Customer Reviews

Hellsing 1: Raid

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

If you liked the creepy atmospheric music Goblin did for the movie "Suspiria", rocked out to the industrial majesty of Manson's "Antichrist Superstar", and/or have grooved to the jazz and blues of "Cowboy Bebop" courtesy of Yoko Kanno and The Seatblets, chances are you'll dig the music that Yasushi Ishii wrote for the popular vampire anime series, Hellsing.

Sure the song titles are ridiculous, and some of the lyrics aren't much better, but the real champion here is the densely layered and eclectic music. Ishii draws from many influences and genres using jazzy pianos, firey guitars, shrieking electronics, Spanish acoustic guitars, moody keyboards, and world music beats. I normally am a bit more demanding when it comes to the quality of lyrics. However, as far as this sountrack is concerned, the music rocks so hard I simply don't care! Most of this album is instrumental anyway.

The only flaw in this album is that sometimes it's too much. There's something about the way it's produced. There are so many elements at work in the mix that sometimes it feels like you're being bludgeoned by a super thick collage of sound. That's not necessarily a bad thing, but it can be if you're not in the mood for it or if it's not your thing. This album probably could have benefited from a more open and less claustrophobic sounding mixdown.

Other than that, there is a lot to like about this CD. If you're into the show or simply like dark creepy music, especially if it has a confident swagger to it, then give this one a try.

I'll start off by saying that this isn't a CD for everyone. But then, if you're looking up this page it's probably because you've seen the anime and was hooked, like I was, by the poignant background music.

The sound produced for the Hellsing anime is unlike any I've ever heard before. It's a seamless mashing together of cool, dark blues and jazz that would seem out of place with its sometimes cheerful horn play but manages instead to seem mockingly sarcastic- a splash of musically morbid humor that allows the sound to fit in with the gritty atmosphere while also adding an element of playfulness that lightens the otherwise heavy ambience. Also accomplishing this affect is the addition of a few fun, upbeat grungy rock tracks such as 'When you start the War, fight with arrows spears and swords!'

Added to the mix are energetic rock'n'roll compositions such as 'Fool cross over Nirvana -Grudge Prohibited-' and the thick Gothic edge of Dracula-esque horror movie themes and church organs. Ethereal synth, distorted vocals, and quiet, bass guitar-heavy pieces also get thrown into the blender and to top off the tasty combination Yusushi Ishii also tosses in some seemingly random bits of sound, things like dramatic audio that sounds as if its been ripped from very old black and white movies, complete with an in-and-out fading effect and crackling static noise that gives you the impression of something old and mournfully decaying. These are the kind of tracks that, when listened to alone in the dark on a quiet night can easily best most horror movies in creepiness factor. There's no denying the atmospheres created, be they black and monstrous, or wickedly cool and smooth via tracks like 'World Without Logos'.

The presentation of this CD is top notch as well. Colored in vibrant, if forboding red and blacks the booklet features eye-catching character 'introductions' as well as English credits and lyrics for some of the songs- although, given the giberish that comprises some of these lyrics you might not care to read them at all.

I would like to have given this CD five stars. The music certainly warrants it in my opinion. The one thing exstinguishing that fifth star is a fault that lies with Geneon. Track number 11 'Bodhisattva of Cathedral -featuring Tatsuo Tabei-' was cut in half. This track that begins with a somber, haunting aura dies off for a brief moment before exploding again with ominous guitar that leads into an up-tempo and almost teasingly playful finale. On this CD, however, the song ends after the mellow introduction. I find this highly dissapointing as track eleven is one of my favorites and, having heard it in its entirety it sound woefully incomplete on this soundtrack. While I suppose this could be a defect of the individual copy I have in my possession, I don't think it is. The dissescted track 11 leads smoothly into track 12 without any kind of pause or dead-air lapse in music between tracks to indicate a defect.

Regardless, this CD is otherwise a lovely domestic release significantly less costly than importing, so if you enjoy unconventional music that's a marriage of horror, the darkly cool, and the morosely playful I'd definately suggest picking this up.

I love it. Actually, I like Ruins better, but the main reason I want to post this at all is 'cause if some people are put off by it not including 'Shine' (the credits theme) know that you can legally download the full song from Mr Big's site ("http://www.mrbigsite.com/discography.html", it is on the left hand side). So if you like Hellsing, this is a great CD and you can still complete the soundtrack.

If you've seen the anime Hellsing, you already know that one of the best elements of the show is the music. It fits the show perfectly and sets just the right mood. You don't need to be a fan of the show to enjoy this fantastic music, but fans will appreciate it more as it will bring back memories of the show.

Seriously, I won't waste your time with a long-winded review. If you've seen the show, you don't need me to tell you how great this soundtrack is, and if you haven't seen the show, take my word for it and just buy it, along with the second soundtrack, Ruins.

The songs from hellsing were one of the things that got me to buy the anime. It is completely awesome! This is definately worth buying.

Songs on this CD:
1-World Without Logos
2-Nirvana Beyond Stupidity
3-Playing Music
4-Certain Victory
5-Service for Gods
6-Left Leg Trapped Sensual Temptation
7-Vampire Apprentice and R&R
8-P.S. Namu-Amidabutsu
9-Chaotic Ocean
10-Original Sin,
11-Buddhist Saint in Cathedral
12-Fake Priest and Bell of Chapel
13-Act by Demon or God?

14-Innocent by Death
15-Survival on the Unfaithful Life
16-Sorrow of the Drum
17-Requiem for the Survivors
18-Song for Insensitive People
19-Fight With Swords, Arrows

I have to say I was a little disappointed with the music on both the CDs for Hellsing. I think many of the songs lean to much into modern Jazz for my tastes. They have a lot of what feels like random sound rather than cohesive melodies. The songs sounded a lot better as a soundtrack for the Anime. But a few of the songs are still really good. Overall I'm really glad I got it.

This is a great CD.

Hellsing, the anime, is good insomuch as Alucard is one of the coolest characters ever. I'm not a hardcore anime freak, and I'm not "into vampires," but Alucard is just... cool! There is no valid argument. However. I'm not reviewing the anime.

This is the first volume of the two volume Hellsing soundtrack, the other CD being Hellsing: Ruins. You will not regret it if you buy both!

Hellsing's music is great. Moody, powerful, and, surprisingly *good*. Yeah, it has its weird moments; it's written for a fairly weird program. But the weird parts aren't out of place because they are so smartly intertwined with the mood of the CD. The composer is obviously skilled at his art and has a fantastic knowledge of music and instruments. The songs are expertly composed and say exactly what they mean to say. Good songs are easy to come by. Good CDs aren't. This is a good CD. I'm particularly smitten with the two Hellsing soundtracks because they contain elements of just about every variety of music that's out there. Classic rock, pop, jazz, folk, romantic, classical... just. Everything. If you like a variety of music and are looking for something to express/enhance a powerful/eerie mood, the Hellsing soundtracks are a big win, knowledge or appreciation for the anime not necessary.

Wow, Where to begin. The music composition is brilliant. You could listen to it over an over and each time pick up different sections of the songs. Definitly a doubleplusgood CD to buy if you're into gothic/rock/whatever mucic. Each track is so perfectly done. Never listen to too much though, it will go to your dreams. Though, if that's what you're aiming for ...
My only complaint is to the sickeningly huge amount of Engrish Pioneer slapped onto the CD insert, and the fact that the pictures on the inside are not the same as the original 'Japanese'version of the CD. I prefer the fan translations of the titles myself... Nya.

i purchased this cd over 7 months ago and i still love it. the music is butiufly executed and fits well with the series i own alot of anime ost's and i recomend this one!

Before I get to describing the actual CD, I just want to say that I don't usually review music, because it is so very difficult to describe music without using subjective adjectives like "brilliant" or "excellent" or "boring" or what have you. So difficult, in fact, that I'm not even going to try. This review is going to be as mindless and opinionated as the brunt of the rest of the musical reviews on Amazon, and if you've read this far in search of impartial and enlightening critique on this item, it has been for naught.
I love this album, but I'm not sure why. Its relationship in my mind to the accompanying anime is a little like the classic question of the Chicken and the Egg. Do I love this music because it reminds me of my favorite scenes from Hellsing, or did I love those very scenes because of this music in the background? In the end, I don't really care: I love them both.
The 19 tracks on this album are all compositions by Ishii Yasushi, created specifically for the show (though at times, it seems as though the show were simply made as a way to present this brilliant music). The music itself ranges in mood and style as much as the show did, from gunsmoke and car chases, to candlelight and flickering curtains. It'd be a stretch to say that there's something for everybody, but the album is pretty versatile, and loaded with that retro, Psuedo-Victorian Rock n' Roll style that Hellsing fans can't get enough of.
My favorite tracks are 1-4, 7, 15, 18, and 19. The rest of the tracks are a little boring, not really the kind of music that you just listen to, but suitable for playing while you're up late on your computer and paying more attention to freecell than to the music that's playing. The fact that I gave this item four stars, despite only eight of its nineteen tracks being what I consider good music, should be a testament to how much I love those few tracks.
All in all, I love this album, but that doesn't mean you will, and it certainly doesn't mean that you should just buy it based on my tastes. The best thing to do is somehow watch the first few episodes of Hellsing, perhaps by renting it or borrowing it from a friend, and then make your own judgement. I wouldn't suggest listening to the music before you see the anime, because it might take away some of the elation when Alucard comes back to life for the first time, or Walter comes out of retirement to kick some Ghoul ass. My advice: watch the anime, and if you don't like it, I'll throw my computer at you. The Almatty has spoken. Oh, and don't watch the TV show in English: it takes away all of its style. Watch it in Japanese with subtitles: Dubbing is for the illiterate.