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starship-nine · 5 years

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Getting into The Dear Hunter

Alright so like this is a post that may go nowhere but I'm making new friends again and want a quick and easy way for them to know how to get into my favorite band.

So in this post I'm gonna be detailing what albums you should DEFINITELY listen to, any you should be wary of, and anything bad (spoilers; that's not on here).

First are Must Listens, as these are the ones I think show the style, influence, and musical, lyrical, and charismatic ability of the group best.

Must Listens

So the obvious answer is "All the Acts", but I'm gonna break it down a bit.

Act V: Hymns With The Devil In Confessional

Act III: Life and Death

Act IV: Rebirth in Reprise

Migrant

Act V and Act IV kind of go hand in hand as two signs of the same coin. Both have intricate, exquisite melodies, but Act IV is a lot happier sounding, whereas Act V is incredibly dark from moment one. Just compare the intro to The Old Haunt on Act IV to The Moon/Awake on Act V.

Act V is my personal favorite Dear Hunter album, and the dark tone has a lot to do with it. The album is varied, going from a large grand spooky rock number to a peaceful acoustic melody, and ending with a mob March, a funeral eulogy, and a Danny Elfman-esque ending piece.

Act IV has some beautiful tracks and works better for the emotional side of things, as it focuses on themes such as existentialism, relationships failing, and even politics and the meaning of organized religion. I'll go over highlighted tracks at the end of each section.

Act III is an album that I feel gets overlooked, even among Dear Hunter fans. The lyrical dissonance in so many of these songs is outrageous, though! The cheerful tone of tracks like Go Get Your Gun and This Beautiful Life when they're about going out and shooting the enemy, the talks of morally repugnant characters such as The Thief, who loots the bodies of dead soldiers regardless of their side, the Poison Woman who offers soldiers drinks only for those drinks to be, obvs, poison, and of course Hunter's father telling the story of how Hunter got conceived. On top of all of this some of the most memorable lyrics in the band's catalog ("Come away young man where the ground is red and you need a mask to breathe" is such a powerful intro lyric), and melodies that still show up later in the story... Don't sleep on Act III, please. It's so good.

Migrant is the only album I've listed not a part of the story, but that's not discounting the album at all; it's still got exquisite melodies, beautiful vocal harmonies, Casey's unforgettable lyrics, and some of the best rock music of the 21st century. Tracks like Whisper show the rockier side, while somber tracks like Bring You Down and the single Shouting At The Rain show us that Casey is more than capable of writing about topics beyond his 6 act story.

Recommended tracks:

Act V: The March, The Moon/Awake, Cascade, Light

Act IV: Wait, The Line, Ouroboros, The Bitter Suite VI

Act III: In Cauda Venenum, This Beautiful Life, Son/Father/Life and Death, Mustard Gas

Migrant: Whisper, The Love, Shouting At The Rain, An Escape

Further Listening

These albums are still good, but they're more for when you've gotten a good feel for the band.

The Color Spectrum

Act II: The Meaning Of And All Things Regarding Ms. Leading

Act I: The Lake South and The River North

All Is As All Should Be

As I said, no Dear Hunter album is bad. But jumping right into these ones without any prior Dear Hunter knowledge is not a good idea. Act II and Act I were very early on, and are a different beast than the newer stuff, and The Color Spectrum is a collection of different EPs all based on different influences, and as such feature no orchestral elements and is just the four band members (two guitars, a bass, and drums). All Is As All Should Be is a fantastic EP to be sure, but knowledge of the band's past work is almost necessary to understand the rather eclectic nature of it.

The Color Spectrum is a hard one, because it's 9 EPs all based on different influences. My personal favorites are Black and Red, but that's because they're based on metal and indie rock and I'm very biased. I think The Dear Hunter is better with a full orchestra, but give this a listen, see what you can find. The melodies are still here, Casey's voice is great as always, and the songs on Black really show how good of a drummer Nick Crescenzo is.

Act II was the album that made the band underground emo heroes, and while I do love it to death, the lyrics regarding the main theme of the album are a little..... immature? As they should be of course, and I still love tracks unrelated to the whole idea of love vs. Lust. This album is also catchy as all hell, and it probably won't leave your head for a week. Songs like Black Sandy Beaches, Where The Road Parts, and ESPECIALLY The Lake and The River have gorgeous compositions and melodies. You really can't go wrong with it, so long as you can excuse some higher eloquence high school dissing of your ex.

Act I was the very first album the band ever recorded, and as such it's easily the shakiest. I still love it, but Casey's dynamic range isn't quite there yet. Tracks like Battesimo Del Fuoco still hit me in the right spot, and songs like His Hands Matched His Tongue work on a level I can't quite explain, but overall this is the shakiest and the hardest for me to recommend.

All Is As All Should Be was actually cowritten by people who went to The Dear Hunter's summer camp! That's really cool. The album is a good 6 song EP, melodies all over, and some of the best lyricism in their catalog. But alongside it is the silliness of the line "Pay no mind to what the haters think, cause they're just haters". Its still good!! It's really good! But it's not my go-to recommendation album.

Recommend tracks

Color Spectrum: Filth and Squalor, This Body, We've Got A Score To Settle, A Curse of Cynicism

Act II: The Lake and The River, The Bitter Suite III: Embrace, Black Sandy Beaches, Dear Ms. Leading

Act I: 1878, Battesimo Del Fuoco, His Hands Matched His Tongue, The Inquiry of Ms. Terri

All Is As All Should Be: The Right Wrong, All Is As All Should Be, Witness Me, Beyond The Pale

Well that's all I got. Sorry for the long post, but I just really love this band.

#The Dear Hunter #long post

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dragun851 · 7 years

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ARC-V Symbolism via Dueling: Setting

ARC-V Symbolism via Dueling: The Setting and World

The 3rd Section, of this analysis, Academia vs the City, and here we will see how ultimately what is Academia. In here we will have built to your 4th Section, and the final one, about Lancers, and the meaning of Egao. So come and join, as we start the next leg of our journey about ARC-V. We will uncover the meaning of the setting, and what it was has affected our characters. Let us begin, this analysis, onto the breach once more!

————— ————— ARC-V Symbolism Via Dueling: Security vs Obelisk Force

Now then boys and girls, welcome to the third major section, of the discussion, it’s time- no not Serge and Battle Beast, but Obelisk Force vs Security! First off, these two groups both use Earth Type Monsters used by first series villains, but there are some important but innate differences. First off, one are hunters, and killers, utterly loyal, dogmatic in their pursuit, and trusted by their commander, Obelisk Force. In contrast the security, is not trusted by Roget at all, he assumed direct control, and did not trust his underlines to remain loyal to him.

Furthermore, Obelisk Force only ever uses Fusions, but in reality, via Hunting Hound effect plays more likes Synchro. I.e they Synchro climb, instead of using a Fusion Suite like Fluffals, Shaddolls and Heroes. This even sits them up in direct contrast to Lunalights. Their non-Chaos Giant Boss, name is called Ultimate Hunting Hound, similar to how Crowler’s final boss was Ultimate Golem.

Another contrast with security, where Obelisk Force normally relies one Fusion and just climbing. Security often uses a bunch of Goyo Synchros and in fact their deck is weaker monsters coming together to make stronger ones. Goyo Chaser, and Goyo Defender are the best example of this. Their accel Synchro Goyo King and the Fusion evolution Goyo Emperor, both require additional Synchros for the best value. Let it be stated again, FUSION evolution.

The Hound Dog, and Obelisk Force, never added any additional summoning methods unless you count Dennis. This in spite that a card like Gear Gigant X (it’s even Earth Machine) would be very helpful for their deck and playstyle. That shows and represents Fusion Jingoism. Furthermore, the cards themselves are poignant on their very different role in so society.

The Goyo’s all use batons, and shields, sometimes a restraining rope. Ultimately corruption aside, they never shown to kill only capture, a theme kept throughout. They are a police force, at the end of the day not an army. The Obelisk Force, all immediately attack, Hound Dog inflicting effect damage, Double Bite effect destroying a monster. Ultimate reducing life by half. Here it shows unrestrained, and sadistic, never stopping, and just relentlessly perusing their opponent no matter the scenario.

The last part I will mention is Juvenile Police vs Junior Security seen when Yuya and company first arrived in Synchro. The Juvenile acted very childish and bragged to Alexis consistently, furthermore unlike Obelisk Force their decks are very bright colored. And completely ignore the necessity of hand problems.

The Junior Police, are completely professional and by the books, down to Earth and straightforward. They also discard cards, but do so in a way that would immediately win then the game. Their card destroyed summons back used materials. Ultimately representing once again for all their faults security are professionals where Obelisk and Juvenile Police simply are not, they are sadists.

Next up Roget vs the Doctor!

————— ————— ARC-V Symbolism via Dueling, The Tech Genius vs Biologist

Serge will be next, if you are good, but Roget and The Doctor. First and foremost, both have the same uniform and same role within Academia as Scientist. Furthermore both role several as an Academia SubBoss. Our hero (Yuya) never fought either of them directly only their minions, but instead dealt with by an Akaba. Their the similarity ends, as one was loyal and used bugs, furthermore he trusted Leo. Let me emphasis this again, he, i.e the doctor trusted not just Leo. But his Parasites to act independently.

Roget, instead fought against the Akaba’s and did not trust his allies, he it Serge or security to act independently. Then we come to difference number duos between Roget and The Doctor. Their method of mind control, over their subordinates.

The Doctor used organic technology, that he ultimately had no direct control over. Furthermore, he took time and space, to develop them further upon initial failure (in the case of Ruri). Roget on the other hand relied on one tactic and if it failed the answer was Serge. If that failed, he just threw more security at his opponents. In fact the endless duel stratagem he created was him doing the same strategy over and over again. No adaption no attempt to improve his strategy.

Ultimately, the difference between these two can be summed up as the falling. The Doctor uses his parasites, is adaptable, flexible, and loyal. Where Roget, mechanical like plans, are instead rigid, inflexible, and disloyal. Next up! I am sorry folks, but there is a little bit more before we get to Serge. But the Dueling Assassins! The Amazons, Captain Solo, Diana and Apollo, with those two I will be comparing to someone characters that are otherwise also rather forgettable. How their decks compare to those past filler characters. And then, how we know a loyalist, from a treacherous Academia Soldier.

—————- —————- ARC-V Symbolism via Dueling: The Dueling Assassins

Now we come to the nitty gritty, our antagonists. Our hero’s various foes as we set out across defeat Academia. They are Grace and Gloria, Diana and Apollo, Captain Solo. The only other Dueling Assassins are Bernie and Battle Beast, whom I shall discuss next. Each of the Dueling Assassins are tied to Greco-Roman Mythology, Grace and Gloria were amazons, Diana and Apollo is in the name, Captain Solo deck not as explicitly related but his name is rooted in Latin.

In the case of Grace and Gloria, first off their decks are most Earth-Warrior. If you didn’t forget, remember the martial artists from season? The decks they used were in fact also based on Earth Warriors. There were some differences between, Ryozanpaku Duo, and these two, but I’ll stick with the similarities for a moment. The duo also got confused by someone (Yugo), who they thought to be someone else. Now onto the dueling itself, the first fusion monster summoned had a direct synergy with the second one to be summoned, in each case involving the pairs.

In case of Duo, it was Fuijin, and the Amazons it was Empress. The second monster, Raijin, summoned by the duo dealt piercing (which Empress enables for all Amazons). Liger like Raijin, cares about itself attacking (in addition to a attack negation effect). And finally both were defeated by an Xyz monster winning the game, (Trapeze Magician and Rebellion Dragon vs Duo, and then vs Amazons using Dark Rebellion and Rise Falcon). Now here is where we start differing.

The Amazons whole decks are dedicated to supporting each, and deal with attacking overall. In contrast Fuijin and Raijin, only one deals with attacking, the other deals with effect damage, or is cowardly way out. In addition, Amazons incorporate Beasts into their deck, where the Star Fusions are Wind and not Earth. Finally, the Amazons were just soldiers following orders (well and looking for a fun duel), while the Duo, were seeking petty vengeance for Yuya’s victory over Isao. The Amazons were honorable and fought fairly, while the Duo were underhanded and tricky. Yuya fought alongside Shun, someone who is direct and to the point, also an ally, that would be unable to join Yuya across dimensions, where Yuya fought alongside Dennis, an unknown, dishonest, who became an ally later on, and joined them in crossing dimensions.

In this case, these represent both how far Yuya has come (Egao'ing the Amazons), but also the nature of his opponents has now radically changed. People who will face him head on, and use his own battle tactics against him.

The next one up, is Captain Solo, whom we shall compare to Marco. Both are teachers at their respective school, and were first enemy of that dimension to defend their world from invasion. Both of their decks use, a water, and a dark monster. The only difference is one uses a Dark Warrior and Aqua Water (Marco), the other uses Dark Fiend and Warrior Water (Solo).

Furthermore, both of these bosses, are lockdown based (see Last Warrior from Another Plant and Pirate Captain), that nominally affects each player. Warrior, however has far more restrictions, and easier to play around (for example you can set). In the case of Pirate Captain, you just cannot. Pirate Captain, you cannot summon at all from the hand (you can however summon from extra deck and graveyard, or with trap monsters).

Against Non-Fusion decks, it makes the monster hard to out. Or at least that is the theoretical idea. The comparison to make, is Warrior, draws from Zombyra, based on the superhero Spawn, more than his other fusion material. Telling us ultimately, that Marco is a heroic character despite playing a lockdown deck. Pirate Captain (or Captain Hook) draws more equally from both fusion materials, and is itself a reference to famous fairytale villain. Already telling us the character of our foe, before we learn its effect. Like the Amazons and the Duo, what Hook represents here the difference between LDS and Academia, if the Duo represented difference between Ryozanpaku and Academia.

The final of the dueling assassins, Diana and Apollo. They are dueled separately, and by Yugo, as well as Kaito. These two play almost the same deck, and make the same plays. Infact they are defeated effortlessly by our heroes, before they move on to rescue the girls. These two are most similar ironically, to Halil and Olga. In they share the same contrast, that one is fire/sun themed (Halil and Apollo) and the other is water/moon (Olga and Diana). Infact furthermore, these even have the genders, and match the respective counterpart.

In contrast, the Diana and Apollo act high and mighty, where Olga and Halil, were (especially Halil case) polite. In addition, Olga and Halil had the same duel vs Man and Yuzu once they joined together as one. At the end of the day small fry, that were defeated by numerous characters, similar to underwhelming performance of Diana and Apollo. Ultimately both represent the obvious obstacle, that hides a more sinister purpose in the end (the captured girls, and Obelisk Force). They both defeat the ones sent and expected to defeat them (Kaito and Yugo, and the Youth Group). Requiring different heroes.

What the difference is how they use tools, Reiji, sent the youth group the moment the Obelisk Force arrived, Leo simply did not care for Diana and Apollo. Olga and Halil more down to earth, representative via natural elements. Where Diana and Apollo decks are more in the clouds representing Leo detachment.

Now, we will end this section with how you know loyalist Academia, from treacherous Academia. Then stick with me for Serge and Barret. Do not worry the loyalist and treacherous section is short.

———————– ———————– ARC-V Symbolism via Dueling: Battle Beast vs Serge

I lie, friends. I am going talk about Serge and Battle Beast, before I talked about how to tell a loyalist from treacherous Academia Soldier. So why these two first? Well first of all, Battle Beast (and his handler Bernie), are the last of the Dueling Assassins. And should be appropriately discussed alongside the previously mentioned Dueling Assassins. They are another key similarity in addition to having handlers, they were ‘killers’, famous individuals within their world. And show Roget and Bernie’s methods of control of their strongest piece in contrast.

The first is Battle Beast, runs a deck of Gladiator Beasts. Which are well a reference to Roman Gladiators. These were slaves, acquired via various means such as war prisoners or selling themselves into slavery to pay off debts, forced to fight for amusement of the Roman People. The other point is they use true contact Fusion, a style no one else in Academia uses (Beside VWXYZ Duelists, which on the other hand cannot contact out).

Furthermore, he is a final exam, and as many of you know have aged poorly over the years competitively. However, the deck’s the nature of relying on mass summoning play very similar to Xyz and Synchro decks. So, beating it would show you have built it a good deck and can beat Synchro, as well as Xyz Deck. Serge second deck, his Earthbounds, represent rather obviously how he returned from the dead.

Furthermore, here comes the comparison. The difference and similarity between these two. In particular, their handlers, first Roget and Serge had a real bond, be it a weird one. When Serge was finally beaten by Jack, that is when Roget finally broke.

The Battle Beast was simply another tool for Sanders. Or perhaps, an example of a failed child. There was another member of Academia, whom was not formally part of any organization and did not play well in teams. Yuri. The Sanders and Yuri are noted to have the same hairstyle, it could be meaningless or important relationship. Both, Yuri and Battle Beast have issues with friends of the lack thereof, and both are Academia’s Secret Weapon.

Furthermore, Sanders, let us not forget did two things. First, he went and fought alongside Battle Beast when he needed help, and second berated him, and was disappointed. Furthermore, he used the same deck as Battle Beast, but when an authoritarian vibe to it. Yuri loneliness could have stemmed from being the son of the disciplinarian at the school. I will stop myself here, because I am getting into fanon.

What I was getting at is despite, seeing Battle Beast as a tool, unlike Roget, Sanders entered the fray directly. And not just did he entered the fray directly, he willingly accepted his carding. Roget refused to not just lose, but Death. He was a coward to the end, and despite having a real bond with Serge, in the end didn’t care. Sanders still saw the Battle Beast as a student he could teach and maybe improve on and ultimately cared for his students more than himself.

———————– ———————– ARC-V Symbolism via Dueling Loyalty

Now for the, basic 101 how to tell a treacherous Academia Soldier from a Loyalist. These cards tell us, at a glance aspects and things about a character before we even get a chance to really meet them.

The Loyalist, uses dogs. Or lupine themed beings as their primary Boss monsters. This is a representation of the loyalty of the dog. In irony, Serena and Sora both have wolf/lupine themed cards in real life (Dog and Crimson Fox) they never use in the show. It should be noted, like cats, dogs aren’t necessarily evil, with Barret and Sora, both are loyal to their homes if to a fault.

-Barret upon his return used wolf or lupine themed Boss monster’s vs Lancers. BeastBorg Wolf. Initially he only used Beastborg Panther, and took Serena to standard when he was supposed to keep her at home -The Juvenile Police and Obelisk Force iconic monsters are Dog Themed. They are completely loyal to Academia -Ironically Lunalight Wolf, a Pendulum, is one of the last cards Serena played is a wolf. -Sora upon his returned used Des Toy Wolf

Traitors or soon to be Traitors used Cat Themed Monsters. These represent the fickleness of kitty cats, and how in comparison to dogs, they are portrayed as mischievous. It is not however mean they are evil, as cats, here can also be something like a noble lion. Serena is an example of this. -Serena, her primary monsters are all Cat Themed. Her boss monster is Lio Dancer and her other Pendulum is Tiger -Sora, upon his return used Saber-Tiger as his primary Boss Monster -Grace first of the Amazoness to turn used Liger as her Boss -Battle Beast using the Gladiator Beast Noxious, is another example, this being the case -Leo, is in the name

Human Themed Boss, have conflictions about their role, and often betray or leave Academia. A notable exception of this is Captain Solo and Barret are notable exceptions. However Barret does betray Academia. They are treacherous, because as well as now know, Leo was a fool. The fact they could think through this, and make to a decision themselves, represents them thinking for themselves.

-Edo and Alexis Boss Monsters are both Humanoid Theme and conflicted about Academia’s mission in the End -Gloria, betrays Academia at her sisters Behest -Roget fused two Soldiers to make Ancient Gear Devil -Serena and Barret’s, cards are anthromorphic animals.

Now then time for Shinji and Resistance! Then we go to the final section, Lancers!

—————- —————- ARC-V Symbolism via Dueling, Shinji and the Resistance

Greetings friends, before we begin our final conversation about the Lancers, I will talk about the Anti-Hero’s Shinji, and La Resistance. Both of them are examples where what they commit result in them being no better than their foes. But now then about these two in particular, beside both being enemies then allies to our heroes, and having a sense of determination, why do I compare these two in particular?

Well first off, Shinji claims symbolic meeting behind his Bee Force. That Bee’s work together to create a better future. However, let us not forget they all serve the Queen Bee. And furthermore, remember the reason behind his story, (and even Enjiro), the Tops had better decks, better cards and beat him, regardless of their own skill. What Shinji shows is both his blindness as a person, and his own hate blinding him (just like Shun and Kaito). In his duel vs Ninjabro, his monsters were far more far aggressive, in fact he attacked the stadium without care and logic. He has aggravated, choose to stung. A result that would kill him.

The contrast as I will discuss in the Lancer’s Section, Ninjabro monsters were efficient direct and straight to the point. No unnecessary explosions, no unnecessary attacks. No endangering the Civilians. Shinji viva la revolution would hurt commons to. It was their shops being destroyed, it was their property being wrecked. And some like the kids, whom have yet to do anything we’re being threatened.

The B-Force schizophrenic strategy, his accusation of Tuning Magician being weak, is a perfect example of his blindness and lack of understanding. Furthermore, attacking the Goyo’s with regular run of the mill main deck monster, showed off his anger before reason. Now why I do compare him to the Resistance?

Well first off, we see Resistance using Mecha Phantom Beasts to defend vs Academia. These are mostly wind monsters first off to provide a contrast to Academia’s Earth. And furthermore, with the exception of Allen, every Resistance member has monster has wings of some kind. What are Mecha Phantom Beasts? A military like organization just like Academia. In addition, they were quick to distrust and discount outsides, when Yuya and company arrived in Xyz Dimension.

Just as Sora had discounted Yuya help, when he entered to help vs Yuto. In addition, Kaito would have carded the Lancers, despite them being their allies. All three of the main Resistance members (Kaito, Shun and Yuto), wished to seek vengeance on Academia and in their blindness missed the truth. Just as Shinji misses the truth that laid right in front of him. And the reality of the matter.

The point of the above comparison, is that Shinji and Resistance, show what happened when you give into blind hatred and reject 'egao’.

————- ————- ARC-V Symbolism Via Dueling- Setting

To tie this all together in the end. Is the following ideal, these character shows and represent our environment. Showing how parallel worlds, and differences have resulted in different characters and shaped their ideologies.

I did not discuss it here, but their decks and character also represent how they grew up different, in the case of the nostalgia characters. The bigger issue is that as shown via Dueling Assassins and comparable characters earlier on in the show. The difference represents how in each case their environment affected. However, let us get to the meat and potatoes, our heroes the lancers, and the shows core cast from season one to end of the show.

In the case of Academia, we see utterly ruthlessly individual who taking winning to the extreme. But also, value honor, and dignity. The city we see law and order above all, but a sense of curtailing of unnecessary violence. And finally, in regards to standard dimension, we see those who grew up and ultimately live for entertainment. In this we come to the eight lancers, who represent the various worlds of this show, and our heroes to save the day.

————— ————— What will we be ending on?

The final section is another characters who are the Show Original that became Lancers, bar the eight counter parts. These eight men and lady are the following. And will combined to create 4 Subsections.

The Lancers and Their Roles The Man and Sawatari Sora and Shun NinjaBro and Dennis Layra and Reiji

Then we will have a final discussion, regarding a point mentioned throughout the Egao.

#arc v #ygo arc v #yugioh arc v #a5 #yu gi oh! arc v

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