EmperorCharlemagne's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[Town Crisis]

Alright

Tone down the steel guitar, as it is a bit too loud for the effect you're going for. It is blaring at the listener far too much.

This sounds as if it was made with the standard Fruity Loops instruments (I recognize that bass). I would recommend looking around for some free soundfonts that can diversify what you can and cannot do, sonically speaking.

The song is not that bad, but can use some spicing up in some parts, like maybe a few more instruments, or more importantly, some more variation in the melody, which is pretty bare bones for the most part.

This sounds similar to some of my early songs (which are not on the AP), so I can certainly see where you were coming from at this stage in time.

JinsokuMan responds:

Hahah. Yep. I was pretty sure people would immediately pick up on the FL. I was madly in love with that steel guitar back then. I cringe now, but still like the melodies I came up with.

I'm looking for my soundfonts and FL and all this other stuff to reinstall and start toying with things again. I want to post one of my later ones, as I thought I actually progressed, but my one problem is my bare bones melody. I always hit a wall and can't think up anything else.

Thanks for the critique!

[Tokyo Jive-Metaljonus]

I'm feelin' it!

Everything meshes pretty well here.

In terms of production, things are remarkably put together into one organic whole. Everything fits, so to say, and the drums, crystal synth, along with the bass and guitar-ish synthy thing all sound great.

Musically speaking, less is indeed more in this case. The sparse beats and rhythm section makes for an easy-going melody and feeling that is quite a joy for the ears.

If I can say anything, though, it's that the ending could use a definitely more final tone. It kinda feels like things stop too suddenly, and that we should be eased into the end a bit more.

Other than that, this is a high-quality submission. Great job.

Metaljonus responds:

Thanks! I think the ending does need to be a little better I'll fix that one day lol.

[Remember the Killings Finished]

Rather polished and well-made!

Gotta say, everything really flows on this one. The guitar work was good, the lyrics enjoyable (certainly heavy metal/death metal!), and I feel like the sound production left no discernable flaws in the performance.

Whoever did the vocals I say a good job of keeping things clear, understandable, and at its best, emotive.

The work with melody was impeccable, and I feel this bleeds (lol pun) quality. A top knotch job over usual Audio Portal fare (the type that one doesn't even bother to review). Liked the solo-ish parts at the end, and all in all this is a really well done piece of music you have here. Kudos to you.

Bad-Man-Incorporated responds:

Thanks muchly.
I did all the stuff here, guitar, bass, drums (programming) and vocals. Glad you like it.
Thanks again!

[/SN/ Rarefraction Serenade]

I like this one quite a bit.

Might have to go back and download it a little later!

Very nice job on everything, I liked how low-key the drums were until they swelled at the end, very nicely done.

Good job layering and ushering in everything, as this is a all around well-made and well-put together track.
Kudos.

SessileNomad responds:

glad you liekd it

thx for reviewing

[Toshredornottoshred?-MJ]

Very nicely done!

Though a bass certainly would have helped, it didn't hurt you to not have one. Excellent guitar playing, and I think you did a great job at evocative playing right there.

The drums sound a little fake to me, thus the not-5 voting. If I am wrong, I apologize. Also, another thing I thought could be worked on is a better transition to the part beginning at 1:35. It felt like it came out of nowhere.

But keep it up, as it is all good stuff.

Metaljonus responds:

Thanks guy, The drums are fake hmmmm since they are'nt real and programmed. I really did'nt put a whole lot of thought into this jam. I basically wanted something to play over rather than make it into a complete song. Thanks for listening.

[/SN/ Singing Angels]

Nicely done

The song is nicely put together.

Things flow very easily, thanks to a tight chord progression and kick beat. I like piano myself, and I am glad to see how you used it in this song, because it added a little flavor to the piece which is greatly appreciated.

I liked the fade out at :28 leading into the main trance part of the song, and the extended intro was also a nice touch.

This is not to say the song is perfect. The bass sounds like it is a bit too sharp, and while this works sometimes, other times it is a bit grating. I would also recommend quieting things down at points (like at :34) in the bass end.

But overall, well done, and keep up the good work.

SessileNomad responds:

yeah most ppl dont like the sharp basses, but i kinda prefer mine like that

i luvs teh piano as well, its my fav. instrument

thx for reviewing

peace out

[Celtic Celebrations]

A Dance of the Earth

I would soften the drums a little bit, and add in some more fiddle.

But the drums are rather too loud.

Also, with this type of music (Celtic), harmony is always important, and I feel there could have been some more chords and harmony thrown in to give it a better feel. You needed some bass noises, is my opinion. The bird noises sound kinda fake.

But I like the intro and outro the best.
But some bass noises (from the pipes or what have you) would have been good.

Great job though.

Archawn responds:

What bird noises? You mean the bagpipe?

[Wait_TehRave Remix]

Needs quite a bit of work in some areas.

The transition between the intro and main song could have been a LOT better.
Your song is lacking in the flow department in this regard.

The two parts are disparate and sound like two different projects pasted after one another. You have to work with how sounds logically flow into one another, and again at 1:24 was another bad transitions.

With techno and rave, you have to build into the next parts. As opposed to different pages of a book, think of it as a continuous stream, sometimes changing, sometimes stopping, but always flowing. This song has so many jarring moments it is hard to get into.

That is not to say it is without merit. But if the parts were meshed better, this song would be a whole lot more enjoyable. So keep at it, and improve your craft, and don't give up!

TehRave responds:

Thank you very much for this review, I will try and work on the transitions and maybe find sounds that flow a bit better, and work on building into the next sound.

[Pizzicato Lullabye]

Not bad.

The recorder does indeed make the loud parts wonky.

As far as things go, this piece is not that bad, all things are considered. The sounds are rich and authentic, and the melody is not that bad.

I think the main focus of the piece, the pizzicato lullaby could use a bit more work, as it was mainly strumming (or rather, plucking) the same notes over and over again. Coulda used more "lullaby", know what I mean?

But the strings, winds, and brass were all well-utilized, and this song is pretty good.

Lightningpichu responds:

Yea i know, i suspect it might be more my speakers though :\

Yea I know, it doesnt show much of a lullabye which was bad naming on my part.

Thanks for the review :P

[Little Piano Piece]

Alright.

If I could say anything, it's that this piece could have used a bit more variation in the melody. It only does a couple of things overall, respectively.

It's not bad, and this is a great recording (I wish I could record like this, but that would cost money), but the piece could use a few more things happening in it.

Saigon responds:

(I recorded midi like thought.) I might work on the melody at some point in the future. Thanks for the review.