Crypt Custodian "Sweep Beyond" 4:50

We've talked about death before, but not really where you go. When your time comes though, there are worse things to wind up as than feline friend Pluto being custodian of the everafter. In Kyle Thompson's Crypt Custodian, your job as Pluto is to sweep like your afterlife depended on it. I do wonder how one can be hurt in the afterlife, or if being a janitor means you're in hell rather than heaven, but I'm clearly overthinking it! It's a well-reviewed indie hit (Kyle's third Metroidvania), and Kyle's brother Eric Thompson composed a score that PC Gamer likened to Boards of Canada. While we don't have Boards of Canada here, we do have Gaspode of Germany, a proud Crypt Custodian player who's seen fit to sweep two themes together and ratchet up the energy:

"Last year, I played this nice indie game called »Crypt Custodian« about a cat with a broom as a weapon which has to clean up the afterlife. One important part of the game is its charming soundtrack, which I immediately fell in love with. The original pieces are rather slow and mellow, but my version developed over time to something much faster and energetic."

prophetik music appreciated composer Eric Thompson's source tunes here, praising Gaspode's brilliant work beefing 'em up:

"opens with some light arpeggiated synths. i like the subtle bass element that comes in after a bit. the melodic content comes in and feels very new age at 0:13 - the super shimmery synths and faster tempo is a really different feel. i really was certain the kick at 0:38 was going to bring in a 12/8 feel after the first two beats. the bass drop right before the lead stacks come in is really fun. and when you finally set the beat and it's 2x the tempo we thought, that's a really exciting moment.

1:17 brings in a new lead with a lot of delay body on it, which is a neat sound as well. i particularly like the stutter pad that's behind it in this section. there's some more sculptor's peak right after this (the lead has less body so this section feels a little less, but i think that's unintentional), and then we get back to morning haze for a while. there's a hard drop at 2:34, and we get a bit of a break for a bit. the arpeggiated element that comes in after this is a nice palate cleanser before we get into the next section of sculptor's peak again.

the beat drops for a bit, and then we get a big hit of morning haze (sounds like a dispensary thing) at 4:09 as a big final blow after a key change. there's some outro percussive elements, and it's done.

this is great! the originals have a lot of character to them, and you managed to up the intensity without losing that character. it's a really fun approach with a load of interesting synth choices. excellent work."

Fellow judge pixelseph also had his expectations subverted, in a good way:

"I'm also a huge fan of getting fooled by the feel change @ 1:04, especially after the Big Stinky Bass Hit™ @ :51. I so thought it was going to be slammin' half-time with the hat pattern against the kick drum, and then hell nah, it's at time! [...] Very tasteful use of delay on the leads and backing synth strings (:51 is a great example - strings hit and let the delay and verb use the space instead of making everything claustrophobic). [...]

No question from me there, definitely leans more on Morning Haze than Sculptor's Peak, but the two are woven together nicely. The arrangement has Gaspode written all over it, so there's no qualms about personalization either. Excellent mix work as well - every instrument is nicely separated and audible without being crunchy or overbearing."

Everything's in its right place as Gaspode comes through with yet another stylish indie arrangement! While he's demonstrated his Metroid and Zelda series dedication in the past, his indie-supporting bonafides shouldn't be ignored -- keep an eye out for more from Gaspode in the not-too-distant future, as he's got several more indie game tributes in the hopper that you're gonna love. We hope his compliment to Crypt Custodian sweeps you off your feet. ;-P