It's been confirmed. The release date for the third Black Mages Album is 3/19/08.

The site that holds this info can be found here (there's even a sample of "Bombing Mission" from FFVII):

http://www.dogearrecords.com/tbm3/index.htm

Black..Mages..ROCK! I was happy for two albums, but 3!? WOOHOO!

I just hope the boss battle theme from FFIV will be on it!!!

If it has fight music then hopefully Jenova Absolute and The Birth of a God From FF VII make it to the album...The Extreme from FF VIII would be awesome too.

I have been waiting for this for a long time. I hope its got some amazing songs on it!

Between this, Army of two, and metal gear solid 4 ..my birthday in March will be heaven...Even if i'm buying all three of these things for myself

I know how you feel, Secondtooth. March 19th actually is my birthday [22; I feel old], so you can probably imagine how exciting it is to have this as a birthday gift. Of course, after shipping, it probably won't get to me until a week later, but the notion is there all the same.

I know how you feel, Secondtooth. March 19th actually is my birthday [22; I feel old], so you can probably imagine how exciting it is to have this as a birthday gift. Of course, after shipping, it probably won't get to me until a week later, but the notion is there all the same.

Mine is on the 24th...but still, the month of March will be marry indeed....Wow...i feel like giggling

Damn I so can't wait for this album. Been listening to the sample over and over. they are upping their quality.

The trailer looks epic! I can't wait!

Well I just hope they don't screw any of the songs just like they did with those horrid Otherworld and The Skies Above arrangements from TBM II, they sounded like the main theme of Captain Planet :shock: On the other hand, I'd really love to see another Dracula Battle album from Konami, it's been over ten years since the last one.

STFU n00b
The Skies Above is the best song ever.

Awesome news, I can't wait!

STFU n00b
The Skies Above is the best song ever.

Yeah, my Opinion! Even the guy at the SE-musicpage-review hated it. I can't understand that.

Another Black Mages album eh? Sweet!

Will they stop till every song is 'rockified', or will they go up to XIII and make lots of spinoffs/remixes xD

Does anyone know if this will be one disc or two? I remember hearing that there would be one disc of FF tunes and another of original music. Either way I'm sure I'll be pleased.

Nabuo Uematsu is a great, great man.

I can't wait to download.

And buy the CD. But that will only be for collectors purposes.

nice to cee Opening - Bombing Mission


I just hope the boss battle theme from FFIV will be on it!!!

and agreed

Well I just hope they don't screw any of the songs just like they did with those horrid Otherworld and The Skies Above arrangements from TBM II, they sounded like the main theme of Captain Planet :shock: On the other hand, I'd really love to see another Dracula Battle album from Konami, it's been over ten years since the last one.

I like the Black Mages female version of Otherworld more than original.

STFU n00b
The Skies Above is the best song ever.

Yesss Skies Above is the best. A lot of people don't like the opera singer, but what other type of singer would have sufficed for such an intense arrangement? Some raspy-voiced rock man? I think not.

Anyway, I'm so excited for this album. Black Mages owns.

Too bad they won't do the Brawl theme, even though he composed it.

Maybe a bonus track, prz? ):

STFU n00b
The Skies Above is the best song ever.

There is no reason to insult someone for having an opinion.

And the Otherworld version done by The Black Mages is better imo. I mean you can understand her for one and she doesn't sound like she beating off or spazzing out.

The Black Mages kick ass, the new cd is coming out with ccff7 sweet!!

The cd looks like it's going to be a bit pricey 52.99..ouch

Ahhahahahahahaha!! Have I just said that The Skies Above is the best song ever?? Soon, we'll behold it becoming the 2nd best song ever, as this time we'll be getting something even more 1337... MEMORO DE LA ŜTONO SUNG BY THE BLACK MAGES THEMSELVES!!

Wow, I really didn't expect a third one. I hope that "The Extreme" from FFVIII gets remixed this time.

this one i may actually throw money down for

I probably won't be able to afford this one... XD

Track listings here (http://www.squareenixmusic.com/musicnews2.php?subaction=showfull&id=1204388652&archive=&start_from=&ucat=2&). Very interesting.

OH SHI-
rofl they screwed up
"Assault of the Silver Dragons" [from Final Fantasy VIII] (Arata Hanyuda)"
Assualt of the Silver Dragons is from FFIX not FFVIII
o0 Premonition is there. and the extreme.
they should of put in the legendary beast though

OH SHI-
rofl they screwed up
I remember we said the same thing when BM2 came out, but it turned out to be an excellent album. BM all the way.

I love the interview3 video 01:10 - 01:51. They're so funny.

This is the Track Listing for it. For Now

1. "Opening ~ Bombing Mission" (from Final Fantasy VII)
2. "Neo EXDEATH" (from Final Fantasy V)
3. "The Extreme" (from Final Fantasy VIII)
4. "Assault of the Silver Dragons" (from Final Fantasy IX)
5. "KURAYAMINOKUMO" ("Cloud of Darkness") (from Final Fantasy III)
6. "Distant Worlds" (from Final Fantasy XI)
7. "Premonition" (from Final Fantasy VIII)
8. "Grand Cross" (from Final Fantasy IX)
9. "Darkness and Starlight" (extended arrangement of the opera "The Dream Oath: Maria and Draco" from Final Fantasy VI)
10. "LIFE ~ in memory of KEITEN ~" (original composition, unrelated to the Final Fantasy series)[4]

This is the Track Listing for it. For Now

1. "Opening ~ Bombing Mission" (from Final Fantasy VII)
2. "Neo EXDEATH" (from Final Fantasy V)
3. "The Extreme" (from Final Fantasy VIII)
4. "Assault of the Silver Dragons" (from Final Fantasy IX)
5. "KURAYAMINOKUMO" ("Cloud of Darkness") (from Final Fantasy III)
6. "Distant Worlds" (from Final Fantasy XI)
7. "Premonition" (from Final Fantasy VIII)
8. "Grand Cross" (from Final Fantasy IX)
9. "Darkness and Starlight" (extended arrangement of the opera "The Dream Oath: Maria and Draco" from Final Fantasy VI)
10. "LIFE ~ in memory of KEITEN ~" (original composition, unrelated to the Final Fantasy series)[4]

yay its fixt

but 2nd disc?

but 2nd disc?

http://www.squareenixmusic.com/musicnews2.php?subaction=showfull&id=1201997641&archive=&start_from=&ucat=2&

There will be only 1 disc.

Meh... there isn't much there for me, more than half of those titles aren't familiar to me. And how someone can label The Skies Above is the "best song ever" is way beyond my comprehension.

Any comment starting with "meh" only makes me see the person posting it as a retard... for some reasons.

cool

I'm looking forward to this release, although I wont buy it right away, I'll check it out first

Well ! I love u Nobuo Uematsu master :*:*:*:*. Opera -> Rock @__@

i watched the doc they had on the ffx bonus disc.
took his synth out to the reception, and composed 10 songs in an hour (:

I can't wait for this...although I was hoping, somewhat vainly, to see 'The Landing' from VIII in there...oh well, maybe on BMIV?

Any comment starting with "meh" only makes me see the person posting it as a retard... for some reasons.

And why is that? dare I ask.

Oh gn0es!1 I was wrong!! No "Memoro de la Ŝtono"... That wappa dude fooled me. He said "Memoro de la Ŝtono" instead of "Distant Worlds".
Butt! We're getting something even MORE 1337... "Darkness and Starlight". An extended arrangement of the opera "The Dream Oath: Maria and Draco" from Final Fantasy VI.

Original = best song ever?? Check!
Rock? Check!
Opera? Check!
15+ minutes long? Check!
4 parts? Check!
3 arrangers? Check!
Opera vocalists from previous orchestral concerts? Check!
Is mr. goo one of them? Oh hell yeah!!
Will the Black Mages sing, too? Yes, indeed!


And it has a added part which had been in Uematsu-san's head for about several years. So, this will be the first time full version of Maria and Draco appears. The added part is the Battle scene of Ralse and Draco, so the guitar and Uematsu-san's organ are played hard just like a battle of them! I hope you'll have fun listening to it!

Vary vary cool.

And now it's official:

DARKNESS AND STARLIGHT = BEST. SONG. EVAR.

err

Ahhahahahahahaha!! Have I just said that The Skies Above is the best song ever?? Soon, we'll behold it becoming the 2nd best song ever, as this time we'll be getting something even more 1337... MEMORO DE LA ŜTONO SUNG BY THE BLACK MAGES THEMSELVES!!


and they dont sing distant worlds, they sing the maria and draco song. I guess there was an error in the video on their site.

Didst thuo miss post #45??

w00t finally got my copy !

I waited to listen to this until I got the CD today. Very good updated Black Mages music, Nobou is God. This is new stuff with a just enough old sound to make it great. I put it into rotation now at the station if you do not want to download it.

This is the site I use to keep our library up to date with the links for the album and their review.

Black Mages III - "Darkness & Starlight" (http://www.squareenixmusic.com/albums/b/ffblackmages3.shtml)

Review at Square Enix Music Online (http://www.squareenixmusic.com/reviews/chris/ffblackmages3.shtml)

Didst thuo miss post #45??

shut the fuck up you fucking cocksucker

Woot, finally got my copy of the CD today. This is great stuff but I have to say the title song "Darkness and Starlight" is that best if not the longest of their songs to date, hehe 15 running time. I really like the Japanese version but would be cool if it could be done in English too. Idk it might lose its impact. This is now on the radio play list (http://rgonots-sylph.net/radio/playing.html) if you have not heard it yet, enjoy the music.

There is not bad review of the CD on Square Enix Music Oline (http://www.squareenixmusic.com/reviews/chris/ffblackmages3.shtml) if you interested in reading more.

Im still waiting on mine. Amazon e-mailed today to say they dont have it after I pre-ordering with them. :(

No to do advertise on site but I use YesAsia for my soundtracks and even USA games. The have yet to fail me and even do two day air from Japan.

I hope you do not mind but I thought I would copy here the story behind the last song on the album. Nobuo you are great man sir.


In this album, there is a track which wasn't used in the videogame of FINAL FANTASY.
It is "LIFE" which is included as track#10.

About 8 years ago, I met a boy named "Yoshitaka Tagawa" who was 15 years old then. Yoshitaka(who is the big big fan of FINAL FANTASY) got acute myeloid leukemia from his childhood, and it was difficult for his doctor to expect how long he could live. I wish him to get better and presented him the song "LIFE". After I presented him that song, he started to participate in a lot of events of mine from far Kyushu with his mother. When I first met him, he seemed to lack energy, but while meeting him for a several time, he got energetic and smiled a lot. In fact, I met him at "PRESS START CONCERT" last year, and he was full of vigor. Everybody around him was thinking confidently that he is getting better, but on Jan.25th 2008, He suddenly passed away. I was really sad and was full of regret. I thought that the delightful things must have waited for him in his future. But no one can predict what's going to happen, he passed away.

Is Life unequal? No, I don't want to think like that. I expect Life to be fair and each of us has a equal role in their life. We also want you to know the meaning of his 22years life and decided to include "LIFE" in this album.

How hard the life is if someone whom you love or someone who is important to you passed away suddenly. If I had known this would happen, I would have given him more opportunity to have fun, and I would have invited him to the recordings and the concerts more. But after the sad thing happened, It's too late even if I thought so. If you have a family, friends, girl friend or boy friend whom you love, please send them your love and express your hearty thanks to them as much as you can at this moment. Yoshitaka let me know about the importance of it through his own experience.

Thank you, Yoshitaka. Rest in peace.
I'll always remember you with your wonderful smile.

Nobuo Uematsu

Tebian- that was beautiful. thanks for posting.

So, I'm bumping this ageing thread.

I decided to pick this one up, and that's my mistake. I've never heard an album so cluttered, over-arranged, and over-thought. Most of the songs sound as if they were reinterpreted by an 80s hair metal band.

I suppose I'm chiefly annoyed by the Black Mage's renditions of the Extreme, Premonition, and Bombing Mission. While enjoyable tunes in their original form, the Mages chock them full of nutty, over-the-top solos much to the detriment of the overall melody. And did the Extreme really need a brass section? I felt like I was back at high school football game- and the home team was losing.

Not to be overly negative, I actually enjoyed the album's eponymous song, which says something for track over fifteen minutes long (though off-key vocals kinda ruin it). Also assault of the Silver Dragons came together only slightly better despite another extended solo fest.

Overall though, I'm pretty disappointed. =/

I think the best thing to do when you want to hear the themes in their original forms is to buy the actual OST. Not a Rock/Metal Remix one.

Noted. However you might find deduce that because I've compared the two, I already own the originals, get me?

I also have the first two Black Mages albums, which had some decent interpretations of classic FF songs. Unfortunately, Darkness and Starlight falls short of its predecessors.

I think Darkness and Starlight is as good as the first 2 album. And especially the themes you say you don't like, like The Extreme.



While enjoyable tunes in their original form, the Mages chock them full of nutty, over-the-top solos much to the detriment of the overall melody.

You say the first 2 albums were better, but what I quoted from you can be found in these 2 as well... yet it doesn't seem to bother you. The style didn't change from the first 2 albums to the third, so I wonder what you were expecting. Maybe the fact that there isn't much pre FF VII themes has something to do in the balance?

The Extreme is my favorite track in Final Fantasy history.

Meh, I guess I can't deny that their rendition of it disappointed me a little, but it's better than them not doing it at all, and having to wait for their next album hoping they'll do it. It came out pretty good, I can hardly think of anything they could have done better. Certain parts of it even came out just as I imagined them in my mind, like the part with the chain of sixteenths.

The only thing I didn't like was how they ended it.

I think Darkness and Starlight is as good as the first 2 album. And especially the themes you say you don't like, like The Extreme.




You say the first 2 albums were better, but what I quoted from you can be found in these 2 as well... yet it doesn't seem to bother you. The style didn't change from the first 2 albums to the third, so I wonder what you were expecting. Maybe the fact that there isn't much pre FF VII themes has something to do in the balance?

True the other two albums had their share of solos, but what can I say? I enjoyed them more. They sounded less overpowering and more complimentary. I was expecting something I could enjoy listening to and that expectation wasn't met.

I'd be lying if I said I didn't prefer remixes of the classic FFs, maybe because there's more room to improve. But note the album's post FFVII songs outnumber remixes of the classics so I don't think that's it. I definitely favour the d�but album; every single track rocks. I rarely find an album where I can enjoy every single track. Maybe that's why I had high expectations for subsequent releases. Skies Above I liked less because I'm not a fan of rock opera-like songs. Fortunately, that same style didn't spoil the 15min "Darkness and Starlight" track too much for me on the third. But that's still about the only track I liked.

I downloaded this about a month ago. I didn't know it was brand new... :(

I'm with you, doomjockey. On the whole, I was profoundly disappointed with the album (though its namesake was a truly awesome track, if a little long).

The Extreme and Premonition are some of my all-time favorite tracks, and their arrangements here are pretty mediocre IMO. Now all I have left is Dark Messenger (FFIX), and if that gets messed up, I'll be very, very sad.