I like the bass drone at the beginning and the echo-y synth at :13. The rhythm at :26 is a bit square, but I like the build-up into :53. The drums, especially the clap, and some of the synths (like the lead at 1:18) are a bit cheesy, but the mixing and mastering are really solid here. The melodies felt a tad stale at first, but by 1:40 they’re more dynamic and loose. The kick gets a little lost in the mix at around the 3-minute mark, although overall everything sits nicely in the mix, especially the lush synth bass. The chord progression is pretty cliche, and the arrangement of the piece also was a bit formulaic. I would’ve liked to see you vary the melodic content more for the second refrain at 3:17, although the transition leading up to that with the strings was a good idea. The outro winds down the piece nicely, giving a conclusive flourish to the piece. Overall, I’m impressed with the flow, rhythmic content, production quality, and sound design here. Some elements of the composition are a little generic and might benefit from some more automation, effects, and variety to loosen up the arrangement. Still, it’s going to be stuck in my head for a while. Keep at it, DatCat11! :)

Mixing, mastering, and balance
1.75/2
Structure, transitions, phrasing, and variety
1/1.5
Melody, tonality, harmony, and texture
1.75/2
Instrumentation and sound design
.75/1
Emotion, atmosphere, and catchiness
1/1.5
Originality and uniqueness
.5/1
Overall (how do the elements above interact?)
.75/1
Composite score
7.5/10

You said something epic and LMMS in the final round and in that instant earned my respect. I've seen people struggle with it for years.

I don't have a ton of critique. I feel the piece progresses very nicely and is thoughtfully produced. I do think the lead prior through 1:40 can come down safely up to .5 dB. Same with 2:42. It simply stands over the rest of the production and seems a bit dry.

Arrangement and transition wise, you've done a fantastic job. Thanks for coming out to NGUAC!