This is evident through the trailer for Fire Emblem: Heroes’ newest chapter, simply known as Book III, featuring a new storyline and cast of characters. What few were probably expecting, however, was its choice of music. To match the dark and sinister tone of Book III, the trailer opts for aggressive vocals, loud instrumentation, and an overall cinematic atmosphere. Although refreshing, it was not enough to sell viewers on taking Fire Emblem’s storyline any more seriously. On top of that, it does not represent the theatric and extreme side of metal and hardcore music particularly well. Below are six songs that bring out the dramatic and brutal impact this story intends to bring, both musically and lyrically. Click the header images to listen to their respective songs!
Artwork (Above) by Yuzuke Kosaki.
SepticFlesh has always been kingpins of brutal and symphonic metal, and one of their most recent songs, titled “Dante’s Inferno,” is solid proof. It very much plays like a deathly march of trumpeting orchestras and brutal instrumentation, but said march is intertwined with fast-paced moments to up the chaos. The result is both captivating and cataclysmic. Meanwhile, vocalist and bassist Spiros Antoniou’s demonic gutturals belt out lines describing a journey through the underworld, hence the song’s title (“Threatening and cold, a poem for the underworld, where shadows walk, beyond redemption”). Seeing as how both the written work of Dante’s Inferno and the song itself, it makes sense a story dealing with death and a hellish realm would mesh well with SepticFlesh’s outing.
"Codex Omega” was released on September 1, 2017 via Season Of Mist/Prosthetic Records.
“Martyr Art” by The Agonist has much to be admired in as an example of dark, melodic, and vicious metal music. Its main highlight, however, would be Alissa White-Gluz’s vocals, both melodic and aggressive. Her delivery is not only very emotionally charged, but also versatile; her range consists of ferocious roars and dramatic clean singing, and it showcases them very strongly without feeling as though she is merely showing off. This, combined with the equally vicious guitar and drum performances, paves the way for a very compelling and cinematic track worthy of Book III’s dramatic tone. Although The Agonist seems to have already reached their peak almost a decade ago, there is no doubt said peak was very high.
“Lullabies for the Dormant Mind” was released on February 23, 2009 via Century Media Records.
Shadow Of Intent’s “The Heretic Prevails” can be described as many things: Brutal, epic, loud, energetic, and so on. This is thanks to a combination of blaring drums, wildly melodic guitars, and synthesized keyboard and orchestral effects. Its rapid-fire pacing and wicked energy are rather contagious, to the point where listeners may have difficulty remaining still while listening to it. Ben Duerr’s vocals are also monstrous and almost inhuman, with both his low and high pitched growls being both dynamic and grotesque. The destructive and symphonic sound “The Heretic Prevails” brings fits perfectly with Book III’s rather apocalyptic setting involving the rising dead. Whatever the case, “The Heretic Prevails” is a shining specimen of modern extreme metal.
“Reclaimer” was released on April 28, 2017 under no record label.
Normally, Dyscarnate’s music is an excellent soundtrack to somebody throwing and breaking things, but a few songs such as “Nothing Seems Right” are more haunting than anything else. Unlike other hits such as “This is Fire” and “Iron Strengthens Iron,” this track boasts a much slower pace than usual and delves into creating a desolate and ruinous atmosphere. Nevertheless, it is no less heavy and brutal, with every guitar riff and drum beat hitting like a megaton punch. This, along with the dual vocalists delivering brutal roars, highly thunderous sound production, and some dismal lyricism (“I’m against the tide and time, this feeling is hard to describe”) makes for a great contender for a Book III playlist. All in all, “Nothing Seems Right” is a grand finale for such a grand record.
“With All Their Might” was released on September 15, 2017 via Unique Leader Records.
Hence the title, Architects offers a more uplifting approach to the dark and dramatic with “Death is Not Defeat.” An uproar of vocals, The anthem-like chorus is also downright infectious in terms of delivery and lyricism, and this applies to the rest of the track as well (“The everlasting sleep returning through the veil, far beneath the deep, another soul sets sail”). Seeing as how, keeping with Fire Emblem tradition, Book III will have a bright ending, “Death is Not Defeat” goes well in terms of its mood and theme of death and optimism. This song is a great and explosive way to open an album as fantastic as “Holy Hell,” as well as a high note to this list end on.
“Holy Hell” was released on November 9, 2018 via Epitaph Records.
