Final Fantasy XIV’s Soundtrack continues to Shatter Expectations with Tom Morello Collaboration
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Final Fantasy XIV’s musical landscape is reaching unprecedented heights, defying conventional boundaries by enlisting rock icons like Tom morello of Rage Against The Machine and caleb Shomo of Beartooth for its latest raid tier soundtrack. The game’s composer, Masayoshi Soken, continues to redefine what videogame music can be, blurring the lines between virtual and mainstream artistry.
A Legacy of Collaboration
Masayoshi Soken has consistently elevated the game’s soundtrack through strategic collaborations. He initially partnered with British composer Emily Woo Zeller for several tracks in Shadowbringers, then raised the bar further by collaborating with Sam Carter, lead singer of Architects, for the main theme of Endwalker.
However, Soken wasn’t content to stop there. He later brought in Chrissy Costanza of Against the Current-a band with important experience in the videogame space, notably with league of Legends-for “Give It All,” a powerful track accompanying the final fight of Arcadion’s AAC Light-heavyweight Tier.
The Arrival of Rock Royalty
The latest collaboration, featuring Tom Morello and Caleb Shomo, marks a new pinnacle for the game’s music.Morello, renowned as the guitarist for Rage Against The Machine and Audioslave, joins forces with Shomo of Beartooth to create “everything Burns” for the final tier of the Arcadion raid. A preview of the track is available now, with the full song slated for release with Patch 7.4 on December 16.
While the preview leans more towards Shomo’s musical style, the track is already being described as “freakin’ fire” by longtime fans. One enthusiast shared that they’ve been a fan of Shomo as his days with Attack!Attack! and have enjoyed Morello’s work for even longer.
Watch On YouTube: Message from Tom Morello | FINAL FANTASY XIV New Raid Track – YouTube
Beyond the Virtual Realm
The impact of Soken’s work extends beyond the game itself. His compositions possess a quality that transcends the typical videogame soundtrack, capable of standing alone as compelling musical pieces. As one player recounted,they played “Hic Svnt leones” at a friend’s house,and the friend inquired about the band,completely unaware of its origins.
“Everything Burns” embodies this quality, sounding like a track that could easily find a place on mainstream radio.This is a departure from many rock songs specifically created for virtual battles.
Watch On YouTube: FINAL FANTASY XIV Patch 7.4 – Into the Mist – YouTube
A Unique Collaboration Initiated by Morello
The collaboration with Morello wasn’t a result of Soken actively seeking him out. According to recent reports, Morello, having learned about the game and its community through Jason Charles Miller, proactively sent Soken a song. This gesture, one analyst noted, speaks volumes about soken’s talent and the growing reach of Final Fantasy XIV.
While Morello has previously contributed to videogames-including a memorable appearance in Guitar Hero 3 and contributions to various sports games-creating a song specifically for Final Fantasy XIV represents a significant shift.
Redefining Videogame Music
Final Fantasy XIV is actively reshaping perceptions of videogame music by attracting such high-profile talent and diversifying its musical offerings. This collaboration dismantles the customary barriers between “real” music and music created for digital worlds.If one were to listen to “Everything Burns” without knowing its origins, it would be difficult to identify it as originating from a “catboy-filled MMO.” The gap is closing, and the result is a thrilling evolution of the medium.
