Often when an album is announced which talks of re-imaginings of classic gaming music pieces, from titles such as Skyrim, Legend of Zelda and Journey (to name but a few), you’d expect epic orchestra’s backing reworked scores, or perhaps an ethereal piano player and solitary string companion. What you’ve possibly never really expected to hear is epic pieces from games like Chrono Trigger, Castlevania and Final Fantasy VII delivered from a rather excellent bluegrass band called The Hit Points.
Materia Collective is pleased to present The Hit Points and their debut self-titled album that offers a unique blend of live high-energy bluegrass and soothing acoustic arrangements of fan-favorite videogame music. Featuring bluegrass performers Eli Bishop and Matt Menefee and a number of guest artists and soloists, The Hit Points brings listeners the bluegrass game music album they never knew they needed.
The full track list is as follows:
- Those Who Fight Further (Final Fantasy VII)
- Guile’s Theme (Street Fighter)
- Presentiment/Chrono Trigger (Chrono Trigger)
- Rocket Hideout (Pokemon Red/Blue/Yellow)
- Athletic Theme (Super Mario World)
- Green Hill Zone (Sonic the Hedgehog)
- Ballad of the Goddess (The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword)
- Dance of Pales (Castlevania: Symphony of the Night)
- Nascence/Road of Trials (Journey)
- Taliyah, the Stoneweaver (League of Legends)
- Double Dragon Theme/Mission 1 (Double Dragon)
- Streets of Whiterun (The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim)
The Hit Points have also released their debut music video for “Ballad of the Goddesses” from The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword which you can watch below. The self-titled album is available to purchase now digitally from the following online stores, though if you prefer a physical release head to Bandcamp linked below.
The Hit Points, the brainchild of Matt Menefee and Eli Bishop, is an acoustic videogame cover band. They unconventionally merge the string band sounds of Appalachia with the 8-bit and symphonic compositions from videogames.
The Nashville duo, equipped with fiddles and banjos, conjure up a world where you can almost hear bluegrass titans such as Flatt and Scruggs swap a nine pound hammer for a beam sword. Their live performances have won them world wide renown and standing ovations on stages such as the Ryman and Jazz at Lincoln Center. They have performed, recorded and collaborated separately with acts like Wynton Marsalis, The Video Game Orchestra, Dan Auerbach of the Black Keys, Bela Fleck, Bruce Hornsby Charlie Peacock, Austin Wintory, Warren Haynes (of the Allman Brothers, Gov’t Mule), Steve Cropper, Jerry Douglas, Matthew Wilder, Mumford and Sons, DJ Poet, Brendan Benson (of the Raconteurs) and more.
More information on Materia Collective can be found here, if you’re looking for more information on Hit Points visit their website here.
Originally published June 30, 2018. Updated December 3, 2022.
