ReMix:Mega Man X4 "Release the Kraken" 3:45

It's Mega Man X5's 23rd birthday! What's that, you say? This one's from MMX4?? Well, OK, it's primarily from MMX4, but stick with us. After recently featuring his Sonic CD collab with Pete Lepley from a decade ago, it's time to spotlight SuperiorX once again, this time with a Mega Man X4 AND X5 combo arrangement, originally a compo track bolstered by a collab with timaeus222. Enjoy an electronic/rock fusion of X4's second Final Weapon theme together with X5's Squid Adler theme! SuperiorX has been making sure good stuff in his back catalog still gets to shine:

"Hi, guys & gals! I'm back from my 6-year hiatus with a 6-year-old remix! I actually hope to find some time this year (2022) to begin working on new music again in earnest, because I do miss it. I've slowly been picking up some new equipment and VSTs the past couple of years thinking it would help motivate me to return, so now I just need to find the time. :)

Anyhow, this track comes courtesy of the 2015 Sigma Fortress Remix Gauntlet and represents the last completed song I actually made way back when. timaeus222 had been planning an album release of selected compo tracks in 2016, of which this song was to be included, but I'm not sure whatever happened to the album.

Regardless, timaeus222 had jumped on board and collabed with me to help flesh out this track from the original compo version and really brought it to life. He primarily added the piano solo from 2:30-2:50, but also added countless other backing parts and flourishes throughout the chorus sections. I stumbled across it just the other day and forgot how much I enjoyed it and thought it would be nice to sub for others to hear after all these years. Hope you all like it too!"

It's got a quirky "OK desu ka?" intro with that synth over yonder, yes siree. Oh wait, I got ahead of myself! Matt also provided an arrangement breakdown, which YES I NEED:

"0:00-0:30 = original stuff
0:31-0:46 = "Volt Kraken" (X5) bass, "Final Weapon 2" (X4) piano B melody
0:47-1:01 = "Volt Kraken" bass, "Final Weapon" synth B melody
1:02-1:16 = "Volt Kraken" bass line on the backing synth
1:17-1:32 = "Final Weapon" C melody (leads & pads)
1:33-2:03 = "Volt Kraken" synth B melody, "Final Weapon" piano C accompaniment
2:04-2:18 = original stuff
2:19-2:33 = "Volt Kraken" bass line on the backing synth
2:34-2:50 = "Volt Kraken" bass
2:51-3:04 = "Volt Kraken" bass, "Final Weapon" synth solo B melody
3:06-3:21 = "Final Weapon" C melody (leads & pads)
3:22-3:40 = "Final Weapon" piano C accompaniment"

Thanks in part to SupX's arrangement breakdown, it was easy for the Js to sit back and bask in how dynamic the music was, as prophetik music did:

"haha, super weird opening. not bad, just immediately made me smile because it's weird. the big beat and swirly keys right away were a fun sound. drums are probably a bit loud over the piano lead, but it's a fun beat and i love the bass blats. there's some more rhythmic synths added at about 1:00 and then it opens up more at 1:15 to a more traditional electro/rock feel. i agree with MW that you'd never guess this is a mashup.

there's a piano break at 1:42ish, with some fun panned verby synths and a recap of the super scooper lead from the beginning, and we're back to a bigger beat at 2:19 or so. this felt similar to the opening, but there's some new stuff added in around 2:35 that mix it up, especially in the keys. 3:06 opens up again and i really dig the descending countermelodic synth work there. there's a swell to a keys-driven outro, and it ends comfortably.

this is a fun track. it sounds good, does a great job with a preponderance of source, and doesn't overstay its welcome. nice work."

Dammit, Matt, you bought the gear, now get it into gear with some new music! :-P How do we make this man carve out some time to create new music? YOU there, fellow listener? Are you enjoying this rump shakin' beat at :15? I need my beats LOWD, with Judge DarkSim affriming the same, saying "Drums sound punchy and clean, but have a tight groove to them with those lovely crisp hi-hats." Or did you need the sprinkles of piano AND the amazing bass writing at :31 to grab you? So many nice spots of ear candy with the synth lead at :47, though the bass writing at 1:17's also smoove. I just can't decide what I'm digging the most, and that's just the front half! Loads of good ideas and spacious sound design to hone in on, there's tons of sections to uncover and appreciate here as the ideas comfortably flow from one idea to the next. We'll say the (volt) kraken was definitely released by SuperiorX & timaeus222, and you owe it to yourself to listen through and see what YOU like! Then let SuperiorX know he should make more music so that we can post it! :-)