The Sound Test

Detroit: Become Human is a detailed sci-fi narrative with some of Quantic Dream's most ambitious music to date. In order to best score the story’s three playable characters, a trio of top tier composers joined the project – each focusing on one thread of an interweaving narrative. For Connor – an android police investigator – Nima Fahkrara mixed an array of hardware synths and custom instruments w...

An almost non-stop list of pumpers and bangers dominates this playlist, so get ready to move. During links, Lee presents his top five film-to-game adaptations - and Blade Runner's only at number four! Otherwise, we hear a boatload of strong requests and the VGM SongFight takes an esoteric turn... Including: SFX Showdown VGM SongFight ( BACKSTORY ) Top 5 This week's playlist: Wild Wild Jungle – Nor...

This very profane LIVE show takes a look at swearing in video games, from the very first time cussing was heard in a title to some of the most famous examples. Along the way, you can hear all the usual features and a playlist stacked with the very best VGM. Finally, if you check out this podcast on YouTube (link below), you can see my brother - ShadyLane - perform a live speedrun of The Legend of...

It's another solo show this week, as Dale's finally decided to play it safe and social distance! In his absence, we kick things off chippy before moving into an extended look at the history of David Cage and Quantic Dream. Then, we end up on some top shelf requests - not before a whole show's worth of the usual chatter, musings and VGM trivia! Including: SFX Showdown VGM SongFight ( BACKSTORY ) Im...

Lee runs the show solo this week as Dale recuperates at home. But personal picks and requests keep things flowing, we hear more about Lee's reaction to FFVII Remake, discuss his 30th birthday and a question is posed - what is your favourite individual chip or console when it comes to audio? Including: SFX Showdown News VGM SongFight ( BACKSTORY ) This week's playlist: Sewer City – Matt Furniss [Bo...

We're back this week without the need of a crate of Pepsi to keep us going. The energy keeps flowing through this one, kicked off by one of the strongest starts to a playlist yet! Additionally, Lee's tentative link to the physical realm is tested yet again by social norms and an interaction with a scotsman. Including: SFX Showdown VGM SongFight ( BACKSTORY ) This week's playlist: Miami at Night Ch...

After our expansive chat about Ori and the Blind Forest last year, I welcome Gareth Coker back on The Sound Test to discuss its sequel; Ori and the Will of the Wisps. We take a look at its production process, how it differs from Blind Forest, the instrumentation used and how Covid-19 has impacted composers. It's wonderful to see Gareth return, and I'm particularly pleased to continue the musical s...

Fatigue reigns heavy on our shoulders this week! Dale and I stumble our way through a very sleepy show, mostly discussing last week's question - what are some of your favourite gaming sequels? An excellent playlist of listener choices definitely helps paper the gaps on this one as we attempt to make sense of our own brains, leading up to our focus for next week - best boss tracks of all time! Many...

Mike Morasky returns to The Sound Test for a lengthy and expansive conversation about Valve's latest masterpiece - Half-Life: Alyx. Being a VR game, we get plenty of chance to discuss how you can apply audio in that environment. Additionally, we hear all about the development of Half-Life: Alyx itself and how Mike approached its music. Lee Tyrrell on Twitter: https://twitter.com/GreenT128 Mike Mor...

This week, I'm once again joined by Dale Fowler for a truly off the hook edition of The Sound Test LIVE - your weekly celebration of VGM goodness! Alongside our mad tangents, we play the usual features, some heavy hitting tunes from new games and pose the question: what are some of your favourite direct sequels in gaming ever? Including: SFX Showdown VGM SongFight ( BACKSTORY ) This week's playlis...

Outer Wilds, a unique sci-fi adventure released in 2019, has been a huge hit with critics and players alike. Scored by Andrew Prahlow, a lot of the soundtrack is built on banjos, guitars and other fireside classics (like simple whistling). However, the music also makes clever use of soundscapes, synths and textures, all contributing to a decidedly post-rock sound that perfectly captures the settin...

Alongside the usual chatter, this episode takes a look at some of the games that first inspired regular listeners to get into VGM. There are some great choices! Including: SFX Showdown VGM SongFight ( BACKSTORY ) Quickfire News This week's playlist: Oil Panic – ??? (originally composed by Yoko Mizuta and/or Jin Sugita) [Game & Watch Gallery] Undercaves – Spencer Nilsen, Brian Coburn and/or And...

Jason Graves has worked on a simply incredible list of titles throughout his career. Whether it's Tomb Raider, Dead Space, Until Dawn, Moss, multiple Star Trek games or any of his various projects, Jason always brings depth of thought and true feeling to his music. In this unbelievably expansive bonus interview, Jason and I cover as much of his back catalogue as we can. He's passionate, enthusiast...

On this week's show, I catch up on your thoughts about particularly effective looping tracks in games, and then go on to ask what games and tunes very first got you into VGM. More on that next week! Including: SFX Showdown VGM SongFight (BACKSTORY: https://twitter.com/GreenT128/status/1191119218038706176 ) Quickfire News This week's playlist: Birth of the People – Yuzo Koshiro [ActRaiser] Ocean –...

For this second episode of a third run, I'm joined after a little while by somebody very familiar to longtime listeners... Including: SFX Showdown VGM SongFight (BACKSTORY: https://twitter.com/GreenT128/status/1191119218038706176 ) and more... This week's playlist: Those Who Fight (Intro) – (originally composed by Nobuo Uematsu) [FF7: Remake] Don’t Be Afraid (Final Fantasy VIII) – Nobuo Uematsu [D...

The first episode of a (kind of) third season! This time, I'm going solo and introducing a couple of new ideas. I don't do the old features in this broadcast, but they'll be returning in the next... This week's playlist: Da Funk – Daft Punk [Homework] Material Girl – Gavin “zer0page” Graham (originally by Madonna) Samurai Shodown Embrace Death – Fat Bard [Samurai Shodown (2019)] We Called Upon War...

Sea of Thieves is a multiplayer pirate adventure complete with sailing, cutlasses, sea monsters and even interactive shanties. Though given a cartoonish and playful feel, as is often the case with Rare, its creation and continued evolution are taken very seriously. That’s exemplified in Sea of Thieves’ music, which uses an arsenal of intriguing instruments in its authentic sound. In fact, its comp...

After composing one of the best loved game OSTs of all time with Journey, Austin Wintory was left wondering what could inspire him with the same intensity. Known as a top authority when it comes to composing modern VGM, every project he scores offers a new opportunity to explore and innovate. But, when Stoic – a team of developers led by a trio of ex-Bioware staff – contacted him about their upcom...

A brand new iteration of The Sound Test LIVE! This time, I'm joined by Shelley Moncaster for fresh VGM playlists and all the old features, including: SFX Showdown SongFight (BACKSTORY: https://twitter.com/GreenT128/status/1191119218038706176 ) News And a BONUS interview with C64Audio.com 's Chris Abbott about the 8-Bit Symphony! This week's playlist: Days Like These (Head Radio Extract) – Craig Co...

A brand new iteration of The Sound Test LIVE! This time, I'm joined by Shelley Moncaster for fresh VGM playlists and all the old features, including: SFX Showdown SongFight ( BACKSTORY/POLL ) News This week's playlist: Flagship – Danny Baranowsky [Industries of Titan] Overworld (Peaceful) – Danny Baranowsky (originally composed by Koji Kondo) [Cadence of Hyrule] Maple Treeway – Asuka Ota & Ryo...

A brand new iteration of The Sound Test LIVE! This time, I'm joined by Shelley Moncaster for fresh VGM playlists and all the old features, including: SFX Showdown SongFight News and lots of listener requests this week! This week's playlist: Six’s Theme, Pt. II – Tobias Lilja [Little Nightmares] Spring (Wild Horseradish Jam) – ConcernedApe [Stardew Valley]  The Palace – Matt Gray [Reformation 3] St...

A brand new iteration of The Sound Test LIVE! This time, I'm joined by Shelley Moncaster for fresh VGM playlists and all the old features, including: SFX Showdown SongFight News Top 5 (THIS WEEK: Top 5 Drum/Percussion Sounds) This week's playlist: Light from the Netherworlds – Yasunori Mitsuda [Xenogears] Miami Disco – Perturbator [Hotline Miami] EXPERT SHOT – Ryuji Iuchi [Super Monkey Ball: Banan...

Almost exactly a year on from my first conversation with Clark Aboud , I caught up with him again about his Slay the Spire remix EP - Reslain! It's always a pleasure to chat to Clark, and we also manage to spend some time discussing Kind Words and Factory Town. Both released since we last spoke, so it was great to hear a little on their development alongside lots of his insight on Slay the Spire:...

A brand new iteration of The Sound Test LIVE! This time, I'm joined by Shelley Moncaster for fresh VGM playlists and all the old features, including: SFX Showdown SongFight News and a BONUS interview with Slay the Spire's Clark Aboud! Clark's "Reslain" on Bandcamp: https://clarkaboudmusic.bandcamp.com/album/slay-the-spire-reslain This week's playlist: Factory Town – Clark Aboud [Factory Town] The...

A brand new iteration of The Sound Test LIVE! This time, I'm joined by Shelley Moncaster for fresh VGM playlists and all the old features, including: SFX Showdown SongFight Top TEN (THIS WEEK: My favourite game from each year of the 2010s, including runners up and honourable mentions!) This week's playlist: Rocket Man – Gavin “zer0Page” Graham (originally composed by Elton John & Bernie Taupin...