[RvK] [2017] Round 3: Squad vs. Squad Battle Block 1

[DarkeSword]

Download the Music: Squad vs. Squad Block 1: Round 3
Because RvK has two different types of rounds (squad-vs-squad and boss battle), please make sure you read and follow the instructions.
This is a Squad vs. Squad Battle. You must use the poll to vote for the tracks you like better. If you’re able, please leave reviews of the tracks in this thread.

Voting ends Sunday, at 9PM EST.

• The most important thing to consider when voting is how well the remix incorporates and arranges both themes. Production and enjoyability should also be considered, but this is primarily an arrangement competition.
• Everyone is allowed (and encouraged) to vote, including competitors.
• You are required to make an actual decision for each choice, meaning, you cannot declare a draws or ties for different places. This will be counted as not voting and your vote will not be counted.
• Everyone must adhere to the Competitions Code of Conduct.

 

[Thirdkoopa]

okay I love what I did in less than 48 hours but I've heard John's before and gotta give it to John

(I even made a drum mistake; see if you can spot it!)

[Dewey Newt]

Shouldn't it be JohnStacy vs. MegaDrive?

[DarkeSword]

Yes, sorry, fixed.

[MindWanderer]

• Battle to the Grave: This is full of seriously clashing notes.  Timing seems out of sync in a lot of places, too--part of this is due to a lead with a really slow attack, which is really obvious with some of the quick notes that never get the chance to fully form.  I'm having a hard time picking out Mercury's theme, but that's not surprising given that what I can hear of Spectre Knight's theme is greatly distorted.
• The Siege of Venus: Pretty slick concept here to start off with.  The jazz works better than after Wandering Travelers starts, though--it tries to be big band, but it's a small band.  Panning is also unbalanced--it makes sense to have instruments have a "place" in the audio space, but that can become an issue when all the instruments playing at a particular time at a particular frequency range are on one side.  The arrangement was just Venus->Wandering Travelers, no integration between them, and even the genre changed.
• Four Against One, Sounds like Fun: Interesting take on Wandering Travelers, focusing on the late part of the song.  Arrangement is pretty good, mostly the usual production issues here--balance, overcompression--which are secondary concerns for this compo and can always be fixed given time.