Cyberdevil's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

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Once again, wow. First the one of love, then here of grief... this speaks to me just as much as the other one did, and more, much more here, maybe since grief is closer to heart; love still seems somewhat a foreign concept. Really teared up listening to this, didn't expect to, somehow it opens old wounds; tears up feelings I probably thought I'd forgotten and locked away, losses I felt I'd overcome; potential losses yet to come that I fear for...

Strange though, since the notion of loss itself has little effect. I wonder if this melody reminds me of another; if there's a resemblance to the music with say a really sad scene in a movie I've seen, like maybe Grave of the Fireflies - though I don't recognize any similarity. What sound so effectively correlates to grief; why is there a connection here; would using the same notes or combination of notes bring forth the same feeling every time, is it the pace, the build, the instruments, does it require this particular composition to work as well as it does what's the key component... I wonder.

Don't dare listen to this again right now or I might start bawling, but I'll keep it mind for times I may need it. Feels cathartic. So sad, but so beautiful. If you have too much baggage stashed away maybe you can open the floodgates a bit with this; gain some solace or peace again; let go of that burden. Life goes on...

Curious to see if it has the same effect at a later time too... beautiful work.

-cd-

Phonometrologist responds:

You write much! Perhaps that is what suits you well in rapping since words in you seem to flow with ease.
Again, thank you for your contribution.
Since you brought up the question if melody, or some other aspect of music, may share the same language with other works to express loss, there may be a connection in how tension gets resolved in music. Whether it is done through harmonic structure, tempo, or even the arrangement, I think it could tie in with the motivation on how you would tell a story. But I wonder if one could hear loss in the music if I didn't provide a description to what contributed to my conceiving of it. I have my doubts if one would easily come to that conclusion unless one was able to experience first some kind of loss and meditate intently on the music.

Sometimes analyzing it in such a way is a mistake. I cannot explain it myself. I felt huge empathy for a friend in mourning. It felt as if I was mourning alongside him. I then played the piano with this harmonic structure in this tempo. Trying to accomplish writing for a certain mood would have surely tainted what was being felt earnestly in the moment.

Curious if it will have the same effect at a later time? I could tell you that it won't. These moments catch us off guard. If you go into it expecting to feel a certain way, it will certainly dissapoint. Music is a drug, and although grief over time may still be as powerful as the first time it hits you, the frequency of the waves will spread out over time.

[For Love is strong as Death]

I suppose when I think love song I think of something with a brighter sound, less minor tones/chords, something moving and beautiful, something large and rich... it starts in a way that sounds not much like the love song I was expecting, but as it builds it definitely gets there though. Choice of instrument's key, too. The background strings definitely add in a romantic element to it as well. It feels heartfelt, slow and sincere, as if it takes the time required to really map out and showcase the full range of feeling such a song needs to be true...

Love songs these days may really have been ruined by the radio though. They're false and flat compared to this. Catchy and contagious more so than truly depicting the depth of emotions something like this deserves... exceptions being the occasional musical, or song in a movie, or of course, anything that's not mainstream. There certainly are some lovely tributes out there.

Didn't think I'd find this that captivating either way, as I'm not currently in love, and correlate love songs to typical cheesiness, but this is masterful... magical... feels like something you'd well hear in a movie too. With those Hans Zimmer-like waves. So vibrant.

Would've been interesting with the verse in the song as well, but maybe that wouldn't have fit in. The instruments speak too. This was great. Don't listen much to classical normally but I think I should, makes for a special range of emotion...

-cd-

Phonometrologist responds:

Thank you for your contribution on the topic. I'll just further add to what you've already touched on, and that love is inseparable from loss. "...love knows not its own depth until the hour of separation.”― Kahlil Gibran
Nothing lasts forever so even in the excitement of new love, I think of these things and try to appreciate each moment spent with whom I love.

[Girthy Jenital (the Store)]

lmao XD

Well this was fun! The script's great - though I can't really make out what the first guy is saying at all times, voice seems a little muddy and echoey, and the second one too is a little metallic, but the VA tones are great otherwise, the background sfx on point, atmospheric, and the door creaks and what-not are mixed nicely, more in the foreground. Sound design's on point!

Good fun; keep it up! The act's great.

-cd-

Jenital responds:

Thank you very much! Actually there was no script, I just freestyled it all and cut out some silence before adding in the sounds.


If you like that, might I interest you in his trip to the beach?

https://www.newgrounds.com/audio/listen/1191534

[[Purki's Adventure OST] - Aerial Tanks]

Getting heavy Cave Story and HK cinema vibes here, unexpected throwback combo. :D So many layers this has... orchestral sometimes.. Great mix, great energy, and it keeps you moving; keeps shifting around. The transitions are timed so well, like the 2:07 pause, so perfect, and just when you thought it couldn't get any better...

It's almost Ska-like too... I love this style. So rich. So vibrant.

Awesome work.

-cd-

Olimac31 responds:

Thanks for the kind words, I appreciate it :)

[Blue Hell]

Musically so awesome. :) The hi-hat's feel a little quirky in the mix, like they pan from one side to the other, otherwise it's all real crisp. Musical metal trip. Missing more vocals...

It's great as is but a full song with this would make it a whole new beast IMO! The spoken word's good and suitable but a little lost in the breadth of it all.

Keep up the great work!

-cd-

Introverse responds:

Thank you for feedback!

[Attack of the Killer Queen - Deltarune (Vocal Version)]

What an awesome voice, though the recording... could maybe use some desibilizing, if not better equipment? Not sure if it's just the mix that's lacking, but it doesn't feel as rich or in line with the music as I imagine it could be. Though easy to hear.

And the music! Woo. Awesome work. Vocal mix though... something just feels a little off about it.

Overall love this.

-cd-

Anjer responds:

Pixsoul (the singer) just gave me her vocals she did for her channel, she used low budget gear, etc. just for fun. Maybe try my song "Undefeatable", you'll hear vocals with professional gear!

[Postal]

This one really takes you places, trippy, eerie, Castlevania or Resident Evil-like at times, like that scene where they're fighting that gigantic snake... nice contrast between the synth and the heaaavy percussion. And it keeps surprising. Anti-scare sample. Tingles and trails and overall just a trip of a track all the way till the finish.

A little high up on loudness maybe, but the atmosphere's dope. So solid.

Hope you don't really go postal though! Except like postal services. Like a stamp.

-cd-

EdKempeper responds:

Hi !
Thank you very much for this very detailed review !
That's one of the first tracks I made with FL10. The mixing sounds "hard" I think, I wasn't able to use FL tools correctly...
And I had some crazy ideas of melodies on that time, maybe I was drunk when I made this song :p
Thanks again for your review !

Ed

[Candyland]

Upbeat and groovy, house but soothing! I'm not fully catching the candy feeling, maybe not really sweet and spiffy enough, how does candy even sound, but it does sound like a grand adventure..

It's ear candy for sure! Dope work. Could maybe vary the melody a bit more but it shifts nicely, good mix, good breaks, simple but functional fade at the end too.

-cd-

RocketStart responds:

yea if i could redo this project i would, not super proud of it tbh

oh well, the fans like it well enough

[Stormy Sea]

Even the waveform goes in waves, just like the sea would. :) I don't notice the shifts in volume much though, interesting how easily the brief pauses pass by...

For the first two thirds or so it felt like it was missing something, like it could be more pompous and adventurous, but you really make up for that towards the end of it! Builds nicely and seamlessly, and starts broodingly too... suitable.

Wonder if a little percussion could add a bit more storm-like sensation to this, the crash of waves, you feel it in the air here, it's like a tide of turmoil but... maybe not fully a storm yet?

Nice work. Definitely cinematic!

-cd-

FLAVOUR-STAR responds:

Thank you :)

[Hierophant (Instrumental Version)]

Heeey I remember Wahnsinn! All these namechanges, hard to keep track of...

Love how this starts vicious right off the bat, and never slows, but never grows monotone either. The beat's steady but shifts too; the guitar/synth's the real highlight though, and the bass man, when it gets the spotlight... masterful stuff. Aggressive and beautiful.

A joy to listen to this, though can't help wonder how it'd sound with some vocals on it! Would be the icing on the... glacier.

-cd-

PseudoSignal responds:

Thanks bro! There's a version with vocals on NG/Spotify etc. Just search PseudoSignal Hierophant :)