Track #2-32: Te Inveniam
Artist: Chris Apple
Original: Mysterious Statue Chamber, Theme of Samus by Kenji Yamamoto; Tourian, Title (Metroid) by Hirokazu "Hip" Tanaka; Mother Brain by Minako Hamano
Length: 10:08
'Te Inveniam', the final track of Harmony of a Hunter: 101% Run's Disc 2, is a massive medley of three Tourian-related tracks - the dark ambience of the Golden Statue chamber in Super Metroid, the Tourian lair theme that originated in the first game, and last (but certainly not least, as it gets the main focus), the terrifying and influential 7/8 battle theme of Mother Brain's monstrous humanoid form in Super.
The song begins as an orchestral piece with support from a male choir, greatly resembling the original 'Mysterious Statue Chamber' theme. The theme then transitions into the Tourian theme, and as the song seems to settle, we get the latin lyrics.
Audi te, (I hear you,) mea filia. (my daughter.) Ad tenebras, (Into darkness,) ad profundo lacu. (into the infernal lake.)
The remix incorporates the motif from Samus's theme as it grows in intensity.
Ad tenebras, (Into darkness,) ad profundo lacu. (into the infernal lake.) Te inveniam. (I will find you.) Te abducam. (I will take you.) Estis meam. (You are mine.)
The song sinks into a crescendo before jumping to a surprising ringing major chord to usher in the song's second half.
Veneo. (I come.)
The song switches it up as it launches into the third song of the medley, Mother Brain's theme, by turning it into heavy metal. The arrangement plays around with the Tourian motif one last time to smoothly transition the melody.
Interficiam. (I will cross into the underworld.) Consumam quis hostem. (I will consume any enemy.) Permebo ignem. (I will pass through fire.) Te inveniam. (I will find you.)
From this point on, the remix really gets into Mother Brain's theme, with a female choir and low brass (an element from the original) supporting the metal guitar as it wails out the final boss theme. The song crescendoes with a series of orchestra hits to buoy the electric guitar before ending on a screaming rendition of the title motif.
What is there to say about this one? Besides the slightly dodgy latin, this song is a masterpiece. An orchestral metal medley of the journey from the entrance to Tourian to the final blow, with lyrics from Samus's perspective swearing to save the last Metroid while calling it her daughter? This shit is insane. The arrangement hits all of the creepy, uncertain, enraging, heartbreaking highs of Samus's final conflict with the Space Pirate and the loss of the baby Metroid, and the performance from the musicians and singers is totally on point. This mammoth medley mimics 'M2Q' from the first album as an epic metal rendition of the pain and rage of two mothers grappling to the death.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Crystal Flash Certified
Track #2-31: Old Friend, New Foe Track #2-33: Samus Voyage