Collaborations

MMC1: Power Up the Chips, full album released by Multi-Memory Controller on 10.10.2020.

This is the waking call of the MMC project, awakened after the 10-year period of experimentation known as the Chipforge Years, rising from the grave of my former 8-Bit Metal project (active 2005-2010 on...MySpace!).

These original compositions pay homage to classic video games: Mega Man 2, Contra, Ninja Gaiden, F-Zero, Final Fantasy IV, and the arcade era.

Mixing & mastering by Erik Peabody (Viking Guitar)
Cover art by Nate Horsfall (Lightning Arts)
Generously funded in part by the OICRM (Observatoire interdisciplinaire de création et de recherche en musique)

All game titles, artwork, scenarios and characters are the property of their respective owners:

Mega Man © Capcom Co., Ltd.
Contra © Konami Holdings Corporation
Ninja Gaiden © Tecmo Co., Ltd.
F-Zero © Nintendo Co., Ltd.
Final Fantasy © Square enix Co, Ltd. 

https://themmcproject.bandcamp.com for the album in digital and physical copies
https://linktr.ee/themmcproject for everything @ Multi-Memory Controller

Buy digital + physical

MMC1: Power Up the Chips

The Serpentarius Arcana is a concept album exploring themes of mysticism, balance and ambivalence.

Serpentarius, the constellation of the Serpent Bearer, depicts a man holding a snake. A careful balancing act between life and death, between the regenerative molting of its skin and the venomous threat of its bite. A reminder how quickly our world can tumble over the edge, from the light of the stars to the abyss of the void.

To maintain balance, we seek guidance In the revelations of the Zodiac and Tarot cards, past and future merge in riddles to be solved. In cultural artifacts, virtual worlds and alternate lives help us understand our own melancholy fate as mortals.

Let us collect our memories this evening. While the night is still young, we draw cards from the Major Arcana and begin the readings.
Eight cards bring answers from Seven worlds, all keyed by the One Master card: the Serpentarius Arcana. The Serpentarius shows how opposites are in a continuum, the nuances and shades at play in night and day.

The oracles offer answers...provided we ask the right questions.

Buy the full album

MMC2: The Serpentarius Arcana

Official music video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QIQTf9oybOQ
A Power Metal / Progressive Metal song meets a Power Glove making epic chiptunes melodies about a cult PlayStation video game!

Thrown in a war, Ramza Beoulve wrestles with lies, injustice and betrayal. He uncovers the deception of the Church that hides the demonic nature of the Zodiac stones and witnesses his childhood friend Delita Hyral's ascent to power through manipulation and political maneuvering. Though history may erase as much as it writes and the truth may never be found, Ramza stays true to his beliefs that this does not justify renouncing one's ideals. 

===Lyrics===
(Lucavi:)
Holder of the Holy Stone, with me do treat. Your spirit and my flesh as one shall merge. Your despair and resentment, their call I heed. Life undying… yours forever. Just make the promise.
Once more I ask: with me do treat.

(Ramza:)
In the name of God and nobility
I’ve been thrown into this war
Two lions vie for the throne
and blood soaks the name I uphold

Lord above, where have we gone astray?
Every day, lives are taken away
Who are we to decide?

Shunned by the church and my own family
I must stay true to my beliefs
The world’s torn apart and I can’t find my place
Like a Thirteenth Zodiac

(Delita:)
Open your eyes and you will perceive
The voice of reason inside
Listen but once and you’ll realize
That there is no divide

(Lucavi:)
Dare not oppose us, remember your status
By now you of all should know
Manipulation can be a solution
The end justifies any means

(Ramza:)
Tell me friend where have your ideals gone?
The path of power will claim your soul
With the blood of betrayal and lies

Cast aside, forgotten by history
No one will know what I’ve seen
Demonic stones turning men into slaves
To the Twelve and Thirteenth Zodiac

(Ramza) The legends we believed in were all lies!
(Delita) I won't be used. Those who used me must pay for what they've done!

Spoken from the sword, handed down from the stone…
Spoken from the sword, handed down from the stone

(Ramza:)
Shunned by the church and my own family
I must stay true to my beliefs
The world’s torn apart and I can’t find my place
Like a Thirteenth Zodiac
Cast aside, forgotten by history
(Is this my fate?)
No one will know what I’ve seen
(It’s a nightmare)
Demonic stones turning men into slaves
(They’re mad with greed)
To the Twelve and Thirteenth Zodiac

(Wiegraf) Your ideal is just a dream! You can't fulfill your dreams without power!
(Ramza) Your actions have meaning only if they hold true to your ideals...

The past can never forgive

====
Available on the single "Thirteenth Zodiac" and the full-length album "MMC2: The Serpentarius Arcana" (releases December 2022). 
themmcproject.bandcamp.com

Thirteenth Zodiac (single)

Thirteenth Zodiac (single version)

Inspired by Final Fantasy Tactics
Official music video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QIQTf9oybOQ

Thrown in a war, Ramza Beoulve wrestles with lies, injustice and betrayal. He uncovers the deception of the Church that hides the demonic nature of the Zodiac stones and witnesses his childhood friend Delita Hyral's ascent to power through manipulation and political maneuvering. Though history may erase as much as it writes and the truth may never be found, Ramza stays true to his beliefs that this does not justify renouncing one's ideals.

==Lyrics==
(Lucavi:)
"Holder of the Holy Stone, with me do treat
Your spirit and my flesh as one shall merge
Your despair and resentment, their call I heed
Life undying… yours forever
Just make the promise
Once more I ask: with me do treat."

(Ramza:)
In the name of God and nobility
I’ve been thrown into this war
Two lions vie for the throne
and blood soaks the name I uphold

Lord above, where have we gone astray?
Every day, lives are taken away
Who are we to decide?

Shunned by the church and my own family
I must stay true to my beliefs
The world’s torn apart and I can’t find my place
Like a Thirteenth Zodiac

(Delita:)
Open your eyes and you will perceive
The voice of reason inside
Listen but once and you’ll realize
That there is no divide

(Lucavi:)
Dare not oppose us, remember your status
By now you of all should know
Manipulation can be a solution
The end justifies any means

(Ramza:)
Tell me friend where have your ideals gone?
The path of power will claim your soul
With the blood of betrayal and lies

Cast aside, forgotten by history
No one will know what I’ve seen
Demonic stones turning men into slaves
To the Twelve and Thirteenth Zodiac

(Ramza:) "The legends we believed in were all lies!"
(Delita:) "I won't be used. Those who used me must pay for what they've done!"

(Lucavi:)
"Spoken from the sword, handed down from the stone…
Spoken from the sword, handed down from the stone"

(Ramza:)
Shunned by the church and my own family
I must stay true to my beliefs
The world’s torn apart and I can’t find my place
Like a Thirteenth Zodiac
Cast aside, forgotten by history (Is this my fate?)
No one will know what I’ve seen (It’s a nightmare)
Demonic stones turning men into slaves (They’re mad with greed)
To the Twelve and Thirteenth Zodiac

(Wiegraf:) "Your ideal is just a dream! You can't fulfill your dreams without power!"
(Ramza:) "Your actions have meaning only if they hold true to your ideals..."

The past can never forgive

==Credits==
from MMC2: The Serpentarius Arcana, released December 13, 2022
Final Fantasy Tactics is property of Square Enix Co, Ltd.
Citations in the lyrics from Final Fantasy Tactics and Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions.

Thirteenth Zodiac

Inspired by Prince of Persia and Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time

The evil vizier tries to seize the throne while the sultan is away, imprisoning the princess and casting her lover in the palace dungeons. He escapes, defeats the vizier and rescues the princess Having conquered all challenges, he becomes the future ruler of the land Yet triumph against overwhelming odds tends to breed overconfidence He may believe he can build a better society, but ultimately it will end buried under the Sands of Time.

==Lyrics==
From the desert’s deep sands
Arise

I've been thrown in these dungeons, dark and cold
Left to die without a gleam of hope
From beyond these walls
I can hear her calls

The hourglass is slowly but surely emptying
And I must make haste, for time carries on
(And buries all)

I'm running as fast as I can
In this rat's maze I'm trapped
Defying a thousand and one deaths
To make it to you
(Time buries all!)

(Spoken:)
You think time is a river, flowing swift and sure
But I have seen the truth we must endure
Time is an ocean in a storm
‘till one day the wind has died
Leaving none but the Sands of Time to lie

From the desert's deep sands to the great halls of stone
The vizier's dark magic spreads over Persia
But as long as I stand there is hope for the land
And some justice for all under Persian skies

(Vizier:) Arise, arise, arise!

In the pale moonlit night I can feel you at last
As the stars in your eyes clear the sands of the past

From the seat of my throne to the mountains of old
The news of my good deed spread over Persia
Now the street lights at night will shine forever bright
A sign of justice for all under Persian skies
This Empire of the Sands will stand the test of time
Long after we all die under Persian skies

(Spoken:)
You think time is a river, flowing swift and sure...

==Credits==
from MMC2: The Serpentarius Arcana, released December 13, 2022
Prince of Persia, created by Jordan Mechner, is property of Ubisoft Entertainment SA. Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time is property of Ubisoft Entertainment SA.

Under Persian Skies

Inspired by Journey

A Traveler wanders through the ruins of a bygone society, its survivors recounting the story of their demise, embittered by wars for power and obsessions for building ever higher, greater monuments. Such is the fate of civilization - unless we can heed the warnings of those who came before, uphold strong institutions to keep our darker instincts in check, and realize we are part of a cycle that goes beyond us, mere grains of sand on the tapestry of life.

==Lyrics==
Rising from the sands
Through barren lands
I’ve crossed the ruins of the past
Of my ancestors’ homes that lie
Silent in the night

I sometimes get this feeling when I gaze at the stars
Their shining light resonates deep inside

(Ancestors:)
Come gaze at the stars, child, and bring us news from the world
Have you learned from what we’ve left behind?

Sunlight and scorching heat
Starlight and visions seen
Day and night converge in me
As sand and sky finally meet

Sandstorms unleashed their fury against
Towers brought down onto their knees
Nothing now but the memories carved
Into the stones… a grave of my own
(For time buries all!)

Deep inside I’ve known it all
Before my time is over I’ll be gone
Beyond the here and now of my existence
As a traveler on a quest to
Find my way across the land and
Life itself - a tapestry of Light and Being
United through the Starlight that shines
And binds it all together
Please guide me on my journey

(Ancestors:)
Gaze now upon these walls child
Stay a while and learn from the
Tale that is inscribed
So many times, we tore out the light
And bled it all, until we died
Bleached and dry
In this Empire of the Sands

Deep inside I’ve known it all
Before my time is over I’ll be gone
Beyond the here and now of my existence
As a traveler on a quest to
Find my way across the land and
Life itself - a tapestry of Light and Being
United through the Starlight that shines
And binds it all together
Please guide me on my journey

(Ancestors:)
Come gaze at the stars, child, and tell us what you see
Has our light made its way in your mind and in your heart?

I can’t fight back this calling to reach beyond what we see
In the end what we are is just a child,
A shard of Light and life

(Ancestors:)
Look up to the void of space
And seek the remnants of our race
Meditate upon our fate
So that you won’t make our mistakes

Journey on through sand and snow
Beyond the walls and caves of stone
Sing with friends, celebrate life
And let the starlight be your guide

Rising from the sands...

==Credits==
from MMC2: The Serpentarius Arcana, released December 13, 2022
Inspired by Journey.
Journey is developed by thatgamecompany and a property of Sony Interactive Entertainment LLC.

Empire Of The Sands

Jredd had taken the track from Circuit Bird, and added stuff and cleaned up the mix a bit. He handed it over to Groovemaster 303 who also enhanced it. Since that song was already rocking so hard, I figured I HAD to lay down some mean guitar riffs. 
From Jredd's posting: "This is mostly a sped up tweaked out cover, but it also has a cameo from the first level of doom 2 hidden in it. See if you can spot it :D. Well I guess that's it :). I hope we have done this Bobby Prince classic justice. If not, I suppose Doom Guy will destroy us. So either way you'll get your carnage :P. It's really too bad the 32X port was rushed. Imagine what it could have been ;)."

Doom E1M1 Hangar - Reloaded (Circuit Bird, Jredd, Groovemaster 303 And Multi-Memory Controller)

I added guitars on Zigauche's "Raging Streets". I also shortened the track, so head over to his own Soundcloud if you want the extended version, which features some cool samples from Streets of Rage!  

---
Reposted from Zigauche:
A track that's a little longer than what I usually release. I intend to make it into a 10 minute behemoth on the album, which will be available soon!

*****
Want to use this track for something? You're totally welcome to. My only request is that you tell me what you're doing with it and link to this soundcloud (for example in the description if using for youtube). If you'd like any of the other non-download enabled tracks, send me a message and you can have those too.

Raging Streets Of Fury (Zigauche & Multi-Memory Controller)

I added some guitars to TDK's excellent "Hoovering With a Hangover" from Chiptunes = WIN vol.2 (https://chiptuneswin.bandcamp.com/album/chiptunes-win-volume-2-2). This track was my favorite on the comp, and having the chance to work on it was really special for me. It got even sweeter when I got to talk with TDK, a real gentleman who contributed to the mixing and mastering to bring this awesome final result. 

Head on over to TDK's site for more awesome music: http://www.flitkillsmoths.co.uk
and follow him right here on Soundcloud (T D K)as well. 



Hoovering With a Hangover and a Headache (TDK and Multi-Memory Controller)

In response to a comment by TDK: "Imagine what this would sound like live, with you and me". Original recording of TDK fiddling live @ SuperByte 2013 (https://soundcloud.com/marktdkknight/hoovering-with-a-hangover-live), supplemented by MMC recording a live guitar track from his office in 2014.

Head on over to TDK's site for more awesome music: www.flitkillsmoths.co.uk and follow him right here on Soundcloud (T D K) as well.

"Hoovering With a Hangover" is originally from Chiptunes = WIN vol.2 (chiptuneswin.bandcamp.com/album/chiptu…n-volume-2-2) and has been supplemented by MMC's guitar track, resulting in "Hoovering With a Hangover and a Headache" (https://soundcloud.com/themmcproject/tdk-and-multi-memory-controller-hoovering-with-a-hangover-and-a-headache).

Hoovering With A Hangover And A Headache LIVE - TDK @ SuperByte 2013 & MMC @ The Office 2014

This song has been looping in my head ever since I heard it. I'm sure I'm not the only one. I figured I'd turn up the metal knob on it. It's now got groovy guitars and rough vocals. You can now throw up the horns as you dance to it, and bang your head instead of bobbing it. 

I do not own the rights to this song, which was recorded by Infernal in 2005.  

Metal From Paris To Berlin (Infernal and Multi-Memory Controller)

Mario Pelcha chante Metallica - track 2: Maître des pantins

La Passion terminée, le théâtre peut s’effondrer
Je suis ta source d’auto-destruction
Tes veines pompent la peur, aspirent la noirceur
Mènent vers ta mort en construction 

Goûtes-moi, tu verras 
Il t’en faut toujours plus 
Tu te dédies à moi
Et ainsi je te tue

Viens ramper plus vite 
Obéis à ton maître
Ta vie brûle plus vite 
Obéis à ton maître, maître 

Maître des pantins je tire les ficelles 
Tords ton esprit et détruis tes rêves 
Tu ne vois plus rien quand je t’éblouis 
Il suffit d’appeler, j’entendrai ton cri 
Maître, maître 
Il suffit d’appeler, j’entendrai ton cri 
Maître, maître

De fil en aiguille, tu tisses ton idylle 
Et la mort émerge en surface 
Monopole de douleur, un rituel de malheur
Hache ton déjeûner sur la glace

Goûtes-moi, tu verras 
Il t’en faut toujours plus 
Tu te dédies à moi
Et ainsi je te tue

Viens ramper plus vite 
Obéis à ton maître
Ta vie brûle plus vite 
Obéis à ton maître, maître 

Maître des pantins je tire les ficelles 
Tords ton esprit et détruis tes rêves 
Tu ne vois plus rien quand je t’éblouis 
Il suffit d’appeler, j’entendrai ton cri 
Maître, maître     
Il suffit d’appeler, j’entendrai ton cri 
Maître, maître

Maître, maître
Où sont les rêves que j’ai pu poursuivre?
Maître, maître 
Tes promesses de menteur
Rires, rires 
Partout autour je vois et j’entends 
Rire, rire  
Tu ris de mes pleurs
Il me faut ma dose!

L’enfer vaut tout ça, c’est ton habitat 
Rien qu’une rime sans aucune raison
Un labyrinthe condamné, tes jours sont comptés 
Ta vie est maintenant hors-saison

Je vais t’occuper
À mourir je t’aiderai
Je coule à travers toi 
Je fais maintenant ta loi 

Viens ramper plus vite 
Obéis à ton maître
Ta vie brûle plus vite 
Obéis à ton maître, maître 

Maître des pantins je tire les ficelles 
Tords ton esprit et détruis tes rêves 
Tu ne vois plus rien quand je t’éblouis 
Il suffit d’appeler, j’entendrai ton cri 
Maître, maître 
Il suffit d’appeler, j’entendrai ton cri 
Maître, maître

Mario Pelcha chante Metallica

Maître des pantins

Thème musical pour le podcast "Profil ludique".
http://soundcloud.com/profil-ludique/
Archived in The Chipforge Years.

The Chipforge Years

Profil ludique theme

Inspiré par Mario Pelchat et le Maître des pantins, et par la déclaration de Montréal comme ville d'excellence mondiale de la musique métal.... 
Paul Piché chante Metallica en français!

Voici le Marchand de Sable (Enter Sandman)

Tes prières, fais-les donc
Pis oublie pas fiston
De penser à tout le monde
J’te mets au lit,
Bien au chaud
Un bisou pour la nuit
Le marchand de sable vient bientôt, mais

Dors avec un oeil fermé 
Et ton oreiller serré 

La lumière fuit
Et tombe la nuit
Viens avec ton père
On part au pays imaginaire

Faut éteindre, tu désespères
Des pensées noires t’assiègent 
On est loin de Blanche-Neige

Des rêves de guerre, de trahison
Du feu des dragons,
Et des petites punaises, mais 

Dors avec un oeil fermé 
Et ton oreiller serré 

La lumière fuit
Et tombe la nuit
Viens avec ton père
On part au pays imaginaire

Puisqu’il me faut aller au lit 
Je te prie, Seigneur, de garder mon âme 
Et si je dois mourir cette nuit
Je te prie, Seigneur, de sauver mon âme

Chut, mon petit trésor, chut ça suffit
Et ne fais pas attention au bruit  
C’est que sous ton lit se cache une bête
Ou dans ta penderie, dans ta tête

La lumière fuit
Et tombe la nuit
Un grain de sable clair
La lumière fuit
Et tombe la nuit
Viens avec ton père
On part au pays imaginaire

Viens avec ton père
On part au pays imaginaire 

*Ceci est une parodie. Ni Metallica ni Paul Piché n'ont été impliqués (Paul Piché chante bien mieux que ça!).

"Montreal is officially a city of excellence for heavy metal music", The Montreal Gazette: 
https://montrealgazette.com/news/local-news/montreal-meets-its-metal

Voici le Marchand de Sable

Track #9 from album MMC1: Power up the Chips (https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/multimemorycontroller/mmc1-power-up-the-chips) 

A free-form journey through the arcade era, a pastoral land of luxurious wilderness from which the cosmos was born.

credits
Composition, lyrics, guitar, vocals & chip instruments: Dominic Arsenault
Mixing & Mastering: Erik Peabody (Viking Guitar)
Artwork: Nate Horsfall (Lightning Arts) 

Sound effects from : Robotron: 2084 and Defender © Warner Bros. Entertainment; Pac-man © Bandai Namco Holdings inc.; Missile Command © Atari SA; Donkey Kong © Nintendo Co., Ltd.

MMC1: Power up the Chips

The Age of Classics (Fantasia: Cosmogonia in Arcadia)

Track #8 from album MMC1: Power up the Chips (https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/multimemorycontroller/mmc1-power-up-the-chips) 

Part 3 of the Lunarian Trilogy. A homage to Final Fantasy IV. Ends the story with Zemus' motivations and hatred giving rise to Zeromus.

lyrics
Hatred
Hatred eternal

Trapped inside the moon’s core, for centuries I’ve grown so bitter
I tried to command other minds to claim a new land
My kin’s hope is gone and the Blue Planet shined so bright
I said we should take the humans’ earth and seal their fate

(Light guide my hand, for darkness consumes all)
(Piercing the black, I’ll make the madman pay)

Born from the chaos, the dark of the void
Is all mine to doom and destroy
I’ll feed on the light ‘till galaxies die
And flare into life with bangs of pure
Hatred
Hatred Eternal

So it ends for me in the darkness of space
Redemption can be far but never out of reach

credits
Composition, lyrics, guitar, vocals & chip instruments: Dominic Arsenault
Mixing & Mastering: Erik Peabody (Viking Guitar)
Artwork: Nate Horsfall (Lightning Arts) 
Homage respectfully paid to Nobuo Uematsu's compositions "Golbez, Clad in Darkness" and "The Red Wings ".

Final Fantasy IV (C) Square enix Co, Ltd. for game title, artwork, characters, scenario & sound effects.

Hatred Eternal

Track #7 from album MMC1: Power up the Chips (https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/multimemorycontroller/mmc1-power-up-the-chips) 

Part 2 of the Lunarian Trilogy. A homage to Final Fantasy IV. Chronicles the inner struggles of Golbez, under Zemus' control.

lyrics
One to be born from a dragon
Hoisting the light and the dark
Rises high up in the sky to the still land above

Am I the chosen, the savior of my race?
The crystals are shedding their light silently
They’re calling, they’re holding the key
To my people’s fate
(Rise up my friend and do as I tell
Your deeds will be sung for centuries to come)

Sometimes at night, I hear someone fight
Like a voice trapped inside that is trying to bring back the light
I’m garbed all in black but there’s light left in me
How I wish you could see beyond the mask

(The crystals will open the way to the moon)
The crystals will open the way to the moon

He’s just a dark knight, shadows clouding his sight
He gave up the fight and has forever forsaken the light
His soul is consumed, in darkness entombed
Now he’s helpless to see beyond the mask

Who has been causing these evils before?
Have I lost my mind or was I bound to obey?
Was I not speaking through my own voice?
Was someone behind, or even leading the way?

I wish I could say someone else
made me do all these things against my own will
But I think that I may have resisted
If not for a dark side in me
I’m guilty

Brothers we are, born from the moon
Hoisting the light and the dark
We’ll be rising, beyond the skies
And beyond our masks

The madman will pay for all he took away
My conscience, my free will, my existence itself
Were stolen from me to further his goals
But revenge will be mine

One for myself,
Two for my king,
Three for our planet
And four for the sake of your kin

Hate, fear, regrets and the darkness they bring
Form a mask on ourselves we must break
Sometimes in life we aren’t given a choice
But we can always strive to see the world
Beyond the mask

credits
Composition, lyrics, guitar, vocals & chip instruments: Dominic Arsenault
Mixing & Mastering: Erik Peabody (Viking Guitar)
Artwork: Nate Horsfall (Lightning Arts) 

Final Fantasy IV (C) Square enix Co, Ltd. for game title, artwork, characters, scenario & sound effects.

Beyond the Mask

Track #6 from album MMC1: Power up the Chips (https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/multimemorycontroller/mmc1-power-up-the-chips) 

Part 1 of the Lunarian Trilogy. A homage to Final Fantasy IV. This is Cecil's journey from Dark Knight to Paladin.

lyrics
…veiling the moon with the Light of Eternity
It brings another promise
To Mother Earth
With a bounty and mercy

High in the sky, I’m facing alone
My darkness inside, so far from home
Could this be the chance for me to atone?
For the sins of my past

I hear the wind, it’s whispering (in my ear)
A servant of doom is guarding the tomb

Climbing the steps, I’m facing the test
To break from my past and be free at last
And as darkness recedes, all becomes clear
Still I will go on

I see the Light, it shines so bright (feel the fear)
Piercing the black, tearing down my mask

As I’m staring at myself, in the mirror someone else
Stands alone facing me, this is who I’ve come to be
There’s so much he wants to say, but he silently obeys
The orders he was given by a Dark Sword shunned by heaven

I’m searching for my soul
Can I fill the hole? (You can’t)
Doubt takes its toll (Again)
Heart and mind alike, so many have tried (and failed)
To walk that fine line (Beyond death and life)
Facing the darkness, I’ll conquer myself
And bring out my best

As I’m staring at myself, in the mirror someone else
Stands alone facing me, this is who I’ve come to be
There’s so much he wants to say, but he silently obeys
The orders that he received from a father-king long buried

The Holy Light shines down on me,
It revealed the face hidden behind the mask
The spineless man I was before is no more

credits
credits
Composition, lyrics, guitar, vocals & chip instruments: Dominic Arsenault
Mixing & Mastering: Erik Peabody (Viking Guitar)
Artwork: Nate Horsfall (Lightning Arts) 

Final Fantasy IV (C) Square enix Co, Ltd. for game title, artwork, characters, scenario & sound effects.

Behind the Mask

Track #5 from album MMC1: Power up the Chips (https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/multimemorycontroller/mmc1-power-up-the-chips) 

A homage to F-Zero and the political economy of racing in a 26th century dystopia. Featuring a duel on the race tracks between Captain Falcon and Pico the alien.

lyrics
The roar of the engines is lagging behind
As we all go over the 500 miles per hour
The landscape’s a blur, colors are melting away in a haze

Ever faster
No time to blink when the walls come crashing at you
Ride on fire
My friend, that’s 26th century racing for you

F-Zero Racing, a sports for the rich
Their money is buying out our will to resist
Capitalism on a cosmic scale
Where under the race tracks the poor slave away

Profit’s the logic, I’m a modern man
A bounty hunter with the most primitive code of honor
A hero today, which is to say a mercenary yesterday
Show me money
I’ll show you whole galaxies where the blind’s leading the blind
Get back on track
(Follow my tail lights or you’ll crash and burn)

F-Zero Racing, a high-risk escape
From worlds sterilized and where all life is chained
We pilots have something the rich cannot buy
Up on the race tracks we’re living today

(You’re going to break down!
Stay put behind or you’ll find
There’s nowhere you can hide from my ride
I’ll crush you in between the curved lines)

Straight to the sky, come and fly
You must be willing to die
At breakneck speed
Like we live our lives
(Like we live and die)

F-Zero Racing, collective revenge
On a system that rules us and where no one decides
What do we do with our lives ‘till we die?
Out on the race tracks we’re leading the way

Ever faster, ride on fire forever
There’s only one way to find out what you’re worth
In this day and age : F-Zero Racing

credits
Composition, lyrics, guitar, vocals & chip instruments: Dominic Arsenault
Mixing & Mastering: Erik Peabody (Viking Guitar)
Artwork: Nate Horsfall (Lightning Arts) 

F-Zero (C) Nintendo Co., Ltd. for game title, artwork, characters, scenario & sound effects.

F-Zero Racing

Track #4 from album MMC1: Power up the Chips (https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/multimemorycontroller/mmc1-power-up-the-chips) 

A homage to Ninja Gaiden.

lyrics
A flash of the blade, the sad twisting of fate
Blood spilled and dyed by the moon’s light
Your legacy makes no sense to me
Oh Father I must understand
Why you died

The day after he disappeared, in father’s room,
I found a letter adressed to me.
I read it. Nothing seemed real.
The ancient sword, the way of the Dragon…
Whoever did this won’t get away.
I will get my revenge!

Where are you? I am here
Still searching for the final clue
I will fight ‘till I find
All the answers that I seek

In shadows I’m running, in my hands I’m holding
These mystic statues with power imbued
I’m starting to realize I’m now on the inside
Of a secret race for the future of mankind

Another death, another puzzle piece
Yet another unsolved mystery
These cryptic words echo through my ears :
"When the Black Moon shines,
Light and Dark break apart,
The King of Darkness howls…"

Here I stand, in my hand
The Dragon Sword of my bloodline
I will fight ‘till I find
The temple’s evil mastermind

Look in my eyes, see the child that has died
The Ghost of my Father will be my guide
You won’t escape the edge of my blade
Nothing will save you from my fiery rage

Who is he? This can’t be!
Father, you must snap out of it
I will fight for your mind
I won’t let the demon rise

Concentrate / without haste / swiftly strike / when time is right
Plan your move / catch your breath / for the Black Moon / brings creeping death…

credits
Composition, lyrics, guitar, vocals & chip instruments: Dominic Arsenault
Mixing & Mastering: Erik Peabody (Viking Guitar)
Artwork: Nate Horsfall (Lightning Arts) 

Ninja Gaiden (C) Tecmo Co., Ltd. incl. game title, artwork, characters, scenario & sound effects.

The Ghost of My Father

Track #3 from album MMC1: Power up the Chips (https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/multimemorycontroller/mmc1-power-up-the-chips) 

A homage to Contra.

lyrics
A meteor falling, aliens invading
The future is darkened and dreary
A threat is emerging, Red Falcon looming
Send out a Contra force

Waist-deep in water we’re wading along
To the heart of the island to strike at the core
(Soon you’ll know fear)
The enemy’s here, this is our war
The world’s fate rests on our bare shoulders

Contra Force is rising
Throughout the jungle machine guns are sounding the fight
Their bullets are speaking, defending our homes
They’re fighting for a better future for all
For blue skies to shine again

Jump! (Jump!)
Avoid the falling rocks!
Jump! (Jump!)
To the top of the waterfall!

The Red Falcon bleeds and falls to the ground
As we defeat all their soldiers around
Into their base, gate after gate,
Shooting machines, blown down to smithereens

Contra Force is blazing
Throughout the snowy peaks and high-tech factories beyond
They’re reaching the end of their struggle at last
The alien heart is the last thing to blast
Soon we’ll be free again

(Through fighting and bravery, freedom has been won back
And now the Earth is at peace, at last)

Their battle was yours, friends you must understand
These wars for your God or for riches, for land
Hurt us all in the end.

Contra Force returning
Throughout the nations, celebrations resound
The lesson’s been learned and united we stand
The future is bright and the skies blue again
The world’s fate is ours to make

Five years later, the alien invaders
Have come back repeating our history
Their spaceship is firing, civilians are dying
The Alien Wars begin!

credits
Composition, lyrics, guitar, vocals & chip instruments: Dominic Arsenault
Mixing & Mastering: Erik Peabody (Viking Guitar)
Artwork: Nate Horsfall (Lightning Arts) 

Contra, (C) Konami Holdings Corporation for game title, artwork, characters, scenario & sound effects.

Saving the World Barechested

Track #2 from album MMC1: Power up the Chips (https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/multimemorycontroller/mmc1-power-up-the-chips) 

A homage to Mega Man 2.

lyrics
Out in the night atop a skyscraper high
The city lights are shining on and I know they’re worth fighting for

I try my best to justify the meaning of my quest
I long for peace and that is why ironically I have to fight

In 200X when the world’s in decay
And the heroes of yersterday passed away
A new man will rise and for makind he’ll fight
In the Year 200X

Running through the halls of a maze of crystal and ice
The Master waits beyond the gates with the power to freeze time

When you face your demise your weapon will be mine
I can take on anything as long as I keep trying

There can be life from bones and steel
A metal heart can start to beat
Man and machine
And nothing in between

Oh, when will I see it? Peace everlasting
Man and machine and nothing in between.

In 200X
Fire spreads out, the oceans are swelling
And storms shake the ground
When science has failed my heart and soul still prevail
I will save the world

In 200X
In the Year 200X

credits
Composition, lyrics, guitar, vocals & chip instruments: Dominic Arsenault
Mixing & Mastering: Erik Peabody (Viking Guitar)
Artwork: Nate Horsfall (Lightning Arts) 

Mega Man (C) Capcom Co., Ltd. for game title, characters, artwork, scenario & sound effects.

In the Year 200X

Track #1 from album MMC1: Power up the Chips

As I turn on the Multi-Memory Controller, we travel back to the origins...this is the genesis of the world of chipmetal, and an overture to the MMC1 album. Get dem chips powered up!

lyrics
First came the Word
A prime voice in the dark of the Void
The One became Many
A Legion of waves, sharpened like blades…
On the 6th day
Of the 6th month
In the 6th hour
The Beast had come
To Power up the Chips
In the Flames of Metal

credits
Composition, lyrics, guitar, vocals & chip instruments: Dominic Arsenault
Mixing & Mastering: Erik Peabody (Viking Guitar)
Artwork: Nate Horsfall (Lightning Arts)

Chipmetal 101 (Overture: Mythopoeia)

A one-mind band fusing power / prog metal with unholy chiptunes, writing original music on classic video games. Welcome to the world of chipmetal.

Multi-Memory Controller

Pinned to spotlight

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