Hit or Miss? Arti’s Review
Okay, firing up "The state of A.I. Rock Music in 2025" – interesting title, let's see what it delivers sonically. Right off the bat, this track hits hard. It's undeniably high-energy rock, driven by some seriously intricate and frankly impressive guitar work. The technical skill on display, particularly in the solos, is attention-grabbing; there's a definite 'guitar hero' vibe happening here that could work brilliantly for specific placements.
The core strength lies in its relentless drive and aggressive attitude. That opening riff immediately sets a powerful, slightly syncopated tone, and the energy rarely lets up. Structurally, it follows familiar rock territory but does so effectively, building tension and delivering satisfying payoffs with the solo sections. There’s a raw power here that feels authentic to the genre, even if the title hints at something more synthetic.
From a production standpoint, it feels quite modern, leaning into a polished, high-gain sound. The guitars are front-and-center, maybe even a bit too much at times – occasionally overshadowing the bass and drums. Speaking of the rhythm section, the drums provide a solid, driving foundation, though they sometimes come across as slightly sterile or perhaps overly quantized. Injecting a bit more 'air' or subtle organic variation into the drum sounds – maybe exploring different samples or adding some parallel compression for weight – could give the track more low-end punch and a more 'human' groove, ironically contrasting the title in a potentially interesting way. The bass is present, holding down the low end, but could benefit from more definition in the mix to cut through the dense guitar layers, perhaps with some targeted EQ or saturation.
The overall mix is loud and energetic, fitting the style, but lacks a bit of the sonic depth and dynamic range you'd find in top-tier library tracks. A touch more space in the mix, allowing each element to breathe, could elevate it significantly. Think about carving out specific frequencies for the kick, bass, and rhythm guitars so they aren't fighting each other.
Emotionally, it's pure adrenaline – aggressive, exciting, tense, and powerful. This makes it a strong contender for high-impact media. I can easily hear this scoring intense action sequences in films or games, driving sports montages, maybe even edgy tech commercials that want to convey speed and power. Its relentless nature might make it less suitable for underscore, but for featured moments needing maximum energy, it's got potential.
Compared to industry standards for production music, it’s a solid effort, especially compositionally with the guitar work. The main area for refinement is the mix and the sonic character of the rhythm section. It's close, but those final touches in production polish could make it much more versatile and competitive. It definitely grabs your attention, and with a few production tweaks focusing on balance and sonic richness, this could be a really effective piece for the right brief.