Experience the RighteousNES - Vomitron album review
Nine new tracks from Vomitron, RighteousNES is just over an hour of music from regular Nintendo classics like Mega Man 2, Ghosts 'n Goblins, and Final Fantasy. You won't be finding any first party Nintendo games on this collection though. Vomitron makes room for lesser known classics like Airwolf and Journey to Silius. At least these games are lesser known for their gameplay, they are well known for their killer soundtracks.
No fooling around, it's time for the first half of a fifteen minute tribute to "Mega Man 2 [1 of 2]". Keyboards lead the opening of this medley with the opening theme of the game. Things quickly shift into some heavy metal guitar riffs and driving drums alongside the maddening keyboard. We are hit with an onslaught of stages from the game, and Vomitron tackles each of them with an intense mix of guitars and keyboards switching leads along with the stages. It all ends with a successful mission.
Things are about to get much tougher with another Capcom classic, "Ghosts N Goblins." This is a haunting tune, but the double pedal drums make sure that the pace is high. Going to want to run full speed out of that graveyard, and get to the final boss real quick. Standing around is a surefire way to die in Ghosts 'n Goblins, and Vomitron brings that "can never stop to rest' mood to this track. It all culminates in another victory, and a light reprieve of piano.
I am far more familiar with "Journey to Silius" as an amazing standard for several live game music cover bands. Vomitron keeps the dream alive with this rendition of the popular theme. This track goes absolutely to the wall, and is exactly why I love the game despite never playing it and having no opinion on the actual gameplay. The tone of the track immediately shifts at about the one and a half minute mark, and turns into a soft, atmospheric theme, before righteously building back into those slamming riffs.
"Final Fantasy" doesn't get broken into two parts, and as such gets to claim the title of longest track on the album. It's 13 solid minutes of the sounds of Final Fantasy. Vomitron doesn't like to stick in one place too long with these covers, and takes us through the opening, towns, battles, boss fights, and that classic victory theme, ending in a grand finale.
No matter how long you have lived with Final Fantasy, and what your feelings about it have been at any point in the last 30 odd years, you know you have some emotions when you hear a classic Final Fantasy theme. I stopped writing about games and game music for about two years, abut damn did I not spend a day without a final fantasy theme in my head.
Gradius, Salamander, "Life Force," The game can be called anything and the soundtrack would still rock hard, especially behind the capable musicianship of Vomitron. A metal medley that leads us throughout the galaxy and blasting through endless waves of enemies, dodging countless bullets. Ending things with a spaced out ending theme that perfectly recreates the cosmic vibe of a Konami shmup.
The adventures of "Mega Man 2 [2 of 2]" continue as Vomitron smashes through the final stage themes of the game and reaching the lair of Dr. Wily for the second of eleven times. Instruments come crashing down as this total of fifteen Mega minutes begins to draw to a close, but before it all falls apart, the dawn comes through and a triumphant theme fades out on our hero.
I've been writing about video game music for over a decade and I still have to stop and be amazed at how how great the Mega Man 2 soundtrack really is. One of the most remixed NES games right there with Super Mario Bros and Final Fantasy, and damn is it still so good, and so remixably incredible as well.
Airwolf is a short and sweet two minute grind. The riffs rumble along, creating the perfect soundtrack to any great montage.
The "Journey to Silius [2 of 2]" ain't over yet. That adventurous guitar works so well to create that cosmic rock I love so much. Just something about that driving metal music against the futuristic and out of this world visuals of many of the games Vomitron chooses to cover on this album. Life Force, Silver Surfer, and Journey to Silius all easily fit into this category. Outer space visuals and hard hitting metal music, thank you Vomitron.
Silver Surfer starts off with a hell of a groove. The spacey keyboard work wraps around some funky drum and bass. Yeah, Silver Surfer has superhuman powers, but he also loves to surf. Vomitron certainly doesn't phone in the finale of this album, creating tons of awesome little musical moments. Spaced out synth work on the keys continuously fights with the driving guitar riffs to really drive home the intense and surreal idea of surfing through space. The grooves just keep coming at the end as catchy riff after catchy riff winds down this track and the album.
I really needed an album like this. Back when I started this site, what got me on this path was being a big fan of some of the first and second wave of video game cover bands, especially those with an emphasis on metal. A lot of the early years of this site were dedicated to groups like Armcannon, Year 200X, the Minibosses, and, hey! Vomitron. You can grab Vomitron's latest on the RighteousNES bandcamp album page.
“The third installment of massively METALIZED interpretations of music from the 8-bit era of Nintendo.
credits
released May 21, 2021
Arranged, Performed by Vomitron
Mixed & Mastered by Pete Rutcho
Artwork, Physical Copy Layout & Design by Gustavo “Holy Fuck I Rule!” Sazes
Released by Metavania Music in Spring 2021”
