NB: This was originally posted on Equestria Daily on 7 May 2018.
Tripon’s neurofunk works are always great fun to vibe along to, and this one is exceptional in its flow. Based around the attack of the windigoes, clean drum & bass percussion is supplemented by strong neuro sound design and atmospheric pads.
Warning: explicit lyrics and drug references
Brony hip-hop is really taking off again and this crew is a big part of the movement. MC-Arch and N. Hollow rap about the pride they have in what they are doing with the Straight From The Heart movement and the importance of sticking with what is important to you in life. Brohoof Studios provides the hard, acid-trap backing track setting the stage for the intense, hallucination-based Bad Trip which Arch and Hollow use as the theme for the track. Unique and exciting, this track is a great blend of talented artists and styles so be sure to check out Bad Trip!
Osoch has been on a roll so far this year, churning out hit after hit! Act of Fate is a great example of his more signature, metal style. The track is based on a fanfic called “Background Pony”, and features the theme of abandonment. Osoch expertly displays a wide range of emotion by starting the song with a beautiful, acoustic intro with pretty reverb and delays, before jumping into the heavy metal style with strong drum beats. The contrast in energy characterizes the protagonist’s range of emotions varying from sad and alone to angry, in a back and forth similar to dealing with real trauma. The vocals are gorgeous and Sable Symphony is on display with his intense screaming later in the track.
NB: This was originally posted on Equestria Daily on 6 May 2018.
Honestly, this is one of my favourite releases of the year so far, as Faulty continues to impress. Featuring some spellbinding vocals from ThatMusicBrony which fit with the instrumental perfectly, this chilled out house tune speaks of the internal struggle the mane 6 go through after Discord removes the powers of the elements of harmony from them. It’s beautifully put together with some lovely lyricism, plus some terrific vocal chops towards the end, and really well worth a listen.
Little bit of dnb, little bit of happy hardcore. Brohoof blends the two genres together pretty well in this VIP of one of his older tracks, mixing in some neat vocal chops along the way.
NB: This was originally posted on Equestria Daily on 2 May 2018.
lia;quo’s Japanese stylings always make for some super interesting music, and here is no different, with a new melodic dubstep tune inspired by Twilight’s struggles through the MLP movie. Soft vocals sung in Japanese fit beautifully with some lovely composition and subtle synths, before some powerful drops that excellently blend emotional chords and cool bass design.
NB: This was originally posted on Equestria Daily on 2 May 2018.
A follow up to his last Discord-related song, Chris is back with another instrumental metal tune that wastes no time getting into things. Powerful and hectic right from the start, it’s a fun track that keeps things clean yet chaotic at the same time. Check it out for some pretty awesome guitar stuff!
Sky’s remix of Hay Tea’s dnb track Waiting Room doesn’t stray that far from the original in terms of style and genre, but certainly adds to it. The rhodes piano and those smooth, more jazzy chords compliment this kind of liquid dnb really nicely!
NB: This was originally posted on Equestria Daily on 23 April 2018.
When the pony of shadows comes, you’d better say your prayers! They weren’t especially well developed, but the character design was really super cool. What’s also really cool is this new tune from Syzy, which goes unashamedly hard right from the start. Powerful battle drums lead into a heavy drop that showcases an awesome variety of contemporary sound design, coupled with a fantastic foreboding atmosphere.
BroniKoni are without a doubt one of the best actual bands I’ve seen in the brony fandom, and I’m so happy to see them contribute to a Ponies At Dawn album! Runaway Princess starts with wonderful synth arps, fast-paced riffs and as it progresses, each instrument takes its turn at the forefront. From guitars to flute to piano (including a neat little 7/4 breakdown; odd time signatures are always appreciated) we get the whole band taking turns to shine, ending with a beautiful piano solo. This is one of three of their songs about the banishment of Luna, there’s more info in the video description. This song is available on Rebirth and also their debut album, Friendship Express!
Horse Music Herald 