Shin Mazinger - The original soundtrack in detail

I recently got a package with the first two discs (真マジンガー衝撃！Ｚ編 Original Soundtrack Vol.1 and ULTIMATE LAZY for MAZINGER) containing the original soundtrack and the songs that accompany the images of Shin Mazinger.

Even though both of them have previous entries on this blog, I have taken advantage of this fact to present you these recordings with a little bit more detail. As you can see on the pictures accompanying this text, the cover sleeves for the discs are rather sober, especially in the case of the original soundtrack that tries to mimic those of the ETERNAL EDITION discs, published in 2002 by Columbia Music Entertainment, containing the original soundtrack for the old MAZINGER Z series. The sober design is only broken by the giant obi for the ULTIMATE LAZY single showing the now classic image for the new series.
But what these discs lack in presentation they supply in content, because I'm of the opinion that the music is high quality. The single contains just four songs -two of them are instrumental versions of the songs- , but 感じてKnight (Kanjite Knight) is a clear triumph (for an opening song for an anime robot series, that is) and the ballad Unforgettable Days is not without its charm.
Things get better when we talk about the first volume of the original soundtrack. Even if the packaging can be improved quite a lot, Akira Miyagawa's compositions are, in my opinion, a nice and most adequate homage to the music for the old series. Avoiding references to western movies, so obvious in Michiaki Watanabe's score, Miyagawa captures the soul of the series with epic melodies (clearly reminiscent of the excellent music for MAZINKAISER) and brings back the spirit of the 70s with his more uplifting and rhythmic melodies. In the first group, there are pieces like 敵軍信仰！(Tekigun shinkô) and his sister Dr.ヘル (Dr.Hell), 立ち上がれ、怒りとともに (Tachiagare, ikaritotomoni!!) and, especially, the powerful 迎撃戦線 (Geigekisensen) that accompanies scenes like the one with Ashura or Garada beating Mazinger. With a happier and vital tone, the 70s block includes songs like 兜甲児は止まらない!! (Kabuto Kôji ha tomaranai!!) and its instrumental version, that accompany Koji's take-off with the pilder; 暗黒寺 (Ankokuji), the funny detective's theme -with some cool winds and disco guitars- and the upbeat 出撃!パイルダー!! (Shûgeki! Pairudâ!!) amongst others.
There are other songs that stand out, like the waltzes that make reference to the Central European roots of characters like Count Brocken or Heinrich Stroheim or the mystery-laden atmosphere evoked by the Japanese inspired tunes of 錦織つばさ (Nishikiori Tsubasa).
This is definitely a most recommended record for those who are enjoying the series and also for those who like original soundtracks in general.

Shin Mazinger - The original soundtrack CD

Tomorrow, the original soundtrack for 真マジンガー衝撃！Ｚ編 (True Mazinger Impact! Z chapter) will finally go on sale. There are two CD singles on sale already, one for the opening and another one for the ending of which you can find information on their previous entries.

Akira Miyagawa (宮川彬良), the soundtrack composer had a difficult task before him, as the soundtrack for the old Mazinger Z series, composed by master Michiaki Watanabe (渡辺宙明) and inspired by western movies, was one of its most loved elements.

Miyagawa lived up to the challenge as his compositions for the new series are excellent and perfectly match the theme and the tone of the images they accompany, be it in the 70s style rhythms that play when Koji flies his pilder or in the epic melodies that punctuate Mazinger's fights against the mechanical monsters.

The CD will be published by LANTIS at a 3000 yen price.

真マジンガー衝撃！Ｚ編 CD at Amazon
真マジンガー衝撃！Ｚ編 CD at CD Japan

Shin Mazinger - Brand New World, the second single

The second single for the Shin Mazinger series went on sale on May 27. This is the song that, week after week and in a very different style from that of the opening theme, brings closure to the show while the credits roll. The title of the song is Brand New World (originally in English) and is performed by Natsuko Aso (麻生夏子). As I said, the style of the song is way different from the one in 感じてナイト(Kanjite Knight) and at first, it was kind of shocking to listen to this type of music associated with an epic robot series like the new Mazinger one. Nevertheless, there is no doubt that the song is catchy and is starting to get into some people's subconscience.

The price of this new CD single is 1200 yens.

Brand New World at Amazon Japan
Brand New World at CD Japan

Shin Mazinger - Kanjite Knight, the series opening

The staff working on the new series are resolved to honor the title of the show by making us feel the impact from the very beginning, as they've decided to resuscitate and adapt to the series theme an old hit song, 感じてナイト (Kanjite Night), from LAZY, a popular band in Japan during the 70s.
The song is now titled 感じてKnight (Kanjite Knight) and is performed by a band made of musicians from the aforementioned LAZY and by people from JAM PROJECT (specialized in covers of anime robot series). Leading them is the one and only Hironobu Kageyama (影山 ヒロノブ), the old front man for LAZY, famous amongst the anime crowd for his vocals on such series as Dragon Ball and Saint Seya, amongst others.
感じてKnight (Kanjite Knight) largely differs in style from the old opening for Mazinger Z, but it boasts a powerful magnetism and it's on its way to become a big success in Japan.
You can listen to the song in the embedded video (uploaded by freesouldash on Youtube) and if you like it, you can buy it following the links I provide you under the video.



感じてKnight at CDJAPAN
感じてKnight at AMAZON JAPAN