Are you getting better (musically)?

[hibidy]

Dean is a talented guy who has vision. I still haven't listened.....will do now.....

[Dean Aka Nekro]

2005:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/rs5rzyfofc5dd ... m_2005.zip

Dean

Really cool of you to share like that.
I checked this one out (the one from 2005) last night.
This is not my favorite "subgenre" of metal, if there is such a thing. It has all the elements of the genre you'd expect, and nothing unexpected, which is probably the only thing "wrong" with it.

Drums are crisp, snare sounds delicious, kick was triggered? No? The snare just sounds great, I love it. That's a snare sound I occasionally try to go for and fail every time

Loved the guitars. Dry, brutal, heavy. They says what it wants to say. Love the elements of asymmetry, as I call it; when left channel does its own thing, right does its own thing in some sections, but they still work. Then when it's time to groove or "say something massive" they lock together quite well.

Bass is as fundamental as it needs to be and doesn't overwhelm.

The vocals are where things start to bother me - but it's not this album only, it's the entire metal genre. It's like the vocalist picks one sound/pitch to scream at and does it throughout almost the entire album. This is personal preference on my part, as I know it's quite appealing to many listeners. I just can't stand it. Need some variation. However, where appropriate for conveying such emotion, I think it pays off in the songs. And the vocals are well executed and brutal, especially where they lock in emotionally with the songs lyrics.

I have trouble understanding lyrics in this genre when diction falls apart. However there are many excellent moments: "I am inside of YOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOU!" from Track Four. f**k yeah, well done.
Track Five "I don't believe in miracles anymore" again works great.

Keys in the opening track are properly atmospheric and haunting.

I really like the part 1:20-1:38 in Track Two, everything synchs tight.

My favorite from this is Track Eight. I cranked it and hell yeah.

I'll give the 2013 one a listen next.

Nice one for taking the time to listen and really pleased you enjoyed mate. More than happy to share when I can

Well I've listened to the 2013 one now.
Everything has improved, most notably the guitar performance and sound, and the entire production. A lot more variation in the vox/grunts/screams/growls/roars/lunacy too. So yeah, I think it's safe to say the man has improved!

Again I appreciate your words a lot as I have heard most of your work on soundcloud and it always impresses me how versatile your work is, From ambient to metal, You do it all and do it well. I admit to being rather limited in the area of synthesis and I think it shows in my work. Thank you for being the judge on this one as I said, I find it hard to gauge my self. Perhaps for all the improvements I might have lost some of the areas that make the less technical sounding stuff of old more memorable. Those days I was in and it was proper live band setting where everyone put in but I do not have that these days so despite having friends/fellow musicians join in on stuff I'm still isolated to being the dread one man band thing. I do miss the days I was in bands, playing live and especially practice and being part of a team. Still I have no choice in the matter but will not forget those times

All the best and again thank you for taking your time to help me out and listening

Dean