“AHHH!!! AFTER TEN THOUSAND YEARS I’M FREE, TIME TO CONQUER EARTH!”

Thusly echoes the mighty battle cry of the indefatigable Armcannon as they mega-blast forth with their powerful new album, cunningly entitled “RETURN of the ATTACK of the LEGEND of PIZZOR”. A twelve track cornucopia of classic video game tunes and television theme songs, re-vitalized by progressive math-metal wizardry and brutal live keyboarding, packed with the ballads of our collective childhoods. If you aren’t already intrigued, please go do something excessively serious; preferably as far away from me as possible.

Armcannon has blazed a fiery trail through the video game cover band scene, purveying their particularly potent blend of nerd kitsch and mind bending heavy metal pyrotechnics at VG conventions across the United States. In early 2008, they released the ridiculously awesome “LEG VACUUM”, featuring original tracks, and medleys of favorites from Megaman, Metroid, Final Fantasy and Legend of Zelda. “R.A.L.P.”, as I will henceforth refer to their new album, takes the pixelated insanity at least eight steps further. The soul scorching fury of these songs cannot be denied.

Shortly after the original “Power Rangers” theme song brings you back to the days of teenagers (WITH ATTITUDE!), the hauntingly beautiful Super Mario World “Castle” theme will have you gulping mushrooms and spitting fireballs like a mustachioed plumber from Italy with nothing to lose. Fans of Nintendocore groups such as Horse the Band or The Advantage will be drooling over the polyrhythms, complex arrangements, and shimmering arpeggios featured in tracks like “Rygar” or “Castlevania 3″. Part of where “R.A.L.P.” really shines is Danimal Cannon’s sparkling production aesthetic. Every plucky bass note and beefy drum hit smacks you square in the stomach with a fist of true metal brutality. I can’t say enough about the skill of every one of these musicians, especially the oft-neglected bass guitar and hilarious vocals.

“RETURN of the ATTACK of the LEGEND of PIZZOR” can be purchased or listened to in its entirety from the Armcannon BandCamp page:

http://armcannon.bandcamp.com/

So check it out, and help support a truly progressive video game cover band. The power of the pixel compels you.