Haggard's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[musicmachine - cover]

Good cover

I just listened to the original song and I have to say I like your cover version even better than the original. Maybe it's because I don't like dance music that much, heh.

But anyway, you've done a very good job with this song. I like the hard sounding guitar riffs in the background, they fit very nice to the voice.
I also like how you tried to keep the song from getting repetitive by constantly changing around the background music. I like even more how all of the different background "parts" fit so well to the voice. Almost seems as if the vocals where exclusively written and recorded for this song.

{ Review Request Club }

loansindi responds:

I'm glad you liked it.

I spent a fair amount of time on this one, and I've still got some files laying around that had failed attempts at writing the instrumentals. The only thing I really had to go on was the bass in the original song, so I kind of just based everything around that.

I left their vocal track entirely intact, and decided to write around it. I think if I had futzed with slicing up the vocals I never would have finished.

Thanks for the review!

[Jazzy, Funky Zombies]

Nice story

I like the story you present in the comments, it gave me a good laugh (especially the last sentence).

The intro and outro work pretty well when imagining that some zombies come out of their graves and go back into it at the end.

The jam session sounds pretty nice, but I think the song needs a bit more work. I think the first riff is played a tad bit too long. It only changes at around 1:23. While it sounds nice it gets a bit repetitive before you finally change it.

Also I would like to hear some kind of drum solo in here as well and maybe even a bass solo if you can come up with one.
This would give all of the instruments some exposure and in my opinion it would make the song sound more interesting.

{ Review Request Club }

Birdinator99 responds:

Thanks for the review! Glad I got the intro/outro working. Hmmm... Drum and bass solos actually sound like a good idea... That'd be pretty interesting just to give it a shot. *Ideas forming*

[Strangled - clarity burie]

Nice atmosphere

Wow, the atmosphere in this track is great. It somehow reminds me of a very large city, something like Kairo maybe (I don't know why, but I have to think of some arabian or egyptian city when listening to this song).

I like how the track manages to stay in the background yet being very present at the same time. It doesn't distract me from what I am doing but at the same time I like listening to this while I'm doing something else.

The only thing I didn't like where the cymbals that can be heard every now end then. They don't really fit in the song in my opinion.

{ Review Request Club }

Calamaistr responds:

What cymbals exactly? (you can pm me if you want) i didnt use alot of cymbals in this track and the ones i did use.. well i dont think they sound out of place really, they are a part of the atmosphere to keep things magical.

How did you like the guitar on the good thought parts? :)

thanks for the review man.

[Dreaming Away]

Bad sound quality, great song

Well, just like with other songs I reviewed from you, the biggest downside of this track is the low sound quality. Sometimes it's hard to make things out properly, but the nice sounds from the guitar and some of the effects kept me interested in the song.

The atmosphere you create with the guitar here is very dense. It creates feelings of loneliness and melancholy in me. Not quite sure if that's what you wanted to achieve, but that's how I feel when listening to the song. ^^

{ Review Request Club }

Monkeydelic responds:

Thanks :)

I guess i sometimes forget that some elements just aren't that easy to hear for people, as i myself know they're there, and that may be the only reason i "hear" them clearly.

Loneliness and melancholy was indeed the emotions i had and was trying to create when making this song, as i found that music with a melancholy feel are the most beautiful and the ones that moves me personally the most, so i guess mission accomplished:P

Thanks for the review :)

Namaste.

[Flood of consequences]

Good song

Simple structure, yes. But most of the time the simple structure works a lot better than overly complex songs.

The guitars could use some more work, they sound a bit thin, especially compared to the very bassy drums.
Speaking of the drums, I like the drum track. It may be a bit repetitive, but it sounds awesome anyway. ^^

The quieter part during the middle of the song may be a tad bit too quiet and the transition to this part could use some more work as well. Seems a bit too abrupt to me right now.

Overall, this is a very good song.

{ Review Request Club }

of-wolf responds:

Thanks for the review, Haggard!
You seem to have noticed all the problems I was having with the song. I hadn't thought much about the quiet interlude but I think you're right, I'll have to rework that. Glad you liked it!

[[herd] Uprising Trek]

Good song

This is a nice song. The melodies in here are somewhat catchy plus they create a very nice "dancefloor" atmosphere.

The background beat is a bit repetitive, but it accompanies the melodies in a good way and it gives the people on the dancefloor something to go crazy about, because the kick is very hard and bassy (which is a good thing).

{ Review Request Club }

Herdunculus responds:

Thanks a lot. You seem knowledgeable about dance songs, so this means a lot! Thanks.

[SessileNomad+DJBossler Collab]

Good start but needs some more work

Well, it definitely sounds interesting. I'm not too fond of the slow fade in, but the kick you introduce towards the end of this short intro is very hard and sounds just awesome.

There's not too much else to review as this track is very short. It seems as if the song isn't really worked out yet, for example the mastering seems to be in a very early stage. Maybe it's just me, but I somehow think this sounds too loud in general.

Anyway, it's still interesting to listen to. :)

{ Review Request Club }

SessileNomad responds:

yeah it was just a demo, it'll be souped up if we get accepted to the EP

[Elias Reverse]

Good song

A very diversified with elements from quite a few genres, it seems. I especially like the ska-like riffs you have in here, they sound very good together with the drums.

The bass is a bit too low here, the drums sound very weak.

Towards the end the track loses a bit of it's originality, maybe it's because there are no vocals in here (just like you said in the author comments). Maybe a few soli from various instruments would help, but then it wouldn't be a "instrumental for a song with vocals" anymore.

{ Review Request Club }

Sawdust responds:

I don't listen to any ska, but I assume that that's a good thing seeing how you saw it in a positive light. Also I should've probably thrown in a solo at the end, like a sudden shift to heavy metal, with like bells tolling and a sample of Roger Daltrey going YEAH and the most ungodly succession of arpeggios I could fathom.

[Strangled - Through the m]

Creepy

In the beginning this sounds very "adrenaline rushing", which goes along very well with your description in the comments. the main melody is very driving and the instruments in the background create a very frightening atmosphere.

During the middle you add some bells, which I think intensify the frightening atmosphere. Maybe has something to do with horror movies I watched, where often bells where used in creepy background music. ^^

{ Review Request Club }

Calamaistr responds:

same as with coop, sorry it took me ages to notice you reviewed this.
thanks! -cal.

[<EagleGuard> Mountain Jungles]

Medieval

Some very nice melodies in here although the background melodies could be tad bit louder.

Anyway, the atmosphere created by this song is very medieval, which is think sounds pretty cool. I haven't seen Avatar yet (and I doubt I will see it in the near future), so I don't know how big the influence from the score of that movie is.
But I think the atmosphere in this song really is more medieval than jungle-like. Even though the bongos really give this piece a "jungle-like touch".

{ Review Request Club }

EagleGuard responds:

Thanks for the feedback. I don't see how this sounds medieval, but oh well. Glad the melodies worked out OK.

Thanks for the review!