Codefreq's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[Lament Of Dissolving Angels]

Love it! I get a serious sense of twisted fear and the music evoking imagery of undead creatures that aren’t necessarily visible but are nonetheless scary, executed in a serious way. Also getting some serious Twilight Princess and Majora’s Mask vibes, like if Ben drowned and woke up in the twilight realm.

This is all what was going through my mind even before reading the premise in your description.

After reading your premise, It occurred to me just how eerie it was to read during a time when wildfire-induced smoke had just covered my hometown and made it very difficult and unhealthy to breathe for more than a few minutes over a three-day period.

Overall, really good music presentation. It fit really well with the imagery your description presented. Feels creepy as hell and it’s clear you were able to evoke a lot with a little here. :)

LD-W responds:

Thanks!

Yeah I'd love to try and do more stuff like this, moreso on a VG, Film or album scale (albeit with each track having a good amount of time spent on each one instead of the 2-hour speed-comp this was haha). This is the kind of atmosphere I've always loved to do, so it's definitely cool to see others also liking it!

[Super HelmKnight - Title Screen (main part)]

Sweet! Reminds me of a couple things: Final Fantasy VII battle music, Pokemon (GBA) and every Kirby game I’ve played.

I think it loops well.

I also think the mix needs a bit of work and some of the instruments don’t strike me as authentic GBA but rather sound more like they are N64-based (although I may be wrong about that). Other than that I like it. Good job. :)

wyver9 responds:

Thanks!

[Mount 511]

My impression: this is quite atmospheric and nice to listen to. That whistle in the beginning in particular is neat. To me it adds a bit of mysterious quality to this piece. Like the quiet numbness after being blind sighted by something that caused an unexpected shock.

The only issue I have here is this piece seems to meander a bit, stylistically; the setup is great but it drifts in direction throughout the song and as a result it feels a little unfocused IMO.

Well done overall, though. :)

As for doing this all in one go: It’s impressive you were able to do this. That said, I don’t know your workflow or process, but I’d like to share with you that I personally find works for me to help with when I write music is to take at least a few minutes of break time throughout the day while working on a project to distract from the song, in addition to taking breaks between days. That way I can come back later with a fresher mind.

I hope that helps you as well. :)

BlighterProductions responds:

Hey man, thanks for the compliments and the tips about the song. I greatly appreciate it. And thanks for the tips about the workflow.

I personally like to work on music when my mindset is fully focused on it. If I have got the right ideas of what I want my song to be, I could work on it for hours on end without losing my focus on it. It’s just that I have a very busy time right now, and I can’t give one thing my undivided attention because of that, unfortunately.

Anyways, thank you very much.

[Barrett's Privateers Singalong]

Damn it, I wish I could've been a part of this as I initially hoped. :(

You guys did a wonderful job here with what you were trying to do. I hope you had fun, because it sure sounds like you did. :D

SuperCat904 responds:

It's okay, we'll invite you when we do the next singalong!

[geyserwall - Laser]

I think this has a pretty impressive amount of production for something composed in Garageband. What synth instruments did you use?

Around the 1:00 minute mark I noticed some dissonance; some of your instruments clashed with each other in a way that I found distracting.

This is very well-mixed.

Was there anything you were trying to do with this song? Do you have any extra information that might provide some insight into your process for this song, that might add to the listening experience? If so, I'd like to see it in the description.

Listening to this, it this it kind of reminds me of a classic Sonic The Hedgehog level.

Overall, nice job. :)

geyserwallllll responds:

1. I used the Arcade Synth, Motion Pluck, 80’s Sync Lead, and Sweet Bell synths.
2. Yeah, I tend to do that a lot when parts get repetitive, but thanks for the feedback! I’ll keep this in mind.
3. Like I mentioned in the description, I made it for a friend who wanted me to use it in his show. There wasn’t much else I was trying to do in particular.

[Epic Title Screen]

"Orchestral song that sounds perfect for a title screen."

That it does.

It also sounds like it could be for a loading screen or the cinematic for the first level of a fantasy game.

Nice work. :)

More info about how I review music here: https://codefreq.newgrounds.com/news/post/1089806

DarkGod666 responds:

Thanks a lot! :)

[Dream Zone [Final Sector]]

I'll tackle this in two parts.

The first half:

You've really nailed the eerie and uneasy nightmare-esque vibe here. It's like I'm playing an old and obscure GameBoy game no one's heard of that seems broken but is actually haunted.

The second half:

It's definitely more pleasant sounding, kind of like a sweet-food-themed Kirby level, or something, but less energetic.

The transition towards the middle between the two parts is also well done. It feels like I'm progressing through the game.

The only reason I don't give it 5 stars is because I'm not quite sure from your description if the first half is supposed to represent the nightmare and the second half is supposed to represent the nice dream. I can infer from the description that's what it means, but I don't actually know for sure.

As for the song itself, I think it does exactly what you're going for. Great job overall!

More info about how I review music here: https://codefreq.newgrounds.com/news/post/1089806

9VoltBaby responds:

Im honestly at a loss for words, it's the first time i get such a detailed review so thank you so much!!
Im sure the description is quite messy and confusing to read, i'll be sure to rewrite it so it makes more sense as soon as i have the time.
Again thank you so much for your feedback, im really glad you liked the track!

[Something in the works]

I can't tell you how to write better, as that is subjective. What I can do, though, is share with you some things I consider when I write that may help you with the process of creating.

One thing I do is I think about what I'm trying to accomplish with my song. I start by ask questions like, "Why am I making this"? Whether it's for fun or to make a statement, knowing the reason why I'm making a song is important. Then I create the song, keeping in mind what each element represents, from the different instruments I use to the way I mix the song. After I make the song, I try to make everything about my submission consistent to the way the piece "feels" to me, emotionally or otherwise. From the name and the description to the tags and, if applicable, the submission's icon artwork, I try to make everything match each other to the best of my ability.

That's one way I go about it. I hope this helps you. :)

More info about how I review music here: https://codefreq.newgrounds.com/news/post/1089806

AirEyez responds:

Thank you for the advice. I was basically having issues on what to add more to the track to make it more interesting and sound better but its safe to say that I got inspired by the advice you gave me, It really opened me up to newer ideas.

[Death Castle]

UPDATE:

Thank you for clarifying.

This sounds like an excellent fit for Geometry Dash. :)

Original 4 star review:

"Interesting! I hear this and I get a vibe that matches the title you picked; A 16-bit adventure game in a creepy dungeon, with danceable elements. It almost sounds to me like something out of "Crypt Of The Necrodancer".

I'm curious, what kind of game is this to be a part of? What was it you were trying to convey here?

More info about how I review music here: https://codefreq.newgrounds.com/news/post/1089806"

DeCodyOfficial responds:

This is music that I will probably use for an underground level in Geometry Dash.

[Vista Sounds - Study Hall]

Neat! Reminds me of my college days. Comfortable yet groovy.

Where did the name come from?

Also, I'd like to know what else you were thinking of when you made this. If you share your intent, I can give you feedback based on how well I thought that intent came through as opposed to my own taste.

More info about how I review music here: https://codefreq.newgrounds.com/news/post/1089806

Vista-Sound13 responds:

For a couple of months, I wanted to write some smooth and relaxing jazz + hip-hop tracks that fit the vibe of doing school activities, drawing, studying, being in school, etc. I made a couple of them, and I think this one is the one that was in my mind, and I was able to execute it properly, and so I named this track 'Study Hall'.

I am glad you liked this track, and you felt similar vibes to it, so thank you!