Legacy of Grabbag - Duke Nukem Theme Metal Cover Medley

[@BrandonBlume]

Been getting a lot of views on this lately and I just wanted to say thank you all for all the love! I posted this in 2016 but I've never gotten as many views in as short a time on any video I've done than this one. I want to get back to doing more covers like this. It's long been requested that I do a full-length cover of the Duke3D bonus/level stats theme on its own and I'd love to give that a shot and see how I can develop it. As I clear some other projects off my plate, I'll be coming back to doing game metal covers. Hope you stick around. :)

[@GonHemi]

Thanks for the download links!

[@gp.5989]

Loved Duke back in the day i use this in my gym tracks. Hope to hear more soon.

[@Palabrota]

I came here from a stylophone vid (with a few stops along the way) kzbin.info/www/bejne/jqDNe4CEeL5rmpYm30s. But it's almost a year old, so I doubt it's driving all your views lately.

[@BrandonBlume]

@@Palabrota That was a great video! Thanks for sharing!

[@Reinsworth]

Your compo still rocks dude. Hail to the king!

[@rubentorre1345]

ALWAYS bet on duke

[@RustyShackleford556]

>My guitar solo and variation of Grabbag Holy shit dude, didn't have to flex THAT hard

[@BrandonBlume]

Whoops 😅

[@RustyShackleford556]

@@BrandonBlume For real man, seriously impressive. Goes hard.

[@BrandonBlume]

@@RustyShackleford556 I appreciate it thank you 🙏

[@PedroThePanda64]

*THE 90S NEVER ENDED.*

[@swiftprey1628]

It will never end

[@BPKPhoenix]

192019 is the year we're in, we're about to hit 192020. Fuck yeah the 90s!

[@natje360]

Happy 192020🎉🎉

[@zesty2023]

baby.

[@Beanibirb]

Yeet

[@revenantevil]

This is the Duke Nukem of Duke Nukem themes.

[@NukeA6]

Can't believe it took me this long to find the king of the Grabbag mixes.

[@BrandonBlume]

Much too kind! But thank you for the kindness. 🙏

[@lowlywandererozzy]

@@BrandonBlume Hail to the king baby!

[@simonblackburn7786]

DUDE!!!

[@ArrowValley]

Worthy of being played on KTIT Radio.

[@copilots3159]

Playing the breast- uh the BEST tunes in town!

[@locastmincer]

If cobra kai production team doesn't use this song for their Duke Nukem movie I'll be biblically pissed off!

[@demonwind5030]

Ha. Biblically pissed. I'm gonna borrow that.

[@Bable012]

Wait what?

[@IvaraGG]

I love this cover, is amazing!

[@chrislebleu6821]

Had some big goosebumps listening to this. Truly legendary, Duke would be proud!!

[@scavengersix2161]

Hands down the best cover of Duke Nukem's theme I've ever heard. It goes ham from the first note and doesn't stop to catch its breath until final chord drops the end of the song on your head like an anvil. It really makes you want to kick ass and chew bubblegum, only to realize your options are limited by a personal shortage of gum. Great song bro!

[@BrandonBlume]

I appreciate it! Glad you enjoyed it!

[@GenericPhantom1]

Personal shortage of gum........

[@WookieFragger]

I love SO MUCH that you included the keyboard solo. Gets omitted too many times from fan covers and official re-recordings of the Duke theme, which is a real shame, because it rules!

[@BrandonBlume]

Yes it does! (get omitted too many times)

[@dingkosh]

Best version of Grabbag I've ever heard, the solo at the end is my favorite part

[@kylepeterson4147]

Hail to the king baby!

[@GoldKingsMan]

I have a new storyline based off that.

[@Hitmanelvro]

"It's time to listen to good music and clean the house... and I already cleaned the house..." - My Dad

[@Lockkj]

that was beautiful

[@stefkaro83]

Duke Nukem Armageddon Edition trailer brought me here. Hail to the king of grabbag, baby!

[@patcatzgames9792]

This appeared in Serious Duke 3D’s trailer, and god dam this shreds!

[@modernatorgaming]

Hail to king baby!!!!

[@bagamax]

The best soundtrack for getting cleared with peroxide and gobbling up all the anabolics in town.

[@Huggbees]

Phenomenal work man. Mind if I use this in some projects?

[@BrandonBlume]

Sure! I ask only for credit and a link to brandonblume.com.

[@ArcturusOTE]

Hey Huggbees, do you mind linking the video where you used this music?

[@ArcturusOTE]

Um... Huggbees?

[@FoxBoy1992]

@@ArcturusOTE He passed away from CoViD-19.

[@lancestryker]

@@FoxBoy1992 He made a post 1 day ago?

[@jesusisherelookbusy]

Hey King, you dropped this… 👑

[@MrAndrewfreeman]

All it's missing for me is Manhatten projects Grabbag.

[@Chromdillion]

As an absolutely die hard Duke fan, thank you for this. You absolutely kick ass AND chew bubblegum my man! Keep this up!

[@jxcob47]

4:20 DarkViperAu Chaos Intro

[@wadoid4239]

I first discovered Duke Nukem when I was 11. My dad bought my mother and me a new pc and he showed me cd that had Duke Nukem 3d on it (as far as I remember that was original). I only played the first level of the game because it was late already and I had to go to bed. Then I forgot about the game. Now here I am 8 years later and I'm having a Duke Nukem brainrot for like 3 months now and realised how good this game was and how badass Duke is! Then I began to listen to the game's theme song and I found this masterpiece. I literally listen to it EVERY DAY! Good job man! Thank you for this!

[@BrandonBlume]

Awesome memory! Thanks for listening!

[@deathtwinky7161]

Always come back to this video when i feel nostalgic. One of the game that mark me for life. I literally learn english from Duke xD, to à point that i can replicate himself almost perfectly. If they do another Duke one day, ill surely would be happy doing him :p

[@old_liquid]

Finally someone acknowledged and remixed 2007 Grabbag version. But I miss 2001 version there, where is it?

[@twilightsparkle2764]

Your solo is the best part of the song!

[@adambernache3210]

Zero Hour's rifts are the sleaziest, absolutely raunchy filthy.

[@BrandonBlume]

One of the better more original and catchiest renditions of Grabbag too.

[@derrickjohnson4952]

1.) new duke nukem game 2.) duke as a fighting game character 3.) this must be played at all times

[@Japie__]

One obscure version of grabbag is missing that I can think of: From the Pinball PC game "Balls of Steel". Duke nukem had a pinball table there. It's worth checking out.

[@electro_dawg]

I discovered this on accident and I’m so glad this exists, after this I looked up Duke Nukem (I wasn’t born in the 90s or 80s) and he needs more games

[@katsika84a]

This is indeed one of the best versions

[@katsika84a]

Dude, i was just scripting and after so many days i figured out what i need to do to make it work, and right away your song popped in . I swear to God, if it wasn't for Megadeth your cover would be no 2 in my preference, after the original :p ! ! Congratulations, that's some serious guitar playing, much love

[@joshuawiley6506]

This is the definitive Duke theme.

[@Kowalski089]

Been listening to this on repeat for weeks now. The whole rendition is excellent, but your solo at the end is the best part. 4:31 onwards is pure gold, and the lick at 4:35 is the best part of the song. Great work dude.

[@1982Lantis]

EPIC!!!!! GOOSEBUMPS ALL THE WAY! The final part with the lightning fast solo is killer!!! HAIL TO THE KING BABY!!! Bravo!

[@TheCrow2483]

Hail to the King baby - Duke Nukem *voice of Duke* Damn that's a kick ass cover of my theme song

[@3yyubi]

loved it. It sounds like that they remade the duke nukem 3d in 2019 with modern visual and audio content. excellent work

[@jess648]

there was a cancelled Duke 3D remake by the people who made the Rise of the Triad remake

[@vernonroche4439]

I hope you end up composing for the next Duke Nukem game. This is an excellent cover.

[@JustWaterPipes_]

2:19 fuck yes

[@JSmokesII]

I love how this is literally the duke 3D, Forever 1998, Zero hour, and Manhattan project themes

[@salembraikeh1504]

Lot of emotions while listening to your Rémix ,, it’s all our teenage years,,

[@vindieu]

Perfect execution, perfect understanding, perfect variants research. Now that's how it must be done.

[@solidsnake8008]

Dude your guitar solo kicks so much ass, good job kid!

[@rencmoraes]

Duke, Doomguy, Lu Wang and Caleb as MK next guest characters ! MAKE IT HAPPEN NETHEREALM !!!

[@aurorafox1283]

Just imagine Duke ripping someone head and shitting on that person neck after winning

[@Archivist001]

Dude… finally being able to decide who would win between Duke and Doomguy… that would be glorious

[@TAURON85]

I love Sonic Mayhem's Quake 2 soundtrack, Reznor's Quake soundtrack, all the DooM 1 and 2 tracks, but nothing can beat Lee Jackson's Grabbag! Hail to the king baby!

[@SRGIProductions]

Civvie11 oughta be ashamed of himself. ...HE DIDN'T USE THIS IN HIS PRO NUKEM SERIES!!!!

[@themountaindude3546]

I feel like your own version at the end sounds alot like Crush40! (If you don't know they did the soundtracks for several Sonic games between 1998-2006)

[@seanhauth1683]

This is such an awesome cover of grabbag! if they ever did another duke nukem game, they should use this as boss music or as the main menu like with duke 3d! I agree with one of the comments, this is one of the best remixes of grabbag out there! Hail to the king baby!

[@BrandonBlume]

Cheers! 😊

[@TheWorldconsumer]

Looking for 5 minutes of AWESOME? You came to the right place. :)

[@feralhawg867]

Hands down one of the best Grabbag remakes ever. For sure one of my favorite songs of all time, it's just so good.

[@firenicey7319]

Stumbled across this in 2020 and have to say this is “ Damn Good “ looking forward to level covers if you decide to do them. As a 80s / 90s kid I have to say you did an amazing job

[@ariefstefanlawigyn6835]

No argue ✨👍👍👍

[@ariefstefanlawigyn6835]

No argue ✨👍👍👍

[@jellyfishrage33]

Just found this gem. Loved that you included Zero Hour in there 🤘

[@BrandonBlume]

Love the Zero Hour theme! :D

[@AquaNovaOfficial6621]

Fuck yeah, this is amazing dude!!! Love how you pieced all of the variations together as well

[@lordfriedrick7911]

*MIGHTY FOOT ENGAGED*

[@rodrigoaugusto2912]

This is absolutely gold for any Duke Nukem fan. Congratulations for your awesome work.

[@Bubba2181]

I absolutely love the transitions especially zero hour's !

[@Nami]

I love how even Duke Nukem II finds its way in here.

[@binary2107]

Amazing song, my favorite part is the guitar solo at the end

[@jajmagoo1548]

This is the best thing i've heard all fuckin' year.

[@fe9253]

This piece you created, for me, it is the ULTIMATE version of DUKE3D, NO CONTEST! I probably listen to it like 10 times a day every day, no kidding. You captured the soul of the game and character! Any other 90s 1st person shooter theme you might be covering, such as DOOM? Can't thank you enough for this!!

[@BrandonBlume]

Thanks so much! And anything's possible. :)

[@GoldKingsMan]

I listen to it before the gym

[@GoldKingsMan]

Serious Sam be another good one to cover

[@Liske-]

dAMn! This version kicks in!

[@Kevin-jb2pv]

This might be the best D3D cover out there that's faithful to the feel of the original MIDI version. Good job.

[@BrandonBlume]

There was definitely a bit of a void there I saw, so that was a big part of the goal. :)

[@abnerabner3385]

Absolutely destroyed the Zero Hour theme! Omg I loved it, even rewinded it! Thank you for the child hood memory flashback!

[@p_mouse8676]

The mix and sound is also pretty well done! Not as scooped and boxy that so many other people go for.

[@ghos7bear]

On replay for at least 100 times so far, still not enough.

[@TheSilentHillFan]

i still listen to this masterpiece cover.

[@odinatra]

Always wanted for someone to combine extended version with Megadeath's one. And you've gone above and beyond with this!

[@aaronmosteller2997]

I think this is my new favorite version of Grabbag, what an amazing revision!!!

[@mastermasashi]

If they ever make another Duke Nukem FPS, this needs to be played during the final boss fight! It's just that damn good!

[@mastermasashi]

@UC6VtDfxYVh9if40aHmSaP8A That's awesome!

[@MrKevin486]

This is absolutely the best rendition of this theme I've come across. 25/10 well done good sir.

[@BrandonBlume]

🙏

[@MrKevin486]

@@BrandonBlume after listing to it a few times my honest opinion is that this is THE best version of this song. Even better then the original(s).

[@BrandonBlume]

@@MrKevin486 High praise of which I am surely not worthy, but I thank you!

[@MrKevin486]

@@BrandonBlume No, you are worthy of it. It encapsulates all the best parts of every version. It's basically a "best of" for the Nukem theme. It has everything. I doubt anyone who loves any version of the theme would not love this.

[@Mkemcz]

The ultimate version! It's got all the best things - Lee Jackson's guitar solo, Zero Hour riff (headbang worthy af), and your original guitar solo is fire! \m/

[@scoobasteve290]

That breakdown at 4:35 is very sexual. I don't know how else to explain the feeling that gave me.

[@riffraff.7777]

DN3D's theme is the most accurate to the Grabbag version if it were with real instruments, outstanding cover, mister!

[@BrandonBlume]

Thank you. At the time there were very few Grabbag covers that I knew of that were faithful to the original MIDI. Part of the goal was to have fun with all the favourite renditions of it in a big mashup while also giving the original great its deserved due!

[@ablationer]

3:25 I'm amazed you've added the bonus theme. I don't think I've seen anyone else make a cover of it, like ever. It's such a short but punchy track, I love it. Amazing medley overall. Your own ending variant meshes really well with the lot.

[@BrandonBlume]

I really appreciate the kind words!

[@johnnycruelty5195]

this cover was so good it made me shed tears

[@obZenism]

2:19 is the best, you know I'm right, still wish there was a full version

[@KevinsYouTube]

This is actually fucking amazing, hats off to you my dude.

[@OmarBradley4]

This is the best cover of Grabbag on the net. Better than some big name YTers.

[@syndroid1]

This is such a kickass remix! Would you mind if I use this as trailer-music for my Serious Duke 3D mod.

[@BrandonBlume]

Not at all! Just a couple things I'd ask for is to credit me and my website brandonblume.com in the description and also add a thank you note to VoidPoint who own the track and link to twitter.com/voidpnt as well.

[@BrandonBlume]

In fact, I have a trailer-ready variation of this theme all made up for HTTKC that was never used. Email me if you're interested. It's 2 min 5 sec long.

[@syndroid1]

Awesome! I'll credit you in the video and in the game. Are there any special/new parts in the trailer-ready variant? I already started cutting a few parts in a way that it fits the ~4 min footage I have in mind. Also had to increase the loudness a bit. I'll send you the video-link before I make it public.

[@BrandonBlume]

@@syndroid1 No new parts but rearranged. It's got a quick guitar intro that's new and some of the other parts like Bonus are stripped down. It starts off with Megadeth's version then goes into Bonus then to my guitar solo at the end. You can choose to use it or not or use both somehow up to you. But it's there if it works for you. Http://brandonblume.com/music/TrailerA_gtrswell.flac Also please don't forget to credit and link VoidPoint in the description as they own the track. Thanks! :)

[@dasmas310]

Here after seeing the mod trailer :D

[@X3MInternational]

I've been listening throughout the entire last month and I'm not even close to get tired of it. This version is simply awesome.

[@BrandonBlume]

Really appreciate the support! :)

[@cjkiscoolmon]

Love It, Would Also Love More Duke 2!

[@_Gandalf_The_White]

3:58 fucking slaps, amazing work dude

[@advythoh]

My throttle hand gets super heavy by the end. Addicted to this and can't get enough! Loved the upload, thank you.

[@iamgeorgesears]

I usually don't like Grabbag Metal Covers, but this one is really good! Great work!

[@BrandonBlume]

I appreciate that!

[@Damocles178]

Why did it take till now for me to learn about this!? Glad I found it. It's such an amazing cover. All those medley's just seamlessly blend together. Perhaps the greatest Duke Nukem cover yet!

[@BrandonBlume]

Damocles178 Very kind, thank you.

[@SeemsRandomGuide]

great work dude, I see Duke kicking ass to your remix 👍

[@GoldKingsMan]

Duke and Bombshell

[@PRI3STSPAGE]

Your guitar solo and variation of Grabbag is the absolute BEST one I've ever heard dude! Go to 03:58 to see what I'm talking about guys :)

[@Nbreeniverse]

this is how i wake up, every day

[@non_commentary_gameplays]

This is sooooo freaking cool! well done

[@robdude999]

Hell to the yeah! The Duke theme has been goin' around in my head in days past and I just hadda come to KZbin to have a listen. Does not disappoint!

[@jess648]

I love how this cover seamlessly works in many different versions of Grabbag plus your awesome improvisations in the end. The Duke Nukem II callback was really cool as well! (Man its such a shame HTTKC never materialized because it sounded leagues better than World Tour)

[@NoNameEntered]

You obviously put a LOT of thought into this (not to mention talent). The different chord progressions on main theme/chorus create nice variety. For example, the Megadeath main theme stays on minor for the "coolest" sound, while the 2007 goes minor-major4-major5-major5 for the most melodic sound with the most positive tension (due to holding the 5th for hafl the time), and then there's your take at the end which goes minor-minor-major4-major5 which is probably the most dramatic and a good balance between cool vs melodic - the extra minor chord feels like the major chords are a battle against them but they "win the fight against darkness" which = badass, if that makes sense. Most covers really don't think much about the chord progressions and don't feel melodic, but the duke theme has SO much melodic potential which you nailed here. Also, I love the fact that you didn't have Duke talking during the music like 90% of other covers... I mean, freaking love Jon St. John but I don't want to be playing duke music in my car and then suddenly blast "your face, your ass, what's the difference". Good job 10/10 this is the best version of grabbag out there bar none.

[@BrandonBlume]

Wow thanks for the really well thought out analysis and comments! I definitely was going for melodic variety and my thoughts followed very closely to how you described the arrangement :D. Celebrating the many different versions of Grabbag is fun but also challenging. It can be difficult to evoke variety out of the same theme over and over. Luckily these different versions are indeed so diverse that there's a lot to pull from. Stretching those diversions out to make the listening experience more interesting is the key. I had a ton of fun doing it, though!

[@saint_gb5845]

That's awesome! Be proud of yourself!!

[@Arkl1te]

From 3:25 to the end, this is the best part of this grabbag cover. The best Grabbag cover I've ever heard. My respects to you!

[@kitlee7245]

Second best verson on youtube behind vertxguy's version and the megadeth version thanks for sharing this great renidstion Brandon.

[@BrandonBlume]

High praise! Thank you for the kind words! Glad you enjoyed it. :)

[@kitlee7245]

@@BrandonBlume Your most weclome brandon keep up the killer work your very talented If i remeber right i think i download a sonic cover by you years ago not fully sure 100 precent but agan Phenomenal job on your covers keep doing what you do best. :D

[@borrisg4972]

DWELLING OF DUELS! FUCK YEAH I spent the past 15 or so years trying to find their archive. All I knew was the shorthand for them was DoD. "DoD videogame music contest" brings up nothing related to these guys, no matter how I word it. Hopefully someone on their forums still has a torrent going of their past contests. The archive was over 30GB when I first got it, and that was when it was only a couple years old. The people who participate made INCREDIBLE music. Before DoD all I had for VG covers was Minibosses, and for how good they are they're like amatuer hour compared to what's in DoD. THANK YOU! Both for this amazing track you've made, and for helping me to find DoD's website after all these years :D

[@BrandonBlume]

My pleasure! DoD is indeed a gold mine!

[@BrandonBlume]

It's also fitting as, if I'm not mistaken, the Minibosses community is where Dwelling of Duels was born.

[@agemug2729]

This is outstanding!! One of my top most favorite theme song ever!! :D Duke rules!

[@LordDarkwater]

Hey brandon, first of all: This is amazing. Have been listening to this dozends of times. Ever thought of putting this on spotify? Would love to have this on my car playlist. I'd also enjoy a 10 hours version :D

[@BrandonBlume]

@@LordDarkwater Thanks for the kind words! Unfortunately, I can't put it on Spotify for copyright/licensing reasons. KZbin and SoundCloud (and as MP3/FLAC downloads on my website) are the only homes they have. I'll consider a ten hour version though. 😄

[@LordDarkwater]

@@BrandonBlume Ah that sucks. Website download doesnt seem to work right now (maybe it's just me? dunno). I guess I can grab it from spotify. Thanks mate! Looking forward for that 10 hour version ;)

[@BrandonBlume]

@@LordDarkwater The link in the video description to the page with the downloads and the download links themselves do work. Just tested.

[@bimse9469]

Came from DarkViperAU. This is amazing!

[@BrandonBlume]

Cheers! 😊