GEM Impact has a storied history in video games, from Metal Gear Solid to Bayonetta. But not a lot of people know they also composed music for an anime called Blassreiter. GONZO Studio, a year before its temporary fall from grace and activity, commissioned GEM to produce a soundtrack for this science fiction/post-apocalyptic series made specifically for mature adults. There is surprisingly little fanservice or comedy, as the series concentrates mostly on moody drama and intense, bloody action sequences.

The anime premiered in 2008, and became notable for being one of the first two anime series to be legally streamed on the Internet by its original Japanese studio with English subtitles (the other series would be The Tower of Drauga, also animated by GONZO). FUNimation licensed the anime and released it in two 12-episode boxsets in 2010. Currently, it is available in a complete 24-episode collection as well as legal sub & dub streams on Youtube.

The OST is released under Norihiko Hibino's name due to political reasons, even though the founder/lead composer of GEM Impact did not contribute all of the OST. Hibino breaks it down pretty well in this English interview. (http://www.originalsoundversion.com/that-anime-whose-name-i-cant-say-norihiko-hibino-talks-blassreiter/)

Basically, Hibino wrote the main theme as well as all of the more "intimate" and "emotional" music. Basically simpler, emotional cuts like "Old Days", "Blassreiter Main Theme", and "Still I Have Hope to Live" were composed by him, and rely mostly on live instruments. He personally plays the saxophone on the "main theme" to great affect as well. Fellow composer Takahiro Izutani did all of the rock and electronic tracks, including two character-specific remixes of the main theme. The remaining two composers, Yoshitaka Suzuki and Takahide Ayuzawa, handled the "Metal Gear-style" tracks that use a faux-orchestral sound based in a typical Remote Control-esque approach. After some deliberation, I decided to label the artists based on who actually composed the material, instead of under the blanket Norihiko Hibino name.

Finally, we have "TV Size" versions of the two opening themes and the two ending themes. The two opening themes have more of a rock sound (the 1st OP in particular should bring 80's metal flashbacks) and the ending themes have more of an adult contemporary sound. In addition, three vocal songs are also included, the Japanese-language "Separating Moment" by Aki Misato, and the English-language "sweet lies" and "DD" sung rather well by Kanako Itou. GEM, despite having a strong history with vocal songs, were not involved in any of these songs' productions but depending on your taste you might find them enjoyable as well.

I find this OST a sterling example of how the Remote Control sound can actually sound pretty good with the right composers and with all of the overwhelming noise stripped down to dark, intense melodies. Plus Hibino's surprisingly intimate contributions are stellar and even if you don't like the rest of the score you should at least hold onto those.

Blassreiter Original Soundtrack 2-Disc Set 320 KBPs

Faux-Orchestral/Electronic/Rock/Moody/Atmospheric/Intense/Tragic



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I hope you enjoy the score. I know a lot of people dislike the Remote Control style but this is a worthy score IMO.

Thanks. So good.

If it's GEM Impact, it's got to be good, I guess :) Thanks for your contribution anyways, it's appreciated!

A belated thanks to you guys for enjoying the share! :)

this was one of the animes I "saved" to see, and I really love the anime, and the soundtrack.
I liked how suddenly you hear on the kid cellphone the Opening Theme of the game Vampridzia Vjedogonia. :p
after all, it is the same enterprise of Blassreiter creation.
Soundtrack is great and perfect in many times and moments of the series.

What do you mean by : "I know a lot of people dislike the Remote Control style (...)"??

hibino's music is stunning.

Agree :)