Hi! The new MM track is being worked on. But in the meantime, I thought I’d post two projects that have taken a good bit of time and brain juice.

Zero Over Zero is an instrumental, 20-track album dedicated to the original Dawn of the Dead from 1978. You can get the LE, CD, or digital download (for $5), from here. HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!

Also available is an EP of music from Grandia II, Frets of Valmar. It started as a fundraising project from MAGfest. The EP has special guests Chunkstyle from Yes Mayhem, and 3/5 of Arm Cannon. :) You can read more on the project here, and get the EP here. The 4-song EP is free, but all proceeds from donations go directly to the Japan Red Cross Society.

More soon!

Happy Birthday Samus!

The next MM track covers the ‘spike’ and ‘queen’ tunes from Metroid 2 (titled M2Q). It’s a pulsing mess of prog and dissonance – appropriate we feel for the last boss of Metroid 2. As with any boss fight, the song is a bit easier to stomach each time you go back to it. This was a fun experiment for Chunkstyle and myself, and we hope you enjoy it. :)

Originals:
Metroid 2 – Queen Battle
Metroid 2 – Spike

The track will be downloadable off the site soon, but for now, we’re leaving it as a part of the new ‘Harmony of a Hunter’ compilation by Shinesparkers.net. It’s a 2 album collection of Metroid music celebrating 25 years of bounty hunting. It really is a masterful collection. M2Q is a part of that collection, and you can get the compilation with the new Metroid Metal track here.

With the new tune is a new banner by Nate Horsfall (FoxDragon). He’s the same cat that did the Tallon Overworld artwork, and he also did all the art for the ‘Harmony of a Hunter’ collection. I don’t think a piece could have captured the chaos of the M2Q track better than this. It’s completely sick, down to the Gameboy color scheme. Click the image for the full res version. You can also check out the making-of video on YouTube.

M2Q – End of Line – 6000 x 1690

Rock on y’all!

Harmony of a Hunter was created to mark the 25th anniversary of Metroid. A huge number of people contributed to the project to celebrate and mark this historic franchise, which includes music from the original NES Metroid through Metroid: Other M for the Nintendo Wii. The album features a diverse range of talent covering a variety of genres.

Metroid Metal was lucky enough to score a slot on the compilation, and the 2 CD project will be available for FREE next week!! Read more at www.shinesparkers.net.

OK, we are not going on tour. (danimal is, side note)

We are playing 3 shows this summer though! Nerdapalooza is July 15-17 in Orlando. Bit Gen Gamerfest is July 30 in Baltimore. And PAX Prime is August 26-28 in Seattle. Check out the previously linked links for the BIG details, and you can scope the full list of SWEET acts at all three shows right about now:

(pixel art on homepage is from NickelEdge BTW. He’s amazing.)

Nerdapalooza: (Orlando, July 15-17)

• I Fight Dragons
• Metroid Metal
• The Protomen *ACT I + ACT II*
• Armcannon
• The Bossfights
• brentalfloss
• Koo Koo Kanga Roo
• MegaRan
• The OneUps
• Schäffer The Darklord
• AND EVEN MORE BANDS MORE BANDS!

Bit Gen Gamerfest: (Baltimore, July 30)

• The Protomen
• Metroid Metal
• Entertainment System
• Rare Candy
• Armcannon
• The OneUps
• Year 200X
• The Descendents of Erdrick
• Bit Brigade
• X-Hunters
• Cheap Dinosuars
• Ice Cap Assault
• Random Battles
• DJ Cutman

PAX Prime: (Seattle, Aug 26-28)

• Minibosses
• Metroid Metal
• Jonathan Coulton
• Paul and Storm
• MC Frontalot
• Video Game Orchestra
• Supercommuter

Don’t forget we’ll also be at Nerdapalooza this year in Orlando on July 14-16th. What’s with all the shows?

Metroid Metal is playing Nerdapalooza! —

If you are in Orlando during the weekend of July 16-17, 2011, you are probably there for for Nerdapalooza. If you aren’t there for that reason, you are now. Come enjoy chiptunes, nerdcore hiphop, video game metal, sock puppet rock, dementia parody, and other nonsense just inches away from the wicked heat of the Florida outdoors. Nerdapalooza is becoming a mainstay, and we’re honored and freak-out excited to be playing. :) Check out Nerdapalooza.org for details on the event.

THIS JUST IN! We’re also playing the BIT GEN GAMERFEST in Baltimore on July 30th! So many shows (2)! Facebook, site, or Twitter. CAN’T WAIT!!

Protect your home from evil encounters with a make-your-own MM Cubeecraft ‘troid —

Chris from Cubeecraft has put together a pretty amazing template for a MM-themed Cubeecraft. It’s adorable and cool as all hell. Check out the site for details and instructions. If you aren’t familiar with Cubeecraft, you’re welcome.

Nitro Game Injection complete with Battle Beasts —

Stemage hung with the crew from NGI to talk about VG remixes, games, the bulk of MM’s history, and bad Metroid games. It’s a long, casual interview and a happy time. You can check out the podcast here. There’s also a previously unlreased Stemage track in there. It’s only there. And it will be ‘only there’ for a while. Check it out.

OTHER STUFF – The MM guys have their own bits going on. Here’s the quick rundown: —

The new Stemage album will be released in June, 2011. Also coming are two new Metroid Metal tracks. One will be on the Shinesparkers.net Metroid 25th Anniversary album (Metroid 2 Queen), and the other one is being worked on because it has to be… being worked on. - Shinesparkers.net – Also coming is a cover of some Grandia 2 music for the hero jroop, for a MAGfest Japan Relief project. We’ll give this one 16% completed.

Danimal Cannon is still RULING the chip scene. You can check out a quick collection of his tunes here: https://8bc.org/members/Danimal+Cannon/

Kirby Pufocia put together an EP of tunes using the Korg DS-10 called Ass Whole, The Musical. You can nab it here: http://kirbypufocia.bandcamp.com/ I recommend Destroy Embrace Behoove, and the Kraid cover is scarily accurate.

Chunkstyle and Kevin (BDE (Best Drummer Ever)) are working feverishly on new Yes, Mayhem tunes. They already have enough to constitute an EP, but instead they are shoving forward with the ferocity of Deer Stalker, and will likely unleash their creation in the next Eon. More will be posted here as it comes together, but right now, it kills. You can acquire the latest Yes, Mayhem release here: http://yesmayhem.com/

Thanks for the support! More shows and project updates on the way!

MAGfest.org has a series of auctions up to raise money for Japan relief. 100% of proceeds go to the Red Cross.

Included in the list are a bunch of gullible game remixers (including Stemage, virt, Snappleman, Tony Dickenson, and NORG) that will cover ANY song from ANY game – take your pick! The auctions can all be found at www.magfest.org/japan.

There are tons of amazing things up for auction. People are really reaching out with MAG to try and gather as much funding as possible. It’s beautiful.

So check out www.magfest.org/japan for all the dirty details!

It was a wild weekend. We did two shows – one on the main stage, and another with our buddy NORG in the jamspace. danimal played 3 concerts, getting to show off his chiptune skills and play with Arm Cannon as well. We saw lots of familiar and new faces. I acquired a Duke Nukem bottle opener. All in all it was the perfect weekend. Thank you Jerry for introducing us, thanks for the Enforcers for never letting us keel over and die, and thanks to the entire PAX crew for making it such a memorable weekend.

Here is the “cover” song we used to break up the set – it’s the Autobot/Decepticon Battle Theme from Transformers: The Movie (Vince DiCola, 1886). Enjoy!

It’s for the new Xbox Live Indie game ALPHA SQUAD – a twin-stick adventure full of badassery, guns, girls, and metal. You can get ALPHA SQUAD on the XBL Indie Games Channel now for a measly $3 (240 MS points). Skip a happy-meal and GO FOR IT – game trailer (below).

Visit the Stemage Bandcamp page to name-your-price for the soundtrack right now. :)

h t t p : / / s t e m a g e . b a n d c a m p . c o m

Hope you enjoy it! more stuff @ www.stemage.com

Good news! We’re headed to PAX East! It’s the weekend of March 11-13, 2011. That’s only a few weeks away people. The list of bands this year includes:

Jonathan Coulton
Paul & Storm
MC Frontalot
The Protomen
The Video Game Orchestra
Metroid Metal

Also happening is the JAMSPACE sponsored by MAGfest. Last year’s was pretty amazing. There will be plenty of room to rock with strangers, chiptune performances, and other special events. The gear is provided! Just show up and jam.

I’ve already started hearing rumors about some of the things that MAY take place at this year’s concerts. If you are considering the trip, consider quick, or it may sell out like last year. You guys already know about PAX, and if you don’t, WAKE UP Y’ALL. Boston was a great choice for the convention last year, and we are honored to be asked back.

Oh, and BOSTON RULES! So get up there and hang out with us!!

Hugs,

MM