Reviews by Waz |
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Displaying Reviews 1 - 30 out of 44 |
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Way of the Exploding Fist - arranged by Kent WalldénReview by Waz, 12/09/2025 Twenty five years since this remix was released, and still as iconic as it was back then. It may not sound as well produced as others, but the whole essence of the tune remains wonderfully intact here, complete with sensible variations on the theme as the tune loops - with plenty of funky drums and some gorgeous instruments to add depth too. Classic. |
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The Eidolon - arranged by LManReview by Waz, 12/09/2025 Depeche Mode meets Lucasfilm Games in this rather original and well crafted remix. The suitable synth and drum crashes punctuate ever so well and gives it a darkwave sinister feel that the original would have had if different instruments were used. Excellent all round. |
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Starquake - arranged by Anders HesselbomReview by Waz, 11/09/2025 Short and sweet in equal measures, with plenty of flow and feel to keep it succince too. |
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Knightmare (Valentine 2021 Jam Session) - arranged by The St. Albans Rob Hubbard Fan ClubReview by Waz, 11/09/2025 Steve Barrett's C64 theme tune to the game Knightmare doesn't cover the TV series theme tune either, so what has been done here is an effectively lovely remix of Steve's tune. And it really does pull it off well.There are some lovely acoustic guitars throughout that flow nicely, along with some subtle use of the piano where needed as well as the main lead having the space it needs to breathe well. The initial slower pace may sound too slow, but this stripped back approach works well to then allow the drums and other instruments to come in at a suitable time. Thoroughly enjoyable, although may take a few listens to fully get it. |
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I am the Law (Judge Dredd) - arranged by 7DD9Review by Waz, 11/09/2025 Plenty of energy and fast pace in this one as 7DD9 gives it a futuristic electronic treatment here, complete with vocal samples. Maybe it needed to sound more Industrial, but nonetheless what is here is well crafted and shows careful handling of the beats and drops with plenty of the original feel still intact. |
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LAST V8 (live yt vid) - arranged by LukHashReview by Waz, 29/08/2025 This is trademark Lukhash - bold, bright, and uncompromising. The gorgeous synths and drums really do underpin the whole tune wonderfully well - and the involvement of the original game's speech just enhances the feel a little more.Yes it is loud and in your face, but that's what the original game felt like (not least with those broken controls!) and the feeling comes through very strongly here. Still for me one of those remixes that stands the test of time. |
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Storm - 2017 Version - arranged by Glyn R BrownReview by Waz, 29/08/2025 Beautiful use of the piano as ever and with the fast pace that this 2017 version has, it really does still after all these years kick in very nicely.It sounds like Glyn had plenty of fun with this one, especially the voices in the second part to add a second dimension to that, sounding euphoric trance-like in its way that it all just builds. |
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The Human Race - arranged by MRTReview by Waz, 29/08/2025 From the opening section with some gorgeous instruments and feeling of space, the mix develops into a really lovely sense of being somewhat uplifting and yet reflective at the same time. That demo scene-like gentle arpeggio in the background is just the icing on a very nice cake full of surprises. Thoroughly enjoyable. |
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Agent X 2 - arranged by Tim ForsythReview by Waz, 29/08/2025 There's so much delightful warmth in this one, from the precision of those rises and falls that are the Follin trademarks of the original, and being played with gusto and virtuousity.When you listen to how much Tim has progressed since then, remixes like this show the foundation of what was there - musicality, authenticity and enjoyment of the original that shines through. |
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One man and his droid - arranged by DummyReview by Waz, 29/08/2025 Did someone say One Man and His Droid goes swashbuckling? It's very much of that era of film-making with this one, and plenty of lovely instrumentation and timing to make it go along.The main hooks and verses are all there - and if the middle interlude Maneater-esque section had been perforrmed, that would have elevated it even higher. A very enjoyable and well crafted listen nonetheless. (and please do another remix some time Dummy, this one showed so much promise and skill) |
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Bump Set Spike (Schizo Classical Remix) - arranged by Nicklas SchmidtReview by Waz, 29/08/2025 From the opening stanza of the main piano having a lovely relaxed feel, and on to the middle waltz part that wouldn't look out of place at an Andre Rieu concert, to the final more bombastic Proms-like show, the way this develops in its arrangement is carefully crafted and skilled. A definite grower with each listen and comes highly recommended. |
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Action Biker - arranged by Johan AnderssonReview by Waz, 29/08/2025 Clean and concise, and the arrangement works wonders to keep things as fun as the original, which is key here. Lovely use of the guitars too to give it that sligthtly country rock feel and keeping that intact too. I enjoyed this back then and still do now. |
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Amaurote (Full Sci-Fi Horror Mix) - arranged by Martin DoddReview by Waz, 29/08/2025 Take all the dark John Carpenter vibes and add the suspense of all the piano and instruments that culminate in a real sense of panic, and you are on to a winner here. It really does offer something different and highlights also how under-rated the in-game tune by David Whittaker was in the first place.Won't be to everyone's liking, but I really enjoyed this one back in 2021 and still do now, with a sense of foreboding but for different reasons. |
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Spellbound - arranged by ManoReview by Waz, 29/08/2025 Full marks for the originality here - with a nod to the likes of Monkey Island along the way. Take Mexican mariachi, along with Spanish flamenco, mix them up with that sense of being swashbuckling at sea somewhere, and you're taken to a different place. Very enjoyable and crucially, accomplished in its composition and feel. |
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Tetris [Mariko's Tale] (Encore64 V2) - arranged by Barry LeitchReview by Waz, 06/12/2024 To take on the whole of this lengthy Wally Beben piece, which was outstanding to begin with, takes some effort. But add to that the expertise shown here and it's an absolute winner. Beautiful choices of instruments and recreation of the likes of the C64's organ sample blend perfectly together, and the Oriental twist with its thunderous drums really underpins the whole thing so well. You simply have to listen to the whole 27 minutes plus to appreciate the love and craft that has gone into this, with surprises at every turn which make you feel uplifted when the next segment beautifully blends in. Outstanding. |
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Tetris (C64 Orchestral Mix) - arranged by Bastian DornbachReview by Waz, 09/02/2024 To even attempt the whole 25 minutes plus of Tetris is a monumental effort to start with, never mind the execution. There's lots of well balanced progression and development as the tune builds and builds, and even though some of the instrument choices may not be everyone's cup of tea, there's no doubt that the feeling of the original SID is there in abundance, and for me, that's the most important thing - it's all there with feeling and heart. The rise and fall of the SID backing instrument is here as the whole thing moves along.There's plenty of film score sounds here, straight out of the likes of Philip Glass, Ennio Morricone et al. It's also testament to the way that the crescendos build from 17 minutes in that there's attention to detail to make not ust a 1:1 cover of the whole thing, but add to much more too. I'm certainly looking forward to what Bastian can do in the future, and this is a very good start indeed. |
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Knucklebusters (PSX Music2000 edit) - arranged by TomskReview by Waz, 09/12/2023 Twenty four years on, and this for me is still one of the definitive versions of Knucklebusters, for a number of reasons. Firstly, it takes on the whole tune, so anyone complaining it istoo longclearly does not appreciate the original (which what Windshield_CB also alluded to.) Second, it replicates the dark Industrial sounds throughout really do make the tune have that bass crunch too. And thirdly, most important of all, the feel of the original is there, which when doing something like this, is massively important. Yes, the instruments may not be to everyone's taste, but doing this inside a Playstation 1 music editor and working within those confines shows some considerable skill also. And when you consider that this was a stepping stone to the superb remixes that Tomsk does now, it's important historically to appreciate where someone comes from and starts with. So sit back, listen and enjoy. |
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Sigma Seven - Just a touch of Jazz - arranged by 0supereg0Review by Waz, 25/10/2023 It's a fairly good effort to do something different with this. But I do think there's a little bit too much in the way of jazz noodling with a Kenny G styled saxophone which gets in the way of the main lead being given the room to flow and be the star of the show - which may need a mixing tweak to get that up front. It could also do with being a tad shorter to make it sound more punchier, as the original isn't that long to begin with. As Louis Balfour would say in Jazz Club - Niiiiiiiiiiice. |
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Hades Nebula (Quinque annis post) - arranged by LaLaReview by Waz, 24/10/2023 If you wanted John Carpenter to do a space themed horror with the soundtrack based on a Ben Daglish under-rated tune, then this is what you're looking for. Delightfully cinematic, with beautiful use of instruments, and attention to detail means each nuance is carefully placed. |
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Complications (Encore500) - arranged by Peter ClarkeReview by Waz, 24/10/2023 Take one of my favourite demo tunes composed by Tomas Danko (halcyon memories of the Mutant Refridgerator part of one demo in particular) and give it plenty of funky soul and a gorgeous vibe, and you have an impressive and excellent reworking.Attention to detail has been paid throughout so that the instrument placement is just right, nothing is wasted. And most crucially of all, the feel is all there, it has that in spades. |
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Out of Nothing (feat. Atom Guitar) - arranged by Eivind SommerstenReview by Waz, 27/07/2023 Thoroughly enjoyable, especially with the flute giving way to the guitar. And definitely we need people to appreciate the late Kjell's music a lot more - hugely under-rated in my view. So something to do him justice (as this does, and rocks pretty hard) is welcome.The only thing I'd probably change a little is the middle section - it maybe needs a litlte more definition, but does also break up the tune nicely too. Rock on. |
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Tristesse - arranged by Dr FutureReview by Waz, 27/07/2023 I would have given this higher, but even though it sounds fine, this remix has all the emotion of DRAX's original piece torn out of it. Only when the SID lead comes back in does that emotion come back (because that's something DRAX was always superb at). It doesn't cut it for me - the guitar is nice enough but definitely feels like it's also too long compared to the original. A more cut down version may have worked better in this instance. |
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Shogun - arranged by AarrowReview by Waz, 27/07/2023 Potential here for definite, a little spoilt by too much reverb being here. There's actually a nice use of some Oriental instruments but they're a little buried underneath, and need to be igven the time to shine - as in fact it does later in the mix. Maybe also it needs a little shortening by say 30-60 seconds, but definite potential - and kudos for picking a lesser known composer also. |
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Gerry the Germ (tune 2) - arranged by Tim ForsythReview by Waz, 27/07/2023 How this got a mere 6th in the Arok Party competition, I don't know. Seriously.I really enjoy the indie rock style of this one, and definitely with the guitar cranked up to Britpop levels, it definitely shows something different for this tune as well, and makes for a very enjoyable listen. The only thing I would possibly look at is a possible change of the long lead at the start of the verse, but apart from that, an admirable effort. |
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Kikstart II remix - arranged by Nadin0xD400Review by Waz, 27/07/2023 Whilst I can see the potential here for me (and bear in mind I'm a big fan of Shaun Southern games), and that there's most of the feel of the original, for me it doesn't quite get it right - the drums do attempt to give it a faster pace than the original but somehow works against the other instruments in the mix mix, meaning it feels a little lost.Should it have won the Arok Party competition in my view? No. Is it enjoyable to listen to? Initially yes, but can grate a bit after a while for some. That all said, there is potential for Naxin0xD400 to go on to greater things and definitely that should be encouraged and nutured to become even better. There is promise here definitely. |
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Krakout - arranged by SoundLogicReview by Waz, 31/01/2023 Nice effort to try and do something playful here with Krakout. If anything, it needed to be a little more off the wall, in the true style of Ben Daglish himself. It does work nicely and there's some good thought gone into this. Definitely worth a listen. |
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Sweet - arranged by Reyn OuwehandReview by Waz, 09/11/2022 What a heartfelt and emotional piece this is. It has all the feeling of the original intact and is such a lovely tribute to the sadly missed Johannes Bjerregaard. It's haunting, it's dark and yet powerfully melodic at the same time with so much emotion. It's hard to describe, but there's just so many wonderful moments to this remix. |
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Green Beret Blues - arranged by Marcel DonnéReview by Waz, 29/09/2022 Very Bladerunner-esque and some gorgeous atmosphere in this one. It takes all the best moments of the original and gives them room to breathe, without losing its feel either. |
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The Last V8 (Metal Tribute) - arranged by XxDUSTYxXReview by Waz, 07/09/2022 Very enjoyable and plenty of metal as you drive along with the most broken C64 game controls ever. It's very well made and just a little of the feel is lost for me, but kicks hard anyway. Definitely a sign of greater things to come later (see the 2020 Tusker rework!) |
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Fist2 - The Legend Continues (feat. Vaggelis) - arranged by XxDUSTYxXReview by Waz, 07/09/2022 You want a hard rock and metal section for Fist II? Well, look no further. It's as if Neil Brennan himself reformed his band and played it this way. Thoroughly enjoyable and keeping the spirit of the SID intact too. |
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