ReMix:Castlevania: Dracula X "Burning the Clocktower" 3:50

Gario (Greg Nourse) hits us with some energetic synth-rock / dance from the Castlevania: Cacophony of Incarnation 2016 compo, arranging Dracula X & Portrait of Ruin with pep & pizzazz:

"It's funny, I think this is one of my favorite tracks I've made to date (created for the 2016 Castlevania compo), but I always felt like some of the arranging in this was a touch "slapped-on," so I didn't submit it. Listening to it again and I think I was an idiot; the transitions are freakin' fine and the source usage makes sense, what the hell.

Urgh, stupid hyper-critical self analysis.

Anyway, this is probably one of my favorite soundscapes I've designed to date, with the organ and e-piano supplementing the old-school "Moog"-style synth lead. It also just so happens to be TWO of my favorite Castlevania themes coming together (the compo I did this for happened to pair me up with the first stage of Dracula X, and I chose the sixth stage on my own), so how could it NOT come out as a solid track?"

Don't be your own creative worst enemy ;) Glad Greg submitted this; the production is solid if not amazeballs, and the arrangement really has fun with the interleaving of themes and morphs familiar melodies into something new. Meaty synth pop/rock beats and EP give it a bit less of an EDM vibe than it would otherwise have, and some intricate melodic/harmonic work takes things up a notch; Liontamer with the true truth:

"The sine wave in particular lended a nice tone to things. Strong, effective crossover and interplay between the various sources throughout the entire piece. I had to laugh to myself at Greg's initial lack of confidence, but that just illustrates how artists should just take the plunge and submit something they're not sure about. Don't be scared, people!"

Other judges were diggin' it as well, though NutS & MW found it LESS transformative than Greg's other work, which speaks to the extent he often takes things. This is fine & fun & gets the vampire huntin' blood pumpin' in all the right, mortal ways. Solid stuff from Greg, happy to have it on the site!