Author Archives: metalcrush

Random Encounter Performance Tomorrow @ The Geek Easy

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For you Orlando residents out there, we just got word that Random Encounter is playing a free show at the Geek Easy tomorrow, February 24th:

Hey everybody! Did you know we’re playing a FREE SHOW at The Geek Easy in Orlando next Friday the 24th? Because we are! And guess what! We’re playing 2 never before heard songs at this show as well as all of our regular goodies. But make sure to come, because this will be the last time we will play (most) of this set. We’re writing and arranging new music and will not be playing (most) of this stuff for some time! AGAIN, it’s FREE! Star Lake will be joining us and it will be a super amazing time!

With their amazing stage presence and crazy show antics, we’d definitely say that Random Encounter is one of the best live performances we’ve seen in the VGM community to date. This free show is restricted to those 16 and up, so no tweens allowed. And for those who are 21+, you can BYOB (holla!). Donations are also being accepted, so please be generous! Be sure to RSVP on Facebook, as well as enjoy rad tunes from one of the best VGM cover bands out there.

Original Sound Version’s OSVOSTOTY 2011 Awards Winners Announced

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As we’ve mentioned before, the winners and runner-ups of Original Sound Version‘s 3rd Annual OSVOSTOTY 2011 have been announced today  and the results are quite intriguing. Editor-In-Chief Jayson Napolitano had many bright things to say of the artists that the OSV staff chose for this year, as he states:

The smoke has finally cleared, and we can finally announce our winners and runners-up for our 3rd annual Original Sound Version Original Soundtrack of the Year 2011 Awards. As always, there are a few surprises, and while I know some editors are still passionately clinging to their given favorite, I think that points to the amazing quality and variety of music that was released in 2011. This year in particular saw a number of new franchises and sequels that went in radically different directions, and I think the music accurately reflects this fresh and exploratory direction.

The list of winners and runner-ups are listed after the jump. ThaSauce would also like to congratulate all of the winners and nominees of this year’s 3rd Annual OSVOSTOTY 2011 Awards as well. Here’s to hoping that next year’s awards will be as exciting as ever!

[EXPAND Click here for an official list of the 2011 OSVOSTOTY winners & runner-ups!]

Best Handheld Soundtrack
Winner: Jake Kaufman’s MIGHTY SWITCH FORCE!
1st Runner-Up: Tsutomu Narita’s UnchainBlades ReXX
2nd Runner-Up: Hitoshi Sakimoto’s Valkyria Chronicles 2 -Unrecorded Chronicles-

Nominees: DJMAX Portable 2, Final Fantasy IV: The Complete Collection, Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep

Best Fan Arrange Album (Western)
Winner: Metroid Arrange 25th Anniversary Album (Bad Dudes)
1st Runner-Up: Intergalatic Redux (The OneUps)
2nd Runner-Up: brass 2: mouth (the minibosses)

Nominees: Harmony of a Hunter (V.A.), Made of Metal (VikingGuitar), No NES For The Wicked (Vomitron)

Best Fan Arrange Album (Eastern)
Winner: UMEMOTO ~He Lives Here~ (WOODSOFT)
1st Runner-Up: FF VIOLIN -FINAL FANTASTIC VIOLIN 2- (TAMUSIC)
2nd Runner-Up: Kinoko Sanmai!! (Mackerel Sky)

Nominees: CHRONO TRIGGER ~Saihate no Kanade~ (earth Japan SOFT), North Wind (Magical Trick Society)

Best Official Arrange Album
Winner: NieR Tribute Album -echo-
1st Runner-Up: SQ Chips
2nd Runner-Up: Hideki Sakamoto Orchestral Works

Nominees: Oboromuramasa Ongakushuu Hensou no Maku, Symphonic Odysseys, The Legend of Zelda 25th Anniversary Special Orchestra CD

Best Live Concert
Winner: Symphonic Odysseys (Team Merregnon)
1st Runner-Up: The Legend of Zelda 25th Anniversary Symphony (JMP Productions)
2nd Runner-Up: Back to the Future: Two Generations of Film and Video Game Composers (VGO)

Nominees: Gamers X-Mas (David Westerlund), JADE-II (Takeaki Kunimoto), LEGENDS (Team Merregnon)

Best “Other” Release
Winner: Tree of Knowledge (yogurtbox)
1st Runner-Up: IMERUAT (IMERUAT)
2nd Runner-Up: Songs for the Cure ’11: Remedy (V.A.)

Nominees: Now is the point at which I touch eternity (freesscape), Oto Gift (Basiscape), Play for Japan (V.A.)

Best Chip Music Release
Winner: Beautiful Lifestyle (George & Jonathan)
1st Runner-Up: Roots (Danimal Cannon)
2nd Runner-Up: Equilibrium (V.A.)

Nominees: Cheap Dinosaurs (Cheap Dinosaurs), SOUNDSHOCK: FM FUNK MADDNESS!! (V.A.), The Octagon (Jonathan Baken)

Best Indie Game Soundtrack
Winner: Bastion
1st Runner-Up: Jamestown
2nd Runner-Up: Sword & Sworcery

Nominees: Cthulhu Saves The World, Escape Goat, Ravenmark: Scourge of Estellion

Best Sound Design
Winner: Portal 2
1st Runner-Up: Batman: Arkham City
2nd Runner-Up: Dead Space 2

Nominees: L.A. Noire, Limbo, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

Best In-Game Soundtrack
Winner: Deus Ex: Human Revolution
1st Runner-Up: Dark Souls
2nd Runner-Up: Child of Eden

Nominees: Dead Space 2, El Shaddai: Ascension of the Metatron, Uncharted 2: Drake’s Deception

Soundtrack of the Year
Winner: Final Fantasy XIII-2
1st Runner-Up: Deus Ex: Human Revolution
2nd Runner-Up: Rayman Origins

Nominees: Bloodrayne: Betrayal, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword[/EXPAND]

ThaSauce Wrap-Up: This Week in Review (Feb 13 – Feb 19)

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At the end of the week, ThaSauce Wrap-Up feature posts bite-sized news recaps just in case you missed any juicy articles. Have any interesting video game music-related stories that you want us to look into? Are you an artist, composer, or remixer that wants keep in touch? Shoot an e-mail to [email protected]. If you’re looking for more ways to get your VGM fix, be sure to follow us on Tumblr or like us on Facebook as well.

  • EARTHBOUND PAPAS “Metal Hypnotized” Contest Winners Published: You might remember the EARTHBOUND PAPAS contest we mentioned a few weeks back that invited EBP fans to remix or arrange their hit single “Metal Hypnotized”. As excited as we were to see the winning submissions of the contest, we were elated to find out that one of ThaSauce’s very own featured artists has been chosen to be a guest performer on the next EBP album!r
  • Nerdy Show’s MegaCon Panel with Brian Clevinger This Sunday: The folks behind Nerdy Show, one of our favorite podcasts for nerd culture & general interweb shenanigans, will be present at this year’s MegaCon in Orlando, FL to raise money for a charity dedicated to Triforce Mike’s memory with a special appearance by Brian Clevinger, creator of popular webcomic 8-Bit Theater and the Eisner-nominated Atomic Robo.
  • TheGuitahHeroe’s Step Back Will Get You Groovin’: Are hard-hitting basslines and delicious womp-womps your thing? Marked with amazing production quality, TheGuitahHeroe’s newest EP Step Back will definitely fulfill your dubstep quota for the week.
  • Pro Tip: Get In on zircon’s Production Workshop Tonight: Better known by his exhaustive involvement in the VGM community as zircon, Andrew Aversa has produced music for a variety of video games, television, and interactive media, such as Soul Caliber V, Return All Robots!, Heroes, and MTV’s Making Of series to name a few.
  • Sound Bytes: Danimal Cannon’s “Roots (IRL Mix)”: Proving once again that he can epically shred with his newest endeavor within orchestral metal, Danimal Cannon rips into our souls with his latest remix of “Roots”… in a good way, of course.
  • halc Continues to Defy the Chiptune Genre: Even though he is known to reign within OverClocked ReMix’s judges panel, halc is definitely on a roll. Following his January release of the wonderfully ambient album Zer0-G that could single-handedly define the chiptune genre even further, halc has bestowed upon us yet another EP chock-full of electro-house goodness.
  •  ReMixer Spotlight: Rexy: Our resident reviewer Mirby gets down in the gritty with the wonderful Rexy in this week’s ReMixer Spotlight. Read on to find out about Rexy’s exciting experiences as a remixer, including her own personal influences and favorite composers!
  • In Tha ‘Tube: Dragonlord, Mutherpluckin’ B, DragnBreth, Shnabubula, Cyan: In Tha ‘Tube focuses on ReMix: ThaSauce’s very own vast database of VGM remixes as a tribute to the appreciation & reinterpretation of video game music. With this feature, we aim to post videos onto YouTube for easier access to ReMix:ThaSauce songs in a convenient preview format. This week, we  serenade you with a varied mixture of ThaSauce featured artists.

In Tha ‘Tube: Dragonlord, Mutherpluckin’ B, DragnBreth, Shnabubula, Cyan

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In Tha ‘Tube focuses on ReMix: ThaSauce‘s very own vast database of VGM remixesas a tribute to the appreciation & reinterpretation of video game music. Offering hundreds of free MP3 downloads, ReMix: ThaSauce features artists from popular sites such as OverClocked ReMix and VGMix. This feature offers readers, as music enthusiasts, the opportunity to appreciate what ReMix: ThaSauce has to present in the latest VGM styles and genres. Join us as we upload select ReMix: ThaSauce songs every week on YouTube for your aural pleasure. Have any requests? Shoot an e-mail to [email protected]. For the latest exclusive uploads on ThaSauce, be sure to like us on Facebook or follow us on Tumblr. 

ThaSauce is finally riding the waves of social media once again! In Tha ‘Tube aims to post weekly videos onto YouTube for easier access to ReMix:ThaSauce songs in a convenient preview format. This week, we  serenade you with a varied mixture of ThaSauce featured artists:

halc Continues to Defy the Chiptune Genre

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Even though he is known to reign within OverClocked ReMix’s judges panel, halc is definitely on a roll. Following his January release of the wonderfully ambient album Zer0-G that could single-handedly define the chiptune genre even further, halc has bestowed upon us yet another EP chock-full of electro-house goodness:

No Song Left Behind is a collection of newly polished and remastered chiptune-house style tracks produced over the course of 2010-11. These were all written for various albums which never saw the light of day (a testament to my inability to write house music, and more importantly, to stick with it :P).

Rather than let them continue to stagnate on my hard drive, I’ve decided to release them together as a free 3 track EP. A token of thanks for the amazing support and response towards Zero-G. As always, all donations are lovingly appreciated! Enjoy!

Previewing some of No Song Left Behind briefly, we have to say that halc’s work takes the ‘chiptune-house’ style to another level, proving how much he has progressed as an independent artist over the course of the last few years. Although deviating from Zero-G’s chill vibes and Trending Topic EP‘s dubby in-your-face presence, halc’s unassuming yet fluent transitions in “Bicycle Rights” get will get your head bobbing involuntarily. As you preview some of the EP below, you can get No Song Left Behind for free on halc’s Bandcamp (be sure to check out his other albums while you’re at it!).

Sound Bytes: Danimal Cannon’s “Roots (IRL Mix)”

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Along with his illustrious credentials as the monumental guitarist in not one, but two, of the most popular bands in VGM history, Daniel Behrens has made quite a name for himself. This reputation may be punctuated by the fact that Behrens’ solo work as Danimal Cannon, with his latest album Roots, has taken the VGM community by storm. This may prove one of two things: Danimal Cannon is incredibly talented artist or Danimal Cannon is actually a Norse god sent down by the heavens to teach us the ways of both epic shredding and chiptunes indelibly made into a staunch configuration of a human being. While I would agree with the former, Danimal Cannon’s “Roots (IRL Mix)” may have most acquiesce to the latter. “Roots (IRL Mix)” takes orchestral metal to the next level, proving that Daniel Behrens is indeed a metal Thor incarnate.

Peep his latest song above and let us know what you think. While you can cop Roots for a mere ten dollars, Danimal Cannon’s “Roots (IRL Mix)” is available for free on Bandcamp.

Pro Tip: Get In On zircon’s Production Workshop Tonight

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In his most recent Facebook update, award-winning sound designer and audio specialist Andrew Aversa has just announced that he will be hosting a free production session today, February 16th  for those who are interesting in learning the finer aspects of audio production and sound tuning:

This FRIDAY at 9pm EST, I’m going to do an experimental 1 hour long live production session. I’ll work on a track, take some Q&A, talk tech and just generally have a good time. If it goes well I’ll probably do both freeform sessions and maybe more structured classes focused on Q&A, at a low price per ‘seat’ (like $5-10).

Better known by his exhaustive involvement in the VGM community as zircon, Aversa has arranged and collaborated on over twenty accepted submissions and projects for OverClocked ReMix since 2004. He has also produced music for a variety of video games, television, and interactive media, such as Soul Caliber V, Return All Robots!, Heroes, and MTV’s Making Of series to name a few.

With zircon’s substantial experience with video game music and sound, we would like to urge aspiring professional composers and remixers or even those interested in exploring the scope of sound design to take advantage of this exciting event (can we just mention again that it’s free?). The production session will be hosted on Livestream.

TheGuitahHeroe’s Step Back Will Get You Groovin’

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Although only eighteen years old, Jamison Randell is definitely no stranger to video game music. With several comprehensive VGM reviews and over 1,000 subscribers, it has been made clear that Randell’s heavy VGM presence on YouTube is a force to be reckoned with. Under the guise TheGuitahHeroe, Randell’s distinctive work has also been accepted into several VGM communities such as OverClocked ReMix and ReMix: ThaSauce.

To our surprise, TheGuitahHeroe’s newest EP deviates from his standard VGM practice, yet has us shooting eargasms of euphoria nonetheless. Step Back assuredly marks TheGuitahHeroe’s adept ability to adapt to varied styles while staying in touch with his roots within the VGM community. For example, “Chip Monster” hits those characteristic ‘womp womp’s without over-the-top distortion effects characteristic to the dubstep genre while “My Fax Machine is Broken (What in the Hell)”‘s smooth transitions from chiptune to hard-hitting basslines pay homage to TGH’s playful take on pop culture dub references (Hank Hill on dubstep, anyone?).

While you get a chance to preview some of TheGuitahHeroe’s EP below, Step Back is available for free on TheGuitahHeroe’s Bandcamp page.

Nerdy Show’s MegaCon Panel with Brian Clevinger This Sunday

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We’ve just received word that the folks behind Nerdy Show, one of our favorite podcasts for nerd culture & general interweb shenanigans, will be present at this year’s MegaCon in Orlando, FL to raise money for a charity dedicated to Triforce Mike’s memory:

If you are attending MegaCon this weekend, stop by & say hi to the A Comic Shop crew at the Nerdy Show table in Artist Alley, white section, table 13. We’ll have Triforce Mike’s new comic Dungeons & Doritos #1 and his tribute T-Shirts available for sale to raise money for the charity started in his memory. Hope to see lots of friendly faces there!

As one of the largest sci-fi and comic book conventions in Orlando, MegaCon 2012 will commence this Friday, February 17th through Sunday, February 19th. Special guest Brian Clevinger, the mastermind behind popular webcomic 8-Bit Theater and the Eisner-nominated Atomic Robo, will also be present at Nerdy Show’s MegaCon Panel this Sunday in Room 221C at 3 PM. If you happen to be interested in attending MegaCon, one-day and three-day tickets are available on-site for $25 and $60, respectively.

EARTHBOUND PAPAS “Metal Hypnotized” Contest Winners Published

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You might remember the EARTHBOUND PAPAS contest we mentioned a few weeks back that invited EBP fans to remix or arrange their hit single “Metal Hypnotized”. According to contest rules, there were no limitations to how you can actually remix or arrange this song, as instrumentals and lyrics could be played or replaced with other members.  The EBP themselves also listened to each submitted track in order to choose the winners that were officially announced today.

As excited as we were to see the winning submissions of the contest, we were elated to find out that one of ThaSauce’s very own featured artists has been chosen to be a guest performer on the next EARTHBOUND PAPAS album. As shown above, Tony Dickinson, also known as Prince of Darkness, single-handedly transforms “Metal Hypnotized” into his own metal symphony with a nice touch of epic shredding that puts even the best metal bands to shame. Other notable entries (like this great 8-bit interpretation by Nikola Whallon or this piano composition by eba9production) were also rewarded with special autographed prizes from EARTHBOUND PAPAS.

ThaSauce would like to congratulate Tony Dickinson and the rest of the EBP contest participants who entered in the contest. Thanks for taking time out to create such incredible interpretations for one of our favorite EBP songs!