ReMix: Radical Dreamers: Nusumenai Houseki 'Thrash's Snakebone Pit'
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- Game: Radical Dreamers: Nusumenai Houseki (Square, 1996, SNES)
- ReMixer(s): OA
- Composer(s): Yasunori Mitsuda
- Song(s): 'Snakebone Mansion'
- Posted: 2009-12-18, evaluated by the judges
The original version of this track was released as part of Radical Dreamers: Thieves of Fate back in January of 2008; regarding this updated version, Mr. Luers writes:
"One of several tracks from my early days at OCR, this was an arrangement I really liked, but I didn't have the production skills to pull off. It turned out ok enough for the RD project, but I had sort of forgotten about it until The_Mighty_KELP left me a message asking if i'd spruce this up. I had a little bit of time, and thought maybe by now I could do it justice. Hopefully it's the case. It's sort of a super spy themed version of the track, and there's a lot of texture goin on."
Always nice when you've got an occasion to go back and improve something you weren't 100% on, and in this instance Andrew really bumped the track up a notch. Things intro with a solid rock groove, thick bass, and staccato string stabs, but flesh out at 0'51" with a mean electric guitar riff, descending string counter-melody, AND a crazy ass synth soloing underneath all that, to the right. It's controlled chaos, and it really conjures a wicked, menacing cloud of evil... stuff. At 1'21" there's a half-tempo groove that kicks in to chill things down a bit, then guitar lead into a bass break. Main guit solo's at 2'43", with punctuating string stabs in the background - great stuff. Cain writes:
"Don't remember the original mix, but the breakdown makes it pretty obvious that this is fine in terms of arrangement. Picked up on the source use fairly easily. The production is pretty capable, bit of a strange guitar lead tone though. Everything is very audible, nice separation between parts. All round pretty coo job."
Ditto that; not the most well-known source, but who cares? OA ran with it and created a track that really spits out some attitude, delivering on the serpentine metal promise of its title.
Discussion: Latest 15 comments/reviews; view the Oh, a tense dark ReMix! I love those strings you added in the intro
and the drums back them up nicely right before the metal opens up
at the end of the first minute. Sounds really evil until the break,
but still maintains a slightly menacing feel with the guitar.
Wonderful work with the guitar solos and the overall arrangement.
It's got a monstrous attitude and this is going' right in my
playlist.
- Crulex on December 20, 2011
- Crulex on December 20, 2011
Definitely hearing the spy-theme; I guess it's the strings. The
best guitar parts are the powerful ones, e.g. 0:47/2:10 onwards.
However, I don't care much for the sound of the guitar coming in at
1:34.
- Martin Penwald on January 14, 2010
- Martin Penwald on January 14, 2010
I realized that what I said may have been taken the wrong way -
that I dislike this song. That's far from the truth. This remaster
is easily one of my favorites of OA's remixes, and that's saying a
lot. I've listened to it several more times, and my original
comparison critiques still hold true - I especially dislike the
weaksauce ending - but it's an awesome song. It's just
compared to the original, I like many aspects of the
original better. But does this remaster score big on its own
merits? Heck yeah. You can bet it's gonna be in my Awesome Playlist
along with the original.
I think I figured out what I didn't like with the opening - it sounds too... organic. The synths. I much prefer the original's opening; it sounds darker, more mechanical, with its straight strings and throbbing bass.
Job very well done, OA, thanks a ton. =D
- The_Mighty_KELP on January 3, 2010
I think I figured out what I didn't like with the opening - it sounds too... organic. The synths. I much prefer the original's opening; it sounds darker, more mechanical, with its straight strings and throbbing bass.
Job very well done, OA, thanks a ton. =D
- The_Mighty_KELP on January 3, 2010
I can't say I remember the original to compare, but who cares, this
mix is great :) .
- jintoreedwine on December 28, 2009
- jintoreedwine on December 28, 2009
You know, the Radical Dreamers project didn't grab my attention
much on one listen, I should go back and listen to it.
So this is a pretty nice rocking mix - it really has some grit and roughness to it that flows pretty well in giving it a ton of tension when combined with the background strings.
- Bahamut on December 24, 2009
So this is a pretty nice rocking mix - it really has some grit and roughness to it that flows pretty well in giving it a ton of tension when combined with the background strings.
- Bahamut on December 24, 2009
When I heard the original on the project after its release, I
didn't think that production could be that much improved.
I was very wrong. So very wrong. The improvements seem huge when I listen to them side-by-side.
It's not the easiest thing to go back to a song that one's "closed the book on" and attempt to clean it up, but I'm glad you did here. I'll join Avaris in giving some ASS PATS here. :nicework:
- Level 99 on December 23, 2009
I was very wrong. So very wrong. The improvements seem huge when I listen to them side-by-side.
It's not the easiest thing to go back to a song that one's "closed the book on" and attempt to clean it up, but I'm glad you did here. I'll join Avaris in giving some ASS PATS here. :nicework:
- Level 99 on December 23, 2009
So I'm totally psyched that not only this remix got posted, but
that OA actually took my advice and even remastered it, and of
course that I actually got credited for the former two actions.
^_^
I actually like the original better in some ways. The opening bass notes sound darker and straighter, and it's louder as well, making the piece seem more... evil, I guess. The remastered version's bass seems to be a bit understated. The bass is really what makes this piece for me, and it just seems too bright (in comparison, anyway) in the remaster.
Remastered has much nicer drums, and I like the synth beats going in the background. The strings are more powerful, too; I love the new strings throughout and how they're much more of a presence. The lead guitar sounds even more chaotic than it used to which is nice at some points, but the ending is just disappointing; you can barely hear its cool riff, and the octave higher note is almost nonexistent, which in the original makes the ending for me.
I haven't listened to the remaster enough yet to decide which I like better, but I'll probably be sticking with the original. The remaster has some tempting new strings and synths, but the original's bass and atmosphere are just, well, better, in my opinion. I dunno. I could still swing the other way.
On a positive note, it's easy to tell how much OA has improved since then. His production skills have definitely skyrocketed.
P.S. It's not just one of the catchiest, it's quite possibly the greatest vocal remix from a video game of all time. But that's just me.
- The_Mighty_KELP on December 21, 2009
I actually like the original better in some ways. The opening bass notes sound darker and straighter, and it's louder as well, making the piece seem more... evil, I guess. The remastered version's bass seems to be a bit understated. The bass is really what makes this piece for me, and it just seems too bright (in comparison, anyway) in the remaster.
Remastered has much nicer drums, and I like the synth beats going in the background. The strings are more powerful, too; I love the new strings throughout and how they're much more of a presence. The lead guitar sounds even more chaotic than it used to which is nice at some points, but the ending is just disappointing; you can barely hear its cool riff, and the octave higher note is almost nonexistent, which in the original makes the ending for me.
I haven't listened to the remaster enough yet to decide which I like better, but I'll probably be sticking with the original. The remaster has some tempting new strings and synths, but the original's bass and atmosphere are just, well, better, in my opinion. I dunno. I could still swing the other way.
On a positive note, it's easy to tell how much OA has improved since then. His production skills have definitely skyrocketed.
SwordBreaker;624913 wrote: Now why hasn't "Thieves of Fate" been submitted? It's one of the catchiest vocal tracks in the site for crying out loud...I still listen to it from time to time and sing along.
P.S. It's not just one of the catchiest, it's quite possibly the greatest vocal remix from a video game of all time. But that's just me.
- The_Mighty_KELP on December 21, 2009
This was a totally fun arrangement to do, and even though i don't
think my production is perfect (due to some elements being frozen
from the original), i am still pleased with how it turned out. Hope
you guys like it. :-)
- OA on December 21, 2009
- OA on December 21, 2009
HAHAHAHA this song and source. I said it over 2 years ago and I'll
say it again. ASS PATS!
Way to take a shite source and turn it into something listenable Andrew. ;)
- avaris on December 20, 2009
Way to take a shite source and turn it into something listenable Andrew. ;)
- avaris on December 20, 2009
Sweet mix man, it's come a long way since you first showed it to
me. Drums are rockin as usual & everything sounds cohesive. In
case you didn't already know OA can deliver, look no further.
- Nutritious on December 19, 2009
- Nutritious on December 19, 2009
This track is one of my favorites from the Radical Dreamers
project...I think I also listened to the updated mix in one of
those game music podcasts (the name escapes me right now). Either
way, have nothing constructive to say because I love everything
about this mix even before the update. Love the orchestral
breakdown in the beginning followed by the seamless transition to
the guitar riffs. You know something's epic is about to happen each
time to listen to this track.
Now why hasn't "Thieves of Fate" been submitted? It's one of the catchiest vocal tracks in the site for crying out loud...I still listen to it from time to time and sing along.
- SwordBreaker on December 19, 2009
Now why hasn't "Thieves of Fate" been submitted? It's one of the catchiest vocal tracks in the site for crying out loud...I still listen to it from time to time and sing along.
- SwordBreaker on December 19, 2009
I'm very glad OA went back to this mix, and I'm glad that it made
the frontpage where a lot of people will get to listen to it.
Radical Dreamers had a pretty awesome soundtrack that influenced
the (admittedly more awesome) Chrono Cross soundtrack. Being able
to take a mix to it's roots and really give it treatment like this
is way cool.
This also gives a good comparison to how much OA has improved since the RD project when I first started talking to him. Very sneaky, very kick ass, and very awesome. I think the strings really bring out the tension with the lead guitar.
Nice work.
- DragonAvenger on December 19, 2009
This also gives a good comparison to how much OA has improved since the RD project when I first started talking to him. Very sneaky, very kick ass, and very awesome. I think the strings really bring out the tension with the lead guitar.
Nice work.
- DragonAvenger on December 19, 2009
Maybe I'm just crazy, but I think I've grown so used to the mixing
on the Thieves of Fate version that I can't really stand hearing a
version mastered differently, even if it is objectively better. I'm
just weird like that, I guess :tomatoface:
The arrangement is probably my least favorite of your Radical Dreamers songs, but there's still a lot to like about the spy movie-esque bass and the variety of different guitar patterns you've got going on. Very cohesive and well-written, the song doesn't show any age whatsoever, though it's clear that you've only improved since this was created, OA :-)
- Emunator on December 19, 2009
The arrangement is probably my least favorite of your Radical Dreamers songs, but there's still a lot to like about the spy movie-esque bass and the variety of different guitar patterns you've got going on. Very cohesive and well-written, the song doesn't show any age whatsoever, though it's clear that you've only improved since this was created, OA :-)
- Emunator on December 19, 2009
An updated track from Thieves of Fate? :shock: Cool! I'm down.
:<
I like how this was described as a super spy version; it really feels like a Guitar Hero meets Bond influence is going on here. Plus the textures throughout this mix are amazing, almost physically tangible. This was a pretty fun to listen to, and I'm really glad OA was able to go back and spruce this one up. Truly an astounding mix.
- 42 on December 19, 2009
I like how this was described as a super spy version; it really feels like a Guitar Hero meets Bond influence is going on here. Plus the textures throughout this mix are amazing, almost physically tangible. This was a pretty fun to listen to, and I'm really glad OA was able to go back and spruce this one up. Truly an astounding mix.
- 42 on December 19, 2009
