NB: This was originally posted on Equestria Daily on 7 May 2018.
SDreamExplorerS’ new album ‘Ephemeral I: Letters and Longings’ is coming out later this month, and this track is the first pre-release from it! It builds up with some interesting atmospheric vibes, before launching into some awesome metal that signals good times to come.
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.
Sweet Celestia! Check out this amazing lineup of musicians collaborating to cover a fandom classic in Prince Whateverer’s Between Fairytales and Happy Endings! This soft, yet very emotional track describes the hardships that Derpy has to deal with in being different from the others. Scruff’s vocals do well to express the frustration she experiences with the way others treat her. SlightlyAmiss plays a serene acoustic guitar throughout the track. Blackened shreds a couple of technically brilliant guitar solos and with Sable Symphony, Brownie, and Osoch combined bring together a fantastic tribute. With such a legendary lineup of brony guitarists, it is no wonder that the guitar work on this track is so well-done!
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!
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!
NB: This was originally posted on Equestria Daily on 1 May 2018.
Elias Frost is at it again with a new cover of the song from the recent CMC episode. He’s given it a pretty neat makeover in his usual style, with a great music video to go along with it.
Warning: some explicit lyrics
I’ve had my suspicions that there’s no style of music Vylet can’t do well and this confirms it! Executing a great, old-school, underground punk track about Daybreaker, Vylet shows off his huge range as well as the angst of Celestia’s evil, alter-ego. The production is spot-on, ensuring the emotion in the vocals is front and center, as Daybreaker yells at her sister, Nightmare Moon, about the world they could have ruled together. Even the accompanying video feels like it was made in the 70s old school punk era, punctuating the brilliance of both DAYBREAKER and Vylet!
Steel Chords is back and this time he brought friends! Parodying Bowling For Soup’s hit song Ohio (Come Back to Texas), Steel sings about Applejack’s trip to Manehatten as a filly to live with her Aunt and Uncle Orange. He describes how the Apple’s back at the orchard miss their beloved sister while she is gone. EVBP provides the guitars and bass, while Djohn Mema rocks the drums. With funny and clever references to other episodes, creative harmonies, and a gritty, punk feel, Sweet Apple Acres is a great take on the original track!
You can always count on Elias Frost to cook up something different. Covering the opening song from Equestria Girls: Forgotten Friendship, Frost takes the happy pop track to a heavy, darker place. Adding some metal beats, a lot of distorted guitars, and a dramatic synth, Elias creates a brilliantly unique take on the original, complete with the video of him performing it.
Brilliant Venture’s always had a talent for nostalgic songs, and Moved On is no exception. At once melodic, energetic, and oldschool, this song jumps from genre to genre fluidly. It’s like being taken on a guided tour by a cheerful, helpful, kind pony (Pinkie?) through a world of happiness and nostalgia.
Horse Music Herald 