Hello! This is a review for the NGUAC competition.
I've gone over one or two general categories of issues specific to your song, and one section of things I think also deserve complimenting. I prefer being very direct with my critique, none of it is meant to offend. Thank you for your understanding!
Constructive Criticism:
- Okay, the biggest issue with this track is generally the lack of 'hooks'. You have some tasty sound design and the steady kick works, but... we can take this to the next level for sure. This type of track clearly can use some chords and melodies to enhance it, but what it really lives off of is its bass design and drums, and particularly the rhythm. Here's a track that might work as a good point of comparison: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gLiQOdtBPs4 Note that it even has a steady four-on-the-floor kick like your track, but this steady simple rhythm is broken up by the syncopated rhythms. During the builds and the particularly bass-focused section after the melodic portion, the beat is consistently broken up with little bits of modulation that I like to call 'ear candy'. This keeps engagement throughout the section and makes it far more interesting. The rest of that game's soundtrack may be worth studying for you as well!
- Secondly, your mixing is VERY bass-heavy. There isn't anything wrong with this, but it might be best saved for the intense sections, reducing it during builds and during less intense sections to give the mix room to breathe and bring the track down to be darker and heavier specifically during your drops. Your sub-bass is also VERY intense and overall, the constant loudness and bass makes this track very tiring to listen to.
Compliments to the Composer:
- Hooo I love a lot of your bass design and the drum fills whne they do happen. That initial bass rumble has such a tasty feeling to it and I wish you had used it even more - it's like a bass massage for my ears with the lower mid growl. The waveshaped bass is also very tasty, even if it's used for a little too long at times. I'm curious what you would do with higher pitch instruments.
Final score: 6
DanTheCoolGuy 
