Sweden’s Falconshield just released a new song titled “DEATHLESS (feat. Rena)”. The song entirely revolves around the characters and story of the video game “Hades 2”. The game, as its title suggests, revolves around the eternal cycles and themes of Greek mythology, where the hero’s journey takes them on a path of rebirth and defying the very fates.
Falconshield are known for their video game-inspired songs. I have been personally following them for over a decade, when they started with the “This Is War” multi-part series of songs that were based on characters from the game “League Of Legends”. They have evolved immensely throughout the years, and the production and musicality of the compositions have improved greatly.
In “DEATHLESS” the Swedish group stretches their creativity by taking inspiration from the game’s own killer soundtrack and adapting it to their unique style. They merge elements from progressive rock, such as different shifting time signatures and an evolving BPM, as a tongue-in-cheek reference to the main antagonist of the game, Chronos, the titan of time. This compositional choice doesn’t seem tacked-on; the music flows like time itself and it doesn’t feel disruptive to have that many changes.
The guitar riffs and backing vocals that carry the harmony and rhythm section make the song feel alive, and the lyrics, which have always been Falconshield’s strong suit, tell the story of the game without feeling like it’s copying exact dialogue from the game. It’s a mirror to the narrative structure of the game itself, which is done tastefully in musical form.
It doesn’t seem like Falconshield will be slowing down any time soon. They continue to prove their resilience after an entire decade of releasing videogame inspired music. They have a unique voice, and they are a must listen for anyone who follows any of the games they cover.
