Riff-Off 3.3: The Apprentice

[Pink Unicorn Horsey]

PLEASE READ THE ENTIRE POST BEFORE VOTING!

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

You are rating one of three riffs in Round 3 of the February 2010 Riff-Off. Each of the other 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 two contestants with the highest average scores will advance to the Championship Round.

I encourage you to score each of the three riffs in this round. 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 3 riff: The Apprentice

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

 

[PFDarkside]

Re: Riff-Off 3.3: The Apprentice

Well played thrash riff, as some have mentioned to other contestants in other rounds, it may be a bit of an "obvious" riff. For example, maybe this riff sounds like the verse riff and the chorus or main riff would be a more elaborate version of this one. But still well played and it's a good riff.

(As a side note, unrelated to the riff scoring, I'd back the gain down a bit to get less fuzz and more "Ooomph")

 

[daemon barbeque]

Re: Riff-Off 3.3: The Apprentice

It's an interesting submission.
Let me begin with the tone. I find it a bit scratchy and too much saturated. But it fills it's purpose and fits the riff itself.
There is a big master of puppets and another metallica riff (I can't remember the name of) influence in this. or better said, it's a derivation of those two.
The speed is good, the technique lacks a bit clarity.
The last two submissions where much better than this, especially the last one.

 

[misterwhizzy]

Re: Riff-Off 3.3: The Apprentice

I'm a sucker for them, of course, and I've admitted that before, but the two-note run between the gallops SCREAMS for harmonies. I think it may be a little bit too compressed and saturated, but again, that's just personal preference. I know how difficult it is recording a riff like this and hitting every note perfectly. And to be honest, I didn't hear any flubs, but I do get the feeling an unclean transition or two may have just been covered up by distortion. I like this riff, but I liked last week's better.

 

[GoDrex]

Re: Riff-Off 3.3: The Apprentice

There is a big master of puppets and another metallica riff (I can't remember the name of) influence in this. or better said, it's a derivation of those two.

the songs you're looking for are Battery and Seek And Destroy

 

[JollyRoger523]

Re: Riff-Off 3.3: The Apprentice

The riff itself is right up my alley! It could be played a tad cleaner. I agree with Daemon about the scratchy and saturated tone.

 

[Gamera]

Re: Riff-Off 3.3: The Apprentice

Sorry but I'm not a fan of this one. I can see being influenced by an existing piece of music but this is a poorly disguised mashup of Metallica's The Four Horsemen mixed with Seek & Destroy to my ears. It's okay to borrow. Let's face it, there are no new ideas, just cleverly and creatively recycled ideas. This is not new, clever, or creative. If a computer could analyze a band's existing catalog and develop a riff typical of that band's catalog by studying the styles, notes, and chords, it might sound like this. I don't vote on tone but the tone here is just buzzy and distracting and doesn't do any favors to an already weak offering. I will admit that your timing and rhythm sounds very in control and precise. I'll bet you're good at Guitar Hero.

 

[DrNewcenstein]

Re: Riff-Off 3.3: The Apprentice

Actually Guitar Hero is unrealistically anal about timing.

As for the riff, it's well-executed, and yes it does have a few notes tonally similar to Seek And Destroy (which IIRC is not a Metallica song, it's one they took for themselves).

The tone could be better, but this is about the riff more than the tone. If it fits like a glove, fine, but if it doesn't, fine.

I could see a song building around this, but the "S&D turnaround" would hold it back.

 

[GoDrex]

Re: Riff-Off 3.3: The Apprentice

As for the riff, it's well-executed, and yes it does have a few notes tonally similar to Seek And Destroy (which IIRC is not a Metallica song, it's one they took for themselves).

heh? sure it's a Metallica song.

 

[Gamera]

Re: Riff-Off 3.3: The Apprentice

I think you're thinking of Four Horsemen which, if I recall correctly, was a song written by Dave Mustaine. When he was kicked out Metallica turned it into 4 Horsemen, Dave & Megadeth turned it into The Mechanix.

 

[daemon barbeque]

Re: Riff-Off 3.3: The Apprentice

the songs you're looking for are Battery and Seek And Destroy

Thank you very much! I didn't listen to them for a veeeeeery long time!
Cheers!

 

[Blue Calx]

Re: Riff-Off 3.3: The Apprentice

Needs a bit more tightness on those 16ths, but a solid riff nonetheless.

 

[JordanM82]

Re: Riff-Off 3.3: The Apprentice

For me I feel like this one just needed to be tighter from a tone perspective, that's been said a few times now already so I won't beat the dead horse any more.

The riff is too... understated? (not sure if that's what I am trying to say)... It left me feeling, akward... like it was only a transitional part of a song between a chorus and bridge and I didn't here the Chorus or bridge so I was just hanging out in the wind like, what was that?

Not that is was not well executed, it was, this one just didn't make me want to nod my head like last weeks riff, I never got into it...

 

[B2D]

Re: Riff-Off 3.3: The Apprentice

Well-executed technically... good old-school thrashy riff. Not digging the tone, but props for the tight chops here.

 

[Redmist]

Re: Riff-Off 3.3: The Apprentice

A riff like this is not going to appeal to the masses IMO. A risk was taken.
Well enough played and has nice flow, but a little predictabe without enough content to score highly at this stage of the game.
If this riff had more of the groove of the last round, the Apprentice would be getting my highest vote.

 

[daemon barbeque]

Re: Riff-Off 3.3: The Apprentice

I am quite thorn about this situation now. I don't want to think that this riff was copy paste action from 2 metallica songs, and just changed some elements to make it feel original. But it feels that way.
The Riff-Off is a competition, that's true. But it was made for progression, creativity, evolution and fun.
I don't want to step on your feet apprentice, but it is too metallica for my tastes, and I feel that this kind of riffing should be avoided. Your last riff was much more original sounding, had more character and emotion. This one is a cheap copy, screams like " well, let's use a well known formula, and brand it new".
Again, you might not did it on purpose, and I am pretty sure that you are a huge Metallica fan. But sorry, this competition should be based on original riffs. Not very obvious copies (we had another one with hidden Slayer riff too)

 

[Lazarus1140]

Re: Riff-Off 3.3: The Apprentice

I have the disadvantage (or is it an advantage?) of not having more than a passing familiarity with the groups/songs others have alluded to, so this submission is as original to me as the other two. It is definitely a hard driving riff and I can imagine a second guitar coming in with a ripping, ferocious lead.

All in all, it's not a style that appeals to me, but I really admire this riffers ability to pic!

 

[d1dsj]

Re: Riff-Off 3.3: The Apprentice

Well executed but not my cup of tea. I think it would have appealed more if I had liked the tone and it wasn't so repetitive, needed something else????

 

[TheGoldenChild]

Re: Riff-Off 3.3: The Apprentice

I Love it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[tone4days]

Re: Riff-Off 3.3: The Apprentice

i'm sure this would appeal to people who enjoy this genre
i am not one of them
it doesnt stand out in any way, but it was well done for what it is

should be proud of your achievement
t4d