Adam Nelson Turns 8-Bit Nostalgia Into Metal on the Metal Mario EP
An Instrumental Hard Rock, Melodic Metal, and Metalcore Take on Classic Video Game Themes
metal mario rebuilds classic 8-bit game themes as hard rock, melodic metal, and metalcore, with no vocals at all. Adam Nelson released the instrumental EP on 5 June 2025. It turns the chiptune melodies many listeners grew up with into heavy, guitar-driven arrangements. Nearly a year on, it still works as a strong way into the Columbia Falls artist’s catalogue.
You can listen to our full playlist which contains the artists’ music, and know more about the artist’s work by scrolling down the page.
From Chiptune Melody to Heavy Riff, Carried by the Guitar
The idea behind metal mario is easy to describe and hard to pull off. Nelson takes melodies written for the sound chips of 1980s game hardware. Then he re-scores them for a full metal band. The guitar does the work a singer usually would, carrying the tune while the rhythm section drives underneath. Because there are no vocals, the arrangements earn attention on riff, tone, and dynamics alone. Translating a game theme also means re-harmonising it, so Nelson adds chords the original hardware could never play.
That instrumental focus is the whole point. Hard rock supplies the muscle, melodic metal keeps the hooks intact, and metalcore adds bite where a theme needs it. The tracks stay faithful enough to recognise, yet heavy enough to stand on their own.
Nelson’s guitar work is the throughline. The EP leans on intricate playing and layered arrangements rather than shock value. It treats the original melodies with obvious respect. The best moments arrive when a familiar hook drops into a breakdown, and a tune you half-remember suddenly hits hard.
Where Gaming Nostalgia Meets Modern Heavy Music
The appeal of metal mario sits in the overlap between memory and volume. These melodies come loaded with nostalgia. The metal treatment gives them new weight without erasing what made them stick, which is a hard balance to strike. It also lands in a good moment for instrumental rock and metal, where the guitar is the draw.
Nelson is upfront about where the record comes from. “Creating metal mario was a passion project, blending my love for classic gaming with my heavy music influences,” he said. “It’s incredibly rewarding to see it resonate so strongly with fans and be recognized by publications, demonstrating the enduring appeal of instrumental metal that pushes creative boundaries.”
RockCharts.News curator team: “What earns metal mario a spot in our rotation is restraint. Nelson could bury these melodies under distortion. Instead he lets the tunes lead and uses the metal to lift them.”
Who metal mario Is For
The natural audience sits at the crossroads of gaming and heavy music. It should land with fans of Powerglove, Animals as Leaders, or Polyphia. The common thread is technical playing in service of a strong melody, not technique for its own sake.
None of that makes metal mario a novelty. The playing is serious, and the arrangements hold up whether or not you clock every reference. The EP rewards a close listen on headphones. There, the layered guitars and the shifts between hard rock and heavier passages come through clearly.
Since its release, the EP has drawn coverage across the metal press. Features ran on Akt Music, HailTunes, and Roadie Metal shortly after it landed. For a self-contained instrumental release, that is a wide net.
Where to Stream metal mario and Follow Adam Nelson
You can stream the EP across the major services and follow Nelson on his own channels. His music and updates run across streaming and social.
Find the EP on Apple Music, Amazon Music, and SoundCloud. Keep up with Adam Nelson on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and his YouTube channel.
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