song’s first listen was really its best listen. I like the opening. The song’s first movement through the first 2 minutes is fine ending with the harsh vocals, which were nice because this singer’s voice is a bit dreary. I like the part at 2:14. Some cool drumming and bass, kind of Rush-like. But the song kicks back in, and it’s a tad undynamic, and the singer makes it worse. Nothing to latch onto with him. The song hints at an epic style ending around 6:27, but is takes it down for the spoken wordy finish, which was a but disappointing.
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6
Faizoff: Alien Weaponry-Hatapatu
I feel like I’m stuck in an island of headhunters
I had trouble connecting with this one. I did not really like the vocals, and the native language, I thought of Oh oh Tongo! It was kind of weird, like The Hu. Just not my thing I guess. Unfortunately the music was a bit stompin’, but it never really tied together for me.
Lethean: Solefald-Song Til Stormen
How to say Katatonia in a foreign language
I made the Katatonia crack because this did kind of remind me of them, especially considering the sender. The song is a bit plodding and the vocals are pretty nondescript. But it’s still pretty pleasent, and I wouldn’t rule out listening to more of them.
Reaper: Vulkan-Marans Ritt
This was pleasant but it was over before I knew it.
So this was nice and all, but..it’s kind of just there for me. There were a number of songs that reached out and grabbed me, but this one was content to just move along, albeit at a nice and uppy pace. I didn’t not like the song, but the competition was just too strong for a song like this.
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7
Romdrums: Means End-Nox Aurumque
This is a nice song and this dude has some pipes.
This was really cool. I feel like this was a tough song to start with. I know it’s some sort of cover and I did check out the original choral version. Wow, they did a good job with that. Still, I found the music, while wicked cool in parts, to be a bit overly herky-jerky for my tastes. And holy shit does that dude have some pipes. I do plan on checking them out a bit further. Hopefully it’s not more low tuned jagged riffing.
Jingle Boy: Syu-Cacotopia
This is pretty safe, but it does channel Michael Schenker
So this gave me a slightly different vibe than Galneryus. Thi sis a bit more jagged, maybe riffy, than the smoothness of the Galneryus. The chorus here is nice. I keep feeling there’s something safe here, but I’m not sure that’s even fair. The set up to the solo is cool. The second half of the first solo at 4:28 sounds just like Michael Schenker, and then the outro starting at 5:26…classic Schenker.
Stadler: Sting-Si Estamos Juntos
Very pleasant and the smoothest Spanish in the round so far.
I’m pretty sure I’ve heard this before. Is this a Spanish version of one of his songs? I’m not really a Sting fan. I don’t not like him, I’m just indifferent. But I like this song, and his Spanish is silky smooth. Love the dated sound to this. This is actually a fun song to listen to. Sometimes I feel like he’s too moody, but this is refreshing.
Nick: Heroes Del Silencio-Entre Dos Tierras
Musically it has great pace and is quite nice. Vocally…
So despite its score I did like this song. As far as vocally, I don’t think I had a problem with his voice, but I don’t know if it’s his pronunciation, but he’s kind of annoying. For contrast, Sting sounds so silky smooth with his Spanish, but here, it’s just too jarring. The part at 4:09 is awesome, and that was almost enough to get it into the next tier, except there were just too many songs ahead of it.
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7.5
Twosuitsluke: Thy Catafalque-Siraly
This is quite dynamic.
I liked this song. It has a cool build up, and I love seagulls! I could see the ocean from my house as a kid. The female vocals are pretty nice. The build up is teased a bit at 2:10 with some keys, but finally at 2:27, it comes, and is amazing. I love the crunchy and full guitars. And for a second at two around the 2:27 mark, it reminds me of Led Zeppelin’s No Quarter. Love the change at 4:25. Nice and crunchy. Yeah, this song gives me a No Quarter vibe.
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8
Glasser: Sacrum-Los Otros
Wow, what a chorus.
Let’s just say that I was extremely worried on my first listen. Was this some sort of disco dance music. There’s a wicked bassline that held me through the verses. I was about to give up on it, but then out of nowhere comes this overwhelmingly powerful chorus and it totally makes the song. Made me appreciate the set-up even more. There’s a little bit at 3:04 right before the solo that is very cool and the solo is short, but very sweet.
Soupytwist: Powerwolf-Glaubenskraft
I thought Sabaton was banned
This song was a Steady Eddie in this round. It’s a song that had a good first couple of runs but stayed consistent. It has a great vibe to it, and it wouldn’t let me drop it below an 8. This dude has some pipes too. Nothing really remarkable about it in terms of arrangement or sections, but it’s an epic and fun listen.
Tomislav: Galneryus-Hunting For Your Dream
This is fun metal
The Helloween vibes are strong on this one. Right up my alley. This is so easy on the ears. The verse and chorus just flow seamlessly. I feel like when I’ve sampled Galneryus, they’ve given me a kind of Dragonforce vibe, but this is way closer to Helloween. Great solo and really a track that sits right in my comfort zone.
Jamesman: Alcest-Faiseurs De Mondes
This band’s second chance could pay off
I’m glad that you resent this band again. Despite its score, I was really intrigued by the last song. This is a style of music that I’ve really taken to in the last few years. Kind of black metal-y with the dissonant vocals. This is luscious music to simply chill to. As far as the song goes, it gets a second life with the acoustic guitars about 4 and a half minutes through. Maybe a little long for a roulette round like this, but it’s a captivating listen. I am definitely on this band after this roulette.
Ariich: Equilibrium-Die Weide Und Der Flub
Lots I like here, but is the whole greater than the sum of its parts?
Is it possible to like a song, score it relatively well, and still be disappointed with it? So to be clear, I thought this song was excellent, even though it was a bit underwhelming. By that I mean, it comes with a high floor. This song was an 8 from the jump. It has many things I like in my music. It has a cool European flair to it, and harsh vocals I can completely deal with. It has an epic feel to it, if not a bit too busy. I kept waiting for this song to reach out and grab one of the top spots, but it just never did. The fullness level, for lack of a better term….dynamics maybe..stay the same and it doesn’t allow what I think is a great song to breathe.
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9
Lonestar: Dreamcatcher-Good Night
This could possibly be the best thing you’ve sent so far.
So this is a great song. Loved it from the first spin. Really perfect and catchy hard rock. A little disappointed to youtube them I must say. I was hoping to see a hot band and not a bunch of lip synching dancers. It tried, but it still wasn’t going to influence me on the song. I have no idea what’s behind the curtain but this song is addictive. That little soft break at 2:10 is wonderful. Great song!
Lizzojazzosphere: Night Crowned-Rex Tenebrae
There’s a lot I like about this.
This song was a good call. Believe it or not, I have this album Saved in my Spotify Library, which means I probably sampled it on the day it came out, liked it and saved it, and forgot about it. Lots to like here. To me it breathes a lot more than the Equilibrium song. The parts are all distinct but fit together nicely. The creepy part at 2:12 followed by the heavy double bass pounding. Really sick! Out of nowhere some clean vocals leading into a tremendous sounding solo. Closes out nice and heavy and then a great outro. Gotta dig down on this album for sure.
Kingshmegland: Flor De Loto-Odisea
Jethro Maiden!!
Seriously, Iron Tull! Even with the heavy music, the flute doesn’t seem out of place. This band is faithful to those European melodic lines…Irish, maybe, as I can hear Thin Lizzy and Iron maiden behind them. The production really lets every instrument breathe. The guitar solos seem to go Adrian Smith-Janick Gers. The mellow part is really classy. The flute adds great atmosphere without being overpowering at all. When the acoustic guitars pick up…man that’s nice. This song is just filled with so many Iron Maiden styled runs. Love it!
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10
Wolfking: Falconer-Svarta Ankan
Wow, that was excellent.
From the first run through of the playlist, the 10 was immediately taken off the board. The intro is excellent, the verse solid, and then the chorus is epic with that European flair that’s been so prevalent this round. That shift at 1:58 and back into the verse was great. The mellow part with the female vocals was fucking classy and that solo…that is 1975 Michael Schenker right there. Fucking tremendous. I feel like the song could’ve ended right around 5:45 but it revs back up because..why the hell not?!
Topic: The TAC Back To School Roulette V.7 Schools Out!!! (Read 57974 times)
