Mid-90s arcade FM synthesis absolutely ripping through a shmup soundtrack. Skull Fang came out of Data East in 1996 and the audio hardware is working overtime on this one. "SKULL FANG - Gaiga" opens Stage 1 with this aggressive synth lead over rapid-fire percussion that locks you into that quarter-eating focus.
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"FLAMING ARROW" as a boss theme goes even harder, all tension and adrenaline condensed into a loop. The Avengers in Galactic Storm tracks on the same board bring a different flavor, "METROPOLIS" especially with its driving beat.
That game over theme though. "DEATH SCYTHE" just gutting you after a bad run. If you dig arcade-era soundtracks where every stage theme had to justify another credit, this is that raw 90s energy.