My pleasant surprise of the week is a game called Gunboat God. Released this Monday, this shmup—with its high-contrast art style—looks like it plays incredibly well, and the same goes for its soundtrack, composed by someone whose work I’m just discovering, Gareth Wiecko.
A Welsh expat living in Melbourne, he has delivered a rich electronic album infused with a neo-retro energy that—as you know—immediately hits home for me. I can hear some inspiration from Disasterpeace (Hyper Light Drifter), but also Lifeformed (Tunic)—especially in the opening tracks. However, those influences don't fully define Wiecko’s musical direction; he develops his own signature sound as the album progresses, which managed to keep me hooked from start to finish.
Definitely a new name to watch in the world of VGM!
Find all listening links for Gunboat God (The Original Soundtrack) by Gareth Wiecko on its dedicated page:
→ https://nwpl.ing/gunboat-god
