Sharp X68000 FM synthesis hitting with military precision. FZ Series AXIS came out in 1990 and it sounds like a war machine booting up. "Next War" opens with aggressive driving rhythms that set the tone for the whole album.
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"Danger Zone" lives up to its name with urgent synth leads over pounding percussion. "City Gate" flowing into "Trouble Maker" is this great transition from tense patrol music to full confrontation. The X68000's sound hardware gives everything a metallic edge that fits the military sci-fi vibe perfectly.
"After The War" closes things out with something more reflective, like surveying the damage. Includes both arranged and original versions of several tracks so you can hear the compositions from different angles. Anyone who respects late-80s Japanese computer music owes themselves a listen.