Track By Tracks: Rei Code Zero - Chronicles (2026)

1. Opening:

As the title suggests, I imagined this track as the opening theme of an anime or a Japanese video game. The intro, built around the fourth interval, was inspired by the opening of Bloody Roar. For the chorus, I wanted to write a theme that felt both energetic and uplifting. The saxophone section breaks up the pace a bit and gives the track more of a storytelling feel. It'll probably be the next single, along with a new music video.

2. About Those Who Fight:

This track was inspired by the music of fighting games, especially Street Fighter. I wanted it to feel fast and relentless, without many breaks, so the sense of action never really stops.

3. Unleash Your Power:

This one was partly inspired by Nobuo Uematsu, but I also wanted the middle section to sound more cinematic. The idea was to capture the moment when a character discovers their inner strength and finally unleashes it.

4. Dimensional Gates:

I wrote this track as if the main character were traveling through different worlds. Most of the inspiration comes from Japanese RPGs like Final Fantasy, but there are also some progressive rock influences from bands like Dream Theater and Emerson, Lake & Palmer.

5. It's Not Over Yet!:

With this song, I wanted to create a big, powerful wall of sound while keeping a sense of adventure. The main idea is pushing through difficult moments and never giving up.

6. Holographic Sky:

This track takes a lot of inspiration from 2D platformers like Sonic the Hedgehog, but you can also hear some Joe Satriani influence, especially from Crystal Planet. Funny enough, the bluesy middle section actually came to me after listening to Måneskin's "Zitti e Buoni." Inspiration can come from anywhere.

7. Under The Neon Lights:

I imagined this as the music you'd hear in the hub area of a video game. I liked the idea of mixing melodic funk with a solid groove that slowly turns into a more rock-oriented track. The chorus goes in the opposite direction, with a more relaxed, feel-good vibe and a different rhythmic feel.

8. Fire In The Eyes:

This song is basically what happens when you mix Nobuo Uematsu with Children of Bodom. I wanted to keep that classic Final Fantasy feeling while borrowing some ideas from the Finnish band, like guitars and keyboards playing the main melody together.

9. Hanabi Party:

This was an experiment. I mixed the playful feel of late-'90s 3D platformers like Crash Bandicoot with funk and jazz elements. More than anything, I wanted it to sound like a celebration and be a fun track from start to finish.

10. Goodbye, Satoru!:

This is the closing track of the album, dedicated to my friend and keyboard player Samuele Orlando, who passed away far too soon. We started a Final Fantasy tribute band together, and that experience was what inspired me to make this album. For years, I wanted to bring this kind of music to life with a real band, much like Nobuo Uematsu did with The Black Mages. In many ways, this track is both a tribute to Samuele and the closing chapter of the journey that led to this album.

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