FM synth and arcade hardware pushing out riffs that could melt a CRT. Battle Bakraid is a 1999 vertical shmup from Eighting and this soundtrack slaps with the intensity that era of shooters demanded. "Sky Gunner" kicks off Stage 1 with driving percussion and that signature arcade metal crunch that makes dodging bullet patterns feel heroic.
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"Steam Syndrome" for the railroad stage has this churning mechanical energy, and "Crisis" brings the boss fight dread with layered synth lines stacking pressure on top of pressure. You get clean versions and the in-game context versions side by side.
If you love shmup soundtracks that treat every stage like the final boss, this one's been hiding in the arcade for over two decades.