1. Drifting Lights
   DDRKirby(ISQ)
2. A Christmas Dream
   DarkMystery727
3. Modern Incantation
   Misael.K

merry christmas and happy holidays all!

1. stonehenge rock
   bjkmenu
2. Christmas Rock
   Meistr
3. distant lights
   NickC

As a primarily metalhead I'm a bit biased, so my main favorites tends to have lots of guitars, powerful drums or similar. But still loving everything else. The chill, ambiance tracks here are especially good. I love how people can transmit so much in just 1 hour of work, and these had all a pretty good production.

Special mentions to the ethnic woodwinds and sounds in obScene's track, and the cello and the dark yet slightly rocking atmosphere of NickC (that reminded me a bit to Rammstein's ballads, however different).

Great stuff everyone :)

1. Waiting
   obScene
2. Drifting Lights
   DDRKirby(ISQ)
3. Christmas Rock
   Meistr

All comments are replied to on Discord, making this section irrelevant. Onto the voting!

TheVideoGamer - Of course these images are beautiful, so my track is essentially also going to be beautiful. I didn't just want to make a standard chill beat though, or DnB combo, so i tried for something a little more unique. The track is written at around 102 BPM, but it's actually felt more closer to 204 bpm, largely because of the swing beats. The snares hit on the off beatd, and the kick is delated and crushed for a more flanged delayed feel. The melodies are also swung and funky, combining warm elements, simple lines, and a sawtooth melody that is harsh as it is beautiful. It's all about being weird and unusual for this track. The mixing is good, although listening back, maybe i should have chosen a milder lead synth, so i doesn't cut too much. All in all, i really like this one, it's very much unique. Oh well, glad you liked it anyways!

DarkShadow - Quite the intense opening, but then again, do i expect anything less from Dark Shadow lol. Lots of laser kick drums, some interesting saw riffs that sound like a faulty hard drive, and a lot of dissonance. Not my favourite from you personally, It's not just chaotic, but it's also pretty harsh on the ears in parts. Still though it's a lot of fun, with a really interesting groove and time signature. Good job! Verdict: Not Christmassy At All.

DDRKirby(ISQ) - Lots of chill electric piano melodies, but in a more sine wavey way. 7th chords are my weakness, and this is played in a very beautiful. I just love the swing in this one, it's a nice laidback groove, with a sick snare sound to boot. The chord changes in the B Section caught me by surprise but i absolutely love it, it's different and adds a mild mystique flair to the piece. Extremely chill stuff, and some sick mixing, i really don't know what else to say. I loved it a lot, so much i placed it on the 2nd spot, incredible work! Verdict: Quite Christmassy.

Misael.K - Ooh i like that Em6 to Dmaj7 modulation, that's really nice, especially on the keyboard synth, it feels sort of like were in a mild sense of childlike wonder. I like the various chord changes here, it's not got that happy christmas vibe, but it does have that sort of weirdly calming winter vibe. The drums are great, it's the classic Misael processed break, but not too distorted, the right amount of mixing. I do think it could be a little bit happier for me, i don't know why, i feel like we should be in full christmas mode especially for this track, but i don't really get it. It's still pretty though, the melodies are lovely, especially in the rhythm change in the 2nd half. I dig the syncopation here, it's pretty sick. Long ending in this one. All in all, i really like the vibe a lot, it's a lot of fun. Even if i said it needs to be happier, i still would consider voting for this, it's great, awesome work! Verdict: Somewhat Christmassy.

A2Z - More 7ths! This time it sounds like we are in a PS1 game, with all of these bright 80's synths, and this cool and strange mix of calming but mysterious melodic ideas. Wasn't expecting a flute to act as the main melody here, it's pretty, but also kind of quiet in the mist of the track. The choir and strings really make it more old timey winter sounding, but it's not quite christmassy as it's more of a unnerving cold vibe. The 2nd half is a little more warmer, but not entirely warm. I do feel the winter feel in this one a lot though, so theme accuracy is nailed, even if not super happy (Not that it matters). All in all, i do think mix wise, it needs a bit of refinement, the piano is a bit too crispy for my liking, however the melodies are very nice. I'll give you this one, on the strength of the melodies alone, if anything, despite me only having 3 to choose from, i think it's definately voting worthy. it was great, awesome work! Verdict: Quite Chtistmassy.

NickC - This one is quite cold sounding, complete with some intense wind sounds, and a nice background bell melody, that darts between calming and warm to unsettling like there's something not quiet there. The drums really turn this into a slightly horror like experience, compared to the mildly unsettling but calm winter experience. I defefinately feel like were in a TIm Burton movie, but not as cartoony. The synth filtering in this is very unique i must say. The track may be quite wintery sounding, but i don't really see it as a christmas tune for me. Mix wise it's good, although the melodies in some parts strikes me as odd, but i am listening to NickC, who is known for odd melody choices lol. All in all, it's pretty catchy, but i sense a lot of poential, some parts just didn't really sit right with me. Still though, good job! Verdict: Not Exactly Christmassy.

DarkMystery22 - For a second i got a wiff of Diamond Dust from Sonic 3D, specifically the saturn version lol. These are some very pretty bells, such lovely texture, kind of like wind, but not. I love the contrast in this, we have this extremely love RPG like melody, but then we get the more darker colder transition. It's like the best of both words in the melodies. I don't know if it's me, but there is some weird clipping going on in the audio, it sounds like there is a dodgy render here somewhere. Shame because the melodies are super pretty, and to me that was enough to place you in the awesome section, however the choppiness was quite off putting i'm sorry, and this is why it's a good job from me. Still though, those melodies were really good, i loved it, it has a lot of potential. Good job! Verdict: Exceptionally Christmassy.

BJKMenu - Oooh i like these chords, it's got that comforting vibe, kind of like were going in a country vibe in parts. The electric guitar melody is really stealing the show, especially in the mist of the more cleaner, calmer chords, but the track as a vibe is really great. The ending is a bit wild though, lots of clashing solo's, but the track itself is quite the journey. Loving the grungy end, it really feels like the best of two different worlds. Whilst not the most christmassy, and it could be a little more refined melody wise, it was definately enough for the awesome section, i loved it. Well done! Verdict: Not Exactly Christmassy

obScene - Holy fck, this is....incredible. It's not even just the melodies, (Which is not only christmas sounding, it has a lovely reverb to it too), it's the mix and the effects in this one. You say it sounds distorted and muffled on your end, and you could not be more wrong lol. Ok it does sound a little more bass heavy than a normal obScene track, but the mix is more than ok, and the melodies are wonderful. It's exactly what this image needs, and it really embodies the colorful lights perfectly. Absolutely fantastic stuff mate, it's obvious i picked this for the top spot, outstanding work! Verdict: Exceptionally Christmassy.

Meistr - Cool rock vibe going on, which is interesting as i don't usually associate you with rock, but i dig it nonetheless. The drums are tight and catchy, and the guitar work is funky as always. The chords are great, although definately not what to expect for this theme, however that solo is absolutely killer, i wasn't expecting such a killer solo for this track. It's also the first time i've heard no guests, on this one. It's purely a Meistr instrumental, but i get collabing can be hard sometimes. Whilst not christmassy to me, it does have a lot of catchy appeal, especially that killer solo. So killer the overall track ended up on the third spot, amazing work! Verdict: Not Christmassy At All

Unknown Pseudoartist - I remeber your brief PRC appearance, but it's the first i believe i've heard your original music for real. Nice of you to submit either way, even if only 40 seonds of music. Whilst i do appear very critical in my voting essay's, i still believe every entry deserves love and respect, so even if i make a few points about the entry, you shouldn't think that because i said it, therefore the track is both objectively bad, and you are a bad producer because you are not. Anyways, really digging that fast frantic vibe. I love the drums in this, and the guitar work is very chug heavy. I do think the guitar work in this is perhaps a little mechanical, and the melodies are getting buried by the onslaught of compressed guitar, but the idea is very cool. Had to play it a few times to process how little music i got, but the track is very nice, it has a weirdly cold vibe for something so fast and hard. Not a christmas track to me, but it was a lot of fun nonetheless, so don't be discouraged. Use this as a way to learn and grow, i am after all just one dude with a subjective opinion. All in all, a lot of fun, with some sick ideas that has a lot of potential, good job!

Arcana - I've done worse lol, and so far it sounds pretty nice, definately not bad at all. The chords don't scream christmas to me, but they do have a nice dark vibe to them. Vocal work is really strong this week, i love the tasteful reverb applied to the voice. Some parts feel a little pitchy not gonna lie, but you sing way better than me, even if critical lol. Some of the chord choices were very interesting, maybe a little too intersting lol. Not the most consant for sure, let's call it free jazz haha. That FM melody was a nice touch, the whole track is really nice, it just has a lot of potential. Great vibe, good melodies, good job!

Top 3 - obScene, DDRKirby(ISQ), Meistr.

These two also deserve a spot on the list:

Misael.K (Even though i said the melodies were not as happy as it could be, it still deserves a vote)

A2Z (The mixing is not my favourite, but the melodies alone is deserving of a vote)

Awesome - DDRKirby(ISQ), Misael.K, A2Z, BJKMenu, obScene, Meistr.

Needs Work - DarkShadow, NickC, DarkMystery22, Unknown Pseudoartist, Arcana.

1. distant lights
   NickC
2. Drifting Lights
   DDRKirby(ISQ)
3. TheVideoGamer Wishes You A Merry Christmas
   TheVideoGamer

NickC: deliciously dark.

DDRKirby(ISQ): lush lofi.

TheVideoGamer: fun!

awesum: A2Z, bjkmenu, DarkMystery727, DarkShadow, DDRKirby(ISQ), Meistr, NickC, obScene, TheVideoGamer.
good: Arcana, Unknown Pseudoartist.

1. Modern Incantation
   Misael.K
2. distant lights
   NickC
3. TheVideoGamer Wishes You A Merry Christmas
   TheVideoGamer

There were many good entries so it was a difficult decision. Modern Incantation was good for its chord progression and I liked the chord that resolved back to the tonic, as well as the fading out and the instruments used. Distant lights did well on the atmospheric feeling with the instruments. The "TheVideoGamer Wishes You A Merry Christmas" had a really catchy melody. Honorable mention to "Waiting". This seemed like a traditional Christmas song similar to mine and the muffling seemed to fit even though it was accidental.

1. Modern Incantation
   Misael.K
2. distant lights
   NickC
3. TheVideoGamer Wishes You A Merry Christmas
   TheVideoGamer

There were many good entries so it was a difficult decision. Modern Incantation was good for its chord progression and I liked the chord that resolved back to the tonic, as well as the fading out and the instruments used. Distant lights did well on the atmospheric feeling with the instruments. The "TheVideoGamer Wishes You A Merry Christmas" had a really catchy melody. Honorable mention to "Waiting". This seemed like a traditional Christmas song similar to mine and the muffling seemed to fit even though it was accidental.

1. Modern Incantation
   Misael.K
2. distant lights
   NickC
3. TheVideoGamer Wishes You A Merry Christmas
   TheVideoGamer

There were many good entries so it was a difficult decision. Modern Incantation was good for its chord progression and I liked the chord that resolved back to the tonic, as well as the fading out and the instruments used. Distant lights did well on the atmospheric feeling with the instruments. The "TheVideoGamer Wishes You A Merry Christmas" had a really catchy melody. Honorable mention to "Waiting". This seemed like a traditional Christmas song similar to mine and the muffling seemed to fit even though it was accidental.

1. Modern Incantation
   Misael.K
2. distant lights
   NickC
3. TheVideoGamer Wishes You A Merry Christmas
   TheVideoGamer

There were many good entries so it was a difficult decision. Modern Incantation was good for its chord progression and I liked the chord that resolved back to the tonic, as well as the fading out and the instruments used. Distant lights did well on the atmospheric feeling with the instruments. The "TheVideoGamer Wishes You A Merry Christmas" had a really catchy melody. Honorable mention to "Waiting". This seemed like a traditional Christmas song similar to mine and the muffling seemed to fit even though it was accidental.

1. Modern Incantation
   Misael.K
2. distant lights
   NickC
3. TheVideoGamer Wishes You A Merry Christmas
   TheVideoGamer

There were many good entries so it was a difficult decision. Modern Incantation was good for its chord progression and I liked the chord that resolved back to the tonic, as well as the fading out and the instruments used. Distant lights did well on the atmospheric feeling with the instruments. The "TheVideoGamer Wishes You A Merry Christmas" had a really catchy melody. Honorable mention to "Waiting". This seemed like a traditional Christmas song similar to mine and the muffling seemed to fit even though it was accidental.

1. Modern Incantation
   Misael.K
2. distant lights
   NickC
3. TheVideoGamer Wishes You A Merry Christmas
   TheVideoGamer

There were many good entries so it was a difficult decision. Modern Incantation was good for its chord progression and I liked the chord that resolved back to the tonic, as well as the fading out and the instruments used. Distant lights did well on the atmospheric feeling with the instruments. The "TheVideoGamer Wishes You A Merry Christmas" had a really catchy melody. Honorable mention to "Waiting". This seemed like a traditional Christmas song similar to mine and the muffling seemed to fit even though it was accidental.

1. Modern Incantation
   Misael.K
2. distant lights
   NickC
3. TheVideoGamer Wishes You A Merry Christmas
   TheVideoGamer

There were many good entries so it was a difficult decision. Modern Incantation was good for its chord progression and I liked the chord that resolved back to the tonic, as well as the fading out and the instruments used. Distant lights did well on the atmospheric feeling with the instruments. The "TheVideoGamer Wishes You A Merry Christmas" had a really catchy melody. Honorable mention to "Waiting". This seemed like a traditional Christmas song similar to mine and the muffling seemed to fit even though it was accidental.

1. Drifting Lights
   DDRKirby(ISQ)
2. stonehenge rock
   bjkmenu
3. Modern Incantation
   Misael.K