Track #3-19: Metamorphic
Artist: Thennecan
Original: Gandrayda by Kenji Yamamoto
Length: 4:54
Gandrayda's battle theme, preceded by a remix of the Chykka theme it is rearranged from on this album, gets a second remix on Harmony of a Hunter. Sebastian Fousinette's earlier remix took the somber, graceful theme and put it into his mixed acoustic style; now, artist Thennecan remixes it as a metal theme, with heavily detuned instruments that are especially prominent in the beginning and complement the electric guitar throughout.
The title refers to 'metamorphic' rocks, which are created when rocks are crushed and transformed under massive tectonic pressure deep in the Earth's crust. This is most likely a sideways reference to Gandrayda's ability to shapeshift, which is almost like an instant 'metamorphosis' but who otherwise has nothing to do with geology. That said, considering Gandrayda's fate (being turned into a Space Pirate enforcer after losing her sanity to phazon corruption), the title could still work, as a metaphor for how she is forcefully molded into a servant of evil and her personality is crushed into oblivion.
According to Thennecan:
“Gandrayda battle theme is an amazing track, I found myself experimenting a lot with ambience sounds and mixing them with heavy metal. It is something I’ve done before but this time I think I was able to refine that mixture a lot better. Hope you like it!”
The final result is a pained take on Gandrayda's theme. Sebastian's earlier remix was gentler and more comforting, and this remix's wailing guitars and blunted keyboard provide a strong contrast. The intro starts things off with a great first impression, and the arrangement gives focus to some of the later sections of the song that bring out the tragedy without neglecting other parts of the song. Together with a strong performance by Thennecan, the result is angry but sad, like Gandrayda is raging against her fate but is utterly helpless to resist the forces that will destroy her.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐
Track #3-18: Memories of an Echo Track #3-20: SRX Derelict
