Mix Challenge

My submission for this month is perhaps best described as melodic metal rock. In the back of my mind I had Majestica's "Metal united", Sabaton's "En livstid i krig" (what can I say, Tommy Johansson is from my home town), and maybe some late 70s early 80s influences. Perhaps Judas Priest's "Living after midnight"? With these (incompatible?) ideas the song obviously took on its own life. Simple in the extreme, with only three chords all the way through (Am F G). The guitars and mix are less than perfect. I only had access to an old version of a guitar vst and some cheap in the ear headphones for this one. It is what it is.

Technical details:

Drums: Addictive Drums 2. Big in your face with some mid-side magic from Pre TridA.
Bass: EZbass with pick and some Kelvin saturation.
Guitars: Strum-GS-2 (oh man, not good) and Helix Native. Mixed with classic LCR panning.
Master: Unisum, Kelvin, and Ozone.
Reverb: Tight Live from Cinematic Rooms Professional.

It is the 25th November 2022, 1:30 UTC+1/CET - this month's Songwriting Competition has official ended


STATISTICS:

• If I didn't miscount, we have 9 submissions this month (0 entries more/less than last month, but also 1 more than November 2021)
• We have 0 submissions after the deadline (as of 25-NOV-2022 1:30 UTC+1/CET, I left the door open for another hour)
• We have 0 submissions that has been disqualified (production released outside of the game's timeframe)
• We have 0 submissions that have been withdrawn (but counts as entry within the deadline)
• The "staff balancing vote" add-on rule does not apply
• "Sole Winners Podium" rule (equal or less than eight participants results in a single winner) does not apply (3-position Winners Podium)

How do we go from there?

Over the course of the next (hopefully) 24-48 hours (usually up to 6-12 hours maximum after the game has ended), I'll gather all links into one post and hot-link to that from the first post of the thread. Please, no more changes to your entries, but please do check your links that these entries are downloadable. We then perform with the final feedback and "public vote" system.


We have 9 participants. We are adapting the overhauled vote mechanic, as talked about in the following news blog:

Songwriting Competition - game mechanic changes: Voting Process (October 2022 Update)
(Info: I am aware that the Rule Book has not been properly updated yet. Time constraints, apologies for the inconvenience)


Summarized:
Participants can (and must) vote for their Top 5 entries. You're furthermore asked to please reflect on your experience this month (2-3 paragraphs max). However, you are also asked give feedback to at least three (number: 3), but no more than five (number: 5) entries that either stood out to you and you would like to provide some additional final thoughts, or where you could provide constructive feedback for possible improvements. These entries can be outside of your personal "top entry" voting.

The "Voting Process" mechanic is mandatory for all participants, and the only criteria to drop out of the game by not partaking. Please cast your vote (not the feedback) in collective form through the "spoiler text" bbcode. Please use the forum username of the participant to make it easier during the score collection to address what vote belongs to whom.

The "Bonus Point" mechanic still applies. Please update your posts with proper production documentation, most notably regarding whom you have collaborated with (as in: proper credits -- not doing so will result in a 2pt deduction on the score sheet at the end of the game).
.

⚠	Moderation Message from Mister Fox
	For transparency: The staff (Mister Fox) will give feedback to all entries and cast a vote this month. To adhere to the new game mechanics, there will also be a "Top 5" selection only. The given feedback is to add to the learning aspect of the game.

Feedback from non-participants and/or collaborators is highly encouraged (voting not needed!). The same goes for entries after the deadline, or those that sadly do not count for the current running game (even if you've exceeded the deadline, why not post your entry regardless?). Musicians and Engineers are always after constructive criticism. This is what this forum is about.





Have some general feedback? Please provide that here:
Songwriting Competition - General Gossip Thread, or on Discord.


Please also take note of the Sample Collection thread for SWC065 January 2023 - "Community Scramble" (Special Sound Design Challenge). You can set the ground rules by providing self created sounds and snippets. The deadline is Saturday, 24th December 2022 23:59 UTC+1/CET.



Please have an eye on this thread!

Let us kick off the VOTING PROCESS, which will end on Tuesday, 01-NOV-2022 23:59 UTC+1/CET latest


There is a GLOBAL COUNTDOWN to check for deadlines.
Just follow this link: Global Countdown (on homepage)



Here is the collection of productions from all participants (in hope that I didn't forget anyone). As usual, if you click on the small upwards-arrow right beside the quoted name, you can jump to the original post and read up on the documentation for this production.


.

Arelem wrote: ↑

Tue Nov 08, 2022 02:50 CET

"Might Of The Gods"

alavault wrote: ↑

Sat Nov 12, 2022 11:50 CET

"Non Sequitur

WAV: Google Drive playback and download

becsei_gyorgy wrote: ↑

Sun Nov 20, 2022 01:07 CET

"Dreamin' "



BONUS VIDEO:

► Show Spoiler

phpBB [media]

Olli H wrote: ↑

Sun Nov 20, 2022 11:38 CET

"Crawl!"

Dear David John wrote: ↑

Mon Nov 21, 2022 06:04 CET

"To the Lake"

Treyt wrote: ↑

Wed Nov 23, 2022 20:43 CET

"If Heaven Calls"

WAV: Google Drive playback and download

EsteveCorbera wrote: ↑

Thu Nov 24, 2022 14:25 CET

"90sActionMovie"

VCA-089 wrote: ↑

Thu Nov 24, 2022 18:02 CET

"Eclipse"

WAV: Google Drive playback and download
FLAC: Google Drive playback and download
MP3: Google Drive playback and download

BONUS VIDEO:

► Show Spoiler

phpBB [media]

mobiledrummer wrote: ↑

Thu Nov 24, 2022 23:58 CET

"Rough And Ready"

.



BONUS ENTRIES (submitted after the deadline - feel free to give feedback, but you sadly can not vote for these entries)


<no bonus entries>
.



GAME MECHANIC SUMMARY:

Good luck to all participants!




If you have an idea for a future Songwriting Competition, please post about this in the theme/genre request page.

Hi folks,
All in all, it was a pleasure to listen to the songs, since quite a variety of works were done this month as well.
Unfortunately, however, I'm also a little disappointed.
I was expecting really strong, heavy metal-style tracks, but unfortunately, in several songs, you can only detect the signs of the style very weakly, from a distance.
I know that there are countless trends within the heavy metal style, as the given examples showed, but I would have expected more courage from some participants to step out of their usual framework.

I know it's not easy many times, and I myself struggle with difficulties in this area.
This month it was a special difficulty that I don't play the guitar at all, so this competition was a really difficult task.
Partly for this reason, I tried not to be too strict, but unfortunately I couldn't give a very high rating to the songs that only remotely contain the elements of the requested music genre (even if you don't agree with me).

I don't know if I understand the new feedback mechanism correctly, but here's my part:
Votes:

GENRE: ”Heavy Metal”
This month I found it a bit difficult to draw a line between what is heavy metal, and what is just basic pop with distorted guitars. Especially as many original heavy songs from 70’s feel quite a popish compared to modern ”real” heavy metal, whatever it is. I had that same problem with my own submission. In the end I came to a conclusion that the use of a kick is one element that makes an essential distinction between ”modern heavy” and ”pop with distorted guitars”. So, I tried to fix that problem with the use of sudden ”typewriter kick” -effects, i.e. the use of double pedal kick with speedy 16th parts played. It would be nice to hear a comment from some heavy specialist about what are the things that makes music ”real” heavy metal, in distinction from pop with some borrowed metal elements.

THEME: ”Dialed to 11”. I was expecting to hear harder energy levels from this month’s submissions. I was also a bit disappointed to my own submission, for not to be able to put out that final energy level.

As it was not forbidden, I decided to comment shortly each submission.

Arelem, Might Of The Gods
I like the fact that there’s a minimal number of instruments. It gives more room to subtle ideas. The rhythm of lyrics is static without surprises. If you were to play melodic solo with a guitar, I would be quite sure you would introduce better flowing melodic lines. In this final version the intro feels to start with variations of the riff that is not yet introduced.


alavault, Non Sequitur
You seem to have great vision for arrangements. But when I think the submission as a song, I get a feeling as if the lead-instrument or vocal is muted. So it sounds like a backing track, but very well done.
Nonrelated comment: Wiley Miller’s comic strips ”Non Sequitur” are one of the best there is.

becsei_gyorgy, Dreamin
The best production of this month. Lots of happening and skillfully made transitions from one part to another. Despite many changes it feels one unified song. My main concern after several listenings is that melody lines don’t give enough rhythmical variations. Maybe too much long notes both in verses and choruses.

DavidJohn, To the Lake
The best performance of this month. Overwhelming vocal skills that go convincingly from fragile tender singing to frightening shouting. The scary intro piano is also superb combined with those guitars. Well-done transitions from one part to another, and especially those parts where the energy level explodes from 0 to 11.

EsteveCorbera, 90s Action Movie
Not so heavy nor dialed to 11. But in this one you’re starting to use melodic elements. Around 3.10 it sounds interesting, for melodic lines feel as if you first introduce only the starting point and final landing point for each melodic line. But I was expecting that you would come up with some in-between melodic notes later.

mobiledrummer, rough and ready
Very sympathetic song although the production was maybe a bit modest and preliminary if compared to some other submissions. But I feel this entry has potential to grow into something that is much bigger that what it is now. I like the way you first introduce a simple and short melody line and later you add more rhythmical elements to those same lines as the song progresses.

Treyt, If Heaven Calls
Clearly the best melody lines with very nice use of lyrics to provide rhythmical and melodic surprises. Very much to my taste. Also arrangement nuances support perfectly the melody. Very cool part at the end of chorus with a sudden rhythmic change: ”I’m the one they will blame”. But the production side is probably lacking a bit. I wasn’t fond of the overuse of autotune-effects. But you surely have a great vision into music.

VCA-089, Eclipse
Very nice production with lots of well written different parts. Very nice melodic ideas. I especially like that down sliding long guitar note. As such it feels like music part from some part of the movie, where the story from images would probably glue the ”story line” together.

Just a short info for @becsei_gyorgy:
Please check in with SWC062 regarding the new feedback mechanic (see post #023 and follow-up), and how points are distributed. Most notably the results of last game (see post #049). Don't worry, I'll adapt things at the end of the game.


Also... regarding your "too pop" comment... please do check out the following "sub-genres"/mashups:

• SID Metal (most notably the forerunners of this genre: Machinae Supremacy)
• "Electronicore"/"Trancecore" -- yes, that is a thing... it's basically a weird mash of more melodic metal with a strong blend of electronic instruments and weird sound FX, (examples: "Blood Stain Child" or "Blue Stahli - ULTRAnumb (Neon Sky Remix)", also see "Kawaii Metal" like PassCode and Babymetal)
• Chiptune Metal (more focus on 8bit sounds plus heavily distorted guitars)

Olli H wrote: ↑

Fri Nov 25, 2022 21:41 CET

becsei_gyorgy, Dreamin
Maybe too much long notes both in verses and choruses.

It's unbelievable that you always hit the nail on the head. (if that makes sense in English)
When I talked to the singer about the fact that I couldn't come to a conclusion about good lyrics, I told him exactly this:
„my problem is that I wrote (and played) a melody for the song that contains too many long, sustained notes, so I find it quite problematic to find good lyric ideas and easy flowing words.”

But I think in the end I was quite satisfied with the result.

Mister Fox wrote: ↑

Fri Nov 25, 2022 22:00 CET

...how points are distributed. ... Don't worry, I'll adapt things at the end of the game.

Thank you for the clarification. As I can see, the score remained from 10 to 6. It doesn't matter to me, let it be as it has been, although mathematically I don't feel this new scoring is fair. Perhaps we could discuss fine-tuning this system in the coming months.

Mister Fox wrote: ↑

Fri Nov 25, 2022 22:00 CET

Also... regarding your "too pop" comment... please do check out the following "sub-genres"/mashups:

I think the point got lost a bit during the translation, I'm sorry.
I wanted to point out that I would prefer to see this song as a pop song, with clean vocals, better guitars, a "cleaner" implementation with less effects, less saturation, etc.
Because the strengths of the mentioned song are the melodic lead, the songwriting itself, but the implementation was very unsuccessful (of course only in my amateur opinion).

Despite the strength of the melody and the main melody, there is no central singer to lead, I completely lost track of who sings in what note when.

(Offtopic: A good friend once said that it's strange in today's world how many people use autotune, even though to get good results and good sound, you really have to learn to sing TO IT - it is usually used by many singers, even though you need to know how to sing for a really good effect)

I don't like the use of reverbs, the guitars, etc.
I don't know if this was the goal in everything, as it was implemented, but I think the implementation is not good. And I'm sorry because this song has the most potential.
That's why I wrote the most about it, because I think the song is very good - no matter how strange it sounds in the light of the above.

(I'm sorry if what I want to say is still not clear enough, maybe I'll try to explain it later.)

I understand your point, and music is highly subjective. However, the task was to create "Metal Music". And what Treyt created, is a form of modern metal, with certain quirks from this particular sub-genre. Same goes for your "Power Metal" inspired production.

As announced, I will give feedback this month as well. I can further comment on certain possible shortcomings.


Regarding the "game mechanics" -- I went through a lot of testing on my end before deciding to "test things out". You can still read up on the overhauled concept and comment on the topic in the corresponding news blog (or comment on Discord). However, I consider it more than fair. And with the reduction of "mandatory written feedback", it is also way more engaging towards those that have been sitting on the fence with participating up until now.



Let's get back to the Voting Process...

Mister Fox wrote: ↑

Sat Nov 26, 2022 08:47 CET

I understand your point, and music is highly subjective. However, the task was to create "Metal Music". And what Treyt created, is a form of modern metal, with certain quirks from this particular sub-genre. Same goes for your "Power Metal" inspired production.

I really sorry, but I think it's still not clear for you, and I can't clearly say that the my problem with the song is NOT that it can't currently be placed under the umbrella of the heavy metal genre. I am sorry for that.

Mister Fox wrote: ↑

Sat Nov 26, 2022 08:47 CET

Regarding the "game mechanics" -- I went through a lot of testing on my end before deciding to "test things out". ... However, I consider it more than fair.

Here I am trying to explain the biggest mathematical issue with the current system:
viewtopic.php?p=13850#p13850