If I had to describe Brasslevania in one word it would be this—decadent. If you thought the frosty melodies of Snowtopia were rich, wait until you hear this expanded ensemble. Three French horns, three trumpets, two trombones, and a tuba practically overwhelm the senses, and that’s not counting the additional musicians on the album (I’ll get to that later). Album arranger Thomas Kresge makes full use of the expanded ensemble with varied and dynamic tracks that provide both thrills and chills. As the album progresses, it becomes clear that this is not a one-note dish; The Game Brass want to deliver a satisfying, well-rounded experience.

Much like Halloween itself, Brasslevania offers entertainment for every VGM fan. If you want something that chills your bones, look no further “Ghost House” or “Big Boo’s Haunt”. Looking for something more light-hearted? Try “Transylvania” or “Luigi’s Mansion”. Tracks like “Lux Tenebras” and “Theme of Laura” offer a more solemn atmosphere, and just when you think you’ve heard it all, The Game Brass offer one more satisfying morsel with the “Grim Fandango Suite”.

As mentioned before, The Game Brass not only recruited additional members, they reached out to collaborators across the VGM community. In the case of the “Grim Fandango Suite”, they reached out to one VGM group in particular, Mariachi Entertainment System. For the uninitiated, Mariachi Entertainment System (or MES) hail from San Antonio, Texas and provide high-quality mariachi covers of video game music. The decision to include them on the album was nothing short of genius, and together with The Game Brass, they provided some of my favorite moments on the album. Speaking of favorite moments, the rousing finale “Bloody Tears” will be sure to leave listeners with a smile on their face and a pleasant taste in their mouth.