the build into the drop doesn't really seem to be there. I think of trance as having great, really hyped buildups into a slamming drop. Didn't get that feeling. More like a progressive house build and drop to me. Snare roll, tonal riser, filter sweep, etc.

People liked the drums, but for me they're a bit washed out, not as transient as I'd prefer. I think the kick isn't as prominent, and the hats don't seem to have much of a groove?

the chords vs melody arent really working for me... very dissonant and dystopian sounding.. watch the Video we did on chords and melody in the classic balearic trance course. should give you some ideas on how keeping things simple can really elevate the vibe.

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I like the melody.... but it feels a bit lost.. maybe needs to be a touch louder,

Cool track... the Drums are slamming!! not sure about this bass sound as the main sound in the track... feels to be if you shaved of some low end and used it as your "energy mid bass" you could add a more distinctive main bass that informed the groove better... maybe just an off beat or a double off beat would work. would need to be a more percussive punchy sound.

Good work :) ... keep at it ... it has lots of room for improvement ... i don't know why but it brings me back to the mid 2000s era of trance :)

at 1:32 when you go into your breakdown suddenly everything gets much louder ... maybe you're pushing too hard into a compressor / limiter

Would have to listen to this a few more times ... but so far it seems that you're not ducking anything out of the way of the kick ... which is not necessarily a bad thing depending on what you're after.