In today's Mac at PAX East, I take a look at an awesome Metroid cover band. So grab your Energy Tanks and throw up the horns for Metroid Metal.
The moment you put in the Metroid
Metal CD, you are in for a real treat. Mixing the classic metal line
up with Kenji Yamamoto's and Minako Hamano's music sounds like a
recipe for disaster. Well it is not. What happens when you mix the
two is a gorgeous album. It is a heart pounding, pulse racing affair
and afterwards, you will be wanting more.
The way the songs flow into one
another is so near flawless that it is difficult to discern when one
song ends and one starts. This is not a bad thing. In fact I think
this is one of the albums strengths. Much like the Lord of the Rings
Soundtrack, the fact it flows so well from one song to another with
no gap in between. That is the mark of a good album. While a couple
second gap doesn't seem like a lot, it can easily break the mood that
the album has been trying to set.
It's time I started talking about
the band itself. On the guitars there is Grant Henry (Stemage), Dan
Behrens (danimal/armcannon), Michael Molnar (Kirby Pufocia). On the
Bass there is the talented Dan Taylor (chunkstyle) and on drums is
Kevin Lawrence (Cheddar). You notice something missing? A lyricist.
Well, unlike The Protomen, they are in no need of a lyricist. Once
again, this is not a mark against either band as they have their own
unique sound. The Protmen have crafted a Rock Opera using the
original Megaman universe as its backdrop while Metroid Metal have
made metal covers, which again is not a bad thing. Both bands have
their own unique touch and it is not fair to compare the bands to
each other.
Now it is time I talk about the
actual songs on the disk. As I said before the songs are fantastic
but there are a few that stick out as something special. I will not
be covering all the songs on the track, just the ones I think really
sell this album.
Starting with the third song on
the LP, Lower Norfair is bombastic tune that in parts feel very much
like a military theme. The way the guitars are played during the
chorus allow me to visualize the start of a military conflict on some
distant world. It is a great tune to listen to.
While I said early that the lack
of lyrics does not hamper the album and I still stand by that, I
feel that the song could benefit from something said. But again it
depends on how it could be pursued. Would it be more orchestrated
like how the Protomen would perform, or would be more thrash and
screaming. When adding lyrics, what do you add. Therein lies the
question because as easily as good lyrics can add to a song, terrible
lyrics can outright ruin the song.
But I digress.
Following Lower Norfair, both on
the CD and on the list is the classic Brinstar theme. Taking the
original NES chip-tune, they upped it with strong solo's and a
constant drum line. Whereas Lower Norfair felt like a military march,
Brinstar feels like an adventurers theme. The guitars, when they play
together, mesh very well.
The next song on this list is
track number 5. Taking the 20 second Item Collect, they turned it
into a somewhat more softer and somber tune. Even if it for less then
a minute, it allows us to catch our collective breaths and allow us
to prepare for the next onslaught of metal.
Phendrana Drifts is the first
cover we see from Metroid Prime. When Retro Studios announced they
were making the next Metroid Game and not Nintendo, I admit I was a
bit worried. Not including Super Smash Brothers, it had been almost a
decade since we had last seen the bounty hunter. Another fear was
that they had put the game into the first perspective which had
gamers up in arms. Metroid is a sidescroller, not an FPS. But when
the game was released, it received critical acclaim.
What does this have to do with the
music? Well, even growing up, when it came to music in my games I was
a bit of a snob. However with Kenji Yamamoto assisting Kouichi Kyuma
on the music side, I was put at ease. The remixes from Metroids past
as well as well as new songs really sold me on this game.
But that is for another article.
Right now I want to talk about what the group did to Phendrana
Cliffs. Like the landscape, they made the song feels cold and
desolate. But there is a certain familiarity to it. The song itself
obviously styles itself after the 80's romantic rock songs. I don't
mean soft rock, but rock songs that had an actual romantic edge to
it. A sense of comfort and love. The song wraps you up and wants to
protect you from the harshness from outside.
The Tunnel is the tenth track on
the LP and the first Metroid 2 song to be covered. Taking the 8 bit
tune and giving it a metal sheen is a nice touch. Dare I say this
song is fun. This is a song I find myself playing the air guitar to
on a regular basis. Yes I am that geek you find in the music session
thinking he is the next rock-star. But with this song, It makes me
feel I am onstage as a guitar hero playing in some rock band. I think
it is safe to say that The Tunnel is my favourite track from this LP.
If you are a fan of metal and
video game music, grab this album. If you are a fan of Metroid, this
is a must have. With solid guitar work, a great bass and drumline,
this song is worth it. You can find their album for sale at their
site www.metroidmetal.com or you can sample their stuff on the bandcamp
site at metroidmetal.bandcamp.com.
Saturday, I put away the glam and
pyrotechnics and get dressed up because we are going to the
Orchestra. This is Daimo Mac and I am lost in the music.
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