Uploaded June 2024 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
A rock orchestral cover of Demise of the Ritual from Shadow of the Colossus.
The mortality of this song gives it a really heavy feeling; this point in the game is emotionally complex. The toll of slaying 15 colossi is taking a toll on Wander's body, which is absorbing the evil of these giants - these guardians of a forbidden land.
Deep down, he undoubtedly knows that slaying this last colossus will be his last battle, as his body is already being destroyed not just by the weight of his actions but the curse it is absorbing. But he knows that he was prepared to sacrifice everything for the girl he loved, and so it is a battle he will undertake.
This track is so interesting, because it feels very reminiscent of a requiem, and in the context of the game it is so apparent why. This feels like a song for Wander facing his own death; there is a deep sense of tragedy in this song, and it's written in D minor like many requiems. The sombre melody and use of choir and organ give this the feeling of a funeral procession, which is such a striking choice for a final battle - and is part of what makes this game so artistic and profound in its own special way.
I decided to take the darkness and drama of this piece and give it a full band arrangement, bringing out the "metal" side of this track - which really does feel like a melody written for a dark metal song. It's a fantastic piece of music that captures such a complex emotional context perfectly.
Available on Spotify here: open.spotify.com/track/2qAaYgbcEiRTspyqcirM21
A rock orchestral cover of Demise of the Ritual from Shadow of the Colossus.
The mortality of this song gives it a really heavy feeling; this point in the game is emotionally complex. The toll of slaying 15 colossi is taking a toll on Wander's body, which is absorbing the evil of these giants - these guardians of a forbidden land.
Deep down, he undoubtedly knows that slaying this last colossus will be his last battle, as his body is already being destroyed not just by the weight of his actions but the curse it is absorbing. But he knows that he was prepared to sacrifice everything for the girl he loved, and so it is a battle he will undertake.
This track is so interesting, because it feels very reminiscent of a requiem, and in the context of the game it is so apparent why. This feels like a song for Wander facing his own death; there is a deep sense of tragedy in this song, and it's written in D minor like many requiems. The sombre melody and use of choir and organ give this the feeling of a funeral procession, which is such a striking choice for a final battle - and is part of what makes this game so artistic and profound in its own special way.
I decided to take the darkness and drama of this piece and give it a full band arrangement, bringing out the "metal" side of this track - which really does feel like a melody written for a dark metal song. It's a fantastic piece of music that captures such a complex emotional context perfectly.
Available on Spotify here: open.spotify.com/track/2qAaYgbcEiRTspyqcirM21
