OC ReMix: Bad Ass: Boss Themes: Volume II Review

OC ReMix recently released their latest album, BadAss: Boss Themes: Volume II. The album features 14 tracks by 12 artists, all of them remixes and reimaginings of boss battle themes from games both wildly popular and lesser known.

A lot of these songs are metal versions of the game themes, including "Baby Bowser - Bowzilla," "Teddy Bear - Hunger," " The Dark Legion - Skull-Head," "The Magi - Oblivion," and "The Syndicate - Syndication." "Ganondorf - Ganonize" simmers an electric guitar sinisterly, but doesn't reach a boil. "Robot Bosses - Hedgehog Fodder" from Sonic & Knuckles is a real standout in this category.

Several of the songs have vocals. "The Great Mighty Poo - Poop" from the N64 game Conker's Bad Fur Day is a dream for the juvenile listener, a dark metal remake of the song famous for its potty humor. "Dr. Eggman - Broken Dreams" also uses vocals effectively, in this case sound clips from the TV over an electronic beat. "The Combine - Mister Freeman" uses distorted vocals for a haunting feel, as if something is lurking around the corner. "Ultimate Phalanx - Red Retaliation" features raspy screamed lyrics over a dynamic metal track.
 
"02 - Tough It Out!" isn't evil sounding, but it's frenetic and reaches tense chiptune heights. "Dr. Wily - Top This" also sounds like a party with a little gritty edge. "Dr. Robotnik - Egg-Shaped Prison" evokes a creepy, haunted dungeon, and sounds the most like "video game music" of these tracks.

BadAss: Boss Themes: Volume II is available as a free download from http://badass2.ocremix.org/