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Thanks for the feedback! I see what you're saying, I'll be mindful of that in the future

Love the mood and sounds design honestly ! However as many pointed out, there's a total lack of melody, and without worldbuilding it's hard to build the connection to the theme. Keep up the good work !

Melody clarity 1/5

Melody impact 1/5

Composition 4/5

Listenability 5/5

Correlation to theme 1/5

Really digged that oboe melody ! I feel like your track nailed that sneaky, yet threatening vibe. Sadly you didn't seem to leave much room for development, I would've loved to hear more.

Melody 5/5

Melody impact 4/5

Composition 3/5

Listenability 3/5

Correlation to theme 5/5

Ah, a fellow counterpoint enjoyer! Glad someone else attempted it, it's pretty tricky but highly accurate for a melody focused jam. Like some of your instruments, gave a good atmosphere.

However I feel like a lot of your sounds didn't go well with each other and melodies didn't connect really well, it sounds more like a collage than a properly developed track. Although I appreciate the attempt at counterpoint, iI feel like it was still clumsy and didn't bring that much to the track.

Melody clarity 3/5

Melody impact 2/5

Composition 1/5 (severe lack of development in my opinion)

Listenability 2/5

Correlation to theme 1/5 (I didn't feel like your track was really connected to the story you provided)

Man that track was great, so immersive and emotional. It perfectly carries your story, and the shift to a darker tone gave me goosebumps, it's so so good. 

I just wish there was a bit more of that lyre motif, that it was developed more upon instead of being repeated as-is throughout the entire track. That makes it redundant, especially in the end,  which contradicts a story that takes a radical turn like yours in my opinion.

Btw could you tell me what samples or library you used for your percussion ?

5/5 everywhere, except for Melody impact that I give 4/5 

The melody is clearly well-written in this track! The downside is... that there isn't really anything else. There is only the exposition of the melody and no room for development, and very little of other instruments, +and that makes it sound more like an exercise than a proper track. That's really frustrating because  I would've loved to hear that melody in a proper context.

Melody clarity 5/5

Melody Impact 5/5

Composition 1/5

Listenability 3/5

Correlation to theme 2/5 (difficult to rate as there isn't any description or worldbuilding in your submission)

Great narration in this track. The development tells the story beautifully. The melody at the guitar is great too. The modulation was a good idea, even if it was somewhat clumsy it did create a memorable shift in tone.

The main drawback of your track is definitely the mix, the guitar was pretty loud and the drums did sound strange, though I'm having trouble figuring out exactly while.

Melody clarity 5/5

Melody Impact 5/5

Composition 3/5 (track is good overall, but the modulation is really clumsy towards the end. Also the chord at 2:23 sounded really out of place)

Listenability 3/5

Correlation to theme 4/5

Nice chiptune approach for this jam, the structure is good and it gets pretty addictive. You also introduced melody development, which is good and keeps the track from getting tiring to listen at.

Now what I think lacks most in your track is melody impact. Your melody doesn't seem to have a clear direction, and seems sort of random at moments, and the overall track hardly builds any tension or emotion related to battle or a weapon. I'd recommend introducing other harmony elements or other instruments, although I'm not that well versed in chiptune to say for sure what would be best here.

Keep up the good work!

Melody clarity 5/5

Melody impact 1/5

Composition 3/5

Listenability 2/5 (The track is very repetitive overall)

Correlation to theme 1/5

This one redirects to your channel. Although I was able to find your submission, please share the video directly in the future. I'll give you the feedback in a second!

Thanks so much for the feedback! Glad I managed to make it sound natural.

You're right to point out the moments of idleness n the tracks, looking back I think it could sound a lot more alive than it is rn. Thanks a lot for your feedback !

Thanks !

Good production for this track, sounds really epic, very fitting for the theme. Would've loved to hear some more variation on the melody before the bridge, and the track does feel a bit robotic, it feels like you stacked repeated layers and lacks natural flow between the part. subtle variations in  various elements can help remedy this problem. 

Your orchestration itself is great and the track sounds amazing still. Godpseed !

Melody clarity 5/5

Melody Impact 5/5

Composition 3/5 (The structure was simple but effective. Exposition, development, bridge, climax and conclusion, however as I pointed out I would've loved that the melody develops a bit more before the bridge)

Listenability 4/5 (The track sounds great and pleasant despite the robotic feeling I mentionned)

Correlation to theme 5/5 (The lack of description makes it difficult to rate, however it does sound epic so I'd rather give a high rating in this category)

I should try doing that too !

Not sure why but the streaming service link seems to redirect to a mailto: url ?

Great submission, sounds very cinematic and I love it. The composition is rather straightfoirward but it does make it super efficient, and it's really immersive.

One thing I'd like to point out is that there is very little of the melody. I usually encourage scarce use of the melody, because I think the buildup to the motif is also part of what makes it good, but here I don't feel as rewarded, as the melody stops before it can develop all the way, which is a shame because I really was digging it.

Melody clarity 4/5 (The use of the diminished second does sound weird sometimes)

Melody impact 3/5

Composition 4/5

Listenability 5/5

Correlation to theme 3/5 (Would've loved a more elaborate description or worldbuilding)

Great track, loved the buildup. Production is clean, although it does sound a bit stiff, perhaps lacking some nuance or some other form of variation whether it be in timbre or rhythm, because it does kinda feel robotic. Also lack some risers or other ear candy in my opinion, and the production ends up somewhat underwhelming.

Melody clarity 5/5 (I like that multiple instruments pass the melody to each other)

Melody impact 4/5 (The melody itself is very verbose and there's a lot of it, constantly, which makes it difficult to remember as a motif)

Composition 3/5

Listenability 3/5

Correlation to theme 2/5 (Would've loved a more precise subject rather than a  general theme, makes it harder to see the connection to the theme)

Mongolian death metal ? The track was so cool, love the melody played by the guitar. The growl vocals work so well. I really like that the development takes its time and that there's a constant thump reminding the forge. Easily one of the better tracks of the jam, especially for an ear that's used to metal. 

5/5 everywhere. Especially in melody impact, the long buildup makes it so memorable because it's the reward we were looking for.
 

What a banger

I gotta start with the obvious : as other pointed out, this track barely relates to the theme of the jam.

However I have to praise the creative (and good-sounding) orchestration, the track sounds full and fun, it sounds dynamic, maybe a bit too stiff (the lack of nuance does make it sound amateur). For a beginner it's honestly impressive, I urge you to continue making music. Do make use of more nuance, and try to hum your melodies as you write them, it really helps them make more memorable.

Melody clarity 5/5

Melody impact 3/5

Composition 3/5 (the track is good, but there isn't much development, which is a point I consider important in a melody focused jam - not making just the melody but showing how you use it to tell a story)

Listenability 3/5

Correlation to theme 1/5

Man what a banger, perhaps my favorite submission taste-wise. I love the ambience, I just wish the mix wasn't so loud (why is there sidechain on the piano lol) and saturated (I read in the commments that the saturation was deliberate, but I really don't think it works, it really sounds like it was accidental). Otherwise it was really immersive, reading your story with this music made me want to play it as an actual game. And I'd be down to play if you ever do a game from it.

Now, melody-wise this track was lacking of a foreground melody, what I mean is that there isn't a mainline melody you could hum, but rather an ambient lead.

Melody clarity 4/5

Melody impact 2/5

Composition 5/5

Listenability 4/5

Correlation to theme 5/5 

Fantastic submission. Love the variety of modes used to emulate specific situations, the melodies are memorable, and the choice to make a SNES-like soundtrack does the trick perfectly, actually. Doesn't take itself too seriously, but still remains perfectly professional. Also very creative, I can hear you had fun making this.

If I allow myself to be reaaaaallly picky, some moments are harmonically janky and do sound really out of place, like in 1:10, 3:04, or the beginning of Valiant Struggle which sounds like you tried to do some tension but ended up sounding a bit clumsy. But that's really me being picky.

5/5 everywhere

I wish I was better at managing my time so I could write proper worldbuilding tbh, thanks for the feedback !

Thanks for the feedback ! Yeah honestly I had no inspiration for an y story, I just decided on a type of weapon after I finished the song which is why my description was short. I would rather not put too much time in worldbuilding and focus on the music

I like the way you emulated the forge with these metallic thumps!

The track overall seems to be lacking development and melody impact. There is nuance, but tuba and horn definitely aren't enough to fill the space. Your melody is clear, but isn't memorable due to its length and verbosity, and lacks a clear direction. My advice is that you use of repetition, have a simple motif you build your song on and introduce variations for development.

Melody clarity 4/5

Melody impact 2/5

Composition 1/5

Listenability 1/5

Correlation to theme 3/5

I almost always use this preset, so you might hear it a lot in my music

Thank you so much ! I will, definitely

I do like the sfx focused approach you took, helps telling a story a lot. However I feel like the focus on the melody isn't present, and while there is development, the ostinato stays constant which does miss the point of a melody focused jam in my opinion. 

Melody clarity 2/5

Melody impact 1/5

Composition 3/5 

Listenability 2/5 (Apart from the melody, I think the mix can be loud at times, some samples feel out of places and the chord progression doesn't really fit with the tone the sound design's trying to convey)

Correlation to theme 3/5 (I have to give credits to the way you managed to emulate the environment of the forge with the samples, which is great) 

I do like the sfx focused approach you took, helps telling a story a lot. However I feel like the focus on the melody isn't present, and while there is development, the ostinato stays constant which does miss the point of a melody focused jam in my opinion. 

Melody clarity 2/5

Malody impact 1/5

Composition 3/5 

Listenability 2/5 (Apart from the melody, I think the mix can be loud at times, some samples feel out of places and the chord progression doesn't really fit with the tone the sound design's trying to convey)

Correlation to theme 3/5 (I have to give credits to the way you managed to emulate the environment of the forge with the samples, which is great) 

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Thanks so much for the feedback ! About that sample, are you talking about the chord ? It's the preset "That Comb Magic" in Surge XT, you can find it in the Plucks category. just lower the filter frequency and you'll get this sound.

I can see where the inspiration is from, now that you say it. I did hear that there wasn't the kick only, but as you said the rest was rather subtle. Keep up the good work man this was amazing !

Man, the texture and ambiance are always on point with you. It was a real trip. Love the worldbuilding behind your submission too, enlarging the scope to the influence of the weapon in the universe is great.

However, like many pointed out, all 3 tracks lack focus on the melody and feel more like ambient, especially "The curse".

Melody clarity 3/5 (This one is difficult to rate, especially since the melody's very clear in "The world", but a bit less in the other tracks)

Melody impact 1/5 

Composition 4/5 (Rated 4 and not 5 because I feel like a jam focused on melody would naturally focus on its development, which isn't the case here)

Listenability 5/5 (Could totally hear this in a professional setting, I'd love to play a game/watch a movie with this as soundtrack)

Correlation to theme 5/5

Glad I managed to properly illustrate my subject. Thanks for the feedback !

Beautiful harmony and melody ! You really nailed the melody impact trait. Your story is told beautifully well.

If I may emit criticism, some VSTs can be janky sometimes, like your solo Cello. I also feel like some of the electronic elements don't always blend very well, but I'm aware there is a part of taste in this judgement, so I won't let that bias the notation too hard. It's kinda difficult to point at, but I think it's the fact that there are times when there's only an electronic kick with the rest of the instruments being folk/orchestra, I think the track would benefit being bolder in its electronic side, and use it as a way to build intensity

Despite this I enjoyed the track a lot, the electronic part was surprising but I could really see this in a professional setting. Godspeed !

Melody clarity 5/5

Melody impact 5/5

Composition 4/5

Listenability 4/5

Correlation to theme 5/5

Thanks for the review ! Glad you liked it. I'll try to work on my mix, I'll be taking your feedback into account

Thank you so much for the review ! Yeah I can definitely see the weakness in the melody impact, it's very spaced out. 

Thanks !

Loved the ethnic sounds mixed with electronic stuff ! Kinda felt like a wise sultan in its quest, you nailed the storytelling and ambient part. I do want to know how I can recreate these sounds.

The main downsides are that this track definitely lacks development in my opinion, and that the melody doesn't seem to be its focus, which inevitably biases the rating besides its great production.

Melody clarity 4/5

Melody Impact 3/5

Composition 4/5 (lacks development, some harmony is janky sometimes)

Listenability 5/5

Correlation to theme 4/5

Very immersive and cinematic, the sound design scratched just the right part of my brain, I could totally see this as a soundtrack. Amazing work on the ambience ! I want to see more of your work.

However as you said, the melody doesn't seem to be the main focus in this track. It's there and clear, but doesn't develop very much and stays in the background. Feels more like an ambient track than a leitmotif track.

Melody clarity 4/5

Melody Impact 2/5

Composition 5/5

Listenability 5/5 (sounds very professional)

Correlation to theme 2/5