The most epic thing I've ever heard, I think.

NGADM Review time!

Composition 4/5
You've crafted a lovely piece of music. Actually, some moments reminded me of the soundtrack from Stargate. Thanks for taking me back!
Having said that, the first and last notes of the song I've heard a million times... Could have been a little more original there and that bugged me quite a bit. It completely broke my immersion in the musical story.

Production 4.5/5
Very well produced. I can make out all the details, even in the loudest sections. I love how dynamic this track is, the huge difference in loudness means the listener has a chance to rest and I feel people to take this into account are more considerate of their audience.

Sound Design and/or Instrumentation 5/5
I really enjoyed the reverb you chose in the intro, it's very lush. Long and warm. It created an atmosphere for the rest of the song to build into. The instrumentation works well too, from the quieter to the louder sections, everything works.

Performance or Programming 5/5
You know your instruments. It's clear to me that you're familiar with their strengths and weaknesses and are able to use them to their full extent.

"Je Ne Sais Quoi" (Genre/case specific extras) 4/5
In its genre, this piece hits all the marks. Big percussion, loud brass, screeching strings and a blistering pace. Maybe at times I would have liked more innovation but it's a child of its time.

Congrats on making through to the next round.

This is an official NGADM '19 Review

Composition:
The literal first five seconds made me think I was starting up Elite Dangerous, but then you brought in the flute and instantly transported me into exactly what you described. Knowing some of your background I shouldn't be surprised in what you can write, but what you've written works so strongly for imagery I think it's still impressive.

Production and Sound Design:
Honestly, if you gave me this song without me hearing it before, and then placed it next to a song that was actually recorded, I don't think I'd be able to tell which one was the real version. Aside from that, I also really enjoy how you used each section of instruments. You had the full sound giving across the big energy, but more impressively is what you've done for the subtle and delicate moments. The first minute I think was my favorite that showed how you controlled your sound.

Structure:
Great work in storytelling (again the imagery). A textbook case of what good song structure looks like in my opinion.

Emotion / Conclusion:
It felt like I was in modern remake of Indiana Jones. A great work in showcasing what you can do and appropriate for the scene you're designing.

Composition: 9

Production: 9

Sound Design: 10

Structure: 10

Emotion: 9

I like the tranquil mood at the beginning and the majestic flute melody. The piece has a great sense of atmosphere, and the tone is both warm and mysterious at the same time. I like how the texture opens up at :45 with the foreboding drums. There’s a sense of wonder that comes with the grand moment of suspense at :54, which then devolves into the frantic, ominous textures at :59. It’s as if that’s the moment the protagonist decided to steal the chalice from the temple and make a break for it as the walls cave in around him. By 1:28, you’ve done an effective job at heightening the tension behind the piece. The transition at 1:48 is pretty sudden, but it still fits the sense of drama here. I envision the protagonist nearing death, only to escape by 1:48. Only then does the larger evil become apparent. The part at 2:19 is extremely evocative, and provides a neat point of inflection for the piece imo. At 2:25, I begin to feel that you’ve built a strong element of cohesion into the instrumental hierarchy here, despite the fact that this piece seems designed for storytelling more so than structural coherence. I also appreciated how you brought that instrumental framework full-circle with the haunting flute solo at the end. Overall, this is really strong work again, CloakedSoup. Is there somewhere I can download this? :D

Mixing, mastering, and balance
2/2
Structure, transitions, phrasing, and variety
1.25/1.5
Melody, tonality, harmony, and texture
2/2
Instrumentation and sound design
1/1
Emotion, atmosphere, and catchiness
1.5/1.5
Originality and uniqueness
1/1
Overall (how do the elements above interact?)
.75/1
Composite score
9.5/10

Wow, the transition from 54 to 1 min. That was awesome, like almost star wars battle. Loved it! And the end.

Gave me shivers.

Epic