Nazi Requiem
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http://www.ocremix.org/remix/OCR00969/

Mazedude has been very prolific these last several months, and we've had a hard time keeping up with him. His latest piece is a semi-electronic march that mixes orchestral percussion and classical instrumentation with assorted electro-fx percussion, similar but not as hyper and not quite as varied and intricate as his previous, FF7 ReMix. This is, however, our first ReMix from the landmark id title Wolfenstein 3D, and features appropriately disturbing samples of Hitler (or as Eddie Izzard calls him: "that mass-murdering f--k-head") that give the piece a menace. Some might say an objectionable one, depending on who you are and where you hail from, but it's definitely not used here in any sort of glorification or admiration, but to put the piece in the context of the material and add a greater sense of realism. I think it works, but it may rub some the wrong way. Referencing that this piece was in response to a listener request, Chris writes: "a part of the request for it was to maintain a level of sadness, given the general nature of war and what-not." Musically, this does a lot with the source, has some nice tempo manipulations, and the overall orchestral arrangement works well over the semi-industrial percussion bed. It's not my favorite Mazedude ReMix - some of the extended upper brass holds for durations that expose a synthetic, flat tonality at times, but the moving french horns and string arpeggios and interaction between the rolling, military orchestral snare and electronics both work very well. This is the type of arrangement that, because of many moving parts and held notes, would test greatly the quality of any sample library on the planet, so bare that in mind as well - not that the sounds used are sub-par in the slightest. Chris maintains his own high standards and gives us our first ReMix from a benchmark title that paved the way for many more like it. Recommended.