The betrayal part makes sense if you've seen the trailer. You can see her being burned by Messmer's flames. She too was a victim of the invasion of Messmer. And well... what followed I won't spoil, but shit's beginning to make a lot of sense...
if you think about it,scarlet rot takes the form of plants,mostly trees and flowers,so it would only be natural that messmer is stronger than romina,it would be like a "pokemon grass vs fire type".
Considering Romina is the one responsible for bringing scarlet rot to the Lands Between, it makes sense that her theme should share some things with Malenia’s.
@@ZZMonkeysUncleZZdid she unseal the scarlet rot or was her bringing about the scarlet rot was what created it in the first place. Which in turn created a new outer god that Marika who was a shaman and shamans were known to wear blue rags, and the blue swordsman was the one that sealed this God away, and possibly by seal could it be the same as how she sealed the Rune of Death. idk im yipyapping
Because as much as there's a leitmotiv of the main theme/Radagon theme in the Messmer one, there's here a leitmotiv of what it seems to be the "Scarlet Rot theme" that appaers to be the phase 2 of Malenia theme, precisely the moment she "abandons" herself to Scarlet Rot, which Romina did too
I love how everyone's favourite ost from this DLC is all over the place. Like my favourites are Those United in Common Cause as well as Messmer's and it just shows how good their music is because everyone loves different tracks instead of a single track being a landslide standout.
So your interpretation is really pretty spot on! Basically Romina is a high-level worshipper and guardian for the Rot and its influence. She was a survivor of the Crusade that saw many of the inhabitants of their realm slaughtered, impaled, and immolated including the followers of the Rot. Malenia was supposed to be the coming of their new goddess, but after we defeated and killed her they are basically left aimless and lost. The rot butterflies incantation that you can get for defeating her even states that "The scarlet butterflies are as the Goddess of Rot's wings. Bereft of a master, they were soothed by Romina, who reached out to them."
I think it's more the fact they are isolated from their god considering she is in the land of shadow and you can fight her before you kill malenia but otherwise very spot on.
The master the incantation description is referring to is the actual Scarlet Rot Deity whch has been imprisoned in the scarlet rot lake (map description for reference)
Romina weaved a twisted divine element *into* the Scarlet Rot. She created it. What seems likely is that the outer god of rot originally had presence in the world as a different nameless element, and when Saint Romina transfigured it into the Scarlet Rot, the outer god then adopted the rot as its new element, thus being renamed to the outer god of Scarlet Rot. Which is a beautifully twisted story, if you think about it. A god of destruction adopting a new name thanks to the lonely saint that worshipped it.
That one is just so beautiful and epic. I never expected something like that from a Fromsoft Souls game, and I love it. It actually fits so well. The DLC has easily become my favourite in terms of soundtrack out of all Fromsoft games, except for maybe Bloodborne. Incredible.
Props to who designed the bosses in SOTE never thought an amalgamation of a wasp a centipede a scorpion and a women would look so cool. (took me 6hrs great song :D)
You should give Scadutree Avatar a listen--it's a cool remix of Erdtree Avatar from the base game and as a little something extra to it that I won't spoil
6:24 Good ear, this is a resemblance to Malenia's theme song on her second phase, as this Saint of the Bud is a scarlet rot creature. I don't know much of her lore though. Edit: He got it afterwards, nice
when you said i know this at 6:31 YOU WERE right it the theme of malenia second phase since they share the same curse ROT IT was a nice touch of the composer praising Yuka Kitamura
YES!! Let's go!! This is like in my top 5 or 10 list of my favorite Elden Ring osts! Thanks for reacting to and dissecting this track! Btw, you're VERY spot on with your analysis of this ost! Fascinating!
I like to think that the graceful melody represents "flying(like a butterfly)" while the fast runs or the staccato in some instruments means "crawling".
When I heard malenia’s theme in the second phase I was so stunned the boss killed me without me realizing (btw marco the connection to Malenia is through scarlet rot not through miquella)
This track is probably my top favorite OST of this entire game. That progression shortly after it begins to the descending crescendo always pulls me somehow. Masterful review!
Lore Spoiler warning! The remembrance of the Saint of the Bud says: "After the church was burned to the ground, Romina discovered a twisted divine element, which she weaved into the baleful scarlet rot. Perhaps then, the buds might find somewhere to gain purchase once more, within the scorched remains." (Romina is the Saint of the Bud) He church was burned to the ground during the Crusade that swept through the Shadow lands. She was probably the only survivor and clung onto whatever was left of her decimated church. She found the Scarlet Rot, the very same that afflicts Melainia in the lands between. Except, unlike Melainia, Romina embraced the Rot... it transformed her into a monstrous amalgamation of insects and human. She weilds a glaive that infects you with rot, and commands the Aeonia Butterflies that have no God to flock to, so she takes them in, and uses them to riddle you with Rot. I hope this helps You nailed the connection to Melainia though!!
I would also add to what you said about the butterflies not having a God to flock to. She unleashes them on us during the fight, and then they die out and disintegrate.
best theme along with Midra's. But tbh all Remembrance bosses plus Bayle (minus Gaius) have equally good themes, and what we prefer would depends on our moods and the weather of that day.
Why didn't they give gaius his own theme? It's just the normal sentinel theme. Doesn't even feel like a rememberance either. Feels like he was either rushed or they wanted one more rememberance boss so just slapped that tag onto him
so true! I can't even decide which one is my favourite from this amazing soundtrack.. sometimes it's Romina, sometimes Midra, or Messmer, or the final boss. they're all so so incredible
It's worth noting that the melody that is shared between this and Malenia's theme only plays in the second phase of each, when the bosses wield rotten butterflies and fully embrace the power of the rot. It's most likely the motif of the scarlet rot itself, or the outer god from which it originates.
This track for me is just the definition of perfection for me. It strikes fear, while still giving a glorious feeling of power and sadness simultaniously. I was mesmerized when i first heard this in that story trailer a month ago. That part at 1:25 just does something really special for me
Decay, malenia's melody, sainthood. Very interesting connections made. Those who already know what Romina's lore is about, it makes total sense. Very well communicated from this OST
It's between Romina's theme and Bayles theme for which is my favorite in the DLC. I think I prefer this one, it's so hauntingly beautiful. This was also one of my favorite fights thus far. While I felt desperate against a lot of the other bosses fighting Romina felt more like a dance which I really appreciated.
This fight for me was pure art. Some gameplay aspects apart (like really questionable hitboxes). Its art. The music in conjunction with the dark purple theme, rannis moon in the backround and then the story of Romina. It was an experience.
Something I loved about this fight is how her attacks came and went with the music. I don’t understand music so I can’t explain it. But she would do big attacks when the music swelled and then she would crash down and start a flurry when it sped up.
6:34 It's interesting because this part is like a melancholic version of Malenia's second phase theme. Both Malenia and Romina were forced to embrace their scarlet rot affliction to protect something. Malenia resented her affliction and only released it's power out of pure desperation. Romina on the other hand embraced her affliction and wielded it to protect her church from further destruction.
When I heard the malenia motif in phase two I got chills. It's such a good boss. Not the hardest, not the most complex, but it's just visually pleasing and the music slaps, and the tie in to malenia (my favorite character/story line) is the cherry on top.
Honestly you've given me a whole new perspective when listening to any sound tracks. It immediately clicked when talking about who theirs the sense of betrayal in it. Now I'm just going through other songs and listening closely.
I got the same reaction when they played part of Malenia ost when fighting Romina and I instantly died cause the melody of it gives me chills of the Scarlet Rot
@@hammond5921 He is talking about the OST (not the boss itself), and the connection to the scarlet rot. Even Marco mentions it, did you see the whole video? Chill buddy
one reason for the somber notes I believe to be is because Melenia the goddess of rot should’ve been killed by the player. As the description for the rotten butterflies incantation states “The scarlet butterflies are as the Goddess of Rot's wings. Bereft of a master, they were soothed by Romina, who reached out to them.” She is tragic in part because she is a saint without a god.
Well yeah that’s that nature of the game being open world. You can beat most things in whatever order you want but in a way there is an “intended” order through the difficulty of enemies and where they are placed. Given the difficulty of the dlc the devs assume the player has finished the game before starting the dlc. You don’t *have to* but it’s easier to do it that way. Technically you can fight a resurrected radahn before even killing him in caelid but the story in the dlc assumes that you killed him already.
@@1nulluser336you can't though, you need Radahn and Mogh dead to access the dlc. More likely that the sadness is related to the destruction of her church and that it drove her to this point, to create the Rot.
i love the DLC soundtracks, there's like 4 different songs with references to the base game. This with Malenia, Rellana's with Rennala's. Promised consort to Radahn, and Song of Despair in Midra's. Also there's a certain few lines in Bayle's theme is kinda reminiscent of Fortissax's theme
The reason in this theme we hear that snippet of Malenia's theme is (I think) their use of Scarlett Rot. A lot of Romina's AOE attacks cause rot buildup similar to Malenia, not sure if they have a deeper connection lorewise though. *edit* found that the butterflies Romina scatters and explodes in her attacks are "rotten butterflies" which make up the Goddess of Rot's wings in Malenia's second phase.
The connection between romula is the rot butterflies they both use. While melania seemingly despises her butterflies romula found comfort and power in the rot. In the level design you actually find that the rot hasnt taken the ruins over...instead seemingly contained in a few areas ...the ruins are a lush forest..with some rot. Here and there.
You make a good point with the malenia part. I think that both this theme as well as Malenia's theme are quite similar. not necessarily melodically. but emotionally. both of their first phase themes represent something .. unexpected. we encounter malenia who is far known and praised as a legendary swordswoman. so we expect immense level of epicness. but as we walk into the arena, we encounter her, alone. the atmosphere is so different from what you would expect. it feels like were trying to kill an enemy who has already died inside. like putting down a wounded dog. clinging only to her immense strength and little conviction there is left. but where malenia gets some sort of ''Redemption'' as the music swells in her glorious second phase, and that moment of ''epicness' we were expecting from such a foe finally comes. Romina's theme does not. it only grows in it's despair and depravity. further bringing your point home that there is truly no hope left here. there is nothing to redeem. all you can do is put down this defeated, yet stubborn creature. for it's own sake.
There are also callbacks to the song that merchants play in Midra's theme, and a callback in the final boss OST as well. FromSoft adding so many callbacks was a really really fascinating thing to add. There are also similarities in rhythm between Messmer and Radagon's OSTs
I can’t wait for you to get to the midra soundtrack, genuinely believe it’s gonna become another staple in your videos introducing friends in the music industry to the music in games, without a doubt one of the best pieces to ever come out of fromsoft’s catalogue. Shoi Miyazawa…
i just beat this boss today for the first time with martial arts and holy the music during the fight was hyping me up the whole time, definitely one of my new favorite bosses in elden ring
'Lamenting what could have been' indeed. Those who were living their lives peacefully, prior to Marika and Messmer's violent crusade to reduce everything in the Realm of Shadow to ash, those who survived would definitely be lamenting. 'What could our lives have looked like, had it not been for that invasion?'
The Malenia motif in second phase is so cool! From is know to reference a previous boss in some fights like; Gwyn- - Lord of Cinder and Romana design is a cool nod to Quelaana the Spider demon from Dark Souls.
OMG You Sir read this music like a book, it really does correlate with Melenia, because the main theme and power of Saint of the Bud has the same sourse as Melenia's! (Scarlet rott, + betrayal as well)!
Definitely correct on the similarity of Malenia's soundtrack and Romina's. I think there's a leitmotif for scarlet rot bosses seeing as both of them have heavy connection to the Rot and both of their pasts are rooted in the Scarlet rot
I got until her going no blessings, final boss broke me enough to use them though, and I gotta say those were the most fun 2 and a half hours of my life lol, I really loved the soundtrack and I found the fight really fun, gorgeous design aswell
It is mentioned in the lore that Romina was a resident of the shadowlands like every other creature but was burned so heavily by Messmers flames, she retreated to her church hidden away from everything else, helpless in the fight against him. The only place she had ever felt peace, was within the walls of her church. The Melania aspect you are hearing is how like Melania, Romina too is a child of the scarlet rot. The miquella relation however is deeper, after she hid away from Messmer in desperate fear, she was found by Miquella and given a duty to defend the concealing tree. She was given a purpose after being left purposeless. There is no greater sorrow than a warrior losing their spirit and then being given a duty which somewhat retains that former glory.
What do we know about her lorewise? Almost nothing, unfortunately, which bothers me immensely. She's a character who just kind of appears, has _zero_ mention whatsoever before or after, and serves no consequence, other than just being in the way of the Sealing Tree. As far as I can put together, her story seems to go something like this: After Malenia rejected and sealed away the Scarlet Rot, the Rot itself in the Realm of Shadow was left essentially directionless and orphaned, and went dormant, needing someone to guide and shape it. Romina and her church were burned and utterly destroyed by Messmer's army during their crusade, leaving Romina ruined, alone, and with nothing. She then discovered a "bud" of some sort of the Rot, and out of despair, desire for vengeance, and sympathy for the abandoned, motherless bud, took it upon herself to take up the mantle of its guardian, becoming the "saint" of the Scarlet Rot. She became a sort of step-mother to the Rot and its "children," in place of the uncaring Malenia, weaving it from a directionless, dormant bud into the fully-realized and active Scarlet Rot that consumed the area around her church. She was a broken mother figure (given her church) with no children or flock, and the bud was abandoned with no mother or shepherd, so they both filled the role the other was missing, in a broken found-family sort of way. Where Malenia hated the Rot and rejected it, Romina nutured and cared for it. One thing I find particularly fascinating is the stark difference between the Rot unleashed violently by Malenia, and the Rot cultivated gently by Romina. Visually, Romina's Rot has a much more vibrant color scheme and more delicate appearance, being very prominently more floral and less fungal than Malenia's Rot. That's my analysis, take it with a grain of salt considering the game gave me very little to work with.
Lmao when i fought her in the second phase i went "hello melanua 2.0". I was counciously thinking of the rot and her moveset which has some similarities to melania but i think subcounciously what drove me to say that were the leitmotifs of melania's theme. I love fromsoft's music so much man
You have GOT to do Bayle the Dread, him and his whole quest is a pretty not-subtle Moby Dick reference, and his NPC questline individual Igon is SO well voice acted.
If you saw her in the trailer with the ost ohh god you well get feel that she was nothing to do with this war . Especially in the first phase, oh how miserable, listen to the solo cello, then the screaming and the high note of the violin together, then the rhythm calms down and the woman’s sad and broken voice comes, the feeling of her feeling the pain at the end of the first phase, the second phase gives you a feeling of enthusiasm and a little hope with the presence of brokenness and misery in it, but there is a turning point in this phase, and when we hear a melody like the melody of Millenia, it is as if it tells us that she has changed from one person to another, lively enthusiasm, but the misery and brokenness are present .
The musical theme of the shadowland native bosses (in constrast of mesmer and the crusaders) seems to be characterized by the loss, grief and pain of a practically exterminated people. But the ways these people deal with such tragedy are varied. Some cling to the glory of the old days and pray for divine retribution (i.e. the Divine Lion Dance Beast), some fall to despair and embrace something baser and darker (i.e. Romina).
Putting in the goddess of rot melody for phase 2 is genius
thanks
The betrayal part makes sense if you've seen the trailer. You can see her being burned by Messmer's flames. She too was a victim of the invasion of Messmer. And well... what followed I won't spoil, but shit's beginning to make a lot of sense...
she almost met death in the embrace of Messsssmer’s flame
dont know what you mean by "beginning to make sense",im curious about this sentence
if you think about it,scarlet rot takes the form of plants,mostly trees and flowers,so it would only be natural that messmer is stronger than romina,it would be like a "pokemon grass vs fire type".
You: "It's all beginning to make sense"
Me: "It's all according to keikaku"😂
@@ll-ll5gt in game fire is also the only know countermeasure against the rot, think of radians soldier and how they use fire to fight off the rot
This was definitely my favorite OST of the DLC. I am glad you noticed the Malenia motif, it is an cool reference.
Considering Romina is the one responsible for bringing scarlet rot to the Lands Between, it makes sense that her theme should share some things with Malenia’s.
I’d say that since that motif matches both of them it’s less Malenia’s and more the scarlet rot’s
@@ZZMonkeysUncleZZdid she unseal the scarlet rot or was her bringing about the scarlet rot was what created it in the first place. Which in turn created a new outer god that Marika who was a shaman and shamans were known to wear blue rags, and the blue swordsman was the one that sealed this God away, and possibly by seal could it be the same as how she sealed the Rune of Death. idk im yipyapping
@@ZZMonkeysUncleZZ She is not responsible for this. Basically her power has empowered with scarlet rot but only this
@@apolloisnotashirtshe found the scarlet rot and used it for her benefit. She didn’t create jt
How does he know that this boss spread scarlet rot by just listening the music. Marco you're a genius！
it's because of malenia's theme!
@@MarcoMeatball Can’t wait for the midra lord of frenzied flames reaction!💪
@@MarcoMeatballLoved the nod.
Because as much as there's a leitmotiv of the main theme/Radagon theme in the Messmer one, there's here a leitmotiv of what it seems to be the "Scarlet Rot theme" that appaers to be the phase 2 of Malenia theme, precisely the moment she "abandons" herself to Scarlet Rot, which Romina did too
I would have guessed if I made it to this boss fight unfortunately I'm not there yet I'm going after messmer
Do Midra next!
Midra and Bayle have the best ost in my opinion both of them are so powerful in different ways
It's on his list dw
Midra is better imo
I want BAYLE or Mesmer
Midra is the best with Divine beast
I love how everyone's favourite ost from this DLC is all over the place. Like my favourites are Those United in Common Cause as well as Messmer's and it just shows how good their music is because everyone loves different tracks instead of a single track being a landslide standout.
Those United in Common Cause is so good but I’m worried it’ll go underrated for not being a boss theme.
I personally just love the motifs of dancing lion
@@SaintMariannethat fight was better than most bosses tbh
@@SaintMarianne It will definitely be the severely underrated track of the ost which is sad lol
Great comment
So your interpretation is really pretty spot on! Basically Romina is a high-level worshipper and guardian for the Rot and its influence. She was a survivor of the Crusade that saw many of the inhabitants of their realm slaughtered, impaled, and immolated including the followers of the Rot. Malenia was supposed to be the coming of their new goddess, but after we defeated and killed her they are basically left aimless and lost. The rot butterflies incantation that you can get for defeating her even states that "The scarlet butterflies are as the Goddess of Rot's wings. Bereft of a master, they were soothed by Romina, who reached out to them."
I think it's more the fact they are isolated from their god considering she is in the land of shadow and you can fight her before you kill malenia but otherwise very spot on.
Considering you can access the DLC without killing Malenia this is not true. She discovered the rot after Messmer burned her homeland and church.
The master the incantation description is referring to is the actual Scarlet Rot Deity whch has been imprisoned in the scarlet rot lake (map description for reference)
Romina weaved a twisted divine element *into* the Scarlet Rot. She created it. What seems likely is that the outer god of rot originally had presence in the world as a different nameless element, and when Saint Romina transfigured it into the Scarlet Rot, the outer god then adopted the rot as its new element, thus being renamed to the outer god of Scarlet Rot. Which is a beautifully twisted story, if you think about it. A god of destruction adopting a new name thanks to the lonely saint that worshipped it.
Learned a new word today: immolated
CURSE YOU BAYLE!!!!!!!!!! (Please do Bayle)
After i first heard igon basically go fuck you bayle and proceeding to insult his whole bloodline he instantly became my fav npc ever.
THE VILE BAYLE
@@larsmuller97 Igon became a legend
I SWEAR, YOU SHALL RUE THIS DAY!!!!!
Its amazing how much lore you contrive from this, most of things you gather are correct!
"Those united in common cause" is just splendid if we're talking DLC gems
tomorrow
@@MarcoMeatball NO WAY LES GOO
That one is just so beautiful and epic. I never expected something like that from a Fromsoft Souls game, and I love it. It actually fits so well. The DLC has easily become my favourite in terms of soundtrack out of all Fromsoft games, except for maybe Bloodborne. Incredible.
@@abeon8151Bloodborne has the best ost
Props to who designed the bosses in SOTE never thought an amalgamation of a wasp a centipede a scorpion and a women would look so cool. (took me 6hrs great song :D)
Not bragging or anything but second try without buffs, she should've had 2 full health bars
@@c1deon363Well, I guess we’re both not you lol. Took me over an hour.
@@RUSHYRUSHY39 or maybe because I fought her after Messmer Bayle and Rellana)
She's meant to have butterfly elements not wasp elements, remember how she throws little butterflies at you and the specific way her wings look.
@@notmyfullname598 butterfys doesnt have stingers (i was thinking in that), but yea i forgot the butterfly elements too
Tsukasa Saitoh is a legend and constantly proves as having composed some of Fromsoft’s best music, even in 2024
I can't wait for Bayle and The Promised Consort ost
I second Bayle's theme!
CURSE YOU BAAAAAAYLE
O BAYLE, VILE BAYLE!
FEAR INCARNATE
OHHHH THE PAIN
You should give Scadutree Avatar a listen--it's a cool remix of Erdtree Avatar from the base game and as a little something extra to it that I won't spoil
I second that, absolutely underrated track so far
6:24 Good ear, this is a resemblance to Malenia's theme song on her second phase, as this Saint of the Bud is a scarlet rot creature. I don't know much of her lore though.
Edit: He got it afterwards, nice
0:16 Nice organ to you too sir
Killed this boss yesterday. When this OST was in the trailer I thought it was the last bosse's theme.
I thought it was Messmer's theme
@@kalvinchester4068The messmer has this part at the end of his theme.
The final boss’ second phase theme is also in one of the trailers.
when you said i know this at 6:31 YOU WERE right it the theme of malenia second phase since they share the same curse ROT IT was a nice touch of the composer praising Yuka Kitamura
YES!! Let's go!! This is like in my top 5 or 10 list of my favorite Elden Ring osts! Thanks for reacting to and dissecting this track! Btw, you're VERY spot on with your analysis of this ost! Fascinating!
I like to think that the graceful melody represents "flying(like a butterfly)" while the fast runs or the staccato in some instruments means "crawling".
When I heard malenia’s theme in the second phase I was so stunned the boss killed me without me realizing (btw marco the connection to Malenia is through scarlet rot not through miquella)
This track is probably my top favorite OST of this entire game.
That progression shortly after it begins to the descending crescendo always pulls me somehow.
Masterful review!
Lore Spoiler warning!
The remembrance of the Saint of the Bud says:
"After the church was burned to the ground, Romina discovered a
twisted divine element, which she weaved into the baleful scarlet rot.
Perhaps then, the buds might find somewhere to gain purchase
once more, within the scorched remains."
(Romina is the Saint of the Bud)
He church was burned to the ground during the Crusade that swept through the Shadow lands. She was probably the only survivor and clung onto whatever was left of her decimated church. She found the Scarlet Rot, the very same that afflicts Melainia in the lands between. Except, unlike Melainia, Romina embraced the Rot... it transformed her into a monstrous amalgamation of insects and human. She weilds a glaive that infects you with rot, and commands the Aeonia Butterflies that have no God to flock to, so she takes them in, and uses them to riddle you with Rot.
I hope this helps
You nailed the connection to Melainia though!!
It's been two years, howcome nobody can write "Malenia" still
@@SimonSenaviev deadass. The same way people pronounce “miquella” as “mi-kella” lmao
I would also add to what you said about the butterflies not having a God to flock to. She unleashes them on us during the fight, and then they die out and disintegrate.
@@SimonSenaviev Probably why she had to introduce herself again and again...
@@deadsea2004 "I am Malaria, Blade of Mcdonald's. And you will never sniff my feet!"
MESSMER THE IMPALER & Base serpent messmer NEXT
best theme along with Midra's. But tbh all Remembrance bosses plus Bayle (minus Gaius) have equally good themes, and what we prefer would depends on our moods and the weather of that day.
absolutely true, fromsoft team really outdid themselves with the ost for this DLC, every track is good in it's own way
Why didn't they give gaius his own theme? It's just the normal sentinel theme. Doesn't even feel like a rememberance either. Feels like he was either rushed or they wanted one more rememberance boss so just slapped that tag onto him
@@magic_manl2572 it's actually the commander's theme
@@mattnsg13 they sound so similar. But that's ok because none are rememberance bosses. Really dropped the ball on gaius
so true! I can't even decide which one is my favourite from this amazing soundtrack.. sometimes it's Romina, sometimes Midra, or Messmer, or the final boss. they're all so so incredible
It's worth noting that the melody that is shared between this and Malenia's theme only plays in the second phase of each, when the bosses wield rotten butterflies and fully embrace the power of the rot. It's most likely the motif of the scarlet rot itself, or the outer god from which it originates.
God this song is beautiful, just as is the bossfight!
I'm so glad you covered this, because Romina is imo, by far the most underrated fight of the dlc
This track for me is just the definition of perfection for me. It strikes fear, while still giving a glorious feeling of power and sadness simultaniously. I was mesmerized when i first heard this in that story trailer a month ago. That part at 1:25 just does something really special for me
Decay, malenia's melody, sainthood. Very interesting connections made. Those who already know what Romina's lore is about, it makes total sense. Very well communicated from this OST
It's between Romina's theme and Bayles theme for which is my favorite in the DLC. I think I prefer this one, it's so hauntingly beautiful. This was also one of my favorite fights thus far. While I felt desperate against a lot of the other bosses fighting Romina felt more like a dance which I really appreciated.
that 3rd high note, at the beginning of second phase (5:27) makes me love that track so much. It's just a little detail, but I absolutely love it
I fell in love with this song when the trailer dropped and it had the climax playing with messmer
by far my fav ost in the dlc, all are amazing but for this everything single time it gives me chills, and fighting this boss didn't disappoint one bit
you're the only other person i've recognized the Melania strings. Well done!
Romina is a perfect reflection of Malenia. While Malenia hated and pushed away the scarlet rot, but Romina accepted and nortured it.
This fight for me was pure art. Some gameplay aspects apart (like really questionable hitboxes). Its art. The music in conjunction with the dark purple theme, rannis moon in the backround and then the story of Romina. It was an experience.
Something I loved about this fight is how her attacks came and went with the music. I don’t understand music so I can’t explain it. But she would do big attacks when the music swelled and then she would crash down and start a flurry when it sped up.
6:34 It's interesting because this part is like a melancholic version of Malenia's second phase theme. Both Malenia and Romina were forced to embrace their scarlet rot affliction to protect something. Malenia resented her affliction and only released it's power out of pure desperation. Romina on the other hand embraced her affliction and wielded it to protect her church from further destruction.
That connection you made with both songs was a good catch
There’s a great theme called “Those United in Common Cause” which plays during a special encounter and should definitely be on the list!
When I heard the malenia motif in phase two I got chills. It's such a good boss. Not the hardest, not the most complex, but it's just visually pleasing and the music slaps, and the tie in to malenia (my favorite character/story line) is the cherry on top.
I love how the second phase of the theme screams "MALENIA"
Bro legitimately puts my thoughts about this music into words. Insanely good content
Honestly you've given me a whole new perspective when listening to any sound tracks. It immediately clicked when talking about who theirs the sense of betrayal in it. Now I'm just going through other songs and listening closely.
I got the same reaction when they played part of Malenia ost when fighting Romina and I instantly died cause the melody of it gives me chills of the Scarlet Rot
6:38 is one of the parts to Malenia’s theme from base game it sounds like
Must be linked to scarlet rot
@@nefarious8278 yeah no shit have you played the dlc?
Yes
@@hammond5921 He is talking about the OST (not the boss itself), and the connection to the scarlet rot. Even Marco mentions it, did you see the whole video? Chill buddy
one reason for the somber notes I believe to be is because Melenia the goddess of rot should’ve been killed by the player. As the description for the rotten butterflies incantation states “The scarlet butterflies are as the Goddess of Rot's wings. Bereft of a master, they were soothed by Romina, who reached out to them.” She is tragic in part because she is a saint without a god.
but that couldn't make sense when we can finish the whole dlc and then go for Malenia
Well yeah that’s that nature of the game being open world. You can beat most things in whatever order you want but in a way there is an “intended” order through the difficulty of enemies and where they are placed. Given the difficulty of the dlc the devs assume the player has finished the game before starting the dlc. You don’t *have to* but it’s easier to do it that way. Technically you can fight a resurrected radahn before even killing him in caelid but the story in the dlc assumes that you killed him already.
@@1nulluser336you can't though, you need Radahn and Mogh dead to access the dlc. More likely that the sadness is related to the destruction of her church and that it drove her to this point, to create the Rot.
I absolutely love the use of motifs from the base game to contextualize the dlc bosses. Incredible storytelling and great pieces on their own
at 6:12 you also missed a reference to gwyn's theme from ds1. crazy how they fit malenia and gwyn into this, favorite track from the dlc
You can hear Malenia's 2nd phase theme.
Loved the video. Im very excited to see Marco reaction to Messmer ost and specially the VILE Bayle.
i love the DLC soundtracks, there's like 4 different songs with references to the base game. This with Malenia, Rellana's with Rennala's. Promised consort to Radahn, and Song of Despair in Midra's. Also there's a certain few lines in Bayle's theme is kinda reminiscent of Fortissax's theme
The reason in this theme we hear that snippet of Malenia's theme is (I think) their use of Scarlett Rot. A lot of Romina's AOE attacks cause rot buildup similar to Malenia, not sure if they have a deeper connection lorewise though.
*edit* found that the butterflies Romina scatters and explodes in her attacks are "rotten butterflies" which make up the Goddess of Rot's wings in Malenia's second phase.
1:24 This part man, just insane
The connection between romula is the rot butterflies they both use.
While melania seemingly despises her butterflies romula found comfort and power in the rot.
In the level design you actually find that the rot hasnt taken the ruins over...instead seemingly contained in a few areas ...the ruins are a lush forest..with some rot. Here and there.
You make a good point with the malenia part. I think that both this theme as well as Malenia's theme are quite similar. not necessarily melodically. but emotionally. both of their first phase themes represent something .. unexpected. we encounter malenia who is far known and praised as a legendary swordswoman. so we expect immense level of epicness. but as we walk into the arena, we encounter her, alone. the atmosphere is so different from what you would expect. it feels like were trying to kill an enemy who has already died inside. like putting down a wounded dog. clinging only to her immense strength and little conviction there is left.
but where malenia gets some sort of ''Redemption'' as the music swells in her glorious second phase, and that moment of ''epicness' we were expecting from such a foe finally comes. Romina's theme does not. it only grows in it's despair and depravity. further bringing your point home that there is truly no hope left here. there is nothing to redeem. all you can do is put down this defeated, yet stubborn creature. for it's own sake.
The DLC OST's have a lot of really interesting callbacks, the OST for Ancient Dragon Senessax also has a callback to Placidusax from the base game
There are also callbacks to the song that merchants play in Midra's theme, and a callback in the final boss OST as well. FromSoft adding so many callbacks was a really really fascinating thing to add. There are also similarities in rhythm between Messmer and Radagon's OSTs
It's the same as Lansseax
I can’t wait for you to get to the midra soundtrack, genuinely believe it’s gonna become another staple in your videos introducing friends in the music industry to the music in games, without a doubt one of the best pieces to ever come out of fromsoft’s catalogue. Shoi Miyazawa…
Its impressive that you noticed the Malenia motifs in all that.
i just beat this boss today for the first time with martial arts and holy the music during the fight was hyping me up the whole time, definitely one of my new favorite bosses in elden ring
'Lamenting what could have been' indeed. Those who were living their lives peacefully, prior to Marika and Messmer's violent crusade to reduce everything in the Realm of Shadow to ash, those who survived would definitely be lamenting. 'What could our lives have looked like, had it not been for that invasion?'
shouldn't have massacred the shaman village then.
curiously enough, they used this in the trailer where they depict messmer's crusade.
The final boss soundtrack is so incredible. It’s my favorite in the entire game, and I can’t wait for it to be released on iTunes.
my definite favorite is bayle the dreads ost, it is pure horror and fear and i love it
An absolute banger. They used this theme for a part of the DLC trailer music, among others.
Hearing the ode to Malenia's theme was probably my favorite moment musically in the entire game
The Malenia motif in second phase is so cool! From is know to reference a previous boss in some fights like; Gwyn- - Lord of Cinder and Romana design is a cool nod to Quelaana the Spider demon from Dark Souls.
i love how this guy always says “i could be completely wrong” and NEVER is
At some point in the second phase, I swear that while fighting her I heard Malenia's second phase theme in there.
I love that there's a leitmotif from Messmer in this theme
"Those United in Common Cause."
Absolutely review that one.
The "Betrayal Motiff" on the brass you mentioned I think also appears on Messmer's theme but not fully sure
OMG You Sir read this music like a book, it really does correlate with Melenia, because the main theme and power of Saint of the Bud has the same sourse as Melenia's! (Scarlet rott, + betrayal as well)!
Do Putrescent Knight or Midra please, they are awesome.
Just like Romina herself, i honestly think this music blends beauty and horror fantastically
6:38 yes, it's Malenia, Blade of Miquella's theme !
I love themes that have a little hints of other themes for lore purposes
This is simply the best track in the entire game for me, i died too many time just vibing to the music
Now i know that melody is not Malenia's, it's the rot's.
Definitely correct on the similarity of Malenia's soundtrack and Romina's. I think there's a leitmotif for scarlet rot bosses seeing as both of them have heavy connection to the Rot and both of their pasts are rooted in the Scarlet rot
I got until her going no blessings, final boss broke me enough to use them though, and I gotta say those were the most fun 2 and a half hours of my life lol, I really loved the soundtrack and I found the fight really fun, gorgeous design aswell
It is mentioned in the lore that Romina was a resident of the shadowlands like every other creature but was burned so heavily by Messmers flames, she retreated to her church hidden away from everything else, helpless in the fight against him. The only place she had ever felt peace, was within the walls of her church.
The Melania aspect you are hearing is how like Melania, Romina too is a child of the scarlet rot.
The miquella relation however is deeper, after she hid away from Messmer in desperate fear, she was found by Miquella and given a duty to defend the concealing tree. She was given a purpose after being left purposeless.
There is no greater sorrow than a warrior losing their spirit and then being given a duty which somewhat retains that former glory.
For favorites, I have to say my two favorites are Midra and Promised Consort. Some of the ambients are good too, especially Shadow Keep.
9:00 Gwyn Motif as well just before the melenia part!
That actually does kind of sound like gwyn
Do Mother of Fingers next. It's so unique and beautiful.
Bayles theme is amazing
6:32 that’s malenia theme
What do we know about her lorewise?
Almost nothing, unfortunately, which bothers me immensely. She's a character who just kind of appears, has _zero_ mention whatsoever before or after, and serves no consequence, other than just being in the way of the Sealing Tree.
As far as I can put together, her story seems to go something like this:
After Malenia rejected and sealed away the Scarlet Rot, the Rot itself in the Realm of Shadow was left essentially directionless and orphaned, and went dormant, needing someone to guide and shape it.
Romina and her church were burned and utterly destroyed by Messmer's army during their crusade, leaving Romina ruined, alone, and with nothing.
She then discovered a "bud" of some sort of the Rot, and out of despair, desire for vengeance, and sympathy for the abandoned, motherless bud, took it upon herself to take up the mantle of its guardian, becoming the "saint" of the Scarlet Rot.
She became a sort of step-mother to the Rot and its "children," in place of the uncaring Malenia, weaving it from a directionless, dormant bud into the fully-realized and active Scarlet Rot that consumed the area around her church.
She was a broken mother figure (given her church) with no children or flock, and the bud was abandoned with no mother or shepherd, so they both filled the role the other was missing, in a broken found-family sort of way. Where Malenia hated the Rot and rejected it, Romina nutured and cared for it.
One thing I find particularly fascinating is the stark difference between the Rot unleashed violently by Malenia, and the Rot cultivated gently by Romina.
Visually, Romina's Rot has a much more vibrant color scheme and more delicate appearance, being very prominently more floral and less fungal than Malenia's Rot.
That's my analysis, take it with a grain of salt considering the game gave me very little to work with.
for context, the reason this references Malenia's song is cuz this is pretty much the priest who created scarlet rot (very much due to the outer god)
0:42 You can here elements of Mallenia's theme in this track
Lmao when i fought her in the second phase i went "hello melanua 2.0". I was counciously thinking of the rot and her moveset which has some similarities to melania but i think subcounciously what drove me to say that were the leitmotifs of melania's theme. I love fromsoft's music so much man
You have GOT to do Bayle the Dread, him and his whole quest is a pretty not-subtle Moby Dick reference, and his NPC questline individual Igon is SO well voice acted.
I hope you also do “Those United In Common Cause” it’s my favorite
You gotta do Ramlethal's theme, going back to Strive. She has so much going on with her theme, maybe as much or more than ABA or Happy's.
i'm so glad this song met the expectations i got from it's part in the trailer like it honestly makes me want to get to the dlc faster
6:31 todos que conhecem a trilha sonora da Malenia sentiram arrepios nesse trecho
I accidentally found this boss when I had music off and killed it on my first try so I unfortunately missed this gorgeous track.
What kind of psycho plays this game without music??
C‘mon you can‘t just be walking around without music on
@@s8theninjawarrior916 adrenaline junkies that like blasting music in their ears while playing instead of enjoying the damn game
Please i recommend “Those United in Common Cause” its peak
If you saw her in the trailer with the ost ohh god you well get feel that she was nothing to do with this war .
Especially in the first phase, oh how miserable, listen to the solo cello, then the screaming and the high note of the violin together, then the rhythm calms down and the woman’s sad and broken voice comes, the feeling of her feeling the pain at the end of the first phase,
the second phase gives you a feeling of enthusiasm and a little hope with the presence of brokenness and misery in it, but there is a turning point in this phase, and when we hear a melody like the melody of Millenia, it is as if it tells us that she has changed from one person to another, lively enthusiasm, but the misery and brokenness are present .
The musical theme of the shadowland native bosses (in constrast of mesmer and the crusaders) seems to be characterized by the loss, grief and pain of a practically exterminated people. But the ways these people deal with such tragedy are varied. Some cling to the glory of the old days and pray for divine retribution (i.e. the Divine Lion Dance Beast), some fall to despair and embrace something baser and darker (i.e. Romina).