GAME ON!

Before I even gave this cd a spin I read the liner notes and wondered what I had gotten myself into.This is a video game-inspired recording that pays tribute to the music of some of those classic video games from the last 25 years. I must admit this idea seemed lame to me but then again i've never been into video games except for Pac Man and Space Invaders in the early eighties (haha).Yeah that is sad isn't it. Anyway maybe it's a good thing that i'm not familiar with the original music to these games because to my ears this is simply energetic and upbeat instrumental music for the most part. It's very well played and heavy at times and i've quite enjoyed this disc.

"Wily's Castle" is just a feel good track with a heavy rhythm section as the guitar and synths light it up over top. "Marine Fortress" features some active and heavy drums as the guitar solos tastefully. Cool sound before 2 1/2 minutes when the synths roll in. "Simon's Revenge" opens with church bells and thunder followed by organ. It kicks in before a minute. Great sound ! The drums become prominant after 2 minutes. A calm before 4 1/2 minutes.Thunder 6 minutes in breaks the quiet. It then kicks in after 7 minutes with heavy drums and guitar. "Your Darkest Hour" opens with scorching guitar then the tempo picks up quickly.This is good. "The Turtle King's Lair" is kind of eerie to start then it turns heavy, almost doom-like quickly. Some nice heavy riffs follow. A change 2 minutes in to a lighter sound with percussion. Another change with prominant drums as the guitar grinds it out. It picks up late.Nice.

"Green Hill Terror" features heavy guitar and drums early. It lightens before 3 minutes. Nice bass here. It's heavy again late to end it. "Corneria" opens with heavy synths then it picks up quickly with guitar, drums and synths over top. A Power-Metal rhythm follows.The guitar then leads as the drums pound. It's almost spacey after 2 minutes then back to the heaviness. "The Killer Instinct" has a heavy intro then the tempo picks up. Great sound after 2 1/2 minutes. "Torvus Bog" opens with some tasteful guitar and some atmosphere. It then picks up with some heaviness.The tempo slows down 2 1/2 minutes in but it's still heavy. I like the synths 4 1/2 minutes in playing over top. Great tune. "Coral Capers" is a mellow way to end it with keys and spacey synths as the gentle guitar comes and goes.

Well the music here completely won me over regardless of the video game connection. If your into instrumental music on the heavier side you should check this cd out.