Keiichi Okabe

Doujin, Game Music

Glory to Metal (A Symphonic Metal Tribute to NieR: Automata) Releases Today

February 27, 2018 | Brenna Wilkes | Comments Off on Glory to Metal (A Symphonic Metal Tribute to NieR: Automata) Releases Today Share this

If you’re jonsing for more music from last year’s hit game, NieR: Automata, then Argentinian musician Fernando Ariel “Ferdk” Carabajal and Materia Collective have you covered. Glory to Metal (A Symphonic Metal Tribute to NieR: Automata) is a four-track EP paying tribute to the game’s music in the most metal of ways.

“Immediately after fully completing the game, I felt the urge to do something with the music, and given its heavy orchestral work it was a perfect fit for my bombastic, symphonic metal style. Battles are always an easy choice when it comes to metal, but I felt I wasn’t tapping into the full potential of the game’s musical range, so I added two more tracks that stood out to me for the ambience they create when they’re featured in the game.” – Ferdk, Musician & Arranger

<a href="http://ferdk.bandcamp.com/album/glory-to-metal-a-symphonic-metal-tribute-to-nier-automata">Glory to Metal (A Symphonic Metal Tribute to NieR: Automata) by Ferdk</a>

Originally composed by Keiichi Okabe, the music of NieR: Automata has been taken and spun into a head-banging symphony that pays respect to the game’s aesthetic while also kicking things up a notch.

The album debuts today on Bandcamp and can currently be pre-ordered until its release for $4. You can check out more about the album on Ferdk’s Bandcamp or the Materia Collective website.
Game Music

Square-Enix to Release NieR Soundtrack Vinyl Boxset

December 11, 2017 | Brenna Wilkes | 1 Comment Share this

Hot off the heels of winning the “Best Score” award in this year’s The Game Awards, the soundtrack to NieR: Automata, along with NIER Gestalt & Replicant will be released as a four-LP boxset from Square-Enix later this month.

A special box that includes the NieR: Automata Original Soundtrack Vinyl and NIER Gestalt & Replicant Original Soundtrack Vinyl will be on sale. This box with four LP records includes a total of 35 tracks selected by the composer, Keiichi Okabe. The jacket of this luxurious package is specially drawn by Sui Ishida, the creator of Tokyo Ghoul. – Square-Enix Store

The boxset will be a Japanese import, available for pre-order from the Square-Enix Store for $79,99USD with a listed release date of December 20th. You can also purchase both the individual NieR: Automata Original Soundtrack vinyl and NIER Gestalt & Replicant Original Soundtrack vinyl for $42.99USD each.
Events, Game Music, Japanese

NieR: Automata Livestream shows new Sights and Sounds

November 3, 2016 | Shawn Sackenheim | Comments Off on NieR: Automata Livestream shows new Sights and Sounds Share this

Square Enix held a livestream in Japan on Wednesday, October 26th to finally go in-depth on NieR: Automata. Naturally, it’s all in Japanese but there was plenty to see and hear as the team showed off the game, its Collector’s Edition contents and talked up the NieR Music Concert & Talk Live Blu-ray that we covered last month.

The half-hour gameplay demonstration starts at the 19 minute mark and finally shows off the larger world that ties together the boss fights and cutscenes we’ve seen of the game so far. There’s a subtle piano ambiance through most of the footage that ramps up during fights and a nice new town tune similar to “City of Commerce” from the original game. The majority of the demo shows off the special skills and abilities of main character, 2B, and her accompanying bots. One of which is a vastly simplified fishing mechanic for those who remember the overwhelming frustrations from the previous game.

After the demo the team talks up the NieR Music Concert & Talk Live Blu-ray which is releasing in Japan on December 14th. They end the segment by showing the entire “Song of the Ancients / Fate” performance from the Blu-ray which makes a fairly compelling argument to pick up it up come December. The livestream ends with a new trailer that highlights the voice actors for the Japanese version of the game and is ironically lacking almost any actual voice acting. It is, however, full of new sights and surprises and is accompanied by another new piece of music from series composers Keiichi Okabe.

Have a look and listen for yourself above, check out the game’s official site for a few more background tracks and then continue waiting (im)patiently for the February 23, 2017 release date.
Game Music

NieR Music Concert and Talk Blu-ray coming December 16, 2016

September 29, 2016 | Ryan Paquet | Comments Off on NieR Music Concert and Talk Blu-ray coming December 16, 2016 Share this

Square Enix Music Japan has announced that they will release a NieR Music Concert & Talk Live Blu-ray on December 16, 2016 featuring music composed by Keiichi Okabe and Keigo Hoashi. The Blu-ray will feature recordings of the sold out NieR Concert from this April 16, 2016 was held at EX THEATER ROPPONGI. The announcement page details that the performers included Vocalists: Emi Evans, Nami Nakagawa, J’Nique Nicole, on Piano: Keigo Hoashi (MONACA). on Guitar: Takanori Goto and on Strings: Takanori Goto. The Blu-ray will also include some portions of the discussion from the event.

The track listing has also been revealed, and it appears that there are a total of 13 tracks, two of them featuring music from the new game NieR: Automata.

Natsunoyuki
Light Roh Fubuki Kuoka
Kinase
Inishienouta / Devol
rest
Folly Kashii machine
NieR: Automata New BGM # 1
NieR: Automata New BGM # 2
Emile
Devil
Ashes of Dreams
Obaachan
Inishienouta / fate

Square Enix Music Japan

You can see the official announcement page for the Blu-ray on Square Enix Japan’s page, and you can pre-order it from their store right now for 10% discount price of 4704 Japanese Yen, Regular Price is 5184 Yen on Amazon Japan. The music from the concert will also be available on CD, but as of now it seems you can only get the CD version by pre-ordering the collector’s edition of NieR: Automata which is due out February 23, 2016. You can see the known details about that CD on the Video Game Music Database here.

Will you be pre-ordering this Blu-ray or the CD version in the collector’s version of NieR: Automata?
Game Music

E3 2016: A New NieR: Automata Trailer Appears [UPDATED]

June 15, 2016 | Shawn Sackenheim | 1 Comment Share this

[UPDATE] I didn’t expect to see more until Tokyo Game Show but Square Enix has released a second trailer featuring the entire diva robot boss battle and a longer cut of the accompanying track. Check it out on their YouTube channel.

Another year, another mysterious trailer for NieR: Automata. When we last caught a glimpse of the android 2B and the new world of NieR it was at Paris Games Week last November. The silent heroine is now joined by fellow androids 9S and A2 on a mission to stop the invading machine army that forced humanity to flee the planet to take refuge on the moon.

The new trailer shows a boss battle in a theater against a twisted diva robot intercut with new glimpses of overgrown cityscapes and a desert area reminiscent of NieR’s Façade locale. Of course, we’re posting about it because it’s a chance to hear another snippet of music from Keiichi Okabe, composer of the fan favorite soundtrack from the original game. Take a look and a listen above and continue waiting for the game’s slightly-more-concrete release date of “Early 2017”.
Game Music

First Trailer and Music Revealed for NieR: Automata

November 3, 2015 | Shawn Sackenheim | 1 Comment Share this

Square Enix finally loosened the wraps on the previously announced NieR: New Project at Paris Games Week by revealing its official title and the gameplay teaser above. NieR: Automata is the name and if you couldn’t immediately tell from the footage, PlatinumGames is working on the combat.

“NIER struck a chord with many passionate gamers. It was something so special that we felt compelled to heed the fans’ call for a follow-up,” said producer Yosuke Saito. “To create the ultimate action-RPG, it dawned on me that a collaboration between PlatinumGames and SQUARE ENIX would be a dream come true.”

Of course, the other big reveal from the trailer is a new piece of NieR music from returning composer Keiichi Okabe. The sound effects are graciously minimal so you can really focus on the otherworldly vocals and that fantastic percussion. NieR: Automata is coming exclusively to PlayStation 4 but one thing Square Enix hasn’t announced yet is a release date. Check out a few more details on the starring heroine, 2B, and the story of Automata from the press release after the cut.

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Events, Game Music

My TOP 10 Anticipated Game Soundtracks Post E3 2015: PART TWO

June 18, 2015 | Ryan Paquet | 1 Comment Share this

Yesterday I presented you with a list of the first five of my top ten anticipated soundtracks now that E3 2015 has come and gone. Today I share my thoughts on what I think are my remaining most anticipated soundtracks. The top five were selected based on my impressions of not what will be the best games, but will give us some of the best new video game music – so keep that in mind.

Come on and read about what future soundtracks made the top of my list!

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