“Soul’s Refrain” by Yoko Takahashi

Neon Genesis Evangelion’s “A Cruel Angel’s Thesis,” composed by Hidetoshi Sato and sung by Yoko Takahashi, is one of the all-time great anime themes. And not just because it’s both catchy and anthemic. The song possesses a deep irony, as well: its bright J-Pop arrangements and upbeat lyrics (e.g., “You shine brighter than anyone else/Young boy, become the legend!”) stand in stark contrast to Evangelion’s dark themes and apocalyptic storyline. (Apparently, lyricist Neko Oikawa didn’t really know what Evangelion was actually about when she began work on the song.)

“A Cruel Angel’s Thesis” is, as the kids would say, a total banger. But it wasn’t until my recent viewing of Neon Genesis Evangelion: Death & Rebirth when I realized that the storied anime franchise had yet another banger. Also sung by Takahashi, “Soul’s Refrain” — which appeared on her 1996 album, Li-La, and was written by Toshiyuki O’mori and Oikawa — eschews the J-pop stylings of “A Cruel Angel’s Thesis” for something even more anthemic.

The song starts off gently enough, with Takahashi’s powerful, dramatic voice set against a backdrop of plucked strings and gentle ambience. But then it kicks into high gear with driving beats and pulsing synths. Wonderful melodic twists keep your attention and hint at deeper emotional stakes while the guitarist (whose name I’ve been unable to find) unleashes a variety of fiery riffs. And for good measure, “Soul’s Refrain” also features some otherworldly choral elements that feel quite apropos given Evangelion’s preponderance of Christian imagery.

All in all, “Soul’s Refrain” is a high-energy theme that immediately pumps you up to battle the next Angel that decides to invade Tokyo-3. Not surprisingly, it’s Takahashi’s best-selling single of all time, even more so than “A Cruel Angel’s Thesis.” It’s also been covered by several other Japanese artists, including Babymetal, who absolutely destroyed in this 2013 performance.