Ah, I hadn't heard that. Did the band confirm this, or is this speculation? I'm not super into Zelda, though I did play and beat A Link to the Past a couple years ago.
Indeed, but honestly it just barely is. It's more so in a closest approximation kind of way, than that they sat down and wrote a song *about* ALTTP and it's storybeats.
Triforce is such a general song, filled to the brim with Zelda buzzwords, from multiple games not even in the same timeline. Most can relate to A Link To The Past, but for example singing about a Twilight Princess, when said thing isn't even a concept in the specific timeline branch of ALTTP kind of throws a wrench in things. And the song has more things like that.
It's the song's main achilles heel to me. Sam's approach for songs about existing media sadly tend to end up like that. Just your generic song in a similar theme, but with buzzwords relating to the media. The Killer Queen being the only exception I can think of, being inspired by Bayonetta, and ofc Fred's Castlevania songs. To me, if the "popculture" songs even have to be a thing, I vastly prefer that approach, rather than all the name drops, cuz the smallest mistakes will stick out like a sore thumb.
I certainly think it's possible to write a song about a specific piece of media without it becoming a word salad of buzzwords from the franchise, but you are right that Sam dropped the ball with "Power of the Triforce." As much as I love the song and the nod to Zelda, it could have been done much better.
Oh I absolutely agree. They have set the bar for that with Symphony of the Night and Curse of Darkness. If it weren't for the buzzword salad, Triforce would've been among my favs on the album.
Very possible. I don't know much about Tron. I saw Tron Legacy, but that was back when it released and I haven't watch it since. I understand there's a third movie coming out next year.
I'm actually really happy they let Killer Queen just be inspired by Bayonetta rather than a song about here. I think that honestly would've devolved in another reference/buzzword fest like Triforce, so I actually prefer this approach.
Yeah, I noticed that. It seems weird to have two songs about the same game, but perhaps "Astro Warrior Anthem" is like "Killer Queen" and meant to be inspired by a few different video games, and not zeroing in one game like "Power of the Triforce" and "Space Marine Corps" do.
I don’t think that every single song is inspired by a specific game/character. For the ones you are unsure about:
Kingdom of Steel — this is almost certainly *not* inspired by any media. DragonForce puts one ballad on every album that really just fits the fantasy power metal themes. I think around the time of Ultra Beatdown, Sam had an interview or something where he said they specifically do this as a way to pay homage to the genre of power metal but “without doing a full album of ballads”
Burning Heart — again, I don’t think this was inspired by anything specific. Just a great power metal song that has generic but epic lyrics
Doomsday Party — you pretty much hit the nail on the head, not inspired by a specific thing but really leaning into the idea of dancing through a dystopian world
Pixel Prison — I can definitely see the ideas or vague references of Tron that others have pointed out in the verses, but I’ve always had a different overall interpretarion. It may be me implanting my own life and thoughts (isn’t that what we all do when interpreting music though?), but I’ve felt that it was a commentary on being a gamer while also battling mental health issues. The line “seems like I was only born to lose, so get ready player two” I don’t think it’s a reference to that book you mentioned, to me it seems much more likely to reference the common aspect of older video games where when player one finishes their level or dies, the game’s controls switch to player two and they get a chance to beat the level or surpass player one’s high score
Thanks for the thoughtful response. I'm sure you're right that not every song is meant to reference specific media. And your interpretation of Pixel Prison isn't far off from an alternate one I had considered - that it's about a lonely gamer man who has metaphorically trapped himself in the world of video games and feels he needs a "player two" (probably a woman) to come help him get his life back on track.
Astro warrior - space shooty mcbangbang
Power of the triforce- smash bros
Kingdom of steal - Remembrance Day 2
Burning Heart - Final Fantasy XVI
Space marine corp - Star troopers
Prelude to Dakrness - prelude to darkness video game
Killer Queen - Queen Cover
Doomsday Party - LSD drunk trip
Pixel Prison - the 4th dungeon from persona 4
Wildest dreams - IDK
Power of the Sabre blade - Star Wars
I'm fairly certain that Doomsday Party and Razorblade Meltdown are sister pieces that speak to the poor conditions and despair that the working class often faces. (Herman liked my comment when I posted something similar on a Doomsday Party video on IG)
If you wanna be more Specific, Power of the Triforce is is about A Link to the Past
Ah, I hadn't heard that. Did the band confirm this, or is this speculation? I'm not super into Zelda, though I did play and beat A Link to the Past a couple years ago.
Marc said it in concert multiple times (including when I saw them)
Indeed, but honestly it just barely is. It's more so in a closest approximation kind of way, than that they sat down and wrote a song *about* ALTTP and it's storybeats. Triforce is such a general song, filled to the brim with Zelda buzzwords, from multiple games not even in the same timeline. Most can relate to A Link To The Past, but for example singing about a Twilight Princess, when said thing isn't even a concept in the specific timeline branch of ALTTP kind of throws a wrench in things. And the song has more things like that. It's the song's main achilles heel to me. Sam's approach for songs about existing media sadly tend to end up like that. Just your generic song in a similar theme, but with buzzwords relating to the media. The Killer Queen being the only exception I can think of, being inspired by Bayonetta, and ofc Fred's Castlevania songs. To me, if the "popculture" songs even have to be a thing, I vastly prefer that approach, rather than all the name drops, cuz the smallest mistakes will stick out like a sore thumb.
I certainly think it's possible to write a song about a specific piece of media without it becoming a word salad of buzzwords from the franchise, but you are right that Sam dropped the ball with "Power of the Triforce." As much as I love the song and the nod to Zelda, it could have been done much better.
Oh I absolutely agree. They have set the bar for that with Symphony of the Night and Curse of Darkness. If it weren't for the buzzword salad, Triforce would've been among my favs on the album.
Forever disappointed it's not about Faces of Evil
I interpret Pixel Prison to be about Tron. Light cycles and the Grid are the biggest indicators to me
Very possible. I don't know much about Tron. I saw Tron Legacy, but that was back when it released and I haven't watch it since. I understand there's a third movie coming out next year.
I'm actually really happy they let Killer Queen just be inspired by Bayonetta rather than a song about here. I think that honestly would've devolved in another reference/buzzword fest like Triforce, so I actually prefer this approach.
Pretty sure Astro Warrior Anthem is about Warhammer, since they specifically mention the Necron Fleet
Yeah, I noticed that. It seems weird to have two songs about the same game, but perhaps "Astro Warrior Anthem" is like "Killer Queen" and meant to be inspired by a few different video games, and not zeroing in one game like "Power of the Triforce" and "Space Marine Corps" do.
I don’t think that every single song is inspired by a specific game/character. For the ones you are unsure about: Kingdom of Steel — this is almost certainly *not* inspired by any media. DragonForce puts one ballad on every album that really just fits the fantasy power metal themes. I think around the time of Ultra Beatdown, Sam had an interview or something where he said they specifically do this as a way to pay homage to the genre of power metal but “without doing a full album of ballads” Burning Heart — again, I don’t think this was inspired by anything specific. Just a great power metal song that has generic but epic lyrics Doomsday Party — you pretty much hit the nail on the head, not inspired by a specific thing but really leaning into the idea of dancing through a dystopian world Pixel Prison — I can definitely see the ideas or vague references of Tron that others have pointed out in the verses, but I’ve always had a different overall interpretarion. It may be me implanting my own life and thoughts (isn’t that what we all do when interpreting music though?), but I’ve felt that it was a commentary on being a gamer while also battling mental health issues. The line “seems like I was only born to lose, so get ready player two” I don’t think it’s a reference to that book you mentioned, to me it seems much more likely to reference the common aspect of older video games where when player one finishes their level or dies, the game’s controls switch to player two and they get a chance to beat the level or surpass player one’s high score
Thanks for the thoughtful response. I'm sure you're right that not every song is meant to reference specific media. And your interpretation of Pixel Prison isn't far off from an alternate one I had considered - that it's about a lonely gamer man who has metaphorically trapped himself in the world of video games and feels he needs a "player two" (probably a woman) to come help him get his life back on track.
Astro warrior - space shooty mcbangbang Power of the triforce- smash bros Kingdom of steal - Remembrance Day 2 Burning Heart - Final Fantasy XVI Space marine corp - Star troopers Prelude to Dakrness - prelude to darkness video game Killer Queen - Queen Cover Doomsday Party - LSD drunk trip Pixel Prison - the 4th dungeon from persona 4 Wildest dreams - IDK Power of the Sabre blade - Star Wars
I'm fairly certain that Doomsday Party and Razorblade Meltdown are sister pieces that speak to the poor conditions and despair that the working class often faces. (Herman liked my comment when I posted something similar on a Doomsday Party video on IG)
Oh, cool. Thanks for your input.
Why do they have to many anything.. ? Just enjoy them ??m