This article is about the music track. For the antagonistic group inKirby Mass Attack, seeSkull Gang.

"The Skull Gang" is the primary characteristic theme of theSkull Gang inKirby Mass Attack. It was composed byShogo Sakai.

Composition[edit]

"The Skull Gang" is an eerie theme in A minor and 4/4. The attack of its notes is inversed, giving it an unnatural sound resembling a cackle. It begins with a trill and descent into tonic. The harmonic structure is simple, shifting from a descending tonic to dominant triad, with a D-sharp as a distinguishing feature. This melody repeats an octave higher. The second section hints at A major and C major while rising up thirds. The final section consists of three diminished arpeggios, after which the track loops starting with a trill.

Game appearances[edit]

Kirby Mass Attack[edit]

"The Skull Gang" makes its first appearance here as the leitmotif of the Skull Gang, playing during their ambushes. Several remixes are heard throughout the game besides the original:

• "Skulls Swing In": plays at a higher pitch, during the transitional cutscene before reachingSandy Canyon.
• "Foes Spring Up": truncated arrangement with ominous cackles and the notable absence of the melody itself. Plays inVolcano Valley - Stage 7 if the Kirbys end up going through anIll Gate, and inVolcano Valley - Stage 8 if the Kirbys don't manage to defeat the lastRock Hand.
• "Dark Island": slower, heavier-sounding hub world music whenNecro Nebula appears.
• "Terrifying Fiend": a partial remix, plays during the battle againstNecrodeus. Has a long intro with flute and synth development of the main melody, first in a gradual build-up, then in a march-like section, before the rest of the track continues in a more faithful variation.

Kirby and the Rainbow Curse[edit]

An arrangement of "The Skull Gang" (titled "Escape from Grab Hand") plays duringGrab Hand ambushes. Another brief arrangement can be faintly heard during the first cutscene of the game where the Grab Hands are shown attackingElline.

Names in other languages[edit]

The Skull Gang[edit]

Skulls Swing In[edit]

Foes Spring Up[edit]

Dark Island[edit]

Terrifying Fiend[edit]

Escape from Grab Hand[edit]

• Music in Kirby Mass Attack
• Music in Kirby and the Rainbow Curse

• Articles which list Japanese names
• Articles which list French names
• Articles which list German names
• Articles which list Italian names
• Articles which list Korean names
• Articles which list Spanish names