Band Review #3 - The Black Mages

[SilverSpoon]

The Black Mages are a progressive and hard rock group from Japan. The Japanese really love that kind of stuff! It was formed by Nobuo Uematsu, who, if you don't know, is the composer for all the Final Fantasy video games by Squaresoft, or whatever they hell they call themselves now. Square Enix or something. Who cares. So riding on his Final Fantasy success, The Black Mages arrange Final Fantasy music as rock music. It's interesting because all that stuff was orchestrated or synthesized to sound orchestrated on the earlier consoles. But since this is rip roaring guitars, most of the FF music they arrange are battle themes. It's really nothing new, as there are many video game remix/arranging sites already. But this group is cool because they do the awesome FF music and because the original composer is part of the band on keyboards.

So far they have released two albums in 2003 and 2004, as well as an exclusive DVD of a live performance they did in Tokyo. Their third album has been planned to be released this year.

It's not very hard to imagine their sound in your head if you know the songs already. A lot of the time the orchestral strings (violins, cellos and the like) would just be replaced by guitars playing the melodies and harmonies. Some of the original sounds are also intact due to the keyboards, which always provide a wide range of sounds. Some FF music makes use of non-traditional sounds that are sythesized, even on the later games that used actual orchestrations, so in a way parts of these songs are reproduced note for note. But of course they kick up a notch with speed and drums and awesome solos from the guitars and keyboards. They have two guitarists and keyboardists, so there's a lot they can do. And of course, they all play exceptionally well. Asians are always awesome on instruments! What they do really works well, though. If these versions were to replace the originals in the games I think it would make the fights all the more enjoyable.

Since they only have two albums, here's a tracklisting for both. I'll bold some of my favourites as recommendations that you might want to check out.

The Black Mages: Battle Music of Final Fantasy (2003)

1. Battle Scene (Final Fantasy I)
2. Clash On The Big Bridge (Final Fantasy V)
3. Force Your Way (Final Fantasy VIII)
4. Battle Scene II (Final Fantasy II)
5. The Decisive Battle (Final Fantasy VI)
6. Battle Theme (Final Fantasy VI)
7. J-E-N-O-V-A (Final Fantasy VII)
8. Those Who Fight Further (Final Fantasy VII)
9. Dancing Mad (Final Fantasy VI)
10. Fight With Seymour (Final Fantasy X)

The Skies Above (2004)

1. The Rocking Grounds (Final Fantasy III)
2. Zeromus (Final Fantasy IV)
3. Vamo' Alla Flamenco (Final Fantasy IX)
4. Hunter's Chance (Final Fantasy IX)
5. Otherworld (Final Fantasy X)
6. Matoya's Cave (Final Fantasy I)
7. The Man With The Machine Gun (Final Fantasy VIII)
8. Maybe I'm A Lion (Final Fantasy VIII)
9. Battle With The Four Fiends (Final Fantasy IV)
10. The Skies Above (Final Fantasy X)
11. Blue Blast - Winning The Rainbow

I personally enjoy the first album more since I recognize more of those songs.

Here's a sample of their work:
Download sample

[BlackWolf]

Ooo, that's a pretty cool sounding clip, however not knowing much Final Fantasy music to begin with I can't say how much I'd be into the albums.

[SilverSpoon]

Well they're still good songs even without the Final Fantasy games attaches to them. Most of those I don't even remember hearing in the games, but I still enjoy them.