ReMix: Sonic the Hedgehog 'Metamorphic Rock'

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Sonic the Hedgehog

Epic Sonic Metal Mayhem! Juan writes:

"This all started when Shariq sent me an MP3 of a Marble Zone remix he had started on long ago and asked me to turn it into a rock remix. I thought it had tons of potential and pretty much agreed to do it right away. He sent me a MIDI file of his song and I went straight to work. What he had done was already a pretty solid rock tune so it was easy to add in my samples and guitar recordings without much adjustment to the MIDI tracks. But...

After listening to a lot of old power metal music from the 80's and 90's for days and days, I decided I had to redo the entire song in that style. I told Shariq about it and he was cool with the idea. So back to work I go. To add more body to the track I tossed in a few more source tracks, which were Green Hill Zone (song intro), Final Zone (section after 2nd Marble Zone part), and finally the Boss theme. Countless hours and 62 audio tracks later, this song is finally done. Rock out accordingly."

Sixto can collab with just about anyone and always brings something to the table; in this case you've got a mix that intros hard outta the gate with a really cool rendition of the 'Green Hill' theme - recognizable, but who would have thought to use it as an intro? Juan, that's who. And it works quite well. This is definitely guitar hero style, electric-guit led awesomeness - Juan's taken Shariq's arrangement and used it as an engine for metric tons of lead in a style that's metal, but more of the polished chrome variety than, say, raw iron or steel. Meaning that there's plenty of shreddage, but it's more virtuoso, produced, exhibitionist style stuff than anything too dark or overly aggressive. Which is fine by me: sounds absolutely fantastic.

The arrangement here is also superb - the incorporation of multiple, familiar Sonic themes could have seemed either medleyish or schizophrenic, but they fit right in very naturally in the context of a metal instrumental track with a badass lead guitarist who's got a lot to say and a little over four minutes to say it in. I didn't get a chance to hear Shariq's original, but it does sound like Juan took the ball and ran with it. This isn't just a "... and Sixto on guitar!" collab, in other words, but something Juan had a lot of influence over from an arrangement perspective. I love how at 3'48" it just busts back into the fast chorus bit from 'Marble Zone,' as if it had never left that source material, and how it sounds completely in character. The title may be 'Metamorphic,' (very punny, guys!) and indeed the arrangement changes its various sources considerably, but within the arrangement itself, there's a lot of consistency and cohesion. You don't need to be a geologist to appreciate the quality of this rock's arrangement and production values; fantastic, absolute must-download material from Darkesword and Sixto Sounds.

― djpretzel

Discussion: Latest 15 comments/reviews; view the complete thread or post your own.
Guys, this is one of the best remixes I've heard, and I downloaded them all.
Great work. Now, I don't know if there's a problem with the mp3, but it sounds kinda bad on the fast parts. I'd like to give it a try at mixing it again, but I would need all the project files.
I work with Logic so, if you want me to give it a try, please let me know.
Thanks for the remix, I love this site!

- felipus on September 17, 2010
Wow, now, this is Sonic's proudest moment. When you put two talented, amazing ReMixers together, you're bound to get something special, and this is it. The first 21 seconds sounds like something out of a villian or heel theme, cause it sounds slightly lower or darkner (IMO), but then it opens up into an epic guitar fest. The ending really got me into it. This is definantly one of those ReMixes that I'll use in a race or the final moments of an intense workout. Sweet as hell, guys.

- Crulex on February 19, 2010
Really nice stuff, spectacular harmonized leads, and though the drums are playing at full capacity at nearly all times, it's still really interesting. Synths are used tastefully, and there is some great riffage in the the rhythm parts. The galloping section was really classic, and the rhtythm playing in the section afterward was super good.
Rock on dudez.

- OA on December 10, 2009
This song makes me want to tweak my hair, put on skintight leather pants, and sing in an octave than most men wouldn't even consider. Excellent job bringing the three melodies together. I never would have thought to being these three into one piece but you did a great job. The guitar solo was executed really well. Perfect timing, good shredding, and the right kind of melodies all combine into a true glam-solo.

- Dubanubiel on November 20, 2009
Alright. TOTALLY loved this mix guys, a lot of fun, had me moving for sure!
I do need to say that lots of the rhythm guitar and percussion sounds a lot like [URL="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UBE6l3LHp3I"]Helloween's song "The Dark Ride"[/URL]. A lot. I recognized it almost immediately. The most identifiable parts are at ~2:00 and again at ~2:20. I really like The Dark Ride, it's an awesome song, and to hear the same stuff here really makes this an enjoyable remix. I didn't see any mention of The Dark Ride anywhere, I do think if it was borrowed from, it should be mentioned somewhere.
Other than that recommendation, I got two thumbs up.
Excellent work on this song!

- The Biznut on September 11, 2009
Can i just say.....AWSOME?~
Yea, i forgot sixto....my fault. I didnt pay much attention. Sorry. LMMFAO
I still jam out to this tune every now and then when im killin off some noobs in WoW....sad yes?

- shawnpm810 on May 28, 2009
I really love this whole remix, especially the repeating guitar part that begins about 2:18 and then harmonizes with another guitar. You guys are simply amazing. I actually went off any played Sonic for the first time in what may have been almost ten years because of your song.
100 Rings for you!

- Powerslave on November 25, 2008
Nice job to both mixers. I'll admit that I winced at the beginning, but it quickly had me smiling. I'm personally not much for rock/metal, but despite the style, I quite enjoyed it. And if I were to say anything further to anyone, I'd be begging DarkeSword to take a look at the Sonic CD tracks on the site and see what he could do with them.

- patella femoral syndrome on June 21, 2008
Big props to this one. Did anybody else think of "Through the Fire and Flames" by Dragonforce when they heard this song? This song is amazing! 5-out'a-5 here. Keep rockin' sixto!

- relyanCe on June 16, 2008
Mmm..Yeah, thats a good song ya got there. I think it'd sound even better if at about 2:00, another bass guitar comes in to counter/twine with the lead guitar with a series of purposeful notes that.. well would be a series of quarter notes with a somewhat heavier resonance to balance out the speed with some feeling of power..
Just my opinion though.. Nyan

- Crono3of3time on June 7, 2008
Actually, let's be totally honest here. This particular arrangement is about 70% Sixto, 30% me. Sixto deserves a lot more props on this song than I do. I suppose I should link the original arrangement I did. Get your tortilla chips out people, 'cause this is pure cheese:
[URL="http://darkesword.com/listen/remix/mp3/marble.mp3"]Sonic the Hedgehog - Melted Marble[/URL]

- DarkeSword on June 5, 2008
Hey shawn, aren't you forgetting someone? This is a great arrangement by Darke, to be sure, but Sixto was the one playing guitar + bass, as well as soloing, and doing production :)

- zircon on June 5, 2008
Darke never stops amazing me with his remixes. The mix of the 3 stages gives it a kick and a surprise twist. If you pay close attention, you can catch the break and twist up of the themes.
Now, if you want my personal opinion...(which im sure these forums are for) this track has "Ownage" written all over it. Most Dj's would actually envy darke if he were to play this live! (if that were truely possible) Giving him a 10 out of 10!
Mosh It Up Darke!

- shawnpm810 on June 5, 2008
This is one of the few songs I get sad when it finishes

- Atom45 on June 4, 2008
The beginning doesn't hurt my ears, but it certainly doesn't do anything for me. Which is true for pretty much all of the first half, except for the breakdown from 1:00 on.
Where this song really shines is from 1:58 on, when it becomes really fast, and the absolutely insane guitar playing following that (~2:53 is amazing).
Also, I like what you did to the source and how you arranged it. Good job.

- Martin Penwald on May 28, 2008