ARMORED SAINT Singer Comments On 'Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance' Involvement

John Bush (ARMORED SAINT, ANTHRAX),Jason Miller (GODHEAD) and Howard Jones (KILLSWITCH ENGAGE) are among the musicians who performed at the launch event for Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance on February 18 at GameStop at Universal CityWalk in Universal City, California.

Award-winning film, TV and video game composer Jamie Christopherson ("Lost Planet", "Spiderman: Web of Shadows") was commissioned by PlatinumGames to write both the score and songs for Konami's action title developed by Kojima Productions and PlatinumGames Inc., Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance. Albums of both were made available on February 19, the same day that the Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance video game was released. Featuring extremely fast hardcore electronic/heavy metal music, the soundtrack in Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance marks a clear departure from the music of the previous Metal Gear games.

Commented John Bush: "I was asked through Vince at Metal Blade if I wanted to sing a couple of tracks for Metal Gear's Revengeance. I was excited to be a part of it, 'cause I never sang on a video game before. Jamie Christopherson is the musical director and he created some killer, heavy tunes. When you play 'Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance', listen for the songs 'Return to Ashes' and 'The Hot Wind Blowin'!"

Christopherson said: "With action-packed gameplay this intense, we knew that the music for Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance had to be something really special and different from previous Metal Gear Solid games. In order to accomplish this, we decided early on to have hardcore electronic/metal songs with vocals that would lyrically and sonically mirror the game storyline during boss battles. Pre-existing licensed songs or traditional orchestral score wouldn't suffice for these sections; the music had to be something fresh and impactful."

To achieve the desired result, Christopherson enlisted five-time gold record artist/producer Logan Mader (MACHINE HEAD, SOULFLY) to co-write and co-produce a portion of the songs from the soundtrack. Mader also produced live drum recordings and many of the vocal sessions for the songs.

The soundtrack features many talented recording artists from across the globe, such as electronic remixer Maniac Agenda and DJ sensation Ferry Corsten. Well-known vocalists, including Bush, Tyson Yen (STATE LINE EMPIRE, DRIST),Miller, Graeme Cronies, Kit Walters, Free Dominguez (KIDNEYTHIEVES) and Jimmy Gnecco (OURS) were chosen to match specific bosses based on the quality of their voices.

Christopherson said: "I had a blast working with PlatinumGames and all of the wonderful artists on Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance. The culminating result is something I'm really proud of and definitely puts the 'metal' in Metal Gear series."

For more information, visit www.metalgearsolid.com/rising.

Photo courtesy of GeekExchange.com