nailed the action theme vibes, with the standard instrumentation used effectively. really liked the section at 1:40 where the constant drone of the tonic subsides and the choir harmonies and flute come out and give hints of thematic development. unfortunately the harmonic repetitiveness and static arrangement hindered my enjoyment a lot, and the melodic ideas don't really captivate me at all either.

I like the crisp string riffs at the beginning. The percussion sounds a bit muddy in the mix - it might need a little less wet reverb and a bit more compression. Also, it’s a small detail, but the weak attack on the crashes throughout sounds really unnatural to me. The piece has a great sense of underlying tension and drive to it, but some more percussion and a richer texture overall might’ve helped play up that tension even more. The choir sample at 1:40 isn’t my favorite - it’s a bit inauthentic and unpolished-sounding - but that section served as some good variety from the high-octane string lines on either side of it. Some more variation on the main riffs towards the end (i.e., 2:08 onwards) would’ve been welcome, but I love the little flourish at 2:43 that hits the piece home.

Overall, the progression, mood, and cinematic flair of the piece are very enjoyable. My main concern is the muddy mix - the texture is a bit over-saturated with reverb throughout, and some of the instruments need a little more room to breathe in the EQ to really make this piece sound as epic as it could. Still, I like the composition here a lot. Sounds like something from a war-themed flash game soundtrack. :D Keep at it, NativeNiles! ^_^

Mixing, mastering, and balance
.75/2
Structure, transitions, phrasing, and variety
1/1.5
Melody, tonality, harmony, and texture
1.5/2
Instrumentation and sound design
.5/1
Emotion, atmosphere, and catchiness
1.25/1.5
Originality and uniqueness
.75/1
Overall (how do the elements above interact?)
.75/1
Composite score
6.5/10