I usually am not really a fan of this genre, nor of vocals usage. However, this is so well-done all around that I can say I truly enjoyed it. If you keep putting out stuff this good, you may well have me stalking your audio list. ;P
Reviews for "We Are Heroes"
FinnMK responds:
Thanks very much!
I really like the relaxed guitars at the beginning and how the intensity builds over the course of the intro. The drums are really loud and crisp, and the vocals are strong as always, although it seemed like you were a bit too forceful/breathless at the “I’ve got a special kind of way” line. I love the thematic elements of the piece - the tie-ins to superhero lore, the narrative implied by the lyrics, etc. It also connects with relatable, real-life scenarios very well. Finding out that the “arch nemesis” was really just your girlfriend’s boss was very amusing. I also couldn’t help but think that some of the lyrics really spoke to the NGADM: “this is the final fight,” etc. The production quality is great. The instrumentation is also strong here, but not quite as well-varied as in some of your other tracks. There also wasn’t a ton of variety in the structure of the song. The bridge was a little short-lived, and I would’ve loved to see you go for something a bit riskier, like a passionate guitar solo or the addition of a new element to the texture. Still, this piece is really strong overall. I like the relatively abrupt ending, too, as if the fantasy of being a hero was suddenly interrupted. Finn, you’ve put an amazing amount of effort into this competition. Congratulations on your hard work and achievement! :’D
Mixing, mastering, and balance
2/2
Structure, transitions, phrasing, and variety
1.75/2
Melody, tonality, harmony, and texture
2/2
Instrumentation and sound design
.75/1
Emotion, atmosphere, and catchiness
1/1
Originality and uniqueness
1/1
Overall (how do the above elements interact?)
1/1
Composite score
9.5/10
FinnMK responds:
Thanks a bunch! All good comments and feedback.
Good song! Catchy and full of interesting parts. In terms of arrangement and composition it... rocks. The mix isn't great though, the drums sound "boxy" (like they're in a box) and the guitar and bass parts sound fake or unrealistic.
I don't have time-stamps so I can't point out things directly but:
- I like how it amps up before choruses
- I like the low harmony on the vocal line "rules inside" etc. although the timing could have been fixed for greater impact.
- Over all, great vibe throughout.
FinnMK responds:
Thanks for the feedback! Some of it I'm totally on-board with: I've experimented with recording guitar from an amp as well as DI + amp plugin (which is what I used on We Are Heroes) and I still haven't gotten a sound I love.
Bass I'm surprised at - it's DI'd in, then only has minor effects on top. Could you be more specific about what sound unrealistic? Logistically, it's about as realistic as it gets, unless I were to record directly from the amp which IMO gives a worse sound.
As far as the drum stuff goes, do you think it's the reverb causing that boxy sound? Not 100% clear on what you mean here.
Thanks again! This is my first time attempting to record and mix something in the hard rock realm, so this feedback is great.
This is a really great track, Finn! I'm very excited to see how you and John/Ethan do against each other. Best of luck and congrats for making it so far!
FinnMK responds:
Thanks a bunch!
Ho boy, after the second verse came in this just really took off. Solid guitar work, and the background piano was always a great variation. And then the vocals went perfectly on top of the track! Wonderful lyrics, quite an appeal to imagination hah. Mixing seemed a bit dark, but I think that is just a personal preference. Really liked the chord progression, drums helped carry the weight of the movement as well. Great great track, sold all-round! Good luck!
FinnMK responds:
Thanks for the kind comments! The mixing is definitely darker than I would normally do. I listened to a bunch of hard rock before mixing and mastering and I tried to capture some of the essence that goes into the best produced ones. That's why the kick is so heavy and punchy too.
Looking forward to yours!