The music style of an anime can be one of the most important factors in how enjoyable, impactful, and memorable a show is for its viewers. We all remember Cowboy Bebop and Hellsing’s use of jazz, how JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure integrated classic rock into every aspect of its world, and Initial D’s hilarious obsession with eurobeat that essentially turned the entire show into a meme. Expertly crafted soundtracks like the Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood OST are wonderful, but it’s even more impressive when bold music choices like these (which wouldn’t have been anyone’s first thought when scoring these shows) pay off in spectacular ways.

We can thank Kensuke Ushio, who also composed the music for A Silent Voice and the first season of Space Dandy, for the bold and memorable soundtrack of Devilman: Crybaby. He used synthwave tunes incorporated with percussion-heavy orchestral music and ominous choir chanting to accentuate the dread and rage-filled tone of the anime. So, today, let’s take a brief look at the fascinating world of synthwave music and how Ushio used it to create one of the best OSTs in recent memory.

This article was written for Honey's Anime, so please read it on their site.