ReMix: Mega Man 2 'Cold Metal'
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- Game: Mega Man 2 (Capcom, 1988, NES)
- ReMixer(s): WillRock
- Composer(s): Manami Matsumae, Takashi Tateishi
- Song(s): 'Metal Man Stage'
- Posted: 2010-02-09, evaluated by the judges
How much rock would Willrock rock if Willrock could rock rock? It turns out he can, and the answer is "quite a good bit," as he took 2009 by storm with five excellent mixes. He's back now in 2010 with his first arrangement from the Mega Man series, and it's the 'Metalman' theme from fan favorite Mega Man 2. Mr. Harby writes:
"I recently purchased a Reason 4 upgrade, and was messing around in the Thor synthesizer when I got inspiration to remix the metal man music from the megaman series, in which there seems to be a law that to be half decent remixer, you must have remixed at least one track from the series (a law shared with final fantasy and chrono trigger. And Zelda) Anyway, I describe this as a techno remix with wacky synth solos. Just like everything else i've done.
On a side note, I would like to thank the guys down at the wip forum for helping me out with this mix as they don't get nearly as much credit for being awesome as they deserve"
Classy as always; I've certainly become a fan over the last few months, so I was curious to see what Willrock would cook up with some intimately-familiar MM2 source material. Things intro with a delayed synth groove stage left, then begins the 80's rock-out synth fest. It's pretty straightforward: if you liketh the elaborate, well-sequenced synth solos overtop the well-programmed 80's beats, you WILL enjoy this mix. Since it's good in all the ways every Willrock mix has been good, I'll cite the specific things I think stand out. For one, the bass here is downright gastric, pumping its natural juices all over the lowend; you will WANT to marinate in them, because they are flavorful. Next, yes, Will always gets synth solos right, but I feel like he's done a particularly good job here with harmonies on the lead - lovin' some of the spiralling/doubled-up bits. Drums had some fairly heavy reverb applied that boils down to a matter of taste, but it IS the way plenty of people did things in the decade of greed, so you can't say it's not authentic. I like some of the breaks, fills, and negative space in the drum part - regardless of the sounds/processing, the sequencing fits up nicely with the juicy bassline, and is far from cookie-cutter.
No offense to the judges panel, but they actually didn't have many interesting things to say this time around, so they get zero quotage. You'll just have to take it from me, myself, and I - more excellent from Willrock, who continues to refine his style while staying within its general form. I'd like to hear some riskier arrangements, but at the same time, when the end results are this good, I can't really complain.
Discussion: Latest 15 comments/reviews; view the Anyway, crappy name aside, this was an attempt to get myself out of a dreaded writers block that stopped me doing anything music related for 2 months. 2 MONTHS!
As a result, you can call it stale, you can call it not stale, you can call it bland (or not)... ;P - but without this mix, I probably wouldn't have made some of the mixes that came after it. Also, this was the first mix I made Reason 4 in, which meant a host of new sounds, which gave this a more techno vibe than my other mixes do to the sound choices. This was a rather interesting mix as far as style goes, but I was still learning the ropes with reason 4 and thus this was lacking in some minor polish BUT DON'T WORRY IT DIDN'T AFFECT THE END PROJECT. much.
Anyways, this was one of my more ambitious mixes style wise that was a first for me mixing mega man (which is now common practice) using Reason 4 (which is now common practice) and starting remixing again (which is now common practice).
Pretty important stuff mix wise. And the judges were just asking me to do something left field. Next time I'll do a mix, consisting, of one triangle. And get it passed the panel. somehow :roll:
- WillRock on December 22, 2010
- Bahamut on May 31, 2010
- MechaFone on May 29, 2010
- The Radical Sifu on April 9, 2010
but I was disappointed with lead choice.
It seemed a bit bland...
NEEDS MOAR WILLROCK STYLE LEADS :puppyeyes:
- Neblix on March 11, 2010
- Martin Penwald on February 28, 2010
Good arrangement, as per usual, however. :-)
- OA on February 12, 2010
Sorry, didn't mean to meddle, man!
Love the harmony at 3:13.
- Johnny B on February 11, 2010
Also, this is one of the best writeups yet.
EDIT: Funny ZIrcon should mention the lack of vibrato and filtering on the leads, this is the exact reason I didn't like his third entry in the GRMRB.
- Dafydd on February 10, 2010
Well, this isn't my best mix... I got alot of better stuff on the way imo, still great to see that you guys are enjoying it :D
Also, funny fact.
Zircon noted the fact of no filtering or vibrato on the lead synths... this is because I didn't know how to do it on thor, it was the first remix I used that synth in :lol:
- WillRock on February 10, 2010
- Hollidayrain on February 10, 2010
I'm glad the judges let the synth through as well, I think the most important thing is musical development.
- MojoHamster on February 10, 2010
