Riff-Off 3.1: Tesla Coil

[Pink Unicorn Horsey]

PLEASE READ THE ENTIRE POST BEFORE VOTING!

(It's a little different this time around.)​

You are rating one of sixteen riffs in Round 1 of the February 2010 Riff-Off. Each of the other fifteen riffs can be heard and rated in the Tips and Clips room. More information about the Riff-Off can be found here.

Contrary to previous Riff-Off tournaments, this month's Riff-Off has no bracket; each riff will be rated on an individual basis according to a seven-point scale. Once all of the polls have closed, the scores for each riff will be averaged, and the eight contestants with the highest average scores will advance to Round 2.

I encourage you to score each of the sixteen riffs. You may wish to listen to each riff before voting in order to establish a baseline. Of course, you are free to score riffs however you like, in whatever order you like. You could even give each riff the same score, if your impressions dictate so. It's all in your hands!

Because not all contestants have access to the same quality of recording equipment, your voting decision should be based first on the actual composition, second on the player's execution of the riff. Try to look past recording quality. Some questions you may want to ask yourself while considering which way to vote: What is the emotional impact of the riff? How original is the riff? Does the riff inspire me? Would I want to hear a whole song built off this riff?

Note that each contestant has chosen a battle name for the Riff-Off; their identities have been hidden from all other contestants and the voting public, and will be revealed at the end of the Riff-Off, when a champion is crowned.

Lastly, while comments are strongly encouraged, please realize that each contestant put personal time and creative energy into his or her submission. If you have any critique to provide in this thread, give the contestants the courtesy of making it constructive. This competition is built on the premises of fun and musical growth.

Here is a link to this contestant's Round 1 riff: Tesla Coil

If you run into any technical issues or have other questions regarding the Riff-Off, PM or email me (kgmessier at gmail dot com).

Have fun!

- Keith

 

[astrozombie]

Re: Riff-Off 3.1: Tesla Coil

Cool motif!

Still, i think that much gain was a bad idea. (maybe you need different eq settings as well?) while I'm a big fan of this type of distortion... it isnt very defined.

 

[daemon barbeque]

Re: Riff-Off 3.1: Tesla Coil

It needs more definition, and it is somehow dirty on some parts. Still very creative, something new to chew.

 

[GoDrex]

Re: Riff-Off 3.1: Tesla Coil

yep it's a heavy riff

 

[tone4days]

Re: Riff-Off 3.1: Tesla Coil

very cool heavy chuggy thing going on there - well played - just a bit too hard to latch on to and remember like a good riff schould

 

[misterwhizzy]

Re: Riff-Off 3.1: Tesla Coil

Let me first say this. I thought the tone was a pretty good heavy tone. But when it went through the quick, downward run of palm-muted notes, I think it lost definition. I think it was played right, but the gain was a little too much. I couldn't tell which notes were being played. It was percussive and chuggy, but I just couldn't tell exactly what was going on. That being said, I want to hear more from this guy. I'll still score it well.

 

[PFDarkside]

Re: Riff-Off 3.1: Tesla Coil

Wow. Like a smack in the face. Is this a downtuned 7/baritone or a bass up a half step? Nice driving quality. I like all the embelishments except the decending chords at the end, they need to be more evil note choices. Cool sound, I could definately hear some industrial beat going on behind it.

 

[Gamera]

Re: Riff-Off 3.1: Tesla Coil

Heavy is cool, muddy is not. I'd like to hear a bit more contrasting tones with it. Maybe toss in an artificial harmonic squeal or something. It has potential, make me like it. Work it.

 

[B2D]

Re: Riff-Off 3.1: Tesla Coil

Maybe I'm alone in this, but I LOVE the tone here. Then again I'm listening on good headphones. Dirty and grimy and middy and fat. Like Jabba the Hutt dying in a fire. The tone and the neat rhythm and tuning could've been found in any old chugga riff, but the way it's used here grabbed my attention immediately and held it. Awesome.

 

[sosomething]

Re: Riff-Off 3.1: Tesla Coil

tunings that low need djent djent

not schwowmph schwowmph

Still, I liked it.

 

[GoDrex]

Re: Riff-Off 3.1: Tesla Coil

it sounds like an octave pedal is involved

 

[DrNewcenstein]

Re: Riff-Off 3.1: Tesla Coil

Interesting. Less gain would probably alter the power of the riff, as would pretty much any change to the tone.

A little more simplicity in this sort of riff (i.e. fewer notes) would probably be the better way to go.

 

[crusty philtrum]

Re: Riff-Off 3.1: Tesla Coil

Sounds great but doesn't bring anything new to the table to my ears. It has the power but limits itself by sounding like so much other material in this vein.

 

[elscorcho]

Re: Riff-Off 3.1: Tesla Coil

Liked it

....Constuctive criticism would be that the tone was a little over the top, think some tightness would really add to the impact.

 

[Blue Calx]

Re: Riff-Off 3.1: Tesla Coil

I love it when a riff's structure eludes me until the second or third repeat! The only thing I would want to hear happen differently is some sort of stress leading up to, or immediately at the point where the first theme repeats; let us know you're really feeling that strange groove and that it wasn't just an accident. It'd be great to hear how this locks in against a drum track.

 

[Redmist]

Re: Riff-Off 3.1: Tesla Coil

Maybe I'm alone in this, but I LOVE the tone here. Then again I'm listening on good headphones

Same here!
With phones on, I started headbanging to this before I realized people were watching me.

 

[JollyRoger523]

Re: Riff-Off 3.1: Tesla Coil

A nice heavy riff.

 

[DankStar]

Re: Riff-Off 3.1: Tesla Coil

nice, but to me there's a fine line between tuning down and going down too far.

 

[Tor]

Re: Riff-Off 3.1: Tesla Coil

tunings that low need djent djent

not schwowmph schwowmph

Still, I liked it.

Same. The tone worked for those "frog quacks" in a lack of a better word. Heavy and with an attitude.

 

[Lazarus1140]

Re: Riff-Off 3.1: Tesla Coil

I love it when a riff's structure eludes me until the second or third repeat! The only thing I would want to hear happen differently is some sort of stress leading up to, or immediately at the point where the first theme repeats; let us know you're really feeling that strange groove and that it wasn't just an accident. It'd be great to hear how this locks in against a drum track.

+1 on all counts. The tone was a little too nasty for me, but it still works. Solid entry!