SoulSecure's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[Graveyard Shenanigans]

I like it, man. Real Banjo Kazooie sounding. Reminds me a bit of Gex and Mother 3 as well. You did this for the NGADM? Good luck on that there contest.

I don't enjoy giving 5s on things that I don't think deserve them. This deserves it. It's an excellently well mixed and cohesive song.

steampianist responds:

thanks man really appreciate it

[Lighthouse]

Honestly, I wasn't sure of what to expect from this since you only recently started uploading and you got on the top submissions, but I admit this is good music. I mean, starting at 1:33 it sounds like something I would write.

I think your drums feel alienated, though. I'd suggest either to use different samples or reverb, cutting out some of the low mid/bass punch in your snare and try to cut freqs where you can in your bass drum. I'm not telling you to make sacrifices in your bass drum, just see what you can EQ out of the picture, cuz it sounds a bit messy with all these low freqs from the piano (which I'd imagine you don't want to cut too much of).

I also feel a lack of panoramic depth. Play with the panning of your instruments so you can get a sweeter ambient feel.

It's a good song and I get the idea, it just need mixing work.

LunyAlex responds:

So you know that saying better late than never?
Eh. It's not a great saying really but here's a 6 years late reply:

Thank you for your detailed review and your constructive feedback. It was appreciated at the time, but there were times back then when I wasn't in the state of mind to reply. Sorry bout' that.

Now I'm trying to fill the gaps, haha.

Thanks again :D

[CLAB - Jar vs Pachillis]

Pachillis wins. Dude, fuck Jar, total wanker.

Also, beat gets a 5/5 from me. Really awesome production and I love the variety of riffs. Dark feel too, like a showdown at dusk. Totally my kind of shit.

[CLAB - Moses vs Satan]

Black Moses gets my vote on this one. This is fuckin' funny, though.

[Apex Of The Universe]

This is pretty impressive work, man. I can only really criticize a few things, because the instrumental is pretty solid. Digging the Finnish style keyboard solo (hope you get my joke on the Finns).

Your lyrical delivery is making me wince at times. I understand that you're telling a story and that lyrics can sound pretty shitty and unromantic when you do this (I know, because I have written songs that go that route), but in the first half of the song you seem to be trying really hard to cram in some of those lyrics and sing them out. This might just be a product of your writing not working out in the end, but it sounds forced, man. Most of the song has good delivery, but just work on that.

The only other thing is that your vocals are mixed a tad loud.

Yeah. That's seriously all I have to complain about, because it's a pretty good song.

TheDoomrider responds:

The song is exactly how I wanted it to be, I wouldn't change anything and I am glad you enjoyed it, HELLYEAH!!!

[Augmented 13]

I don't really have any advice on this one since what it is, is straight forward. Sounds like you could easily turn this into a song with vocals if you made more parts.

Psilenth responds:

thanks

[My Soul is a Dying Cat]

Lmfao

[Kilimajaro Rises]

Dude. This is one of your best pieces. Fucking epic work, man. Wish I could have been around to hear it for the contest.

Really damn catchy.

[Voices (Inside My Head)]

I enjoyed the dissonant chords and the constant ambiance you created by allowing the sustain to rule. The lyrics are good. I don't mind that the vocals aren't mixed over the guitar, because they meld together in an ambient frenzy.

Love this work, bro.

Vojife responds:

Thank you very much! What you wrote here was exactly what I was going for.
I am glad to hear you like it. :)

[Zelda Oot - Water Temple]

I found it monotonous and boring. It sounded pretty good at first, but then you just used piano and strings synths for EVERY INSTRUMENT!

I don't mind if the timing is off or anything, but your composition is wrong in the notation department. The part where (in the original) the dulcimer synth plays and the second flute solo, you missed a few notes entirely. The background music, instead of switching to accommodate the lead parts (as in the original) just looped so the dulcimer solo didn't harmonize correctly with the background. That shit made me cringe a bit. Lastly, you didn't use any of the notes that fade-in, but that's ok, because you used a bass line to fill the gap.

I don't mind that you omitted the percussion, because that is a stylistic choice.

The mixing is alright. Nothing too super weird. The dulcimer solo was a bit quiet, but whatever. Who cares, right?

I think that you need to go back, listen intensely closely to the original song and try it again. I'd suggest bringing in more different instruments so it doesn't sound so bland and monotonous.