SOUNDTRACK: MAGIC SWORD-Vol. 1 (2015).
Magic Sword is an instrumental band from Boise Idaho.
There are three members of the band: The Keeper (red, keyboard, audio-visual), The Seer (blue, guitar), and The Weaver (yellow, drums).
Magic Sword makes 1980’s-sounding sci-fi movie soundscapes. Meaning there are a lot of synths, a lot of retro sound effects, and a lot of pulsing music.
The music feels like a soundtrack and that’s because it actually is. Magic Sword includes a comic book with each release (read about it below).
“The Beginning” sets the stage with a catchy synth melody before the intensity of “Sword Of Truth.” After setting the stage, the lighter (but with a still menacing underbelly) “The Way Home” propels the story forward.
“Kill Them All” has words. A quiet, whispered voice states
They came in the night
They killed everyone
I hid in the shadows
And then it came to me
The Magic Sword
And I killed them all
Dramatic chords rise as the music swells. “In The Face Of Evil” presents a sinister bass melody as a lead melody wanders along it until it turns into a lengthy solo.
“Only Way In” is slower and more intense with a looping synth keeping the tension high as what sounds like birds echo in the background. After a build up of intensity (can you see a hero making their way through a small passage) the tempo picks up. This song has the most modern sounding music (almost an EDM kind of distorted beat) letting you know its not all retro.
“Reflection” allows for a moment to rest as gentle music falls down. But an ominous undertone is always present. “Retrogram” feels like an opportunity to start anew as “Discover” ups the intensity with a far more retro pulsing synth sound.
“Memories In Shadow” slows things down as sprinklings of notes poke out of the ominous lower chords that sustain the song until it begins to rebuild as it heads toward the “Battlefield.” “Battlefield” does not feel violent as expected–it’s more passionate but not scary. There’s even a slow, quiet middle for a moment of reckoning.
“Infinite” feels uplifting, but there’s no time for rest as the abyss stares back at out hero. “Journey’s End” feels solitary. There is still work to do as our hero soars into the distant sky.
[READ: October 29, 2020] Magic Sword Volume 1
Volume 1 is the first graphic novel from the band Magic Sword. There are presently four books in the series. The story follows The Keeper (red, keyboard, audio-visual), The Seer (blue, guitar), and The Weaver (yellow, drums) as they prepare for the necessary return of the Magic Sword.
This first book opens
In the beginning there was light
and Darkness.
But soon evil spread over the land like a plague. [sounds familiar].
In the final moments before evil consumed all, a weapon was created to restore balance to the universe.
Whenever the need is great, we call upon the power of
The Magic Sword.
On a rocky outcrop, The Keeper enters a cave–The Temple of All Beginnings.
He sits on a giant throne and a platform opens up. The Seer sits upon this new throne.
The Seer says a great many souls cry out in agony and the Magic Sword is needed to prevent even more innocent deaths.
The only way forward is to ask the Weaver to intervene.
The Weaver comes forth on a giant multi-legged throne. But The Weaver says that the Evil One shrouds all souls in an impenetrable darkness.
All seems lost, but The Keeper reveals the Magic Sword which will “pull is into the heart of chaos and pain.”
The pure of heart may call upon the power of the Magic Sword and it will reveal itself…. [to be continued]
The artwork of this book (I gather done by The Keeper) is fantastic. Lots of glowing lights and wispy clouds. The design of the Immortals’ thrones is also very cool–elaborate and well thought out. I’m looking forward to the next installation of the story.
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