Arranger and Project Director Eric Buchholz describes the music style of Hero of Time as something of an “east-meets-west” fusion, with the orchestra providing “taiko ensembles, eastern woodwinds, and harmonies found prevalent in Japanese film and game scores.”
– Buchholz
The team behind the project found success through a Kickstarter campaign, which was backed by more than 1,000 people, who contributing a total of more than $50,000 to the project. As a result, Materia Collective are able to offer fans three different versions of the album:
A purely digital release containing all 21 tracks for $14, which will be downloadable on release day; A digital and physical CD album for $30; and A digital and Gold Limited Edition CD album for $50, of which only 500 are available worldwide
Those that decide to get the physical copy will be treated to a six-panel digipack album case, featuring panoramic artwork by Lekso, along with a full color 16-page booklet. The Gold Edition boasts a gold foil-stamped outer slipcase, with the CD itself having a 24 karat gold reflective layer.
Additionally, there will be a vinyl edition of the album available this summer. This will feature a live recording of a performance of the entire Hero of Time soundtrack by the Slovak National Symphony Orchestra, which took place in Bratislava back in January. This can also be pre-ordered now for $40 at iam8bit.
If you’d like to hear a sample of what Hero of Time has to offer, Materia Collective have a free full-preview up on SoundCloud for your listening pleasure.
Hero of Time is available now for pre-order, and will be released digitally around the world on March 27, with physical copies shipping from April 24.
