ReMix: The Guardian Legend 'The Legend of Lightning Larry'

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And a happy, belated birthday to Mr. Hawatky, who in a bit of inverted gift-giving sends us this rocking, wah-laden Guardian Legend ownage. This is definitely heavy on the geets, with several flavors of wah, clean, and miscellany guitar effects bits strewn generously around a rock/jam framework. RAD HAWATKY LICKS? You better believe it. Things begin with a little death motif, then a spiritual, contemplative intro features a wah lead over ambient chords, leading up to 0'49", where bass and drums drop in, along with a tasteful little bell tone. There's also some nice repeated, single-note strumming effects here and there, and when things really get going at 1'14" you've got three distinct guitar voices with alternate processing, left, center, and right, layered beautifully. The center is dominant, which makes sense, but you'll be missing out if you don't turn your head to the left and right and check out the passing scenery, all of which interacts fluidly and energetically. Being first and foremost a jam track, there's a lot of technique on display, but it never comes off as trying first and foremost to impress - it stays musical. Dig the unsettling shotgun-type/thunder effects at 3'58", right before the last unison frontal attack and subsequent gurgling conclusion; good stuff, certainly takes one by surprise (even when you're forewarned), and adds a bit of context, too. Sir J.A. Burnett, Esq. takes time from his busy schedule of making animated GIFs for the children to enjoy to offer his expert opinion:

"omg. TEH GUARIDANZ LEGENDZ. INSTANT YES.

I love the impromptu sound-effects created by the guitar to establish mood. And, by the way, that's another great selling point. There is a definite mood created by all the under and over-lying textures of sound.

I'm not too keen on the humanized note rhythms [sic], though I know quite well that is a very personal Zyko signature move. So really, that criticism is a matter of taste and control.

So yes, TGL-bias. Who's gonna stop me? African-American, please "

We can but take his claims of prejudicial and less-than-objective evaluative faculties as his own special way of appreciating Waleed's work. This arrangement is unique among guitar ReMixes that come to mind in its extensive layering of not two but three melodic components, and creatively brings in some Ninja Gaiden towards the end for bonus points. Sweet.

― djpretzel