The inclusion of the solo violin added so much to this track! It was already one of my favorites, but now even more so. Have you watched my other reactions to MHRise tracks, btw? I've done a bunch of them: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/jteke9ho1b3TZX0.html

Rise Kushala is the best in literally everything. I mean, it stays on the ground, the tornadoes work like Wind Serpent Ibushi's *and* I saves a Felyne in the intro cutscene

A small moment of relief before realising you are in the eye of the storm... That´s what I feel when those strings come

My mum and I play a game where we listen to a monster ost and she tells me what she thinks it represents in the monster With Kushala Daora she used words like "Elegant" "Merciless" and "vortex" Words similar to how Kushala can be described by players that know it

5:23 that part right there always makes me feel a deep sense of loneliness, like if I was lost in the middle of a storm, your description fits my sensations about that. What a theme!

I always loved the use of the choir especially at the start. It’s super imposing whilst also sounding like the sound of rapid wind (and uh, Kushala and wind).

Kushala's theme has always felt like a very intense back and forth with the monster to me, like fighting a living storm fittingly. The unsettling dissonance building into that solo violin? It all feels like being swept up by an intense , living tornado. Wonderful analysis, and im glad to have found these videos.

Awesome analysis! Both Kushala's theme and it as a monster have always been very special to me since they created a very distinct experience in the game. I always viewed Kushala Daora as _the_ elder dragon. Despite being of a slimmer and smaller stature than many other monsters, it uses it's borderline supernatural control over wind to oppress the player and put them on the backfoot. It's the perfect power dynamic to express the difference between a regular monster, and something above the regular order of nature; an elder dragon. And it's music fits to a T! It channels the fantasy vibe that Kushala gives off, and the original Kushala theme especially feels like a rainstorm. The softer, steady percussion present reminds me of rain and the drawn out strings/brass is like howling wind. I enjoy the MHWorld version a lot too but I think it lost some of that "rainstorm" feeling. Which interestingly enough mirrors the game, since Namielle's theme picks back up the beautiful yet foreboding vibe (fitting, as it's the new elegant elder that causes rain) and Kushala's theme becomes harsher, reflecting the new environment it inhabits in the game. Idk how I feel about Rise's version yet, though I do really dig it as well! Like you pointed out with the new cold and imposing piano/strings around, they found a fitting way to make Kushala's theme feel more threatening and otherworldly, just like the monster itself! Thanks for the video, I enjoyed it :) EDIT: I also forgot to mention, I think the vocals actually bring back the "howling wind" motif from the original, and I do notice some nice understated percussion that reminds me of the original version. I think I can recognize why I dig this new version now lol

4:22 Now I'm no composwr, so i don't know how much of what I'm about to say is true, but it sounds like the melody is extremely stakato, if that is the right word. Unlike some other Battle Themes which might sound like a Dance, this part makes it sound a lot more hectic, as if every one of those notes is an attack that you barely dodged. Almost as if, in order to win this fight, you can't afford to be all honorable or graceful if you want to make it.

everything about rise kushala is perfect he's fun, he's noble, he's strange, and he's *JAMMIN'*

Ngl the more I listen to kushala’s theme the more it feels like a theme for one of the episode in walking with dinosaurs called giants of the skies, mainly the violin going off, mainly in the world version of his theme

Now we just need Teostra and the trio is complete. Absolutely loved this video, would love to see coverage of more themes, and maybe even comparisons between world's music and rise's as I feel they went very different ways when it come their music.

Great analysis video! I actually noticed something pretty cool near the end - at 7:25, you can hear part of Kamura's Song of Purification. It's the part in the beginning that goes; "keru ke shi ra fori e, Kamura da si ti a" Those synth notes make that same melody! Love when composers make use of motifs like that. They really outdid themselves with the Rise OST.

Love it! I personally think this has been the best version of Kushala's theme so far in the series. Would love a Teostra reaction since his and Chameleos new themes give of this mystic power vibe

I appreciate the expertise good sir. Makes me realize there's more that goes into these themes than just adding vocals and I love the music more because of it. Well done

This was very chilling, definitely very cold sounding. It made me think of some sort of dark Waltz! You know its serious when the music is telling you that you may not win this one! Thanks for sharing Davi!

I think kushala's theme when i listen to it describes an oncoming tornado. Kushala's theme starts off tense, haunting, and strangely beautiful. As tornados can be all of these things. It then builds up getting more and more intense. The tornado rampaging through the land. Then you get to the calm and elegant melody. I think the eye of a tornado, which is knows to be very calm. Lastly it picks back up in intensity. The tornado passing and your back to the destruction. Idk just my take on the melody, yours is way more technical xD

Was JUST listening to Kushalas theme! Its so nice to see the amazing effort into the trios music :)

God Damn, your videos are great to listen and watch, love your content, and the analisys you made on top of the reactions. A thousand times congratulations!

I would watch these vids all day (and I’ve watched like 8 since I found ur channel this morning), thanks for the amazing explanations

I really like the way you explain the music. This is why I love orchestral music: I’m always finding some new sound or aspect of the song I had not even realized before!

i really enjoy listening to these videos of yours, Davi. You make me want to play the games just for the music.

Excellent analysis as always! Now we just need a reaction of Teostra’s theme (you will love it), and then the ROCKET POWERED ELDER DRAGON, CRIMSON GLOW VALSTRAX!! (you will absolutely love it). Keep up the good work!

Great video as always. And... you know what's next hehe. Teostra next pls. That groovy theme.

Love your stuff man. Keep it up! :) Definitely my favourite version of Kushala's theme to date. I'd like to request the Rise version of Bazelgeuse next. I think the sound team made a lot of really interesting choices with Bazel this time round :)

I fucking love Kushalas theme in rise so much

That bit you're talking about at 7:33 feels like the Kamura melody, btw.

Yeah i also love Kushala Daoras theme makes me feel like im in a snow storm with little hope of surviving. You should also checkout the new Bazelgeuse theme in Rise or Ibushi. Honestly Ibushis theme is one of my new Faivorites!

I am LOVING these videos!

I would to love to see you react to the arch tempered velkhana theme from world

I love the little reference to kamura's song of purification on 7:36

I just rewatched this video now (really cool and interesting study about the music theme btw) and when i hear the main part of the theme It always reminds me of the Tintin video series intro with the first part of the intro using a piano and being followed by the violins, Its definetly my second most favourite theme on mh followed by the proof of a hero.

music dissection & monster hunter, great combination i love it, keep it up!

The world's version is still my favorite juste because the inclusion of MH Dos main theme in it is so fucking good and it's like fighting the tempest.

You're amazing, you've giving me a new appreciation for the music of these games.

the part you described as "terrifying" has always kinda given me the feeling of mocking. Like Kushala is mocking the hunter. Pushing them away with the winds and all that

This theme provides several feelings and allows for many interpretations, which is one of the many reasons why it has always been an absolute masterpiece, no matter what version. It goes from giving you the feel that kushala is imposing, as if it was establishing its superiority, asserting its dominance almost in an arrogant way. Then it gets graceful, as to appreciate the delicacy and gracefulness of the beast, to give you a "The calm before storm" moment, growing to become rather unsettling or creepy as if it was a warning of what's to come. Which then proceeds into chaos, loss of hope and overwhelming sounds flood the melody as the dragon grows impatient of your presence and the light of the skies gets clouded off. All this while noticeably resembling the feeling of "windy", "uncomfort" and "cold", not to mention the metalic sounds adding to both those feelings and to the fact that you're facing the steel dragon. It never fails to give me chills. Achieving all of that while keeping a consistent melody, harmony and just overall lovely to listen to theme is incredibly difficult and something to look up to/appreciate.

The solo violin makes me feel naked, cold, and alone. In the dark. Also 7:29, I didn't know Kamura's song could sound so chilling. They went ham on the cold in this theme.

"Kushala is my favorite elder dragon..." what a sickened man with a sickened taste "... theme." oh

Awesome video, man! I agree with your statement that this piece is extremely foreboding and terrifying, while also holding a sense of nobility. This is just a thought, but would you be willing to do a video where you take the same theme from a specific monster, and compare/contrast the two different directions that they took? For example, Nargacuga's theme in Iceborne has WAY more attack at the beginning, and is super fast paced, while in Rise it's a little more subtle, and "sneaky" for lack of a better term. Both are very fitting for the monster, but they are two very different directions using the same melodies and general structure. Hope to see a Teostra analysis next! Awesome work!

I love watching these. I would love to see your reactions to some frontier music. Shantien phase 4 is godly

Now I’m kind of big fan here now because teaching about the chore is amazing

Kushala is one of the best Elders in all MH games, and it's music theme is also amazing, so elegant, yet there is that aggression in it that tells you are facing something different now, and your explanations are really on point too, that's really amazing! It would be nice to see you reacting, and dissecting Vaal Hazak theme too, it was first introduced in World, and its design is one of the best for an Elder Dragon.

Amazing video as always! I loved your point about Russian Romantic period music - I have always thought Kushala's theme sounded the most "conventional" of all Monster Hunter music. I guess I was making that association in my mind and didn't know it! Would love to hear your take on some of the locale themes in the future or maybe comparing old and new versions of themes like the Flooded Forest theme!

Kushala's theme is such an iconic elder dragon theme of the franchise. Paired up with the gen2 opening cinematic of how the hunters had to chase the dragon under rain, transit to heavy storm, storm over and proof of hero plays. Man so good

I love the reincorporation of Rise's theme at the end of the track

Yes!!! you did the Daora theme! Thank you :D

Man, I just found your channel from the Chameleos video and I love your content! Keep it up :D

7:35 Cool little Kamura Village leit-motif

Oi Davi. Great video as always. Nice to hear you sing! The composer has done a really good job with this theme. Keep the videos coming :)

I would love a review of the ssndy plains theme in rise

always pleased at the little faces " :D :( >:( " when you show us the chords

You can hear the Kamura intro in the last part of the Daora theme here (just realized now)

Despite being unpopular Kushala Daora is one of my favorite elder dragons. In 4u I used a pair of poison dual blades at the time and always could cut the tail due to it having the perfect height when it was flying. People complained about the wind, but I always removed it because I could get the tail break and poison it. World made me sad that it could only stop the wind with elder seal, but rise made Kushala back to a favorite of mine.

I like to thing of the song as a storm, in the way it is arranged , it feels like if you where to be fighting within a storm, which is accurate to the monster, and i just love it

Dude if I wasn't looking at the screen at 6:46 I wouldn't have noticed it was not the same piece later on, that transition was smooth lmao

beautiful and danger mix up together

It would be cool to see a comparison between the many different versions through the series

My favorite rendition of Kushala’s theme.

It's funny you should mention how the metallic sounds give a sense of ice and coldness. His quest in Freedom Unite refers to him as the frozen dictator.

Brilliant reaction video as always. Kushala Daora Theme was probably the first Elder Dragon Theme I ever heard in MHdos. I like The World version with strong vibes, the reference to MHdos Main Theme /Shen Gaoren Battle Theme, but the Rise version is better! The Rise version is the perfect piece for this Elder Dragon with the lone and lofty images, and the freezing vibes. The electric sounds which appear throughout the track sound like the intro of Frozen Seaway Battle Theme from MH4 to me, not the same , but the same feeling and that send shiver down my spine. Oh, I really enjoyed this video! Thank you, Davi!

1:44 and 2:00 Maybe the disturbing chord also conveys the sound of sinister winds? It definitely sounds like a wind tunnel, with blazing fast wind speed 3:27 Wow, this part you just explained feels like an epiphany, decomposed chords (unengaged) will sound like a regal and gentle melody, but combined (engaging kushala in a hunt) will mean instant hostility and danger. Mind-blowing part and explanation. 4:38 Syncopation feels like the spice given to bland food, it adds so much experience to the piece because it's unusual yet enjoyable if done correctly, and as you said "throwing us off", much like Kushala's wind powers throwing us here and there 5:22 Absolutely. Also, the up-and-down melody images the hunter to be blown up and down in a hurricane, and this part also returns in every Kushala iteration in the series. The best idiom to describe this part is "Do you ever feel like a plastic bag in the eye of a storm?", truly elegant and fitting part.

My favorite dragon and favorite theme.

At 7:37 you can hear the Village theme in there if you listen closely

Me after seeing the oblivion poster: "Oblivion intro song. Dew it!" Oblivion is preety much my favorite game ever.

I like the world part that has the Shen theme in

I am a bit late here but one thing that might add to that track, is that the visible sadness might be related to an actual piece of lore that ironicaly is not well known despite coming from the game that Kushala first appeared in - Monster Hunter Dos (which was never translated into english, that's why it's usually forgotten) I will try to explain is as best as I can, because I don't know every bit, just what I heard from other people, so if you see any mistake, let me know. In that game (spoilers btw if someone still hopes for a good translation) after fighting Kushala multiple times and finally slaying her, at the very end players reach a new Location - a giant ancient tower that was most likely made by extinct civilisation. At first it seems it's "just a tower" but when you reach the base of it and start digging into it, you find out that all walls drop one material - Kushala scales. It's... a quite terryfying piece of symbolism for a Monster Hunter game. It suggests that Kushalas were hunted to most likely an exctinction level just to build that tower and the Kushala we just killed was one of the last of it's species, maybe even wrecking havoc because of the pure hate for creatures like our hunter. It also makes the whole situation a bit sad and that loneliness that we hear in this track might be a little note to the past of Kushala which was way more emotional than it is now. Also I can't shake the feeling that the whole track sounds like different phases of thunderstorm - some parts sound like dropping rain, some like fast gusts of wind and the terryfying loud middle sounds like you are in the middle of a tornado. This is why this version of her music is my Favourite - the randomness of melody is the biggest strenght of this track and I think it utilises the old theme the best.

Listening to this reminded me of the soundtrack to Frostpunk, a game that has some fantastic music. If you don't have too many MH:Rise tracks lined up to react to, I would be very interested in seeing you react to "The City Must Survive" from the Frostpunk OST. It's an incredibly emotional and beautiful track that fits so well with the section of the game it appears in. I wonder if it will have the same impact if you haven't played the game.

Apparently the part of the theme that starts at 7:04 is the Iceborne theme. I don't hear it but that what I've seen people say.

makes sense, many hunters(melee hunters) dread hunting them xD

7:29 Some one else noticed right here the discret implementation of the Ceadeus theme, from MH Tri? :D

I first heard this song when mh4u came out….good times

Kushala’s theme over the years went from: Cool (2-Generations) Powerful and majestic (World) Terrifying and Dangerous (Rise) And I like that a lot

Damn I didn't even notice when we got back from Korsakov to Kushala's theme !

Anybody else think the bit at 7:36 sounds like a part from the Kamura Village Theme? Specifically at 1:55 in his analysis of the village theme video.

Kushala daora name has a meaning it pronounces as "the violent rainstorm*

I hope you do the namielle’s theme!

7:30 I've listened to this video a few times now and the track by itself more than a handful. But I just noticed it seems(To me, at least) they snuck in a tiny bit of the Kamura village them in higher pitch synth-piano. Might just be me picking out a pattern where there isn't one

I know I’m a bit late, but I’d like to put in my own take on this. So every time I hear that main melody, an image appears in my mind. A violent, whirling, whipping storm of wind and rain, and standing right in the center of it, Kushala, staring you down menacingly as the storm worsens. And worst of all, you’re standing not ten feet in front of it. You are in the eye of the storm.

The solo violin is not new. I like your videos talking about this amazing ost.

I've just noticed kushala and baldur from god of war use the same notes

If you like the Kushala theme, you should do a reaction to the music of .Hack or Tsubasa Chronicles

I realized recently that I really enjoy music, from a variety of sources but mainly videogame soundtracks and film scores. Despite being fascinated by what I casually watch about music theory... I actually haven't gotten a formal education on any of it. I can't read music apart from recognizing some entry level notes. I'm 18 and from some surface level research I've heard that even at this age it's considered "too late" to try and make it professionally, which is disheartening for sure. I also haven't played an instrument in years... Anyway, I'm wondering what you would recommend for someone like me to start out! Where would you recommend I go to learn about music (lessons at a local place, websites, etc.)? Any instruments that would be helpful to learn first (that would carry over a lot of concepts into other instruments)? I also live in an apartment, so I'm a little worried about practice lol

You know I'm curious if you'd react to Bazelgeuse's theme. I found it interesting how it seems to stand out by not following Rise's conventional theming. It gives a feeling like he really is barging into somewhere where he doesn't fully belong or fit in.

Pls do a video reaction to Safijiva or Fatalis theme, those are the most terrifying music in monster hunter franchise IMO

COOL :)

7:26 You didn't mention this but if you listen to the high notes, it's actually the melody from the title song that Hinoa sings!

That ending part of the theme where it has that fake drop actually it sounds similar to the iceborne main theme in one part... I have no idea if it was intentional though

7:35 kinda reminds me of the seliana/iceborne theme.

I think you may have missed it, but 7:29 sounds like a modified version of Kamura's Song of Purification.

Question, so when there is a choir, are they actually singing any words or are they just holding notes for effect??

At 1:03 with the strings+piano combining... I’m not sure if maybe my ear is untrained and I’m just hearing it wrong, but I could’ve sworn that second low note is a half step lower (so G flat instead of G) Even if it’s not I’d like to imagine that it is bc that makes that part of the theme way more imposing imo

One of the best themes in the franchise and Rise has implemented it beautifully. One of my main gripes about Monster Hunter World is that they butchered many of the older themes (in my opinion) and Kushala was quite possibly the worst example. Luckily, Rise really does him justice. In a way that I genuinely can't describe it actually leaves the audible impression of a storm. Like, the solo in particular. It sounds like something you'd have in a childrens movie from the disney renaissance in a scene where some characters are taking cover while a storm is raging outside. It's just something viscerally fitting.

Not sure if you caught the village theme near the end of his theme too

7:35 Was it just me or is that a reference to the Kamura Village theme?

I think the "terror chord" isn't meant to be terror, but "chilling" like his element: ice. There's usually connection between chilling-type terror and ice. EDIT: I think though hearing this allows me to appreciate this theme a bit more. I always found this theme a hard one to like compared to the other elders and flagships in the series.

Have you watched proof of a hero yet? I haven't been paying attention

Narwa and Ibushi next?

Dire Miralis theme plz

at 7:35 i'm pretty sure i heard kamura's theme