(A history of Rap and Rock working together, please click here)
Magic by one of its definitions is a verb used when something so wonderful happens it’s just perfect.
(Continued below the break)
Rock
SDreamExplorer – (Path)(Ethic) | Latin Jazz
Ready for a cultural mishmash? Track 11 from SDreamExplorerS’ Ephemeral II: Parallels is (Path)(Ethic), a unique piece that blends jazz with different types of ethnic musical sounds to represent different cultures. The whole song has a festival vibe to it, with an acoustic guitar taking lead while the drums and bass occasionally burst in with fast fills and riffs. Makes you want to go out and check out a food festival, doesn’t it?
Painters & Poets – It’s Only Rain (feat. Brownie) | Metalcore
Painters & Poets return with another song, and it’s a drastic change from their last song. While Follow was a soft acoustic rock ballad, It’s Only Rain starts off with a similar dynamic with a more mellow feeling before suddenly bursting into a full on metal track with heavy guitars and synths reminiscent of PrinceWhateverer. The song is said to be about Trixie going through a sad period of self-reflection, and it shows in the powerful vocals on display. It also features Brownie on bass and SlightlyAmiss‘ sister bringing some harmonies throughout the middle. The start of this duo’s career is very hopeful!
Dusk – The Magic of Friendship Grows (Covering Daniel Ingram) | Heavy Metal
I don’t think we’ll ever forget about this song. Dusk has created a metal cover of The Magic of Friendship Grows, keeping the original vocals to give it a ballad-like feeling. While it remains heavy, the instruments play with a laid-back dynamic so as not to overpower the vocals or create a clashing feeling. Everyone’s voices fit the instrumental, especially when they’re all singing together towards the end. If you like his music, go see him at TrotCon if you can!
PrinceWhateverer – Old Phantoms | Post-Hardcore
Coming off his streak of tracks from REIMAGINE, PrinceWhateverer bursts back onto the scene with a completely new track! Old Phantoms is a fantastic display of his particular style of rock, featuring soft verses next to powerful and soaring choruses while a piano adds to the emotions exhibited. Thematically, this is a sequel to his earlier track Better Tomorrow, depicting Twilight thousands of years into her reign as Equestria’s ruler. This far in, she can barely remember who she was or who went on the journey with her, but believes everything was still worth it in spite of that. With this new tune, it’s clear Prince hasn’t lost his touch!
StableTwoStallion – Böse Stuten | Industrial Metal
StableTwoStallion returns with his familiar German metal flair. Böse Stuten is about mares being bad, and coupled with the gloomy and eerie choir-laden metal song are images of anthro mares doing bad things. Mean mares and mean metal, what else could go better?
Hackamore – twilight sparkle you got some bad ideas | Album | Alternative
[Content warning: profanity]
Hackamore shows up every now and again with touch-ups of old classics. This most recent compilation album is an interesting take on several well-known originals from when they went by Jeff Burgess. The instrumentals have undergone a noticeable improvement, but that’s not what you’ll notice about this album. twilight sparkle you got some bad ideas appears to be an increasingly drunken Fern trying to remember the lyrics to old hits and laughing over memories of performing them live.
Of the songs on the album, many are renamed for the joke based on recognizable tracks like Aphelion (we are all luna on the moon), Beyond the Rainbow (doctor scootaloo), Chaos is My Lullaby (discord), and of course Manehattan Nights (manehattan). In addition to the retouches of originals, Hackamore included a cover of well-known classic The Rescue by Cherax Destructor.
If you’re looking for something between a stroll down memory lane and a meme-type post, then this album is up your alley.
[ASOS] One Track Mind – Post Pone (feat. Xol the Great) | Synthwave
One Track Mind’s style is a force to be reckoned with. Track 31 from A State of Sugar: Brownie is a powerful synthwave track that borrows elements from rock music, making it one of the compilation’s heavier tracks. Starting with a piano intro coupled with a sampled speech from Xol the Great, we’re then thrust into a industrial synthwave track. The driving synthline is reminiscent of a distorted guitar which gives the whole thing a rock edge. The middle breakdown sees everything strip down to just a piano, followed by some picked strings and military drums kept in time with a ticking clock. After some time, everything builds back up full force and we’re back in motion. This track honestly feels like it’d perfectly fit a racing game!
Ponysphere & Unca-Secse – We Are Bad | Heavy Metal
Did this track come straight from the 80s? Ponysphere and Secret Metal (credited here as Unca-Secse) team up to create a heavy metal beast heavily inspired by metal from the 80s. The production, guitar and even the vocals (which sound like the late Ronnie James Dio at some points) are crafted straight out of that era of music, while the lyrics depict the rogue CMCs wreaking havoc across Equestria. It’s amazing what two minds and a lot of beer can come up with!
Djohn Mema – The Moon Light (feat. SlightlyAmiss, Cyril The Wolf, and Sable Symphony) | Metalcore
Brony fandom. It’s time for some real talk. The music scene of this fandom has been full of rich and diverse music since the dawn of the golden age back in 2011. You have embraced anyone who has put forth their best effort. All the hard work, all the effort and talent poured into a musician’s passion. It’s time you give one Djohn Mema your attention. Brony heavy metal is more than just a few artists that you’ve known for a long time. Djohn has been around for some time. He’s known for being a great drummer and guitarist, but it’s not his only strength.
This track has to be the finest showing of him being a vocalist. The Moon Light why yes is another song about the conflict between Celestia and Nightmare Moon. Djohn has written a song that takes Luna’s rage, adds C4 and lets loose. He is joined by Cyril the Wolf on bass, Sable Symphony on lead guitar and mixing, and SlightlyAmiss on acoustic and vox.
The raw emotion in the lyrics, details a pissed off, emotional and pleading princess luna calling down to Celestia. She lets out one thousand years of pent up anger and sorrow surfacing in one giant massive comet coming down hard!. The melodies and production are powerful, brutal and full of sorrow. All the elements of amazing heavy metal are present. The one thing stands out from this track is Djohn’s vocal performance. If wasn’t more clear on how talented he is as a front man. It’s his performance in this track. He channels Nightmare Moon’s anger like a pissed off banshee. But its his singing voice that is beautiful in the choirs. Rage turns into scornful beauty, as he channels Luna’s emotions of sorrow. The man can do more than just scream. The man can sing with passion and beauty. This is brony heavy metal at its best, it’s the full package. It personally reminds me of Corey Taylor’s vocal style. It’s so good! But decide for yourself. This Qilin always will ask for you to judge for yourself and give this man his due.
Horse Music Herald 