Soldiers: Final Fantasy VII Tribute Review
Buy Soldiers
Editor’s Note: A review copy of the album was provided to GameGrooves.
Lace up your New Balances, tuck in your T-shirt, crack open a cold one, and prepare for an hour of VGM dad rock, courtesy of Trey Hodge. Most of the time, “dad rock” is used as a pejorative term, conjuring images of middle-aged men trying to relive their glory days. In this case, Soldiers: A Final Fantasy VII Compilation Tribute appeals to dads (including myself) because it’s in no hurry to get anywhere, and that’s OK.
Most of the arrangements on this album would fall under classic rock or alt rock, but there are a few outliers, particularly toward the end of the album. That being said, Trey manages to keep things fresh by including plenty of contemporary rock influences from Pearl Jam to Big Wreck. The performances are adequate and enjoyable, but where Trey truly shines is in the mixing. Aside from a few moments, everything on this album is perfectly balanced—as it should be. That balance is key to making great music (and key to being a great dad).
Sure, there might be faster, more intense albums out there, but this dad is perfectly happy with taking a load off and cranking up the volume while he relives the glory days of Final Fantasy VII.
RATING: RECOMMENDED
(Fans of Final Fantasy VII and Rock Should Enjoy)