THE BLACK MAGES III: DARKNESS AND STARLIGHT

well... i'm a huge fan of Nobuo Uematsu and other japanise composoers of game music so Black Mages are nothing new to me. Also the idea of creating a prog metal band by Uematsu and his companions didn't surprised me, because i know about music fascinations and roots of Nobuo's music (he listen to evrything: from Elthon Jon by camel, rush and king crimson trough some chease j-pop celebrities).

First cd was an medicore album on i'ts own, dedicated only to fans of Final Fantasy. But it was a succes. Second cd was more ambitious, but in artistic field it failed. But this also was a succes. Now after 4 years of silence Black mages comes with their trhiud longplay. Is it good? Lates see

1.Opening - Bomboing mission- final fantasy 7- a memorable opening, with mystical keyboard intrudaction and powerfull guitar work wich comes after one and a half minute in elp style rocker based on superfast kayboard work. Wonderfull guitar work and stunning drums over whole song. This what i wanted. 10/10

2.Neo EXDETH- final fantasy 5- a hard rocking final batlle theme from ff5. I has it moments, but for me the base song is not so good itself. It's a kind of old DT- rocker... hmmm... lets say 7/10

3.The EXTREME- final fantasy 8- theme from final batlle with Ultimecia. I always liked this song. It has beutifull acustic-ambient opening and then speed up to bulid a fascinaiting keyboard based rocker. Some misplaced tunes here, but overral great work. Espaccialy a somwhat weired guitars and great keybord play. 8,5/10

4.Assult of the silver dragons -final fantasy 9- theme ending third disc of this game (or beginnig of fourt, i'm not sure now). Another good, keyboard driven rocker. In the end it builds to one of the most noble Nobuo's themes... wonderfuul, airy, somwhat melancholic, it can take you to the skies. Overall 8/ 10

5.Dark Cloud-final fantasy 3- theme of main evil in ff3- it's not a first rearange of this tune, you can find one in a music novel maked from ff3. BUt this version is better- it's have a strong retro feeling wich fits here perfectly. If you know previos BM cd you can describe it as a continuation of batlle with four fiends. Very rocky, and with guitar riffs on first plan. Some graet symphonic moments invluded. 7,5/10

6 Distatnt world- final fantasy 11: online- long and non composed by Uematsu but beutifful and mystical. Sounds rather like MItsuda's work (but it's not his work after all)... after all this metal storms a perfect theme for some rest: great harp and piano cooperation and some heartcatching keyborad melodies. 9/10

7.Permonition: final fantasy 8. - theme from batlle with sorceress. A great metal, DT-like, song. Wonderfull drumming and guitar soloing. But song is somwhat annoying, it loses melody somtimes. 7,5/10

8. Grand Cross: final fantasy 9. Another final batlle theme. Starts with great intro with some weired painfull screams in the background. After that we aproach a powerfull , hard, riffy metal smasher. A song to play loud and disturbing neighbours. Very good one. Riffy, catchy, with a great rythm and incredible guitar and keyboards solos. 9,5/10

9.Darkness and starlight: final fantasy 6. -opera from the game, now with singing , not writen text and MID voice. Long piece with horrible japanse narration. The song itself is good but i'm not a lover of this kind of tracks, opera vocals and stuff... for me only real flaw of the album. 6/10

10LIfe- short piano outro by Uematsu

Lets see... 4 stars. The best black mages album. Not only for fans of final fantasy. For all fans of prog metal.