ADR3-N's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[Xtrullor - Samsara]

To begin with, the opening melody isn't super strong, but once the rest comes in, it gets more interesting. I see you've been using more electric guitar, which is pretty interesting. Needs just a little bit more velocity modding.

You'll find it'll help more if you use a sort of power metal chug.

Nice tight EQ on those guitars. Could use a little more low mid for the sound you seem to be going for.

Also sounds like a lot of Nexus keys.

I like your use of choir. Needs a little more panning, a little less reverb, and slightly less volume.

I'm also missing your characteristic slamming bass. I feel like that'd be the final cherry on top.

Other than that, I can't complain. This is overall a pretty solid piece, other than a couple dynamics issues which I understand comes from stitching together very diverse instrumentations and structures.

Very enjoyable overall. Almost to the point I can hardly get my thoughts out before getting distracted by pretty noises. :)

[Gold]

Not bad. Has a sort of ... oh now the word organic is in my head but I don't wanna steal it from the reviewer below me. It's a catchy progression and an old one that has always been well used. I feel like the lead and the kick way overpower the rest of the mix though, and as a whole, it sounds unmastered.

If you want the kick to be just that loud, recommend side-chaining rather than having it so loud. In the old days, rather than side-chain, we just laid the bass down on offbeats.

I also feel this track could really benefit from a bassline rather than just sorta a held piano.

[endK - Twist the Beast]

Oh, videogamey dnb! Not bad. Could use just a bit more bass, and I really feel like a lot of the track is sitting in the right channel. That's an interesting choice.

Also getting what feels like clipping occasionally.

You've been really adventurous with your panning and transitions, which makes this track pretty interesting to listen to without being tedious, and that's an achievement.

Song structure is also inventive, and I like that.

However it eventually does get to that point where I feel it's too long and a bit samey, with a lot of the same rhythms and melody. Call and response but no real overarching solo. As is, I feel like it's still a strong piece, but far from perfect. Extra half-star for unique approach. Did not like the single outro stinger. I felt it needed a little breakdown or buildup prior.

endKmusic responds:

Hey!
Must say that I agree with majority of the stuff you said here.
Although part that may feel like clipping are just fx I guess. Maybe could've leveled them more appropriatelly.
Thanks for panning/transition compliments, that's always one of the main things I'm going for.
In the second part there is the same bassline for a long time, yes. It changes at some points.
However, even with that, I think I wrapped it up nicely.
Was thinking about solo part but yeah, somehow I wasn't up to realizing that and instead, I did some acoustic breaks and stuff.
Long story short - the structure certainly is different and for sure there are 'consequences'. But it has good stuff too, I guess. :)
Thanks for the detailed review, really appreciate it. <3

[Nice Day]

As mentioned, a lot of short-stop cutoffs, but good piece. I like your structure. What wigs me out is the two different rides on opposite sides.

[Dont Snitch you B*tch]

This is hilarious in addition to being well-produced. Needs a little more on the vocal up front tho. Also cuts off randomly. Minus half star for that.

DJmadalrian responds:

I think I need to add some more high freqs back into the vocals. Also yea I made it cut off to be a joke. Not very funny though lol.

[Harmonies 101]

Ya got me with those trills. Hot diggity. I wouldn't really say this is metalcore quite. Sounding quite a bit like some old bands I really used to dig.

Drums need to come way up in the mix. Can barely hear your bass also.

It's also really interesting what you did with harmonization even if it's mostly porting around parallel 5ths and octaves. Reminds me of the final boss battle with Redips in Megaman X Command Mission for some reason.

Toward the end I feel like you're falling just a bit out of tune or something, flat on those open strings. Could be hallucinating that though. It's fairly late.

TSRBand responds:

Thanks for the review! Happy you enjoyed it :)

Hopefully the bass and drums are sounding a bit more balanced in my newer mixes, could definitely use a boost here looking back!

[DnB attempt]

Sounds like drumstep. I like it. Not sure what to critique since DnB is no longer my specialization. And I've never been great at it. I think mostly what this could use is pads. Mix is good and clean.

[Metalized - Cheesie Hardrock]

Gorgeous sound, gorgeous chord progressions, cheesy in a good way. Digging it.