Author: drakeemberheart

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Skyshard – Hearth’s Warming Stories Vol 2: Skyshard in the Multigenre of Madness (Special Pony Edition) | Album | Multi-Genre

Editor’s note: better 2 months late than never!

Suppose you want to talk about a musician who has been on the move. Innovating herself, experimenting, and ever-expanding on her musical talents. Skyshard is known for her abilities in the orchestra brony community, highlighted by making a splash in 2021 with her impressive string of compilation album releases!

Hearth’s Warming Stories Vol 2 shows a different side to her talent pool. Building on her composing talents, we’re treated to a musical dive into mixing her orchestral core with various genres. The tracks are tongue-in-cheek tales of Twilight and her friends trying to plan a late Hearthswarming party highlighted by the Mane 6 poking fun at the brony music community with an amusing use of mane six speaking through 15.ai as a bonus feature in this version!

(Read about some select choices of songs after the break)

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[ASOS] Alicore – The Faithful | Symphonic Metal

Late October last year ASOS released their 9th compilation album, Eclair. As you would expect, that album had a lot of genres of music to offer – especially this gem which in turn is the explosive debut of Alicore. The band comprises Sakairi, SlightyAmiss, Whirlwind, Acoustic Wholenote, and Cadenza Heartsong; names you may have known for their solo talents and success.

The music speaks for itself when you hear this song. Symphonic metal works beautifully when mixed with quality ingredients like a good dessert. The story of the return of Nightmare Moon never sounded so glorious, moving, and adrenaline-inducing! The guitars and bass are harsh and crisp thanks to Acoustic and Amiss; Whirlwind puts his 2 cents in with aggressive blast beats, drumming at a pace that gives your heart a jolt. Oh, you cannot have symphonic metal without those lovely and blissful harmonic synths that you hear throughout this masterpiece, thanks to Heartsong. If you get chills hearing Sakairi’s singing voice for the first time, that is just another element of this band done well, an excellent front to lead you along to grab at your emotions, That harsh rage of nightmare moon’s anger? Perfect for the brutal vocal talent of SlightlyAmiss.

If that wasn’t enough, a FULLY and GORGEOUS animated music video was done by the talented JilltheOtherPony, immerses you deep into this music! The talent pool of the brony music community is impressive. Getting noticed is not always easy. How you make a first impression, my fellow bronies, is this. As always, this Qilin asks you to judge for yourself.

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[P@D] 4EverfreeBrony – Who Named Us | Rock

A question to all who have read Fall Out Equestria, what feelings do Lil Pip’s journeys invoke in you as you read with her struggle in the wastelands? It is no surprise that 4everfreebrony knows how to beautifully tap into those emotions which make FoE so impactful. The deep, gritty southern guitar and the bass boom hit you dead in your soul, as does the swift and dead-eye solo. The vocals add some punch, serving as a warning that it’s about to get rough and bloody. The fight of “it’s you or them” has never sounded so solemn yet grand on P@D: Aurora. As always, this Qilin asks you to judge for yourself.

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Violin Melody – Sisters (Original Mix) | Future House

In light of the many fandom tracks conveying Celestia and Luna as rivals, it is refreshing to see Violin Melody presenting them as loving siblings in her appropriately titled piece, “Sisters”. This is exactly the kind of subject matter one could expect Violin Melody, founder of ASOS, to focus on, and she does so with this lovely composition. The melodies are powerful yet sweet, with these gentle chimes mixed in – like them being there for each other. The drops show a bit of mystical energy and power, just like alicorn magic. The beat has its ups and downs, just like any siblings have with each other. These elements tell the love and closeness these two share: a sisterly love that is strong through thick and thin. This track is a pure banger, just like when it’s go time between them! As always, this Qilin asks you to judge for yourself.

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[P@D] StealingShad3z – Radio Silence | Pop Rock

It has been a while, huh? This Qilin of Brony music is still breathing, and today I’m excited by some FOE goodness courtesy of StealingShad3z! If a song could set a theme and environment on point, it would be this. For all you FOE fans, you notice right away this is the moment Lil’ pip is out of her stable with a mighty big reality check of the wastelands. Shadz’s melodies with his guitar work and that soft base speak of the horror Lil pip is seeing for the first time. The thump of the drums and Shad3z’s vocal work (which is always a treat) sell the violence, fear, and will to survive. As lyrics tell the emotions, the music aids with this haunting but lovely tone – like there is a bit of hope that a friend could be around the corner, or your end. As always, this Qilin asks you to judge for yourself. It’s good to be back.

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[ASOS] Sylvver – Psychedelhi | Big Room House

My buddy Sylvver has been trying so hard to make it onto ASOS; When you hear this track, you understand why she just made ASOS: Eclair! A track about traveling the sands of Saddle Arabia, A hero is fighting their way across the desert looking for glory and coming to the aid of friends! The track big room house genre shows here with those big adventurous bass tones, and that melody makes you feel like you are in an epic montage in your pursuit of your enemies! The song starts like you riding off into the night with that build, then transits over to this more serine tone with those harmonies, as if you stoping to plan your next move as you rest before you spot then and ATTACK! Just song picks up again. Sylvver told me this song tells the story of a hero’s epic battle across the dunes of Saddle Arabia; I say a FINE track for your first ever song on ASOS! As always, this Qilin asks you to judge for yourself.

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[ASOS] Zythiria – Far North (Skyshard Remix) | Orchestral

(Listen to the original here!)
I was speechless when I listened to this remix, ASOS: Eclair is known for its rich and deep Orchestra tracks, but WOW! this is glorious. Zythiria track that was pretty in the first place, has transformed the telling of Winter Storm’s quest to save her home. The build-up with that piano’s, strings, the beat of those war drums! That blow of those woodwinds in the background synth. It grows in pure instance power, making you want to give a war cry that you will succeed! As always, this qilin asks you to judge for yourself! Into a melody fitting for a fantasy epic movie.

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Kimiko Glenn – Fit Right In (Simonat Remix) | Electro

Alright, hehe, I always look forward to remixes of this song. Just from a pure style standpoint, the structure of this track plays with vocals chops little with the placement, especially with Hitch’s to give this bit more charm. Oh, and the slow down of the lyrics and the slow up and down of the buzz of those nodes and melodies, very lovely going with the positive energy of Izzy’s and Sunnies vocals, will have you moving for sure. The critical thing is that this remix builds on the message of this song. You hear the lyrics more profound. The wholesome message of looking past your nose and worldview, discovering the things you hear about others is just that a story. The joys of finding there’s more than meets the eye (yes, I when there, LOL) learning new cultures that are strange to you. Now you add this Electro smooth and groove beat to this song, and it not only becomes fun but downright addictive to not listen to more than once; oh, and the slight change to Izzy’s rap lyric was done well, did not miss a beat! As always, this Qilin asks you to judge for yourself.

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Koron Korak – Applejack is so Busy at the Farm | Country Rock

Ok, first of all, before I get into the music, This video is fantastic. Green Screening yourself in the video to perform the song with an overlapping clip of the show! Koron, that was cool with a double image of yourself playing along!
As for the music, you may hear some Applejack Stage music vibes from Fighting is Magic with the banjo and hard rock guitar combo inspiration. It fits due to what this song is about the Episode “AJ’s day off” how she can’t seem to pull herself away from her work. This song is fast with how the melodies work with each other. Oh, that excellent violin of Koron’s gives this song just the correct country energy to fit everything else. The song is short but packs a lot going on in that time frame for a busy mare with too much to do! The video presentation was charming and only added to how fun this track is! As always, this Qilin asks you to judge for yourself.

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Snow Swirl – City in the Sky | Future Garage

So do you guys remember the song Dreamy Sky by Snow Swirl? Meet its sister track city in the Sky! Man, you ever really wanted to hear and feel like you’re a Pegasi over the clouded skylines of Cloudsdale. You’ve found the right track here. This very airly and ambiance theme glides right over you. The same could be said in busy skies over Zephyr heights in G5! it fits the same theme. Just close you’re eyes and feel these melodies in your wings as you can feel the other Pegasi around you, flying and these soft keyboard tones with the breath of Sky with this slight mythical hum to the baseline. You think the energy of both cities in G4 and G5 is hustling along, with a taste of ethereal as it is heavily in the Sky above. It’s a beautiful, even freeing experience as I believe you had intended it to be Snow Swirl! As always, this Qilin asks you to judge for yourself.