SCR4TCHK4T released a remix of rawrity’s “Pinkie” this year, and the result is a lovely, upbeat take on the original. It adds bright, optimistic piano along with a thundering bass at the beginning, and a slick house beat in the middle. My favorite addition is an all new verse sung by SCR4TCHK4T about not giving up hope and continuing to search for the narrator’s love that gets paired with some powerful synth stabs and harmonies to make it really hit home. The remix is definitely worth checking out for any fans of the original.
Author: brambleshadow4
RedWire – What Do You Believe In | Drum & Bass
The final and titular track of RedWire’s EP, “What Do you Believe in,” is a majestic and transcendental piece. It begins with minimal but haunting synths and crunched percussion, soon to be accompanied by piano. Don’t get too cozy though, because everything drops out, and you’re slammed as the bass comes in! It continues to be thoughtful and evolve over time, with orchestral plucks joining the mix, and highly stylized vocals joining well into the song. It’s an absolute treat to savor, and by the end, you may have achieved enlightenment!
El Nulevoe – Power Metal Cartoon Horse 3: The Metalling | Metal
El Nulevoe is back with the third installment in the Power Metal Cartoon Horse series! This one is much more brooding than the others, starting with deep and dark guitar riffs and developing intensity with its high pitched synth. The vocals are as strong and fierce as ever despite them describing the woes of Celestia’s kingdom destroyed by battles in previous songs. It’s still as zany as ever too, with its epic scream and snarky, self-aware subtitles.
John Kenza & 4everfreebrony – Warm (Trey Husk Remix) | Progressive House
Trey Husk (previously known as FORSAKE) is back with another house remix, this time of John Kenza & 4everfreebrony’s “Warm.” It opens with spacious ambience, highlighting 4everfreebrony’s vocals and trickling in piano chords and strings until it hits the first drop. The second half is simply stunning, with an orchestral section adding tons of warmth to the track before it all comes thundering down in an explosive arrival at the second drop, mixing in the insane guitar solo of the original. Incredible work!
Nexgen – Far And Wide (ft. gryf & Angel Melody) | Hip-Hop
“Far and Wide” is a lovely collaboration between three artists with Nexgen and Gryf each taking a verse to slam down bars and Angel Melody gluing them together with choruses. Gryf’s low voice slips perfectly into the ebb and flow of the instrumental with its higher pitched whistles, Angel Melody’s sections leave the listener longing for more with how her voice trails over the e-piano. Nexgen takes us home with the second verse, which continues to build up the character of the blade dancer, established in a release earlier this year. Overall, it’s a fun piece with its three characters all with very different agendas coming together.
Koron Korak – Peace of Twilight | Lo-Fi
Koron Korak’s Peace of Twilight is a highly melodic lo-fi track made especially for this year’s Twilight Day! It starts with a lovely epiano drifting carelessly over static noise before the kick drum comes in, soon to be accompanied by the snare and a prolonged chop of Twilight’s voice, left dangling. The middle features some lovely saxophone rifts and variations on the earlier theme. It’s a very relaxing tune and comes with complimenting visuals featuring Twilight reading on a train.
Blackened Blue – In The Air | Nu-metal
One of Blackened Blue’s latest bangers “In The Air” tells the tale not of any pegasus, but of Princess Celestia herself and her “desire to be free.” As a nu-metal track, it features some heavier sections, but also really showcases the many textures of electric guitar with a softer intro featuring de-tuned notes, gentle strumming during the verses, and a sick solo near the end. All of that comes paired with a rousing vocal performance from Blackened, so make sure to check out this anthem!
Nexgen – Bladedancer | Hip-Hop
CW: language
Nexgen’s been on a roll this year, and this next track continues the streak! “Bladedancer” begins with a melancholy beat made of a multitude of sounds. The guitars seep in and Nexgen pounces, his words crisp and clear, cutting through like the sword of the bladedancer the lyrics describe. There’s a lot of clever rhymes like “conjurer” with “wanderer” as his character describes his path towards becoming a pony rap legend. I’d best stay out of his way if I were you!
NeverLastStanding – Pony Shelter | Electronic
“I was so excited when I heard the opening notes of ‘Shelter’ done with pony chops,” they whisper in the halls of convention hotels long after the concert has ended. “But I tried to find it online, it’s never been posted anywhere.” More like a myth than a song despite having heard it with my own ears…
The year is 2023. It is a month before NeverLastStanding’s final MLP performance with Loophoof at Everfree Northwest, and the legendary “Pony Shelter” has finally dropped! A recreation of “Shelter” by Porter Robinson and Madeon, its synths so warm and pure and full of light, its pony chops evoking emotions long thought to have been lost, its stunning visuals showing Celestia nurturing Twilight and then Twilight nurturing Luster Dawn, a powerful way to echo its lyrics, “I’ll give them shelter like you’ve done for me.” Euphoria. Words can’t do justice to how this song makes one feel.
It’s been a huge honor to see NLS perform this one live in his farewell performance to the fandom. Best of luck entering the next era of your creative journey!
Zythiria – Grief and Repeat | Indie Rock
Zythiria’s latest track is dark and moody and captures the essence of Discord’s grief, being immortal and having outlived Fluttershy. It beings ambiently, with nothing but epiano to be joined by Zythria’s voice and many background ooohs, creating a most eerie and heartbreaking atmosphere perfect for its lyrics about eternal pain and grief. Mid song, it picks up more with guitar and drums, leading in to a subdued instrumental break at the end. Overall it is beautiful and striking so make sure to check it out!
Horse Music Herald 