Netherworld Theme (AVGN episode version)

[@Adrian.R850]

"For an early video game, it's one of the most ambitious scores I've ever heard."

[@chiclelatina9702]

“And a testament to what the Commodore was capable of.”

[@themangoman9315]

the fact that this is coming out of nearly 40 year old hardware is outstanding

[@AiOinc1]

Having sample playback certainly makes it seem that way!

[@beegsex]

This is a remix. The original is much slower.

[@kagenlim5271]

​@@beegsexi think Its cause avgn was playing a pal game on ntsc u which sped up everything

[@greedyanimal3148]

It's not it's a remix

[@KajuTheRudeMonke]

@@greedyanimal3148 It's not a remix, you doofus

[@ladykorine]

I think it was sped up in the AVGN video because James was playing on an NTSC C64 and the track was written for PAL frequency (50 hz).

[@kirbywordy]

sounds badass in NTSC

[@Nindo10Man10]

It’s great in both

[@ladykorine]

@@kirbywordy Oh hell yes it does. I prefer it this way - has such an NWOBHM vibe. Really reminds me of like early Blitzkrieg!

[@kirbywordy]

@@ladykorine that song is awesome

[@kirbywordy]

@@ladykorine kzbin.info/www/bejne/n4q2Z2mQjNerjck

[@GmodPlusWoW]

MAN, this tracks FUCKS. It's a top-tier pipe-layer, and the composer had a power level worthy of lauding.

[@camraid9]

I laud that fucking shit!

[@ThatPunkYT]

I'm going to say things FUCK when they're very good now lol, thanks for that!

[@Kevmaster2000]

I have no idea what any of that means. 😂

[@ThrillzTheGreatest]

This was the most badass sounding music on a system before the SNES and Genesis

[@viznut]

The C64 is not a console.

[@LucasIsHereYT]

@@viznut Well it basically was for many people.

[@KajuTheRudeMonke]

@@LucasIsHereYT Well, then many people were wrong. It was a computer, not a console.

[@FR4M3Sharma]

NES had a fair share of good titles with great tunes in them. Mighty Final Fight, Contra I/II, GunNac.

[@VicJang]

I like how us AVGN fans just automatically search for this and gather here. And most importantly this guy knows this gonna happen and put AVGN In the title!

[@Keurgui1]

James knows good music tbf I did the same for the Darkman ost

[@Hotshotter3000]

Gotta get those sweet, sweet clicks!

[@leftyarbuckle]

He got me here

[@imperiomexicano1508]

I have given you the 69th like

[@WorldNetExplorer]

When the flare goes up it catches attention.

[@Nitroxity]

Commodore: The SID chip has three sound channels. Olkkonen: Then how did I use pure fucking willpower to make a fourth with samples? Commodore: ... Applies to Jeroen Tel and Rob Hubbard's tracks too lol

[@KajuTheRudeMonke]

You can do wonders if you know hardware thoroughtly

[@ryannoble1056]

Someone needs to make a metal cover version of this song.

[@TheMimicBox]

Gametal?

[@silverdamascus2023]

Call Jonny Atma/GaMetal, he is the one who is perfect for it.

[@theironfox2756]

Rex Viper. It would be some kind of hard rock mashup.

[@brandinlove2652]

Amen

[@VicJang]

Exactly

[@OhNotThat]

It was completely unnecessary and unwarranted to kick this much ass with an intro theme song, but Jori Olkkonen did it anyway. He could have phoned it in, but he went all out. What a mad lad.

[@raynavillus4927]

Wow, this was ahead of its time!

[@TheMimicBox]

The game isn't as noteworthy, but the music tells a very different story. If you went from this immediately to the gameplay, you'd get mass whiplash.

[@mehere3013]

Game was crap , music sold lots

[@Pehmokettu]

The creator of this game, Jukka Tapaninmäki, wrote a book about C64 programming and he also was an important character in the Finnish Commodore 64 scene. But unfortunately he died in 2000.

[@Hobson64]

What a year to die in. 🙁

[@Konic_and_Snuckles]

@@Hobson64 Honestly the world's gone to shit starting in 2001, so probably for the best he died in 2000.

[@awtv6774]

@@Konic_and_Snucklesdude, what? Thats fucked.

[@KremBotop]

You discover awesome things every day

[@ericwilliamofficial]

this is the ntsc version you would get by... well... playing on an ntsc commodore.

[@JamietheEmperor]

Really glad AVGN covered this one, this slaps

[@lovelya72]

James's C64 is the NTSC version, which runs quite a bit faster than PAL C64s. This game is probably for the PAL devices, which will run faster on James's C64

[@Pehmokettu]

You are correct. This game was made in Finland and it was released for European market.

[@DatShepTho]

@@Pehmokettu Of course it's from Finland! XD

[@5erase]

I like the sped up version better I think

[@jyk4]

I bet James's "c64" what he uses on his youtube-videos is an emulator :D like his nes, snes, etc. Sure he does have the hardware too but it's just easier to record videos from emulator

[@sonicmastersword8080]

@@jyk4C64 is hard to use a physical console in 2024 since the discs are decaying.

[@solidskullz5736]

He ain’t lyin that music do go hard

[@ryngabeastxv4954]

This NEEDS a remix on the Megaman X soundfont system. Like NOW!

[@BigK13372]

My thoughts exactly. I have the Megaman X soundfont on LMMS and I listening to this track on repeat to do a cover

[@Gencoil]

I think it would be better suited for the Thunder Force IV soundfont.

[@ExtremeWreck]

@@Gencoil DEFINITELY. It pretty much BEGS to be put on a Sega Genesis!

[@twotailedavenger]

And the YM2612

[@someguyonyoutube9279]

make a tesla coil remix

[@DeMello96]

We all needed this. Thx dude!

[@lztrfilms8250]

I want a Synthwave cover. With LOTS of bass

[@totallynoteverything1.]

perhaps some Metal elements in it too

[@kentuckyfryedstalin]

I gotchu covered. I needed an idea to screw around with in FL studio. I'm kinda shit at making music rn but I'll do my best and keep you posted

[@Konic_and_Snuckles]

@@kentuckyfryedstalin How's that cover coming along?

[@kentuckyfryedstalin]

@@Konic_and_Snuckles i made it months ago. its not the best, but you can check it out on my channel

[@terminationforcemetal]

Wanna hear a thrash metal take on this awesome track?! Please check out our song "Netherworld", from our newly released EP. Https://kzbin.info/www/bejne/l3nWo42gg6iDmrc

[@francoalmiron5107]

He wasn't kidding about being advance for the c64's age.

[@gondalasatvarsh5892]

This is amazing!

[@adibadrian5594]

Man, I can imagine this in Thunder Force IV style, pure awesome!

[@camello321]

Fuck yes💪

[@silverroy121]

Welp, just found my new ringtone. Thanks a lot for "true" version my dude!

[@Pehmokettu]

The slow PAL version is the tue version.

[@ARockyRock]

@@Pehmokettu yeah

[@flingusmcdingus8831]

@@Pehmokettu He put it in quotations for a reason my guy.

[@FR4M3Sharma]

The crunchyness of the low quality sound is what makes it good. 👌

[@LocalAitch]

There are two main differences in NTSC vs PAL SID music. First is the frame rate difference, approx 50Hz for PAL vs 60Hz for NTSC. This only affects the speed. The second difference is a minor clock speed difference which translates into a slightly higher pitch on NTSC vs a PAL C64 running a CIA-based routine to call the music routine at NTSC speed. Both of these are easily adjustable on a modern SID emulator, or just play the game on any C64 emulator (like VICE) in NTSC mode.

[@Commrade-DOGE]

So on a technicality the NTSC version of the track is the improved version?

[@LocalAitch]

@@Commrade-DOGE I won’t say “improved” since the musician’s intention was likely originally the PAL version. This is sort of like the reverse of the “Sonic 1 has slow music in PAL” kinda deal, more than anything.

[@FlashbackFred]

I love the part when he hits the air drums! Genius!

[@ArttuTheCat]

I have this game on my Commodore 64 and Amiga 500. 😺👍 Lepää rauhassa, Jukka Tapaninmäki. 🤘🇫🇮🕹️

[@SquirrelGamez]

Whoever worked on this track for a freakin commodore 64 was a mad genius

[@killakilla5653]

Someone needs to make a cover of this.

[@datlaunchystark1385]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/hGjPm42Yqrhqa80

[@terminationforcemetal]

Wanna hear a thrash metal take on this awesome track?! Please check out our song "Netherworld", from our newly released EP. Https://kzbin.info/www/bejne/l3nWo42gg6iDmrc

[@AllieRX]

♫ GO GO POWER RANGERS! GO GO POWER RANGERS! GO GO POWER RANGERS, YOU MIGHTY MORPHIN POWER RANGERS! ♫

[@M-totker2z2]

we need richardeb to cover this!!

[@THEFILMED2008]

10/10 Song would recommend.

[@guttymcgutty3715]

who ever made this is a legend, becouse it would take forever to make.

[@camraid9]

So badass!! Thanks NERD !! Woooooo!!!

[@kxg9000]

It sounds like a cross between a long lost Disney-Era Power Ranger theme song and an extremely niche 90s Anime OP.

[@twotailedavenger]

That was exactly my first thought - it sounds a LOT like the title theme for the SNES Power Rangers game.

[@Kevmaster2000]

I thought it sounded like the MMPR theme a little.

[@ExtremeWreck]

If I didn't know about this game & you told me that this was the theme song to an obscure 90s cartoon I would've believed you.

[@DarkDream787]

The tempo was sped up about 20% to get the audio faster without changing the pitch, then the pitch was adjusted higher by 4.096% to make it more like PAL pitch would be when converted from NTSC. Thats what AVGN's sounds like to me. Supposedly the slower watered down version you were hearing is the original music, and that's what I got when I got the music extracted from the physical game.

[@Lithium2300]

HELL YEAH Thanks AVGN!

[@rustyricardo6532]

Okay, for real. If you want to make Rex Viper really work. Cover super obscure, never heard of game songs like this. If the next RV song was a cover of this, I might actually start to get behind the band.

[@VicJang]

100% agree!

[@terminationforcemetal]

Wanna hear a thrash metal take on this awesome track?! Please check out our song "Netherworld", from our newly released EP. Https://kzbin.info/www/bejne/l3nWo42gg6iDmrc

[@robertocarlosvillanuevaver9689]

Thanks for this. Was wondering why the song was so much different everywhere else.

[@AiOinc1]

This could be a Genesis game soundtrack. Most likely this was actually written on an Amiga, though!

[@ExtremeWreck]

Nope. Written on a regular Commodore 64.

[@twotailedavenger]

Oh god, this would sound perfect on the YM2612.

[@AiOinc1]

@@ExtremeWreck Interesting. Most of this sampled music was either sampled with an Apple II and hand tracked or sampled and tracked on an Amiga to be converted for another system

[@fredfredburger5150]

Reminds me of the music from Thunderforce IV on the Genesis (check out the track "Metal Squad" from that game)

[@kozmiko]

Nice work! thanks!

[@danielrowe6050]

Damn those drum fill-ins are sick

[@LucaAntoniazzi]

Love the Commodore64 and read ZZOT!

[@DoktrDub]

I can’t believe I am this late for this

[@the2323guy]

this is probably an NTSC machine and the videos you were finding were probably by a PAL machine

[@everythingsalright1121]

If you guys check out the original ost uploaded here on youtube the original creator of the track has a small pinned comment on why he made it and some behind the scenes: kzbin.info/www/bejne/mWOUfKeDqJx3h8k

[@lkylielarzhasaerror]

why does this sound awesome

[@spitfire0005]

Wow, I now see how popular this has become, so sad I lost my copy netherworld...

[@Maurime2]

reminds me of Thunderforce 4's music. This was awesome!

[@seraphimdunn]

This kicks an unnecessary amount of ass.

[@Thisjustnich]

This track needs the mick gordan special care.

[@WorldWalker128]

Say what you want about the 80's but it had some great music, even on simple computer games.

[@m.w.6604]

This is badass!!

[@Archdornan9001]

This would make a sweet Megaman track

[@OrochiFlamez]

My new ringtone

[@iker900]

IS GONNA TAKE YOU BACK TO THE PAST

[@celsojr]

such a Thunderforce vibe!

[@giguyjoe]

When you gotta give your successor the Amiga something awesome to work off of.

[@perpetualcollapse]

Epic gamer moment

[@clinkus]

goddamn we need more of european c64 games playing at 60hz this fucks way too hard

[@lentoytranquilo]

thx mate!

[@boothbyaw]

Is there any other kickarse music from this game or was this the only one? Love how this one's speed up

[@Binary3310]

this is too fire for an 1988 c64 game

[@strider5964]

Mick Gordon would be proud. Ho!y fuck this song SLAPS

[@ARockyRock]

This sped up version reminds me of some Angel Witch songs. Kicks ass.

[@KujaNiv100]

Actually, this game was coded in Europe, so with PAL 50 Hz C64 in mind. But AVGN played this music on a NTSC 60 Hz C64, which is sped up. So actually, the "watered-slowed down version" is the true version, where the "AVGN version" is the sped up by 17% version.

[@CyanEnjoyer]

I wish this theme was actually remixed for platypus, that would've made the game 100x more badass

[@Keldoh3ad]

Jeez someone made thsi already?

[@TheRafaelRamos]

DAMN, THIS BOPS!!! 🤘😎🎸

[@terencehill2320]

You really needed the attention huh

[@HighscorebreakerJoe]

I can't wait for finally playing Golden Girls on my C64

[@gishathosaurus6828]

Kick-fucking-Ass!

[@gilti6446]

thanks

[@jarnovaltonen3879]

Netherworld!! made in Finland! song name is The Purser Stole My Gun

[@jespervestin4409]

Shit is on fire yo!

[@renzometalwolf]

heavy metal for commodore 64 :D

[@nockeynoo]

the music reminds me of In-Game Music 1 from Puzzle Inlay ost

[@Zorion98]

I really want this song extended so I can listen to it a little bit longer

[@kaineleggett3401]

Is it safe to say most people are here after seeing the C64 episode from AVGN?

[@MK-fi4cd]

Thank you for uploading this masterpiece! Also what is the name of this music genre in general? (i know it's chiptune but I wanna know the actual composition-style)

[@cemmy410]

SID music, after the C64's sound chip

[@AlfredoAVA]

This could probably identify as a few genres, but 'Synth Rock' comes to my mind when listening to this. It's got some badass Thunderforce vibes :)

[@Hellobubba12345]

Well this makes me think of early nes game like megaman and those soundtrack were heavily influenced by 80's heavy metal and rock ( metal is big in japan just look at anthem) so I will say early 80s metal

[@walnzell9328]

Man. It's just not the right speed still. Or maybe the wrong pitch. But this is still great. Edit: I just figured it out. The version in the AVGN episode is actually different from the original version. The drum roll before the beat drop is a different, faster, rhythm in the version he had. The entire chart is desynchronized from the original, with portions starting and ending sooner than in the original.

[@cristianaguero8969]

Fucking amazing!!!!

[@judojudo10050]

avgn avgn

[@skatermdq]

Waiting for air drums

[@HaxHaunter]

lol i wonder if the Jori is still around somewhere and noticed people are now talking about this song.

[@KimSjopi]

This was done in the late 80's in the Finnish demoscene. Around then Jori wrote a lot of articles for Finnish video game magazines and made music. He is still around tho not in the video games industry probably because it was in it's infancy when he was around. According to Finnish Wikipedia he has changed his name and is working for a company called Solotes.

[@mrpenabomm]

torille!

[@GodzillaLordofallMonsters]

Sounds like a Power Rangers theme

[@Sandpointstation]

someone please do a metal cover!!!!!! PLEASE!!!! TAKE MY MONEY!!!!

[@gilti6446]

can you make the version of cyberdyne warrior?

[@iPharaoh54]

How long til 8BitDrummer gets a donation to do a drum cover of this song

[@AngryDavid808]

We need this in the Megaman X or the Megaman X3 soundfont

[@FukuritaMariko]

I get power rangers theme song out of this.

[@penguinmaster7]

i need a midi of this

[@vixenoreos]

Still needs a remake without the fuzziness

[@micromints1735]

How did they fit a fucking legit metal song on a c64

[@KianaK0423]

Feels like Power Rangers.

[@niatscreations4913]

is this based on anything like what they did in doom or is it all Original.

[@KaneLowwind]

There are parts of it that remind me of various other themes, like Big Blue from F-Zero and the Power Ranges theme (if you speed it up), as well as probably a few other things that aren't immediately coming to mind, but nothing that wouldn't have been until long after this game

[@uberpwnage2.0]

@@KaneLowwind This game came out in 88, so it was before all that.

[@Bananas351]

You Legend! -- any chance i can get download link?

[@nekoarc666]

Can you upload the cyberdine warrior theme ?