Anime Instrumentality Blog

Fairy Tail Original Soundtrack Vol. 1 – Review

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Review: One of my favorite bands is the folk/Celtic metal band Eluveitie. Originating from Switzerland, across three albums, and with a fourth one expected later this year, they have challenged Awesome, slapped it in the face with a hurdy gurdy, and won.

Check them out:

Eluveitie – Inis Mona »

Now imagine how excited I was when I heard this in the first episode of the brand new Fairy Tail anime:

Fairy Tail Main Theme

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I was then instantly saddened when the next episode featured a lame remix of a tune that had me thinking a can-can line would march across my computer screen at any moment.  And given that this is Fairy Tail we’re talking about, I wouldn’t have been surprised if they had.

As far as music went, I was content with the fact that any time Natsu did something awesome it was accompanied by an equally awesome Celtic rock theme.  Other than that, I didn’t think much of the music.

But then episode twelve came along, and we got this little ditty in “Akuma no Deliora” which absolutely floored me.  From a series that until then seemed to rip all their music (save one) from classical composers, this came across as a shock.  I was amazed at how well the music set the tone for the scene and instantly realized that not only was the quality of the anime going up, the soundtrack was turning out to be worth paying attention to.

Akuma no Deliora

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After listening to the soundtrack, I was in aural ecstasy.  None of the remixes used in earlier episodes were present and I was discovering music besides Natsu’s theme that I hadn’t even noticed.

The OST’s strength lies in its fast-paced, action-oriented themes.  The Celtic rock ballad fits the anime perfectly in the way it single-handedly fleshes out the world.  It adds a new layer to the culture of the world that previously hadn’t been there for me.

On the other hand, I wasn’t entirely impressed by the slower songs.  Though that may have more to do with personal preference.

Yasuharu Takanashi did a great job expanding  Hiro Mashima’s world through the character themes.  The pieces themselves are extensions of the characters’ personalities.  For example, Erza’s theme starts on a graceful note, before shifting into a faster-paced, epic theme, that establishes strength and power, while still retaining an element of her feminine nature.

Erza no Theme

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Gray’s theme is straight up rock, with a hint of punk.  Like Erza’s it starts slightly low key, before revving up into a faster pace.  It stands apart from the rest of the soundtrack to an extent in that it does not have the Celtic theme, but that just helps to express the character further.  It’s not my favorite among the character themes, but it suits him perfectly.

Gray no Theme

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Lucy’s theme is light-hearted and cheerful, exactly like the girl herself.  When I first heard the theme I immediately thought of the French Riviera; the upbeat music does an excellent job in lending a sophisticated air to fit the sometimes-vain Lucy quite well.  As you probe further underneath the surface of the track, you will find the same Celtic theme that comes up in Natsu’s theme.  It’s subtle, but it does hint at a connection between the two characters as the Celtic theme ties them both together, strengthening them so that they can overcome any obstacle in their path.

Lucy No Theme

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So while Lucy’s theme is plucky and upbeat, Natsu’s fast paced and action packed theme paints him as a man of action.  It’s hard to imagine Natsu being greater than he already is, but his theme does exactly this, while still building on his already existing character.  By giving voice to what we already knew and adding many more elements to his character, it effectively renders this track a collage of everything that makes him Natsu.    This was the track that brought Fairy Tail’s music to my attention, and despite a slight dip in quality at first, it still cemented the soundtrack as something worth looking forward to.

Natsu no Theme

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The only other character theme is Mirajane’s, which is only one of two among the slower songs that I like.  The music is a perfect match for her character.  It’s peaceful and relaxing, with a motherly quality to it.  But, since there is more to Mirajane than is apparent to the eye, I can’t wait to see the variation of her theme in later episodes, especially during the Laxus arc.

Mirajane no Theme

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Finally, we come to the slow version of the Main Theme.  This is the other slow piece that I enjoyed a lot, and is rated five stars in my iTunes folder, along with Natsu and Erza’s themes.  It’s more than just an arrangement of the main theme with the tempo slowed down; it sounds almost nothing like the main theme, while sounding exactly like it all at once.  It is all encompassing, majestically powerful, and melancholy, all at the same time.  Every time I listen to it I get the chills.  As the last track in the OST, it’s nothing if not perfect.  And after all the emotions I went through listening to this soundtrack, this theme ends it on a decidedly powerful note.

Fairy Tail Main Theme (Slow Ver.)

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I don’t know why Takanashi chose to go with Celtic rock, but I thank him for doing so.  The music carries with it a promise of excitement and action, while depicting the anime’s epic characters and delivering a fun experience.  The first Fairy Tail OST makes for an enjoyable start, and I can’t wait to see how the music for this series continues to further the plot and the characters.

Rating: Excellent

Burning Lizard, also known as Derek Bown, will be contributing occasionally to Anime Instrumentality. You can read more of Derek’s work at Burning Lizard Studios, where he writes about manga, movies, and anime.