New “Attack on Titan” Album Released!

Attack on Titan is a monumental series that everyone thinks of when it comes to peak animation and the heights of anime storytelling. People also associate Attack on Titan with stellar music,

Since 2013, Linked Horizon has been making not only opening and ending themes for Attack on Titan but unique songs outside the anime series contained in their various albums, such as  Jiyuu e no Shingeki (Advance to Freedom) for Season 1, “Shingeki no Kiseki” (Trails of the Advance) for Season 2, “Rakuen e no Shingeki” (Advance to Paradise) for Season 3, Part 1, and  “Shinjitsu e no Shingeki” (Advance to the Truth) for Season 3, Part 2.

Now we get to see that journey conclude.

On August 7, 2024, Linked Horizon releases their album “Shingeki no Kioku (Memories of Attack on Titan) under the Pony Canyon label. The album contains every opening and ending theme produced by the band, as well as other tracks associated with the Attack on Titan series, including “13 no Fuyu” sung by Yui Ishikawa, the voice actress for series female lead Mikasa Ackerman.

渋谷スクランブル交差点の進撃の記憶ジャックCM pic.twitter.com/U2f5roPIcq

— ⛓️りる⛩️ (@Liru0) August 8, 2024

Upon release, the Shibuya Scramble Crossing featured a commercial promoting the album, with clips from the anime songs and Linked Horizon concerts.

Inside the album, there is an image of a grave resembling that of Eren’s in the anime’s ending. Etched on the grave is the name of Revo, the lead singer of the band. Some fans interpret this as the final album and death of Linked Horizon, at least as the band for the anime Attack on Titan.

Bonus:

I like the grave reference. Along with the sound effect that plays at the end of each track, it has a Paths -like mystical vibe to it. As if we, the audience are in Paths. (1/2) pic.twitter.com/qrWuhXH4l8

— Brianna (@AkaruiSakura) August 8, 2024

From Twitter user @AkaruiSakura. 

Along with all of Linked Horizon’s most famous songs, exclusive to the Deluxe Edition is an additional track that Rev previously hinted was “about a certain character”, which as it turns out is Ymir Fritz.

What are the Additional Changes made in the Album?

Most of the tracks remain unchanged. However, a line of dialogue was added in the beginning of “Guren no Yumiya,” the first opening of the series. This line in Japanese says:

“”Eren, even if there’s no sin in freedom, we’ll fall into hell because of our actions. But if you can leave something behind as you’re moving forward, then drop your bow and arrows and fly far away through the forest”

What I Really Wanted…?

The song entitled “What I Really Wanted” summarizes her personal history as she asks Eren or the audience the name of her primal desire.

The song lyrics express how Ymir Fritz has been enslaved both by King Fritz in 2,000 years ago and the Eldian Royal Family for the following centuries. In the song, she explains that her body, heart and voice are someone’s possession. She seems to be talking to someone, which is implied to be Eren in Episode 80 of the anime or Chapter 122 of the manga.

Linked Horizon (now Sound Horizon)  is a Japanese symphonic rock musical group led by their composer Revo and follows a “fantasy style” with works that closely resemble classical suites referencing fairy tales and historic events.

Attack on Titan is a manga serialized monthly in Kodansha Publication’s Bessatsu Magazine on September 9, 2009 and ended on April 9, 2021. The Attack on Titan anime began airing on April 7, 2013, which also debuted Linked Horizon’s first opening track, “Guren no Yumiya” (Crimson Bow and Arrow), and ended November 5, 2023, with an ending track, “Nisen-nen… Moshi Aru… Niman-nen Ato no Kimi” (To You, in 2,000 Years… Or Perhaps… 20,000 Years…) to close the series.