Aether If this is too long and boring, or if you're short on time, scroll down to the bottom of the review. Yeah, I know, it's a looooooong way down, but don't give me a "Whatevs..." or "zzZZZZ..." reaction for it.
I know that I haven't been particularly active for almost three years now, and that I used to just write "cool song" in the review section and leave, but I actually know how to review stuff now, so here we go. Clear your schedule while you're at it.
I first found this song when I was playing the former weekly demon "iS" by Grenate, and I was very pleased with what I found to say the least (that goes for both the level and the song). I was very happy once I beat it, but I was also kind of sad to let go of the level for two reasons:
1) The level may have been one of the best levels I've ever played, probably even THE best, and I wanted to keep playing it.
2) I didn't get to listen to this song anymore.
So I looked it up on Newgrounds for the first time and listened to the whole thing (because iS only uses about 0.29-2.07), and I liked the song even more. It has such a consistent atmosphere, and those drops are nearly unrivaled in the world of melodic dubstep (nonmelodic is a different story, but I'll save that discussion for another time).
What amazes me even more is that this was your first attempt at dubstep. Based on your earlier tracks, such as Ocean of Stars, this was probably a MASSIVE step out of your comfort zone. Not many people can make good music outside of their established genre(s), let alone on their first attempt.
Let's break it down, section by section.
0.00-0.29
Excellent intro that definitely grabs my attention and makes me want to keep listening. The piano mixed with the futuristic wobbly thing (I don't really know what else to call it, and I think that's an accurate description) sounds really nice, and I especially like the plucky synth that comes in around 0.14. My only complaint is that the piano is a little too quiet.
0.29-0.56
The vocals fit in perfectly with the rest of the instruments, and they build on the already well-established atmosphere of the song. My favorite thing about this part, however, is definitely the percussion, especially the little triplet rolls.
0.56-1.12
Solid transition into an equally solid buildup. The riser effect gives off the feeling of intensity that leads into the drop, although towards the end, it kind of drowns out the drums. It would be perfect if the drums got progressively louder with the melody. I also love that last bar (half bar?) where the riser levels off at a high C and you hear the drum again.
1.12-1.39
HUGE drop with equally huge bass. That bassline is so aggressive that it nearly jumps out of my computer screen. It feels like it's about 0.01dB away from being too loud for me to enjoy, but not quite. The drums are a different case; they're loud, but you probably could have raised the volume a good bit before they started to sound bad. The main melody fits the futuristic space theme perfectly, and the little wobbly sound effects are a nice touch.
1.39-2.07
This section has the best melody in the song so far. Paired with the massive bassline and the percussion, this section has to be my favorite in the song, without a doubt. I also like the main synth much better than the previous one. This is mainly because I like the short, plucky notes more than the drawn-out ones, but the new synth still does a great job of keeping the atmosphere of the song.
2.07-2.20
There's not much in this section, so there's not much to complain about. The piano does a great job of interrupting the intensity of the last two sections and giving you a break before the next "verse" of the song.
2.20-2.48
I like this section for all the same reasons that I like 0.29-0.56, but this one takes away my favorite part of it: the percussion. If I had to pick a least favorite section, this would be it. It's still good, but it just isn't the same as the other parts of the song.
2.48-3.02
Despite what everyone may say, repetition can actually benefit you enormously in a song if you use it sparingly and correctly. This would be one of those cases. The last section flowed well after the piano section, and naturally, this buildup fits in perfectly afterwards.
3.03-3.30
Again, repetition can actually be a good thing, especially if you don't get tired of what you hear. I may never get tired of this buildup and drop - I've listened to the song more times than I can even count. I always get excited when I hear this song on my playlist, even though I know it's coming (because Newgrounds doesn't let you shuffle playlists for some reason that I fail to understand).
3.30-3.58
Remember when I said that the dotted eighth note section from 1.39-2.07 was my favorite part of the piece? It still applies here, and if you made me pick between it and this section, I would have no idea which one to pick from a pure quality standpoint. I may give the edge to the first one, but only because it comes up first, and I'm impatient. Regardless, I love this part.
3.58-4.24
Still not much to complain about, the only nitpick I have is that there are about eight seconds of silence at the end. I would have preferred if it were three or four seconds, but that may just be personal preference. What a way to finish the track.
My review summarized in a single sentence:
Stunning first dubstep track that keeps a distinct atmosphere throughout and never ceases to amaze with powerful buildups and drops.
Pros:
Percussion
Cohesion between parts
BASS
Creative melodies
Variation in instrument use
Well-timed repetition
Cons:
A few minor mixing/mastering slipups such as volume control
...I can't think of anything else
If you made it all the way down here, thank you so much for taking the time to read this review. A response would mean a lot to me.
Thanks again (and sorry for eating up so much of your free time),
Wmthomas
Unused Assets 
Alone 
Life 
Working Better 
Alan Walker - Faded (C211 Remix) 
CYCLES MEW RMX 
The Cube in the Gungeon 
Impostor 
DJVI - "Cycles" (Remix) 
