Cyberdevil's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[VS. SHOBON -Phase 1-]

This was new! Crazy intricate vocal chops and a frantic beat right off the bat, that never stops, it builds and drops and then... you're locked in. No way out of it.

It is a little short but by the time it's over I feel like this is about as much energy as I can handle. XD The vocals get sparser with time though, seems like you might've run out of time towards the end; it was too much work to manage those all the way? Or maybe it's just an intentional shift; a calmer second half.

The production's great, not too loud, punchy and clear, everything's easy to pick up; well mixed. A little more structure might be nice though. Variation. It's a blast but: like one long punch, no feints or breaks; might be good to move things around a bit even in battle.

-cd-

[-Glorious Morning 2-]

Now this sounds like the kind of music I first started listening to when I found NG back in the day this one. :) The classic chainsaw_09 or ParagonX9 style... with a bit of a medieval tone to it, or maybe that's the wrong word... techno with strings. More a mix of modern and classical, with a somewhat calmer tempo that seems to match the instruments, and percussion that's all the more pompous too... and breaks, the structure's a bit more complex with this one.

I love the end in particular; how you just go wild with the drums and have a solo with yourself. Feels like a band jamming out for real.

And it definitely sounds glorious! Wouldn't mind starting my days with this.

-cd-

[-Run!-]

Though you do go FAST I'm glad you don't go as fast as some musicians seem to go these days! :D At least you can still hear the beat; can still feel it; can still bop your head without misaligning some spines or such, and the synth almost sounds like a panflute sometimes here too... that's new!

Production quality's great as always, the energy's always there and it just keeps going and growing all the way till the end... impressive how effortlessly you seem to manage that constant build.

It's wholesome. Great energy; great everything.

-cd-

[The Journey Home - Main Theme]

So calm. So subtle and soft and seemingly not that remarkable, but beautiful.

Can't help but wonder how this would sound with more than the one instrument though. With strings. With a quartet or entire orchestra joining in as it progresses; taking it to new heights entirely...

Though it doesn't need to be more than this either. The production quality's clean and the instrumentality masterful, no missteps, it's wholesome and heartfelt all the way... nicely played.

Ends a bit abruptly but sounds like it might be a perfect loop, an eternal round of relaxation if so...

-cd-

[Zos OST - Elaris]

I wonder if Zos in anything like Cave Story hmm, it sounds similarly captivating...

Very atmospheric. Surprisingly atmospheric for a chiptune track really, it's like you reach beyond what the sound palette expectedly allows you to put out with this particular strain of creation...

The little reverberating bursts in the background seem to imply something intense is going on, and the main melody's both moving and brooding, and building... it grows constantly, and doesn't stay on the same notes so long it ever starts feeling repetitive. Those little bursts are always there but they don't feel distracting either even though seem to always have the same intervals...

Think I need to play this game. This was great. Doesn't sound that complex but it truly captures the feeling; the essence of necessity and alarm. The need to be vigilant and ready at all times...

Adventurous; a little melancholy maybe - something that could play as the world ends - when old things are dying and a new time is coming to be. Surprisingly wholesome and atmospheric. The different melodies all blend so well.

Very nice work.

-cd-

[X3ll3n - Spatium Cursu [NGUAC 2022 Final Round]]

Was not expecting that dubstep bit in the middle of this! :D

I love the icy tone it starts with, the rhythm and cool bass... not sure about the part that comes after, feels like my expectations on rhythmic calm and cool; crystalline energy someone turned into a burst of rage and roughness... but the sound design's great. Again feels a little short too...

I love the beginning. The intro's so polished; so smooth; so in tune with my mood I suppose. Would've loved to hear a longer track like that.

Keep up the dope work! Awesome energy in all of these always it seems; intricate structure.

-cd-

X3LL3N responds:

Thanks, still hesitating whether or not I should send it to the Muse Dash music contest

[X3ll3n - So Long [Velocity Release]]

I do hear the vocal chop. XD Vocals by... the aforementioned artist? Rocket Start? Yourself?

Soulful voice. Very smooth too, it blends in nicely with the mix...

It's a vibrant soundscape. Reverberates; pulsates and tingles. Builds. Gets your head bobbing. Chops it up and drops and goes in with a little VG-like fanfare (2:18). Really cool mesh of styles and atmosphere overall.

Production's crisp, it sounds good, it feels good... have no complaints, though despite regular length it feels a little short... good track.

-cd-

X3LL3N responds:

Nope, I sliced a vocals from Oversampled's Future Bass sample pack :)
Likely my best song overall, I doubt I'll do anything this good ever again ngl, still sad that it wasn't frontpaged

[SmK - Unstoppable]

Such a reverberating style of synth here, a little chiptune but a lot else... I like the rhythm, the upbeat air and atmosphere, the way it builds a little and pauses and builds a little more...

After the one minute point it's pure bliss for a bit, though the bridge comes unexpectedly quickly then. Feels like an odd place for such a long pause. It works but...

You really have a pretty unique style, even if the sound feels familiar. A unique structure. It's not the conventional keep-going endless flow, until the final part maybe.

It's an uplifting mix, with maybe not the most memorably structure or build throughout - seems a little jumpy with that - but a unique kind of tone to it... interesting and feelgood.

-cd-

[-Velocity Wings-]

This just gets better and better... and better yet! It's an interesting matter of mastery being able to build something so gradually, not just build it a bit and break it down again and build it up again but actually more and more and MORE over the full length of the song without it somehow getting all chaotic and crazy...

Good mood-inducing fuel too. Feels so good. A bright and orchestral adventure with a plethora of switches and audial cues. Work hard play hard; you have nothing to lose!

-cd-

[Team Strike Force Theme]

You do recognize the melody right away. :) iconic. Wonder if that folk song has a name...

The brass is bright and bountiful, the strings skittish and rich, the beat soft and steady; turns into a shuffle towards the final part...

Goes on a little long with the outro. First half's so good but then... it loses steam for some reason. Would've thought/hoped it'd keep building.

Production-wise impeccable work though, it grows so well from twenty seconds onwards. Great instrumentation. It's like a quick skirmish and then a long march home...

-cd-