ReMix:Castlevania "Grim Reaper" 2:03

This is SO CLOSE to being a good remix, even a great one! But it is stopped dead in its tracks by some glaring flaws.

What's with the engineering on this one? It's like the artist's six year old nephew came in and starting twisting the volume knob on the tracks just to be funny. We have these strong melodies starting and then suddenly dropping off into quiet solitude. And elsewhere in the song it does the opposite.

Memblers, I am coming out of the pure woodwork to make this, my first post in some 13 years, a declaration that whether you or anyone else on this board knew it or not, you were ahead of your time in this mix.

Your mix fit the obscure and frightening mood of Castlevania with introspective solo classical-style guitar and imposing, colorful organ. Here are some specific aspects that lend this piece its color and interest (I assume this piece is in the key of C minor):

• Great variety of guitar picking samples -- the very hard attack of picks near the bridge, and the open, rounder sounds of picks near the sound chamber;
• Special attention to dynamics in the solo;
• Good use and control of tremolo picking at 0:37;
• Nice, interesting release of tension by sliding the organ to the raised third (E natural?) at 1:08, an interval not in C minor;
• Clever use of the 7th (perfect 4th of the root key) at 1:19;

and my favorite part, 1:39 and on: the chromatic, meandering organ line in place of the original's fugue (which is simply overused in Castlevania soundtracks and, at this point, has become trite) makes this passage beautiful, terrifying, colorful, and fit the character of the game so nicely. This is the sort of color that I've heard from Scriabin, Debussy, Bartok, and Stravinsky. Some pretty nice company you have there.

I know you're probably proud of the re-work that you did, which people seem to like, but my opinion is that your original only needed a more conclusive ending. Again, a job very well done and thank you for this early treasure of OCR.

That bass and that hiss feel so off. I think the bass sample may have been recorded with the hiss in there, because you get that phase reset on each note. The guitar ain't bad but it's noticeably tracker or MIDI. The wide kick is really weird. It's an OK track but it just doesn't do it for me. :/

Basing these comments on the updated version a few posts ago:

Kind of alright with that unusually loud bass, but you'll almost never hear me complain about bass anyway. Besides that, well it's really simple. The guitar is a pretty solid sample, and I agree that a whole mix in the style of the first minute would have been neat. The organ isn't bad, but does make this a bit more 'typical' in terms of Castlevania remixes. Which isn't bad, I guess. The drums are a little weak and basic though, barely registering at all. Not one of my favorites but there's some good ideas here.

Okay, so hearing the other version on his actual site, I can at least retract several comments I would have made about the loud hissing noises, a couple (not all, but some) off-key notes in the organ and guitar and it does sound better there than in the preview here. It's not night and day, but it's immensely more tolerable on his actual site to say the least. Not really digging the fade-out ending, and not because it's a fade-out, but because I think an actual melodically driven ending would have been better, but that's just me.

I was into the the guitar stuff in the beginning - it was simple and elegant. Then, about a minute in, it kinda shifts gears entirely into some kinda of dance/organ thing. It did sound out of key, especially at the end - it was a little grating.

I think it should have stuck with the guitar. Reminded me of Rodrigo Y Gabriela.

As many other Ocremixers here, this was my very first song I ever heard in this site and I loved it. It's been hundreds of years since I didn't come around the site and now recalling this song I happily find there's a complete version of it. I have to agree with Andino that this new version (see his tread or go to http://membler-industries.com/music/remixes/castlevania%20-%20Grim%20Reamer.mp3) is a WAY much better and stylized version AND it has an ending. Memblers thanks for re arrange it ^^ I't been so many years for me to hear this nice song and you made it. Thanks and thanks to Andino to make this subject clear.

As can be seen here, there is another version of this song with a much better sounding organ. I'm still not 100% sure there were some actual encoding errors, but the "newer" version sounds much better to me anyway. It even has a real ending

Here is the direct link to the new version

This is much better than his Gradius mix IMO. Obviously it's still tracker stuff, especially with the infuriating non-ending (cause a lot of tracker music is supposed to loop).

I think the guitar and organ had some neat parts especially. around :37 was very well done, and I actually liked the organ at 1:38 (though it would probably infuriate most people for being so deliberately offkey).

This could have been a really nice arrangement if it was expanded and had some better sounds. As it is, I'm not gonna write it off cause of some of the neat parts, but it's not something I'd really listen to.

That hiss is very noticeable, and quite distracting, I have to say. The guitar sounds pretty decent, but compared to that hiss, and later the organ (especially at 1:38, yikes), I'd have to say this isn't working in my book. No, thank you.

Starts out pretty weak with a constant and loud hiss. The guitar sample is actually pretty decent, but that bass hiss and the organ are not so good. Pitchbend on the organ is MADNESS, and the part is either way out of tune, or you are writing in 2 different keys.

It needs an ending as well.

Sorry, I don't really like this one.

Well, I honestly thought a fight with the Reaper should have a bit more of a wall-of-sound feel, like many of CotMM's works. Honestly, I don't think "spooky" is quite what you're after when you're fighting the Destroying Angel himself.

On a complete tangent... Why the hell did they make the ANGEL of death a boss in DRACULA'S castle? It just don't make sense. Oh well.

The guitar was great and so is the whole song it really got me addicted to it i listen to it everyday.

I love the guitar in this track. It sounds almost slightly flamenco. The bass is understated and supplements the track well. I also think that the juxtaposition of the Organ and the Guitar are perfect for the track. My only complaint is the abrupt ending. However, I heard that there is a version with a proper ending which would be great.

This was a great track! If only it wasn't for that sudden ending. It soulded like it was cut off.