The final season of Attack on Titan is upon us – a world manga fans have delved into for over a decade, and anime fans almost just as long. The last opening of the series is upon us, ‘The Rumbling’ by Japanese metal group SiM, and the song is worthy of praise far beyond being the most intense Attack of Titan opening.

Attack on Titan has had a consistent line up of really intense openings, but everything pales in comparison to ‘The Rumbling’. The track is a true metalcore anthem, with hints of power metal power metal giants such as Epica and Kamelot with heavy string elements that accentuates the brutal metal punches. Harsh vocals take over the introduction after a crowd chant singing the title, a reference to the Attack on Titan story itself. The verses are a blend between extremely groovy melodic, floaty passages sung in a clean voice and heavy metal beatdowns with guttural screams and chanting, ominous choirs. While the heaviness of the introduction of the track is a surefire gimmick to get fans on their toes, the composition is absolutely on point. The contrast of the two, all wrapped in a symphonic finish is breath-taking. The chorus is a whole different game, as well. In true metalcore fashion, ‘The Rumbling’ bears a strong, infectiously catchy chorus that’ll get you scream-singing from the top of your lungs with your friends that are watching the show with you. The simplistic lyrics contribute to the chanting feel greatly. The chorus ends on a bitter diminished chord, only to get back to the beatdown chanting that started the song.

‘The Rumbling’ is just as intense as the content of the show it is opening. It’s one of the most memorable anime openings, and an absolutely killer metal track on its own. It will stand the test of time as one of the most beloved openings in anime history, without a doubt.

Author: Nicholas Gaudet

Music producer and writer from Dieppe, Canada.