About the review

Title: Fantasy Medley - Black Citadel II music
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Artist: TheBeetlestones
Genre: Soundtrack/Game: Soundtrack
Reviewed by: Space Walk on October 11, 2007 (All reviews by Space Walk)

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1Overall Description
Almost instantly the music ones mind into times of history and especially the medieval times. The time of castles and kingdoms. A very nice presence of some elements bring the music into such atmospheric that you can almost taste the cold and metallic of the sword blade. The theme in the second part directs the listener into heroic expressions and indicates one huge knight with a double handed sword, riding on a white horse, making his way into the deep heart of the castle, bringing death to his enemies as he slashes, smashes and slays them.

The music has a good depth as well, there are times within this piece where you actually feel the weight of the sword, and feel the gates of the castle within grasp. The mood if the tune is somewhat unclear to me. Is it fear? could it be bravery? is it mystic? I would say it's something in there between all these.

The first part of this music sounds like a love is lost, maybe the lover of our hero gets kidnapped? I sense some sadness but not hopeless.

The second part of this tune is my definite favorite, I loved the way drums make their way through the sound with might, it's a pity that part is too short (isn't it the shortest).

The third part is mostly based on melodics, melodies that sound tired, maybe even want to give up. Still something attaches them together and gives them strength not to quit. The works of pads and sets of strings are very well done here.

The fourth part, is almost the third part of the tune, only with more rush, and power. Maybe it's time to attack.
 
2Creativity Description
The artist has composed this musics for a game, considering this fact that makes the music original at its nature but maybe not the most creative piece ever done. Considering the music I guess the game does not suffer from a bad melody part and music theme, as what's presented here sounds nice and would easily be a part of one game in the medieval times, where the hero of the game is a "sir knight (perhaps Arthur)" and slashes, smashes ans slays his enemies in order to get to the top of that castle to rescue his love one.

The music is not repetitive at any time, since it's layers of few tunes melted in one tune. Clearing this part we move forward to see how interesting this piece is. Well here is the sad and yet happy thing of the tune. While every tune as a whole is damn good, and interesting to listen to, the sudden changes between each part has made the whole tune a less interesting piece. At 4 different locations (the fourth one is relatively good in transition) within the music boom bada boom and the whole thing goes in a different direction. Maybe someone else finds that very clever and nice, but I'm sorry that I don't have the same opinion about that.
 
3Artistic License Description
I think this is the second time that I'm reviewing a music which was you composed. I remember I liked your first work, and did enjoy the music as well. You are certainly a musician with great skills as you bring such depth to your tunes and create atmospherics that reminds the listener of times, places and situations and add a genius mood to the song. In other word your musics can be heard as well as felt.
 
4Arrangement Description
I know that this is a medley of a few tunes gathered in one piece, still I think you should put some effort to make the transitions smooth. The "sudden" breaks or changes are not interesting at all.

I think as a listener I was more expecting to hear a music. and not a series of tunes without proper start or endings. at 01:10 when the first break comes the music changes shape radically. Both sides of the music are nice but the sudden in-n-out thing takes the interest away.

At 01:50 the classic/orchestral melody with beautiful "military" drums fades into a more cinematic and string based tune, none of them match and as a listener I didn't like that. I would love that you gave a more smooth "give away" between the songs, that would life the music above and to the roof as the music at all different parts of it has some tremendous touch of depth and the sound within each music part is nothing short than beautiful.
 
5Sound Quality Description
I did like the instruments both individually and at work with each other. The choice of instruments is good too as they fit and force the sound to more power outburst.

Samples are of high quality as well, they are well placed, work in harmony and sound clear. I'm pretty much finished with this part now ;o)
 
Comments
Oct 16 2007 12:15 pm
by Space Walk
:o)



Oct 16 2007 11:59 am
by TheBeetlestones
Thanx for the review ! I fully agree with everything you say, this piece is almost 3 years old, so I hope I've improved since then... Cheers !