Music isn't just background noise in a Shoji Meguro game. It's the pulse. Honestly, if you’ve spent any time in the United Kingdom of Euchronia, you know exactly what I’m talking about. The Metaphor ReFantazio Elegy of the Soul—that haunting, stirring theme that plays in the Akademeia—is doing something much more sophisticated than your average RPG "safe room" music. It’s not just a melody; it’s a theological statement wrapped in a heavy orchestral blanket.
Most people recognize the vibe immediately. It’s that blend of Gregorian chant, aggressive Buddhist-style recitation, and a string section that feels like it’s weeping and cheering at the exact same time. It captures the game's core tension between the "real" world and the world of imagination.
Let's be real. When we think of Atlus soundtracks, we usually think of Persona’s acid jazz or Shin Megami Tensei’s grinding industrial rock. But Metaphor is its own beast. It’s political. It’s operatic.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Elegy of the Soul
When you first step into the Akademeia and hear those voices, it’s easy to think it’s just "generic fantasy church music." That’s a mistake.
The track is officially titled Elegy of the Soul, and it serves as the sonic identity for More’s library. Unlike the Aria of the Soul from the Persona series—which is ethereal, operatic, and singular—the Metaphor version is dense and communal. It feels older. Heavy.
The chanting isn't just gibberish. Meguro utilized a style that mimics "Sperion," the fictional ancient language of the game, which is heavily influenced by Esperanto and Latin phonetics. When you hear that low-register throat singing mixed with the higher choir, you're hearing the duality of the protagonist's journey. You have the low, grounded struggle of the "traveler" and the soaring aspiration of the "king."
The music is also incredibly reactive. Depending on your progress and the Archetypes you've unlocked, the atmosphere of the Akademeia shifts. It isn't a static loop. It's a living piece of art that evolves as your "Magla" grows.
The Meguro Shift: Moving Beyond Jazz
For over two decades, Shoji Meguro was the king of the "cool" RPG soundtrack. Persona 5 was all about style, rebellion, and Tokyo nights.
With Metaphor ReFantazio Elegy of the Soul, Meguro went in the opposite direction. He left Atlus to go freelance but returned specifically for this project because he wanted to experiment with "religious" music that didn't belong to any specific religion.
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The strings are sharper here. The percussion is more tribal. It reflects a world where the "Monsters" (Humans) are terrifying distortions of our own reality. The music has to be uncomfortable at times. It has to remind you that you are an outsider in a world that wants you dead.
Why the Akademeia Theme Stays With You
You’ve probably found yourself humming it while walking to the grocery store. Why? Because it’s built on a "hook" that uses a very specific minor-to-major transition.
In music theory, this creates a sense of "unearned hope." You’re in a dark place (literally, a void between worlds), but the music tells you that glory is possible. It’s the sound of a meritocracy. You aren't born a king; you earn it through the "Elegy" of your past struggles.
Think about the context. Every time you enter the Akademeia, you're likely there to spend your hard-earned Magla or check on your Archetype tree. The music acts as a psychological Pavlovian trigger.
- Hearing the first three notes = Safety.
- The crescendo = Power.
- The fading chant = Back to the harsh reality of the Gauntlet Runner.
It’s brilliant pacing. Most games ignore how music impacts the "menu fatigue" of a 100-hour RPG. Metaphor leans into it. The Metaphor ReFantazio Elegy of the Soul is designed to prevent burnout by grounding the player in a sense of divine purpose.
The Role of the "Human" Voice
One of the coolest things about this specific track is how it uses the human voice as an instrument. In Persona, the vocals are often lyrics—English or Japanese words that tell a story.
In Metaphor, the voice is a texture.
It’s a "Metaphor" in itself. Since the game is obsessed with the concept of what it means to be "Human" versus a "Monster," using wordless vocalizations suggests a primordial state of being. It’s pre-language. It’s visceral.
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Comparing the "Soul" Themes Across Atlus History
We have to talk about the elephant in the room. The name Elegy of the Soul is a direct nod to the Velvet Room themes.
In Persona, the Aria of the Soul (the Belladonna song) is about the individual. It’s a solo soprano. It’s about your psyche.
In Metaphor ReFantazio, the Elegy is a choir. This reflects the game's shift from "individual psychology" to "societal politics." You aren't just saving yourself; you're trying to win an election and save a kingdom. The music needs that weight. It needs the many voices.
It’s also much more aggressive. The Aria is a lullaby. The Elegy is a call to arms. If you listen closely to the percussion in the background of the Akademeia, it’s actually a slowed-down march. You are being prepared for war even while you’re reading books in a library.
The Influence of Religious Chants
Meguro has mentioned in interviews that he looked at various liturgical traditions when composing for Metaphor. You can hear snippets that sound like Orthodox Christian chants, but then it pivots into something that feels like a Vedic mantra.
This "mashing" of cultures is deliberate. The game takes place in a world with many races—Clemar, Roupas, Rhoag, Ishkia—and the music had to feel like it belonged to all of them and none of them at the same time.
How the Soundtrack Drives the Narrative
In most RPGs, the music is a companion to the story. In Metaphor, the music is the story.
The term "Elegy" usually refers to a poem or song of serious reflection, typically a lament for the dead. Who are we lamenting in the Akademeia?
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Basically, we're lamenting the "old world." We're lamenting the versions of ourselves that weren't strong enough to change the system. Every time you go back to More to upgrade your Archetypes, you are "killing" a weaker version of yourself. The Metaphor ReFantazio Elegy of the Soul provides the funeral rites for your past self so you can become a candidate for the throne.
It's deep. It’s kinda dark. But it’s also incredibly empowering once you realize what the game is trying to do with your head.
The Visual Connection
You can't separate the music from the art style. Katsura Hashino and Shigenori Soejima created a visual palette that looks like a Renaissance painting caught in a blender with a modern fashion magazine.
The Elegy of the Soul fits this perfectly. It has that "old world" harpsichord and organ feel, but the production is clean and modern. The bass is punchy. The mix is wide. It sounds like it was recorded in a cathedral that has 5G.
Practical Takeaways for the Player
If you really want to appreciate the Metaphor ReFantazio Elegy of the Soul, you need to stop rushing through the Akademeia menus.
Seriously. Just sit there for five minutes.
- Listen for the layers: Notice how the chanting fades out when you're deep in the Archetype menus and swells when you return to the main hall.
- Watch the "Human" boss themes: Notice how they subvert the Elegy. While the Elegy is organized and harmonious, the "Human" battle themes are chaotic and dissonant. It’s a literal battle between musical order and psychological chaos.
- Check the Lyrics: While "Sperion" isn't a real language, the phonetic choices aren't random. "Vita" (Life) and "Mors" (Death) sounds are peppered throughout the vocal tracks.
Next Steps for the Soundtrack Obsessed
If this track has its hooks in you, there's more to explore. You should check out the official 2024 "Metaphor: ReFantazio Special Soundtrack" that came with the digital deluxe editions. It contains acoustic arrangements that strip away the heavy production and let the "Elegy" melody shine in its purest form.
You can also look into Shoji Meguro's solo work under his own studio, Hashira. You’ll see the seeds of Metaphor’s "theological" sound in his recent indie projects.
The biggest mistake you can make is treating this as just another JRPG soundtrack. It’s a masterclass in how to use sound to build a world that feels thousands of years old. Next time you're in the Akademeia, pay attention to that low drone in the background. It’s not just a synth—it’s the sound of a kingdom waiting to be born.
Actionable Insight: To get the best experience, turn the "Music" slider in the game settings up to 10 and the "Voice" and "SFX" down to 7. The game is mixed quite loudly, and the subtle choral arrangements in the Elegy of the Soul can get lost behind the clinking of menu sounds. Trust me, your ears will thank you when that choir hits the high note during your next rank-up with More.