EssenceOfScience's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[Dystopian Technoid]

Indeed, this song could use some mixing. I'm not too sure if the muffled sounds are part of the dark techno theme, but you could cut some of the lower frequencies to make room for louder melodic instruments. Some delay/reverb can also be used to give it a nice echo-ey feel.

This song feels very in-between atmospheric and energetic; if that's what you want, good! If not, removing some of the secondary percussion (anything that does not play on a downbeat) can make it more atmospheric, while enhancing the timbres of the instruments and implementing a melody or even some kind of melodic hook makes it more energetic.

Hope this helps :)

[The Keywood WIP]

It's a short song so there's nothing much to comment on.
I find it pretty nice overall, but given how thin the texture is, you might want to experiment with some delay/reverb to get those synths sounding good.
If this were to expanded, I would expect some instrument playing on the higher frequencies to get the atmosphere going, and some catchy melody to ease in soon after.

I was also going to say you could speed up the track a little, but I think it's just my preference because it sounds fine. :P

[-Glorious Morning 2-]

I remember how the old Glorious Morning, despite the mastering admittedly not being top-notch, was very direct in pumping up the listener for some action and victory. It was strong and powerful and left an impression on the listener. I know how a lot of people may retain feelings for the old one because of its familiarity and the nostalgia it invokes, but as the title has hinted: This is a rebirth of the old song and has its own unique feel. It is not meant to be a replacement of the old song, and should therefore not be judged with the same criteria as it.

With that said, this song is much more atmospheric in nature while maintaining some adrenaline in the listener. I found this mixture confusing at first, and I couldn't figure out what kind of situation fits with this song. It's too action-oriented to be part of some resting period, yet it's too atmospheric to be used in a direct battle scene. But after listening to it another time, I realized this would fit really really well in some kind of planning or preparation scene. But of course, that doesn't mean it should be paired with a game; it might even make great studying music!

Going with that scenario, the beginning is gentle to lull the listener into the mood, then slowly picks up to bring out that excitement and anticipation that something epic is going to happen. It doesn't really hit a climax, but it doesn't have to. The song is one fluid piece of work that assuringly yet gently motivates the listener to work hard for whatever is going to happen as it progresses.
It includes a short, appropriate break at the 2 minute mark as the listener completes a part of their work and moves on to the next one. A more noticeable break happens at the 3 minute mark, which entices the listener to pause and perhaps admire or check the progress of their work as a whole, and the action quickly gets in again as the listener reaches a resolution and continues working on their epic masterpiece. At 4:20, there is a another small break that hints that the listener has hit a delicate part in their working progress, but it is swiftly overcome and the listener gets right back to completing their work. They quickly sew up all the individual components of their masterpiece, and the song ends just as the final touch is made. The listener finally rests, his masterpiece ready for submission, and the long plays one last trail to relief and congratulate the listener for a job well done.

For the great job done with bring back a fond melody, 5 stars to you, Waterflame! It was an enjoyable listen throughout and the parts connected seamlessly to bring out a majestic atmosphere. The resolution at the ending is a bit too short and anti-climatic in my humble opinion, but that doesn't make the music any less enjoyable to the ears! My interpretation of the music is simply one amongst many after all, and I trust that there are many more ways to enjoy this wonderful composition. Keep up the good work! :D

[Maschine.]

First 2 seconds: Mmm sounds promising.
3rd second: Oh no.

KittenBeat responds:

Aha. Right. Cherri o.

[The Lost]

Some things can be done with the percussion. The open hihat is too loud and could be shifted to higher frequencies. The clap also sounds too loud when the other instruments stop playing, such as 2:15 - 2:21, maybe fade the clap in, or gradually raise the cutoff frequency?
But it's still a good piece of music overall, I especially like the feeling of the breakdown that starts at 2:08.

[Symp. Tow. Def. - Train Cross.]

Remaking?

Okay after typing out this review I figured it may not be the best, but I'll post it anyway.

Remastering your old song due to popular demand I see? This one definitely has a few things going for it, but I think you made it too complex (too many sounds) too early. The previous was simpler and thus easier to grab, mainly because the only instrument covering the high pitches is the main piano melody (and the steam hiss). (This version has more piano notes in it; might work for some people, but it was the simple yet delicate melody of the first version's piano that drew me in.)
The extra steam hiss for the percussion at the first part threw me a bit off as well.

Overall, 9 outta 10 because it's still a great song by itself. I would have preferred it if you made the beginnng (1:01) simpler like the first version and stepped it up from there to this version. (I mean not having that much special effects in yet, so you can lay down a firm melody, I like mine well-defined)

Yodamanjaro responds:

The review was good enough for me, thanks!

[The Happy Midget]

Weird

For the first 30 seconds I was wondering what's up with Newgrounds.
I get what you're trying to do, but it really sounds wonky to me. Other than that, the other parts are good.

Rexyrex responds:

the new newgrounds format messed up the song... dunno why. THis happend to many old songs apparently

NOTE:
If you download the song, it will play as it should!

[~|| Electric tears]

Not Bad

I like theme of this music. Really feels like it belongs to some romance- or tragedy-themed game or movie, with some modern/electronic element thrown in.

One rate down because the structure feels a little... absent. While the feel is there, there isn't much progression. But that's how some pieces of music go I guess.
(Don't worry too much about it; I hardly give a perfect score :P)

[Lack Of Difficulty]

Ambience

Sounds like that kind of music that should be in the background of some game or movie, instead of an independent soundtrack, especially since it doesn't have a well-defined melody. Would be even more so if you looped it.

Loved the drums in the beginning though.