Adam Jones is GOD
08-12-2004, 10:04 AM
http://www.geocities.com/akai_sakura/TBM.jpg
Im sure that most people who have played any form of RPG have played or at least heard of the Final Fantasy series. This CD is recreated tracks put into a more modern rock form
The Black mages are:
Tsuyoshi Sekito -- Guitar
Michio Okamiya -- Guitar
Keiji Kawamori -- Bass
Nobuo Uematsu -- Keyboard (Lord of all, he produced it)
Kenichirou Fukui -- Keyboard
Arata Hanyuda -- Drum
http://www.doupe.cz/vaulty/finalfantasy/stuff/blackmagesstuff.jpg
The track list is (song and game it appears in first):
Battle Scene (Final Fantasy I)
Clash on the Big Bridge (Final Fantasy V)
Force Your Way (Final Fantasy VIII)
Battle, Scene II (Final Fantasy II)
The Decisive Battle (Final Fantasy VI)
Battle Theme (Final Fantasy VI)
J-E-N-O-V-A (Final Fantasy VII)
Those Who Fight Further (Final Fantasy VII)
Dancing Mad (Final Fantasy VI)
Fight With Seymour (Final Fantasy X)
Now for the review:
Battle Scene
Not having played the first on YET I had no prior judgement. It starts with a familiar keyboard sound, but at about 0.17 , the guitar/drums/bass is introduced in a very Machinehead - Imperium way. The rest of the song continues with this soon to be standard guitar riff + keyboard melodies fashion. The fusion between the two works better than it should, as both are distinctively different on their own. Has the first solo 'fight' around about 2.00 in, with both keyboard and guitar playing licks alternating. Good intro song, nothing too big yet, and a simple beat
3/5
Clash on the big bridge
Same formula as the first song intro, but this time at 0.20, the song kicks off into a quick pace. Lots of sustained notes on the lead guitar and a good backing keyboard which takes the front stage at 2.16. Another solid track that doesnt stay still for long, and that ever amiliar main riff that is present in most FF games (you'll know the one im on about)
3 and a half/5
Force your way
The best piece of music from FF8 and it stays true to the format of it, although sounds so much better with the re make. The additions of keyboard/guitar solos gives it new life, but it still stays true to the original while encorporating them. If ANYONE can find a tab, plz tell me, because this is one of my personal favourites off the album.
5/5
Battle scene 2
Currently playing this one (FF2, not the music) and it is great to hear it in non midi format for a change! Slow start as with the original, nice building guitars, nice bass line and very progressive. It follows the same pattern, until 2.14 where it goes into a mad quick keyboard piece, with the smooth bass. Its then solo time again, a good keyboard one, followed by a nice sustaining GnR reminisent one. Great bass all the way through, but a slower tempo track compared to the rest.
3/5
The Decisive battle
Best into of the lot! Starts off with a nice spanish guitar intro (well thats what comes to mind when I hear it), but then kicks in with full pounding drums, and big guitar sound. The guitar's the star here, some amazing harmonics, and a flange solo fits in nicely. The keyboards get their say around that magic 2.00 mark. Strangely I dont remember this piece of music from the original, either I have bad memory or they reworked it so much it sounds completely different.
4/5
Battle Theme
Another stunner, good guitar union, and it stays true to the original again. Simple drum beat, but its the melody as usual that makes FF songs so good. Obligitary solos again, these guys can really play! Another one that can easily take the place of the MIDI file you may have sitting on your PC.
4/5
J-E-N-O-V-A
BEST.TRACK.EVER. Well, at least from FF music. For those who don't know the original, go download the midi now, that was awesome. For those who do, they did full justice to the original, and then increased its greatness. The guitars sound fantastic all the way through, great licks and riffs appear throughout while the keyboards play the original score with better effect. Although the drum beat is weird for it, its still the best on the album. No other explanation needed, hear it for yourself
5/5
Those who fight further
The most well know piece of FF music, this comes from FF7 and is the reason why boss battles tended to get dragged out, players wanted to listen to the music more. This is another that is true to the original, but they added little solo sections which go very well. The pace is constant, and, and, oh god do I ever love this track. If you are reading this review and have never heard any FF music before (one, why not?) this should be the track you hear first, it'll win you over.
5/5
Dancing Mad
Think Third eye (Tool) + Phanthom of the opera + Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody and you may have this song. It has a big operatic organ intro and continues in this style with the Black/Death metal sustained chords from the guitars. At 6.34 it has a complete change of heart and becomes a quick paced, almost upbeat sound, which then reverts back at 8.00 to the starting sound, but includes a very 80's solo this time, that Slash would be proud of, as it does go on for a good while, but is pretty kick ***. Longest track obviously on the album, but it is a tough listen, more of a one off, although it has incredible parts, its just too long! Especially on the back of the two amazing tracks before, its just a bit tiresome in places.
3/5, but 4/5 for the solo part
Fight with Seymour
Don't remember this music that well, I had beat him before I could even notice it (Yeah I pwn FF10). Interesting song, strange blast beats (not too hot on drumming, but I think thats what they are called. For a change, the keyboard takes the centre stage for this one. Very lively piece of music with lots of changes and a nice breakdown at roughly 3.40
3/5
Overall = 5/5
Although if you haven't played any FF games, reduce it to 4/5. A good listen for those who haven't As for those of us that have, its one way to get the memories of past Weapon smashing/matria hunting/chocobo riding days back and pay homage to them. These guys should tour dammit!
(and im aware that a guy with a mage avatar doing a mage review seems ironic)
Im sure that most people who have played any form of RPG have played or at least heard of the Final Fantasy series. This CD is recreated tracks put into a more modern rock form
The Black mages are:
Tsuyoshi Sekito -- Guitar
Michio Okamiya -- Guitar
Keiji Kawamori -- Bass
Nobuo Uematsu -- Keyboard (Lord of all, he produced it)
Kenichirou Fukui -- Keyboard
Arata Hanyuda -- Drum
http://www.doupe.cz/vaulty/finalfantasy/stuff/blackmagesstuff.jpg
The track list is (song and game it appears in first):
Battle Scene (Final Fantasy I)
Clash on the Big Bridge (Final Fantasy V)
Force Your Way (Final Fantasy VIII)
Battle, Scene II (Final Fantasy II)
The Decisive Battle (Final Fantasy VI)
Battle Theme (Final Fantasy VI)
J-E-N-O-V-A (Final Fantasy VII)
Those Who Fight Further (Final Fantasy VII)
Dancing Mad (Final Fantasy VI)
Fight With Seymour (Final Fantasy X)
Now for the review:
Battle Scene
Not having played the first on YET I had no prior judgement. It starts with a familiar keyboard sound, but at about 0.17 , the guitar/drums/bass is introduced in a very Machinehead - Imperium way. The rest of the song continues with this soon to be standard guitar riff + keyboard melodies fashion. The fusion between the two works better than it should, as both are distinctively different on their own. Has the first solo 'fight' around about 2.00 in, with both keyboard and guitar playing licks alternating. Good intro song, nothing too big yet, and a simple beat
3/5
Clash on the big bridge
Same formula as the first song intro, but this time at 0.20, the song kicks off into a quick pace. Lots of sustained notes on the lead guitar and a good backing keyboard which takes the front stage at 2.16. Another solid track that doesnt stay still for long, and that ever amiliar main riff that is present in most FF games (you'll know the one im on about)
3 and a half/5
Force your way
The best piece of music from FF8 and it stays true to the format of it, although sounds so much better with the re make. The additions of keyboard/guitar solos gives it new life, but it still stays true to the original while encorporating them. If ANYONE can find a tab, plz tell me, because this is one of my personal favourites off the album.
5/5
Battle scene 2
Currently playing this one (FF2, not the music) and it is great to hear it in non midi format for a change! Slow start as with the original, nice building guitars, nice bass line and very progressive. It follows the same pattern, until 2.14 where it goes into a mad quick keyboard piece, with the smooth bass. Its then solo time again, a good keyboard one, followed by a nice sustaining GnR reminisent one. Great bass all the way through, but a slower tempo track compared to the rest.
3/5
The Decisive battle
Best into of the lot! Starts off with a nice spanish guitar intro (well thats what comes to mind when I hear it), but then kicks in with full pounding drums, and big guitar sound. The guitar's the star here, some amazing harmonics, and a flange solo fits in nicely. The keyboards get their say around that magic 2.00 mark. Strangely I dont remember this piece of music from the original, either I have bad memory or they reworked it so much it sounds completely different.
4/5
Battle Theme
Another stunner, good guitar union, and it stays true to the original again. Simple drum beat, but its the melody as usual that makes FF songs so good. Obligitary solos again, these guys can really play! Another one that can easily take the place of the MIDI file you may have sitting on your PC.
4/5
J-E-N-O-V-A
BEST.TRACK.EVER. Well, at least from FF music. For those who don't know the original, go download the midi now, that was awesome. For those who do, they did full justice to the original, and then increased its greatness. The guitars sound fantastic all the way through, great licks and riffs appear throughout while the keyboards play the original score with better effect. Although the drum beat is weird for it, its still the best on the album. No other explanation needed, hear it for yourself
5/5
Those who fight further
The most well know piece of FF music, this comes from FF7 and is the reason why boss battles tended to get dragged out, players wanted to listen to the music more. This is another that is true to the original, but they added little solo sections which go very well. The pace is constant, and, and, oh god do I ever love this track. If you are reading this review and have never heard any FF music before (one, why not?) this should be the track you hear first, it'll win you over.
5/5
Dancing Mad
Think Third eye (Tool) + Phanthom of the opera + Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody and you may have this song. It has a big operatic organ intro and continues in this style with the Black/Death metal sustained chords from the guitars. At 6.34 it has a complete change of heart and becomes a quick paced, almost upbeat sound, which then reverts back at 8.00 to the starting sound, but includes a very 80's solo this time, that Slash would be proud of, as it does go on for a good while, but is pretty kick ***. Longest track obviously on the album, but it is a tough listen, more of a one off, although it has incredible parts, its just too long! Especially on the back of the two amazing tracks before, its just a bit tiresome in places.
3/5, but 4/5 for the solo part
Fight with Seymour
Don't remember this music that well, I had beat him before I could even notice it (Yeah I pwn FF10). Interesting song, strange blast beats (not too hot on drumming, but I think thats what they are called. For a change, the keyboard takes the centre stage for this one. Very lively piece of music with lots of changes and a nice breakdown at roughly 3.40
3/5
Overall = 5/5
Although if you haven't played any FF games, reduce it to 4/5. A good listen for those who haven't As for those of us that have, its one way to get the memories of past Weapon smashing/matria hunting/chocobo riding days back and pay homage to them. These guys should tour dammit!
(and im aware that a guy with a mage avatar doing a mage review seems ironic)