OCR00636 - Diablo "Tristram Rock"

[orkybash]

Diablo 'Tristram Rock'

Really nice rendition of the Tristam theme from Diablo. Too bad it's so short and underdeveloped - there's a lot of potential here that Matt Pollard doesn't explore. But it's still worth a listen, Diablo fan or not.

[mDuo13]

Not having played either Diablo, the original was unfamiliar to me - but this mix is worth listening to. It's not the apex of mp's achievement, but it's a good song. Unfortunately, it's only 1:39, so it's not exactly a lengthy track by any means. The instruments used are nice, the arrangement is good, but there's nothing in particular that stands out and the whole thing feels like it's missing a little something, that extra "Oomph" that makes a good remix a great remix. The ending in particular is disappointing, because you feel like there's a great transition on its way and then the song just ends. Still, a good mix, just not a great one. Don't let this discourage you from getting more mp tracks, though - this is one of his shortest and weakest mixes, and that's saying a little something.

[Elex Synn]

I do like how this one sounds... Wish it were longer though.

[OceansAndrew]

More like an OCappetizer than an actual mix, this has a great mood but doesn't have any time to really go anywhere. The drums seemed somewhat bland, but it was more than made up for by the interesting guitar rhthyms and the moody oboe melody.

Unfortunately, this is a remix that keeps you wanting more, and no matter how many times you replay it in a row, it just doesn't feel like an entire song.

[zircon]

Yeah, this is a really cool mix overall - even if the drums aren't the most realistic, I like the ideas a lot and it had a tone of potential to go places. Then it stopped. Boo mp! I'll be waiting for "Tristram Rock 2k7".

[DarkCecil13]

I remember when mp was working on this, and the only flaw is the length! It's much too short This could go to so many places, but it doesn't :\

[Superrpgman]

I really don't know what to say about this song, other than I find it really dissapointing. It's ok, but nothing special to me. Not something I'll ever remember, that's for sure.

[DragonAvenger]

I'll be repeating everyone else here. Great start for a mix, but needs MOAR!!!

Drums are bland and kind of fake sounding. Doesn't bother me too much, probably wouldn't have been as bad if there were more to the mix, but it comes to question when there is so little else to talk about.

Nice oboe, though.

[Bozlifyme]

Great track all together. I don't know if ill be repeating anyone here but............ does anyone else here the David Byrne/Talking Heads in the beginning?

[Dafydd]

It's too bad this sounds so midi-ish (especially the oboe, which sounds like something taken directly from the AoE soundtrack). I think the oboe doesn't fit at all. I like the song as a whole, though. I wish it was longer.

[Bahamut]

This is kinda cool but...sounds more like a random short jam than a complete song.

[Marmiduke]

Got a strong intro-track-to-a-rock-album vibe from this. Which I guess is an artform in itself, but when it intros into nothing... it's pretty crushing.

I think it's a great track while it lasts. Samples are old, but stable. It sounds very Diablo but also incorporates a modern streak. It's a well-rounded, solid idea. But it never really becomes more than just an idea. It's a shame this can't shake that feeling that it is more like a producttion pitch for a larger mix that never came to be.

Enjoyable, albeit not entirely satisfying.

[Rexy]

Kind of a strange track to make a short arrangement for - a 5 minute source and less than 2 minutes of a remix. But it's mp, so all is forgiven.

The atmosphere tends to portray Tristram in this livelier light in comparison to the source material, and I commend you on the drum and guitar writing here; for one of those elder tracks, there's actually a clear tone sensed from the acoustic strings. Even the other components, while aged not quite as gracefully, managed to be mixed in well to give the track some clarity for its time.

But I'm with everyone else here in that it basically feels too short for what it is which is especially considering the way the source material is structured; I'm usually fine with it on these elder tracks, but for something that was requiring more ideas to keep focused with, it may be a struggle to really appreciate for a long time.

Fans of the game should still see some enjoyment out of it; short and sweet. Though I know that even back then Matt had the capability to do stronger works, it's still worth looking into if you can tolerate its obvious shortcomings.