(Slight warning before I start: This song is quite, well, risqué; it’s no Pony Zone, but I strongly advise against playing it on speakers!)
Well, this is quite the change, isn’t it? Nyancat, the master of all things dark and death, brings us this funky, upbeat song, and he uses a lot of vocal chops from the Korean dub (yes the official dub). The image used for the video should immediately give you an idea of what kind of song this is, but enough talking–let’s get straight to it! (That didn’t make it better, did it? lol)
Faster than lightning, MelodyBrony bursts onto the scene with Onward, a song all about G5 (more than likely the first one to come out) and the future it may bring! A positive rock song, we hear MelodyBrony’s musing about what the future holds for the fandom in wake of the show’s new incarnation hitting the scene. Driven by a lead guitar melody with a piano in the background, MelodyBrony sings with passion as the music charges forward, with a heavy focus on melody and structure, his forte. Who knows, maybe this could become the unofficial G5 anthem in future!
In this finale to his concept series, A Tale of Starlight, RedSpark introduces Battle, Fallen and Epilogue – a stirring musical rendering of Starlight Glimmer’s epic battle with evil forces after Twilight became ruler of Equestria. Each movement of the piece corresponds to a scene in the story. First, a gentle piano accompanied by strings sets the stage of the calm before the storm of battle. Next, we hear the sound of war drums, choirs, and horns with a “Pirates of the Caribbean” feel, marking the breakout of an epic confrontation. After this, the music transitions into solemn strings and choirs, and we feel that the enemy has struck our hero to the ground. A grand orchestral section eventually whittles down to a few keys on the piano, conveying uncertainty and the possibility that the hero has suffered defeat. Gradually, however, with resolute strings and horns, the music builds and crescendos into strength and hopefulness. We can hear that our hero has risen to launch one last attack against the enemy – an attack that vanquishes the darkness once and for all! A victorious anthem plays to signify the heroes reveling in triumph! To convey the journey of the exhausted but triumphant warriors as they head homeward, a soothing piano melody wafts over the listener like a lullaby. Don’t miss this inspiring orchestral piece that beautifully concludes this inspiring saga following Starlight Glimmer in her epic battle against evil, and also be sure to check out RedSpark’s full story behind the music, A Tale of Starlight, on Fimfiction, as well!
Written as the theme for the upcoming online convention, Snowfall ONLINE 2021, this track skillfully depicts a winter sunrise with its brisk beauty tinged with the harshness of the season. An ongoing tension can be felt throughout, as if the earth is slumbering, but mysteries yet to be revealed are hidden beneath its surface, ready to burst forth with spring’s arrival. In the intro, the sound of church bells carried along by brisk winds immediately brings to mind the mingling of winter’s playful and harsher elements. Strings play a slightly melancholy yet hopeful melody, while plucky sounds create an upbeat, “frolicking-through-the-snow mood. Gentle bells suggest winter delight and tranquility, but heavier strings intermittently suggest its darker side. Layer by layer, the piece adds more and more instruments as the track progresses. Finally, however, the piece reverts back to the church bells that sounded at the beginning. I’m sure the attendees will enjoy listening to it as they attend the convention. Enjoy this contrast of the dark and bright elements of winter!
Different song, different princess, different genre! Glimm, a newcomer to the brony music scene. Slides right into the groove with the 2nd track of their Princess EP album. We had Cadenza with Hyper Pop for Princess Cadence. This track, however takes the interesting choice of Happy Hardcore to the theme of Princess Luna as odd as this sounds for her character. We are treated to this bouncy and hyperactive message of poor Luna being trapped on the moon. I have to admit it is quite catchy; Glimm trying to sing for the first time has this playful and hopeful tone to the lyrics as the harmonies have this space-like echo to them, full of spunk and high octane energy! It’s an entertaining track. Please encourage Glimm to keep working hard and encourage them with love. As always, this Qilin asks you to judge for yourself.
To say that the official reveal of MLP’s fifth generation has inspired people to create many forms of art would be a massive understatement. Even between the accidental reveal of a bedspread containing three of its main characters and the official reveal showing screenshots from the upcoming movie, fan creations came out in droves. Songs have been one of these forms, notably MelodyBrony’s Onward, and Koron Korak’s latest outing, Goodbye Can Also Be A New Hello. The latter song is a trance piece that oozes optimism to the nth degree. Many of the instruments work in harmony to capture that feeling of moving on to great things. Piano and synth sounds permeate through its two and a half minute length and really cut through the mix right next to the punchy drums. The hopeful melody is created by strings which also adds a sense of adventure, something I’m sure we can all feel now that we’re heading into new territory. The future ahead of us is filled with hope and possibility; if we’re already bombarded with fan content that’s this good when we barely have anything to work with at all, who knows how far it’ll go when the movie and show come out?
MirroredReality continues their exploration of blending specific musical flavors with electronic music (see “Mirage”), and man, is it a banger! Inspired by Brilliant Venture’s “‘World on Fire’ 2020 Mix” (AMAZING video) of Lectro Dub’s song “Fallen” (SO GOOD), MirroredReality attempts a more aggressive sound on this fantastic track. The accompanying video reflects the song’s intention: Trying to capture the rage and aggression of MLP characters like Daybreaker and the Niriks. The combination of traditional and electronic percussion, electronic effects, piano, and eastern world music instrumentation is such a wonderful blend. The psytrance delivery lends an urgency to the arrangement, and it’s great how it really serves as the catalyst for the song by providing a foundation for all of the other elements, allowing them to jump in and out as if you are caught in a firestorm and catching glimpses of destruction. A wonderful song and a fantastic tribute to some masters of fiery violence!
Prepare for the vibes from this one! This rather chill track centered around everyone’s favorite shy pony, Fluttershy, is another track that reminds me of older Brony tunes. From the overall presentation to the pony voice samples used throughout the song, this track is sure to get emotions going! The song itself is filled with the aforementioned vibe, with nice percussion elements, as well as electronic and other elements that really make the song a pleasant thing to listen to!
Versatile producer Ebunix returns to Equinity Project with this epic drum and bass piece from Equinity’s latest album, Immersion! The track starts off with a muted beat and melodies that hint at future action. It quickly picks up speed and drops into an upbeat DnB section featuring an inspiring melody that brings to mind images of soaring through the sky above the clouds. The track then takes a breather for a moment before launching into some super cool neurofunk sound design! Finally, it all crescendos, as the inspiring melody and DnB section from earlier return with neurofunk elements that add an extra layer of fun. In keeping with the track title, “Fallstreak,” it’s easy to visualize Rainbow Dash diving through the air for a sonic rainboom. The bouncy neurofunk sound design simulates the winds that buffet and resist her; the encouraging melody, drums, and bass overlaying it portray her determination and perseverance despite the resistance. Plunge through the stratosphere with Rainbow Dash in this upbeat piece from Equinity: Immersion!
IggieBlackIce has started a trend in this fandom. Melbourne Bounce is just a very energy-fueled genre that you can’t help but get into the uptempo style of electro house known for its use of deep bass horns. That is what makes it so fun to listen to. So what happens when you mix this sound with a bit of Russian flare and Queen Chrysalis? One of the best tracks on Equinity 04: Immersion! At track 34, you’re treated to a song about old Chrysi going insane, wanting vengeance and being an overbearing cocky bug queen. The vocal chops flip some awesome Chrysi moments (some of which come from her fight with Starlight Glimmer) which plays into the beat of the song well. This song plays into why Chrysi is one of the most beloved villains behind Nightmare Moon by so many bronies. The elements of the track play right into her moods: cocky, crazy and wanting revenge. The structure of this track just plays those factors so well. This also happens to be SP1TF1R3’s first time making a major compilation album; I’d say this song’s fitting for that. Queen Chrysalis fans rejoice as this track is the prime track for your beloved bug queen! As always, this Qilin asks you to judge for yourself.
PS: Qilin is pronounced as kee-lin to let you guys know.
Horse Music Herald 