THE BLACK MAGES

I always had thought that if a band did a really decent cover of Final Fantasy music (video game music in general) that it'd be excellent. The first Black Mages album certainly holds up to that concept. Ran by the composer of Final Fantasy music himself, Nobuo Uematsu hand picks and revamps some of the more intense pieces of music from the beloved Final Fantasy Games. He sticks with the older games and picks songs that truly fit in this more progressive metal style. Most of the album is fairly enjoyable if you can get over the some of the really cheesy synths (Clash on the Big Bridge) and some of the less inspired solos that take place in this album.

Highlights from Most awesome to not as awesome but still awesome are: Dancing Mad Decisive Battle Battle Theme Jenova Clash on the Big Bridge (possibly my favorite FF piece from the OST and the piano versions... kind of disappointing but still enjoyable)