The Legend of Zelda games have always had an abundance of impressive soundtracks, with Ocarina of Time being one of the most famous submissions. Offering fan-favorite melodies that are both catchy and meaningful, it is hard not to fall in love with the music that started an evolution for the future of our beloved series.
The Ice Cavern isn’t exactly one of the most festive locations scattered throughout The Legend of Zelda series and it doesn’t exactly scream out Santa’s Grotto, but, despite the saddening eeriness of Zora’s Domain’s situation after Link’s seven-year slumber, I cannot swing the ever-growing thoughts of a winter wonderland whenever I find myself within that area of the map.
Peaceful yet mysterious, The Marcus Hedges Trend Orchestra cover isn’t an original take, but it is a relaxing cover that symbolizes a cold climate to perfection. Capturing the whimsical sound of ice with magical chimes and glassy tones, from the moment of the very first chord I found myself picturing the closing scene of a Christmas film. Visualizing a sun rising and the main protagonist looking upon the glinting light of Christmas morning is a long stretch from a frozen cavern swarming with Freezards and enough stalagmites to make Link into swiss cheese, but alas, imagination is a wonderful thing.
Sadly, the track only lasts for 43 seconds but it’s amazing how much of an impression can be made in less than a minute and I certainly wanted more.
The original piece by composer Koji Kondo will always be timeless for the memories alone, with the only fault being that it was only created for a mini-dungeon. As soon as I first heard the Ice Cavern theme, I felt that it would have been the perfect track for a snowy Zora’s Domain and not just exclusively for the frosty grotto, but I suppose that all good things come in small doses, or so I am told.
Whilst doing my research for covers I found that a lot of musicians tend to go a bit overboard with trying to be quirky and different. This can either work really well or it can result in a mess, completely erasing the effects that the original compositions created. What I loved most about this cover is its simplicity. The Marcus Hedges Trend Orchestra don’t try and force a remix of a piece that does not need improving, instead, they emphasize and enhance the classic instruments used in the original tracking, creating an almost “HD” version of a classic theme that the Legend of Zelda fanbase know and love.
