Universal Music will release The Black Mages II: The Skies Above in Japan in late December. The second album from the six-man band, including Square Enix composer Nobuo Uematsu, will again feature eleven rock-themed arrangements of various Final Fantasy series compositions, including a vocal arrangement of Final Fantasy X's To Zanarkand and Final Fantasy VIII's The Man with the Machine Gun. The album's cover will be designed by Final Fantasy IX and Final Fantasy XII's art director Hideo Minaba. To commemorate the album's release, the band will give live concerts featuring a special guest in Kawasaki's Club Citta on January 22nd and 23rd and in Osaka's Nanba Hatch on January 28th 2005. Tickets will be 5,000 yen ($45.63 US) apiece, including one free drink.

The Black Mages II: The Skies Above will be available in Japan on December 22nd for 2,500 yen ($22.81 US). The first print will come in a special package.

• GameWatch