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It tells a story of bittersweet love, the vocal performance absolutely aches with longing. “Red Swan” is grand in the way only songs written by YOSHIKI can be. Compared to the previous “TV Edit”, the mix on the single version is stronger, more focused on the way drums can really influence the pump of the heart - and HYDE sings his heart out.
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When you separate “Red Swan” from the animation, the song evokes a powerful emotion like standing on a cliff with the waves crashing against the rocks, spraying water into your face, as the sun sets on the horizon. The answer to that question is: hell yes, goddamn. Does “Red Swan” underscore, or undercut, that writing? At the end of the day, is “Red Swan”, on its own merits, a good song? It makes the most heart-stopping things human. The real question is, does Attack on Titan benefit from this soaring, romantic opening song? The show has been both praised and criticized for its pacing, its story beats, and the sober way the most shocking of plot points have been dropped on viewers as if they were discussing the weather. “Red Swan” is trying to bring things down to earth, injecting some thoughtfulness into an atmosphere of politics and bloodshed. “Red Swan” feels weaker in comparison to the high-energy fighting anthems that REVO’s songs created for the show. While some – including myself – could argue that dissonance between graphic imagery and melodious accompaniment can be extremely effective in conveying the shocking horror of violence, many fans of the show were vocal about their doubts about whether “Red Swan” was a worthy successor the previous theme songs.
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The swelling percussion, passionately romantic lyrics, and murmured philosophical questioning about life juxtaposed against the blood-stained title screen was… different, to say the least. Things got off to a rocky start when the “TV Edit” of “Red Swan” was released. With the singer-songwriter’s blending of speed metal, operatic choir, and intense lyrics deeply entrenched with the identity of the show, many fans of the animation were concerned that somebody totally different could do the opening song and be able to instill the same level of gravitas that such an epic story demanded. The previous openings had a sense of urgency and movement to them that complemented the visuals of the opening sequences. We are yet to see what the change of opening artists will bring whether X JAPAN and HYDE will diverge from the Attack on Titan opening “formula”, and if so, in what way, and to what extent? Yet we cannot doubt that a metal superstar band such as X JAPAN is all but perfect for this particular anime.When it was first announced that REVO of Linked Horizon would not be performing or composing the opening for the 3rd season of the immensely popular Attack on Titan, people had things to say. Thus, the three tracks have a very similar, uniform feel to them, utilizing many musical elements (such as a background choir) in an essentially identical way. So far, Linked Horizon has handled all three of Attack on Titan’s openings broadcasted across the two currently released seasons.
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After all, who hasn’t been overcome with the need to kill some titans when listening to the epicness of Guren no Yumiya, or the wailing guitars of Jiyuu no Tsubasa by Linked Horizon? Attack on Titan is known for their epic, heavy, and pumped openings.