Well...
...Since you requested this in the Review Request Club, I'll review it so I can get 6 club points because I'm greedy like that.
I'll try and comment mostly on the stuff that you did in the song, not the stuff I upgraded xD.
-PROS-
- The melodies sound absolutely amazing. I really had fun adding the instrumentation to melodies as epic as these (that and C minor is my favourite key :D). The chord progression, as usual, is awesome, and so is the harmonizing.
- The blend between the piano, staccato strings and background instruments (such as choirs, double bass, brass, cello, etc...) was brilliant.
- The amount of alternate melodies was just right. I have to admit that I never got tired listening to this song, since it had so many different melodies, and some cool subtle changes too. The background was also well varied.
- I really liked the use of choirs towards the end. The fact that they weren't used in any other part in the song gave the part that they played in a sort of importance, which was cool.
- This song is very epic. Right after the slower, calmer intro, the song becomes really epic and doesn't stop showing off its might and power, making it fit perfectly with the name.
Even at 1:43 when everything goes a little calmer, you make the listener think he's having a break from all the epic...ness, yet the song quickly regains its awesome might and power at 1:49.
- The bells were an interesting addition, and provided some good tension at 0:44 before the song becomes epic.
- Obviously, the high quality instruments from East/West are just icing to the already delicious cake.
- The part at 1:13 was awesome.
- The whole thing, as you said, sounds a lot like an epic Metal Gear soundtrack, and I love Metal Gear :D.
-CONS-
- I'm not sure why you made the ending a fade ending. I would've definitely loved to have heard a ridiculously powerful final staccato note played by all the instruments along with an epic crash from the drums. Fade ending was a bit anti-climatic.
- Obviously, this could've been longer, since 2:38 is leaning a little towards the short side (and it would've been even less if I didn't lower the tempo a bit and added the calm intro with the double bass, heartbeat and cymbal)
- The ending could have used a few more subtle changes in the staccatos' melodies.
-OVERALL-
I must say that I really enjoyed working on this. The melodies you made were amazing, the choice of instrumentation was flawless, the structure was awesome... I could go on, but I don't like complimenting as much as I like criticising.
So yeah, all in all, this sounds amazing, and if you ever want me to use my professional samples for any other song, I'd be glad to :D.
Not only that, but I suck at making melodies too :3.
Keep up the amazing work!
10/10
5/5
Fav'd.
-Review Request Club-