Black Mages 3: Darkness & Starlight

I’m not ones to review albums but this one was worth it.

ok for those who aren’t aware who the black mages are they are a rock (in various forms) band formed by Nobuo Uematsu

and the members of the band are as follows (they vary from album to ablum an song to song but here they are)

* Tsuyoshi Sekito — Guitar
* Michio Okamiya — Guitar
* Nobuo Uematsu — Organ
* Kenichiro Fukui — Keyboard
* Keiji Kawamori — Bass
* Arata Hanyuda – Drums and Percussion
* Alex Ha — Director
* Zedhi Huckle — Synthesiser

so basically 4 members/ex members of squaresoft/enix and the others I am guessing are friends of those members.

so lets do a quick run down on the tracks from this album

1. “Opening ~ Bombing Mission” (from Final Fantasy VII) 4:39
2. “Neo EXDEATH” (from Final Fantasy V) 4:39
3. “The Extreme” (from Final Fantasy VIII) 5:51
4. “Assault of the Silver Dragons” (from Final Fantasy IX) 5:01
5. “KURAYAMINOKUMO” (from Final Fantasy III) 4:56
6. “Distant Worlds” (from Final Fantasy XI) 7:32
7. “Premonition” (from Final Fantasy VIII) 5:23
8. “Grand Cross” (from Final Fantasy IX) 5:34
9. “Darkness and Starlight” (from Final Fantasy VI) 15:32
10. “Life ~ in memory of KEITEN ~” (original composition)1:38

ok lets start this off then

“Opening ~ Bombing Mission”

ok thats not the title of the track in the game but we all know what it is, its the opening mission from FF7 where you blow up the reactor everyone who has played it can hear it in there head. but I must admit the BM’s didn’t do it much justice its was basically the original track with a few guitar solos in.

“Neo EXDEATH”

this is one of the track that plays throughout FF5 when anytime something evil is happening and then the whole track is played at the ending during the who thing with the X-zone and the final Bosses (you know what I mean if u’ve played it)

ok I loved this track it hit it just perfect you can see the scenes with this music playing and yea its perfect.

“The Extreme”

yay FF8 this was the boss music at the end of the game and this version is well ACE! its not his best work and when I get this on CD i will be ripping this as flac because the version I have acquired is a bit hissy.

“Assault of the Silver Dragons”

FF9 and kuja. now this one I didn’t really like but its was ok really… well I didn’t really love the original so a remix isn’t going to get me going.

“KURAYAMINOKUMO”

I love the title to this one(translates to cloud of darkness, which is easier to say). now this one was from the original FF3 but I believe is was in the remake I don’t know I haven’t got a DS any more to check. this one I liked it really hit the tone just right with the very long slow opening and then the evil middle and end with the fast battle bit in-between.

“Distant Worlds”

now this is a track that made the name Avenyet famous (if you don’t believe me google it)and I have no idea why… its was the vocal track to FF11, which was only released in japan on a CD the rest of the world had to buy it off either itunes or from the Sqaure-enix music store.

ok about the track in this album… ok its basically a slow track that’s a slight remix of the original with different instruments and no vocals… ok the Bm’s aren’t all about rock ok but this ones a odd

“Premonition”

FF8 again! I think someone like FF8 but who cares because so do I. ok this one is the boss battle with Edea, and once again because I loved the FF8 soundtrack is one great. ok its not great but its good.

“Grand Cross”

Now I know alot of people have been crying out for this one since the BM’s were formed and now you have it. now I hated this boss because even at level 100 he could kill you easily just by using (you guess it) Grand cross. now the opening to this is the same at the game but the start of the track is OMFG! wow! they hit this one right again by leaving in alot of the original stuff and then mixing the rest.

“Darkness and Starlight”

now this is the title track… and its from FF6 i’m guessing it would mean something in Jap i’ll try and find a translation for the opening. but the track is the opera scene from FF6 (Love/Dream Oath: Maria and Draco) i’m guessing he’s actually singing the correct lyrics. I like the fact they’ve done this but i’m not sure if i like this one or hate it…

“Life ~ in memory of KEITEN ~”

this is a song written and performed by Nobuo Uematsu and is a song dedicated to one of Nobuo’s fan’s (named Keiten) who died from cancer earlier this year. its a very sad slow soft track. so I’m not going to rate this one at all because it wouldn’t be fair.

well that is if you want a listen before buying it let me know and i’ll send you a sample. but for those who liked the first two albums this is worth getting but this first one is still the best but not by much.