Well what makes your bust so compelling is that, for one, it's not just anther barbarian or soldier, etc....it is bizarre, and I daresay the closest thing to avant-garde in the bust painting department. I actually like some of your colors that are out of balance a bit. The disruption to the harmony somehow lends itself to the credibility of the figure, which is that of an alien and bizarre living construct. On areas where it counts, however, like the skin, you are maintaining a reliable pallet that builds familiarity and understanding.
In other words, being different makes this figure gnarly.