Very relaxing music. Harmony with good choice of strument. 5 stars!

This is an NGADM 2015 review.

So because I'm really late with my review (sorry), I was trying to remember the reasons I scored this piece so highly.. then the guitar happened. Like, this was already rock-solid sounding before you brought that in, but guys. Seriously impressive stuff. The only critcisms I could possibly mention would be about subtle mixing nitpicks, and possibly the cliche nature of the ending.

So right out the gates, lovely uplifting bright piano. Great strings, though I suppose I would appreciate them coming up a little - same with the percussion that comes in shortly after. You've got this hit at 00:32 that has a lot of low frequency content, which made me anticipate more sub in this section than there was. Still, pretty minor; and the spectrum is just gorgeous at the chorus. That guitar sits almost perfectly - could be a little brighter perhaps :P but just about perfect. Any change would be subjective honestly.

Lovely acoustic guitar, too - again, nice and bright, but not overpowering in highs against the strings. The transition to the second chorus right after the solo guitar bit really really gets me, oh god. It's so good.

Anyway, as mentioned I feel the ending is a bit cliche? I feel that it could even be an homage to something I can't quite recall, because it sounds like I've heard it before. Either way, it sounds great, especially with all the subtle brass and choirs. Damn.

Great work all round, easily one of the most well rounded submissions. I'm really struggling to find flaws in it.

Oh my god you have no idea how much I LOVE orchestral + electric guitar. These melodies are so uplifting - especially that melodic motif that occurs at 1:21, 1:55, 2:27, 3:36, etc! It's that sixth leap that really gets me every time I hear it. Even though it's played in tons of places throughout the song, the changes in instrumentation make it sound new every time! That melody at 3:00 is also amazing. And the entire guitar solo at 1:05. And basically that entire section from 0:00-4:12. Damn!

I'm also seriously impressed with your drum work. I feel like orchestral drums are a lot harder to get right than electronic (yet another reason I prefer to stick to electronic stuff), but you really nailed those hits that started coming in at 0:33! And then when they began playing in the background along with a rock beat at 1:05, it created a layered drum effect that just sounds so powerful and intense. It's easy to take a beat like that and dehumanize it, but you just take it to a whole new level.

What a well-deserved score in the NGADM. This is the kind of song that makes me happy that the NGADM exists, since it'll basically force you guys to churn out music of this quality for the next few months! :D Good luck, and I hope you make it to the very end! :P

I like the contemplative piano at the beginning, and the warm strings really enhance that mood as well. I think you could’ve brought more emotion to the piece by creating more of a crescendo through the first 20 seconds or so, though. I’m loving the progression by around :45. The texture is full and engaging. Beautiful samples, too! The guitar at 1:05 adds a lot to the piece as well. I love the victorious vibe I’m getting during the guitar solo. Again, at 1:38 I thought you could’ve played with the contrast more by bringing it down to at least a mezzo piano and then experimenting with some phrasing/crescendos while you brought the piece back to the emotional heights of earlier. I absolutely love the structural relief that 2:27 offers. It’s simple, yet down-to-earth, organic, and beautiful. It also flows into 2:59 very nicely. The production quality is amazingly high as well. I love the soundscape here. There are so many twists and turns in the structure that you really capitalize on opportunities to channel the emotion later in this piece. Fantastic work, Bassfiddlejones! Keep it up! :’D

9.5/10

This review was written for the Newgrounds Audio Death Match 2015.

Wow, there is nothing to say :3 5/5 <3