TKDz2b feat. The 49ers - Never Say Never

Danganronpa The Animation OP

Tracklist:

1. DANGANRONPA

2. Never Say Never

3. Never Say Never ~Instrumental

1. DANGANRONPA

A prelude to the actual opening theme opens quietly, as deep synths unwind, until resounding bass turns the track into a mix of Nagi Yanagi-like surrealism crossed with haunting female voices and usual gritty trance. Several melodic sections intertwine as the three-minute listen goes on, and the game music character reminds of some darker and more realistic JRPGs, most so of The World Ends With You, only with added guitars. The song is ended with a single hanging tone, making room for the next track with anticipation.

Rating: 8

2. Never Say Never

Continuing on from the trancy atmosphere, Never Say Never speeds up and continues into exclusively English rapping with catchy lyrics, and, most importantly, very symbolic and related to the anime. Contrasting the verses, which there aren't much of anyway because of the song's barely bigger length than DANGANRONPA, the chorus is sung instead with strong female vocals backed with subdued guitars, which appear otherwise just as chanting without words spread throughout the song, and chip away as the track ends. I'm not usually a fan of English-only anime songs, but, I have to admit that this one is definitely noteworthy, if even only for the proper pronunciation and avoidance of EngRish.

Rating: 9

Danganronpa has captivated me both as an anime and as a game, and now it's the turn of the OST in line. My overall rating is: 8 ½

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