Search - The Black Mages :: Black Mages 2: Skies Above

Excellent second effort; creative arrangements

Zephyr | 08/02/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This is The Black Mages' second offering. Their sound in this collection is far more mature than their first offering. Apparently this is partly due to the fact that a great deal of the first album was pre-programmed, and most of the music on this disc was actually performed. The tracks on this disc have a wide variety of styles, more creative arrangements, and fewer gaps in consistency to detract from the listening experience. There are a few real gems on here. The guitarwork is more Satriani-like and less Van-Halen, meaning less crunch and more soaring melody. That's not to say that the crunch is gone; it's here in spades, but there's a lot more variety now. There's also a great deal of virtuosic acoustic guitar. We're not talking classical or anything, but it's pretty darn good for a rock album. Here's my track-by-track breakdown which might be a bit laborious for some, so skip it if you want.



Track 1: The Rocking Grounds (FF III)

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Right off the bat, we hear a much richer, more mature rock-and-roll style from the Mages. The drums are a little less thrashing, and the music just drives. While this track isn't exactly special, it's a nice intro as to what's to come.



Track 2: Zeromus (FF IV)

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I love this track. The music just glides. Fans of FF IV (FF II in the U.S.) will recognize the main theme in the middle of the song all of a sudden. Really cool stuff. (Right at 1:08, if you're curious.) It's not the best track on the album, but it's heavily nostalgic for me.



Track 3: Vamo' Alla Flamenco (FF IX)

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This is probably the best track on the album, and is worth the price of the disc alone. Apparently a fan favorite in their concerts, they carry it off beautifully here and build a truly remarkable rock-and-roll piece. Great acoustic guitar inserted in the middle.



Track 4: Hunter's Chance (FF IX)

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This is a totally transformed version of the tune from FF IX. Quirky little tune. They've added some really Satriani-like guitar along with some video-game like synth scales that add nostalgic value to the track. They even threw in a great little piano solo in the middle. Really, everything but the kitchen sink in this tune. Good stuff.



Track 5: Otherworld (FF X)

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What's that? Vocals??! Yup, they got a singer for this one. She's pretty good, too. Not exactly Joan Jett, but she rocks enough for this one. Not bad.



Track 6: Matoya's Cave (FF I)

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Very clever little rock ballad with some deceptively simple acoustic guitar. This track probably best displays their new maturity as a band, as it's no longer just heavy-metal; at one moment it's a little folk tune, then it's down and dirty blues, and just for good measure they put in a really cool section in the middle where it's just a synth that sounds like a video game. It doesn't break the flow and it adds some nostalgia. Really terrific work here. Fans of the album Celtic Moon will probably really like the light touch on this particular track.



Track 7: The Man with the Machine Gun (FF VIII)

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I find it really interesting to listen to this one back-to-back with the version on Fithos Lusec Wecos Vinosec. Really, totally different take on the same subject matter. Some great guitar on this track; we're back to Van Halen territory.



Track 8: Maybe I'm a Lion (FF VIII)

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More FF VIII. FF VIII probably had the best music in the series, but most of the stuff that was available before was orchestral; this takes the final battle music and makes it rock. This is probably how it was supposed to sound on the console, but it didn't work quite as well as it does now. This is probably the "hardest" rock on the disc, and it really does rock. Awesome guitar, especially towards the end.



Track 9: Battle with the Four Fiends (FF IV)

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Another quirky rock and roll piece. Nothing special here.



Track 10: The Skies Above (FF X)

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This COULD have been a great, anthemic track. This aims to be this album's "Dancing Mad" (see their first album for info on that track), and it works okay, but a couple things just aren't quite right: First, going from solo piano to straight-out rock just didn't work for me, and second, their choice of a singer was a bit oddball. This is a sort of heavy-metal ballad, but this guy is more of a Broadway-ish baritenor. This should have been sung by more of a rock singer with a more expressive range. He hits the notes (which are really high), but his style is totally at odds with the music around him. The track is still listenable, but I just can't help thinking what it could have been. This track is the only reason I don't give this album five stars.



Track 11: Blue Blast - Winning the Rainbow

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There's some mystery surrounding this track. It appears to be Final Fantasy related, but noone seems to know where it's from. I found a reference to "Village Beach Soldier Western Team Entrance Theme Song" on one site, but I have no idea whether this is a FF reference or something else. Other folks seem to think it's an original piece by the band. Either way, it's a good tune and it fits well with the rest of the album."

The sweeping collision of poignance and thrash.

Dark Weasel | United States | 12/17/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"As a fan of The Black Mages' debut album, I knew I wouldn't have any difficulty loving another LP if they used the exact same structure and formula as the first. Unsurprisingly, this was not the case, and The Black Mages have taken everything that made their eponymous debut special, while adding a significant number of innovations to the table.



1. The Rocking Grounds



...although you wouldn't think so from the first track. This song is very reminiscient of their previous material. Solid, but a bit unmemorable.



2. Zeromus



On the contrary, this song is excellently layered with signature Black Mages guitar sound and extra quirks that make it unique. A very recognizable tune from FFIV, interpreted excellently here.



3. Vamo' Alla Flamenco



Surprisingly yes, this is the same band, juxtaposing near-salsa music with acoustic guitar, infused with the usual hard rock, to make an extremely memorable- arguably danceable track. A highlight.



4. Hunter's Chance



This is a very quality song, dark in tone and driving in its nature. It seems to be one of the more underrated songs on the album.



5. Otherworld



When I first realised this song would be included, I wondered just how they'd pull it off. The band had proven they could reinterpret classical scores into rock anthems such as Dancing Mad, but how could they reinterpret this stunning metal piece from FFX?



The answer, of course, is that instead of "rocking it up", they toned it down. This song is much, much more melodic than its FFX counterpart, with a very competent female vocalist in KAZCO. Another highlight of the album, and very memorable, it will of course draw comparisons with the original, even though these comparisons are fairly undue. As a reviewer, I would say that both songs stand very highly on their own merits.



Now a note on the vocals on this album....there are two songs that feature them- this track, and The Skies Above, which I'll cover later. Speaking frankly, neither of the songs have vocals that the average radio listener would call "good". I note that they are unorthodox and extremely unique, standing out from the music on several levels. Your mileage may vary, but then again the "average radio listener" probably isn't even reading this review, are they?



6. Matoya's Cave



A lovely song, providing a "break" of sorts without ruining the flow of the album. Extremely impressive, and it really showcases the versatility of the band.



7. The Man With The Machine Gun



This song is instantly recognizable and highly enjoyable. One of my favourites off of the album, very-fast paced.



8. Maybe I'm A Lion



I must agree with another reviewer and say that FFVIII features some of the best music in the series, and this reinterpretation is no different. Extremely impressive.



9. Battle With The Four Fiends



An intense track, reminiscient of the work on their first album.



10. The Skies Above



This song in particular seems to draw the most fire from those I've spoken to...and I can't help but disagree. This song is the absolute highest moment of the album, and comparable with Dancing Mad in its brilliance. From the opening piano intro that brings back the stirring emotions of sadness prevalent whenever it appeared in FFX, the song suddenly leaps into intensity with a fast, driving buildup and breakdown. Out of nowhere, vocalist "mr. goo" soars above and beyond all of the instruments with his voice unlike anything I've ever heard. The song continues, with vocal melodies complimenting the ever-surging music impeccably, until the end where the song explodes and calms down to a slow anthem, followed shortly by an outro on keys, bringing the song full circle. The vocals on this track seem to be the main point of contention when it comes to "song sucks" or "song does not suck" arguments, and all I can suggest is that you listen to the song and decide on your own. If you're open-minded and the phrase "loud, accented, operatic male singer" doesn't make you cringe, then you may just end up loving this song as much as I do.



11. Blue Blast- Winning The Rainbow



I'm of the belief that this song is an original composition by the band, but there are obviously those that say otherwise. Nonetheless, it is a quality, fitting ending to a very quality album.



So an underview- this album overall flows better, sounds better, and is more unique than its predecessor, but I still highly recommend listening to their debut first. Nonetheless, if you enjoy Final Fantasy, rock music, and any combination of the two, you're sure to find a satisfying listening experience in The Skies Above."