A Review of the Album ``The Belmonts'' by The Megas

Under review is another of my favourite bands, The Megas, whose music is also available on Bandcamp:
https://themegas.bandcamp.com

Rather than reviewing that other album covering the events of ``Mega Man 3'', I've decided to review
a small album based on the other major game series which the band uses in its work, ``Castlevania''.

The album entries follow ordered by my preference, their names, their durations, and album ordering:

   Out of Time   04:51 3
=  Heart of Fire 04:37 2
>  Bloody Tears  03:32 1

The album is so short I can't suggest listening to it out of order the first time around.  I usually
listen to the tracks in order regardless of which I prefer, and find the ordering to be appropriate.
All tracks are covers of music from the ``Castlevania'' games with lyrics the most obvious addition.

The first track begins Simon's journey to defeat Dracula, with a fast beat and stretches without any
lyrics at the beginning and interspersed throughout to good effect.  Guitar and drums are mixed with
``retro'' instruments, but, above all else in this track, I always think of its general composition,
and then the lyrics, with everything else rather forgettable in comparison.  Those most recognizable
lyrics in this song belong to the chorus ``What a horrible night to have a curse.'', from the games.
I believe the other lyrics to be original, and their tale of horror and suffering are very pleasant.

The second track is another memorable tune from the games, but I find the lyrics to be that greatest
aspect of the song; the lyrics remind the listener of how the Belmonts fight against the Grim Reaper
himself, in rather clever ways.  This track, unlike the first, has no long stretches without lyrics,
and I recognize the instruments from the games, but not in a ``retro'' way.  I believe the lyrics to
be wholly original, also unlike the first track.  This song competes with the third as my favourite.

The third and final track is similar to the second to me, in that its lyrics improve on the music to
overpower it, in my memory.  The chorus with ``Tonight, the lord of darkness shall rise.'' is easily
my favourite part of the song at every occurrence.  Unlike the other two tracks, I noticed nothing I
could call ``retro'' in any way.  This track has a few stretches without lyrics, like the first, and
unlike the second.  I believe all lyrics to be original, but perhaps the chorus or some other lyrics
aren't.  This track appropriately ends the album with its themes of the final fight, and how they're
portrayed in the song; the track ends with the chorus one final time, whispered without instruments.

I've played several of the ``Castlevania'' games, but this is no requirement to understand and enjoy
the album.  All songs have a fairly constant tune, albeit occasionally broken for brief stretches of
time.  Unlike the ``Mega Man'' games, this is the only ``Castlevania'' game from this band, although
another album holds a song about Medusa.  I can easily recommend this album to an interested reader.