Ghibli Metal
I’m a huge Miyazaki fan. Studio Ghibli movies are all amazingly gorgeous, well-written works of art that make my heart grow ten sizes. I don’t think there’s any I’ve actively disliked. There are some that are just nice stories where nothing happens, like Whisper of the Heart, but even then, I’m just like, “Aww that was sweet.” Of course, there are the films that aren’t technically part of their roster, like Grave of the Fireflies, but I still count them, as Ghibli was hired to do the animation production work. That movie basically destroyed my will to live, but then there are just lovely stories that balance out the doom and depression. My favorite is My Neighbor Totoro, because it is the spitting image of my childhood. I am/was/could very well be the older sister in that movie, and I really would’ve appreciated adorable trolls living in my backyard then. Now I have them on the Internet so heeeey.
“What’s the point of all this fan spamming?” you ask? Well, it has recently come to my attention that there are metal covers of several popular theme songs from Miyazaki films. The covers range from Porco Rosso’s “Toki niwa Mukashi no hanashio” to “Monnoke Hime,” from Princess Mononoke. Songs from Spirited Away, Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind, La Puta: Castle in the Sky and my second favorite, Kiki’s Delivery Service also make an appearance.
As to how they sound… if you’re into high-pitched shrieking, video-game bleeping, constant pounding, feel-like-you’re at a rave/arcade combo with occasional death growls, and soaring guitar solos, well then have I got the collection for you! Released under the name Princess Ghibli, I have no idea where you can grab a physical copy (unless you have any long-suffering Japanese friends like I do who can hook you up),but all the tracks are on Spotify.
“Sekai No Yakusoku,” from Howl’s Moving Castle, is a delightful mix of lady vocals, dance trash, dubstep, and death. I’m quite partial to the Totoro cover, though. Very Andrew WK-meets-Children of Bodom-in-Japan. I’ve listened to it four times just this morning!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GATpxojtye8
