@@rumorcontrol7873 Makes you wonder, no? Although the theory I ascribe to is that any place undergoing sufficient horrific torture, subjugation, and brutality.... will eventually reach out. The Hornsent oppressed Midra on suspicion of his studies (we know that the author of the FF cookbook taught he and his wife at some point, and that his eyes had been burnt out by the flame) and eventually in desperation he and Nanaya turned to it (with Nanaya sensing his inherent weakness and pleading with him to endure the torture and pain until sufficient hardship had been endured that his rebirth would herald a position as a true Lord, not a fledgling), much like how the oppression of the merchants on suspicion of madness made them eventually turn to that which their oppressor feared most. This would explain why he says "I have endured.... more than enough..." when becoming Lord, but being weak enough that we as Tarnished could vanquish him right in the same room before his flames spread even a bit, whereas a true Lord (such as our character) as LoFF can burn the entire Lands Between almost immediately.
@@ruvenrey786nanaya was Midras significant other and by looking at the huge painting she seemed to be pregnant, and when u find her corpse on one of the top floors u can find a wand with a small spine connected to a frenzy flame
No solaire, its a different parasitic all consuming force of divine and unholy power in the form of fire which is linked closly to chaos in relation to those who would try too controll it in a from software game where sacrifing youself to it seems to be moral on the surface but is very much a bad idea.
@@dreamcatcherben8214 Herald of the Age of Stars, I suppose? Frenzied Flame is the best thing that can happen to the Lands Between. No suffering, no pain, just an ecstasy of happiness and emptiness. May Chaos take the world. May Chaos Take The world!
This is why Melina doesn’t come back if you use Miquellas needle. All it takes is one bad day and removing the needle just like like Midra removed the sword to become the lord of frenzied flame
Nah, tarnished travels to a "stilltime" where Plasidusax is sleeping and seals the flame within before outer god influence. Midra is not "that guy" and can't use things so advanced like Miquella's needle or let alone, tracel in time
I don’t think the sword works the way the nedele does. The needle was speciffically crafted to ward off the meddling of outer gods; the sword is just a torture device, it does the exact oposite of helping. Midra only resisted the frenzied flame though sheer force of will, all because Nanaya begged him to.
@@killerkuerbis6845I’ve always interpreted Midra enduring the pain as a way to build up more and more depravity and hatred, sparking the Flames within him stronger than ever (which is what Nanaya wanted)
@@behurastudio the real role of nanaya is not fully clear tho. True she has a torch from a previous lord of frenzied flame attempt (possibly made from her own child too) and yet it's not clear if she was there to help Midra on research (because he got touched by the untouchable) or because she was sent there to attempt the making of a new lord again. "Endure" is either a curse to build up the madness and suffering or a wish to prevent the raise of a new lord.
@@5uomalainenIt's because the music and atmosphere are very much a callback to Bloodborne, intentionally so as evidenced by the Winter Lanterns just before the boss.
Putrescent Knight's arena is similar to Darkeater Midir's arena as well but there's no constant callbacks because Souls fans aren't usually as interested in mentioning the game everywhere like Bloodborne fans do. And again, I really like Bloodborne but you never addressed that 20-30 fps + scream argument.
@5uomalainen It is to be mentioned when there is a similarity. Putrescent Knight has a whole area dedicated to him before you fight him just like Abyssal woods before Midra manse and it is definitely a call back to Bloodborne regardless of your irrational comment. Winter Lanterns and Aged untouchable are pretty much the same design and both are pretty much unkillable except for the madness built up much more manageable in ER and the fact they can be parried but in BB they are pretty much unkillable especially if you have insight.
I’ve been thinking about those nomads ever since I found them under Leyndell, I was in complete shock when I found out how important frenzy and madness is to the lore
The fact that this turns into a waltz at the end is absolutely mind-blowing. From and almost chaotic and dissonant to organized threatening and beautiful all at once. One of the best tracks of the game in its entirety
When combined with midra's poise and smooth, coordinated movements the effect is incredible. A king in yellow in his flaming mansion, soundtrack couldnt be more fitting. Masterful work.
03:15 this fuckin crescendo when you're a cunt hair away from madness status while dodging that 4 piece and he's one heavy from getting staggered, chefs kiss, that's it right there
It was very nice of Miyazaki to include a Bloodborne area in Elden Ring. All jokes aside I absolutely love this boss, the character, the music and the setting it's all in. It desperately makes me want Miyazaki to return to a full-on horror themed game. Ludwig's theme was one of my favourites ever, so I'm realizing this theme is no surprise it's become one of my favourites here, even down to the waltz timing.
Might be the best ost they’ve made. It’s not most iconic but I think it’s the most fitting for a boss. It matches the boss in every way especially since it’s a waltz towards the end and this boss is more of a dance than any boss in the game
You also get to feel the weight of horror that midra is , in terms of lore the world and everyone including the demi gods will burn if you fail to kill him
There are so many other excellent competitors in FromSoftware OST land that I wouldn't say this one is the best ; but that doesn't mean it's not brilliant
I mean it's alright but the boss fight itself is very fun indeed. I'm a sunbro, love to coop and help people through zones but dont like fighting bosses all the time so I deactivated most of the summon point at boss doors. Only one left near boss door is the Midra's. Because it's such a fair and fun fight.
@Kazuhira2249 well think of it like a seal. She told him to Endure cause AT THE TIME he was too weak to become a lord. After we come in that seal has repressed hundreds of years of building strength and when he finally pops the cork (thanks to us)he's a full fledged lord of frenzy AT FULL POWER. If we were going by lore then midra in this state is the scariest boss in the game even surpassing elden beast and radagon who are LITERAL GODS (not sure too much about elden beast tho I haven't read up on it lol). Also our tarnished doing the frenzy ending is actually equally as powerful as midra, the only instance of us showing more power is that we killed God at the base of the erdtree Before giving into the flame and not after. Midra can do the same amount of damage as we could if given the free time
I saw a consumable with that name so I wrote a message to my friend just to scare them since I was the only one who found that place at the time. I didn’t know the lanterns were actually there, I thought it was gonna be a funny joke. 200m later I was like: you serious?
The thing that really gets me with this OST is how it slowly, over time, starts to make _sense._ It starts so chaotic and unpredictable, but as it goes it seems to become more balanced and you can pick out the rhythm. Until, by the end, its a waltz. It captures that feeling of gaining horrifying insight, as you realize you've started to dance along to the rhythm.
Love this, the way I look at it is somewhat of a release of pain. I think it serves as a stark contrast from phase 1 where it’s not really following any pattern and as you said is chaotic, whereas when he gives in, he’s graceful and no longer in pain. I love this track sm
The way the DLC was subtly hinting at the presence of the Frenzied Flame all over the place without directly stating anything, only to be hit with THIS bossfight was honestly one of my biggest highlights
@@ZBhighsydthe aged untouchables. The frenzied creatures and the grapes... And the area overall giving a feeling of desertation and isolation. I fell in love with the area as soon as I saw the frenzied creatures with yellow eyes. I wanted this to be in the DLC and this area alone has made this DLC the best although Ringed City is still my most favorite.
Mine as well. I was so tired when I got to this area but when I saw the frenzied creatures and evidence of a frenzy flame themed area I was pretty awake.
Going into Abyssal Woods and getting the "The spectral steed is too afraid" message when I tried to summon Torrent upped the creep factor to 11. Those invincible many-eyed things prowling around didn't help with feeling at ease either. 10/10 level design.
This theme gives feeling of absolute hopelessnes , this is not your typical dark theme , this is absolute despair beyond any evil theme I've heard so far
Mohg's theme was at the top for me... but this has absolutely ZERO redeeming qualities behind it (not the music quality, that's peak). There's no hint or inkling of hope in this track. This is pure madness.
@@misterxxxxxxxxx1I think he was too compassionate, he was forced into inheriting the flame, but he still had connections that made him not want to be the lord, like nanaya, and the fact that he’s not a bad person.
I simply took that to mean that we bested him before the Lord could really succeed. We thwarted it's goals through defeating Midra, hence he wasn't strong enough. The player on the other hand is a very capable host.. maybe the Frenzied Flame prioritized us after seeing us win here.
I love how this is a Waltz too, not only is the music chaotic, but there is still a consistent 3/4 rhythm with the appropriately timed 'heavy' notes amongst the lighter ones, there is *indeed* beauty in the madness.
Upon listening to the song about 10 times by now, I noticed that the parts in 2:11 and 4:34 were 5 beat rhythms and I love how the 5 beat sequences of this song kinda made me imagine about the descent into total madness or the nature of the Frenzied Flame being that of chaos
@@thebluehood35 Yeah I noticed that too, so amidst some parts it’s a more fast and chaotic 5/4 rhythm, but at the more calm sections it enters a more common and ‘beautiful’ 3/4 waltz. Really this song is just really good in general, love it.
@@deathound The entire 1st phase of the song is a 5/4 rhythm, and switches at the 2nd phase (3:00) to the 3/4 (almost sounds like 6/4) rhythm you describe. At 4:30 it seems to loosely fall back to a 5/4 rhythm (final bar before 4:50 sounds significantly longer) before becoming a more coherent 5/4 at 4:50 again. Returns to a 3/4 (or 6/4) at 5:25 so it seems to switch a lot. You are absolutely right though, this track is phenomenal and has to be some of the most evil sounding tracks I've ever heard.
@@yourpalfriendpatine1186 I don’t know music theory in general, so it seems I missed out on a lot of stuff, but I’m still glad I picked up on the 3/4 mid-fight tbh. Facing him in his second phase, seeing him ‘dance’ amidst his chaotic attacks, and hearing/recognizing the 3/4 sections together really mixed it all together to feel like nightmare fuel, and I loved it lol
@@yourpalfriendpatine1186 This song is rhythmically insane, particularly 4:30. The usual "chorus" (2:10) is 4 bars of 5/4, followed by a bar of 6/4 and then what I can only describe as a bar of 10/4. Then 4:30 comes in and switches it up with 5 bars of 5/4 instead of 4, a bar of 7/4 (making you wait an extra beat compared to the normal chorus), then a final bar of 11/4, which _also_ has an extra beat. It's madness, and I can't believe how well it works.
Don't think she has a chance. She probably expects us to turn out to some "Midra-level" threat. But Tarnished is vessel powerful enough to incarnate Lord of Frenzy in full power
@@LaserTractorMidra is strong enough to handle the frenzied flame, it's just he chose not to, in fear of it. I believe that if he had chosen to embrace it earlier, the mans would've been a lot more stronger.
@@justapersonz5441 I actually think it’s the opposite. Midra was forced to endure for who knows how long because the deeper his despair and torment, the more fitting a vessel he is for the Frenzied Flame. The tragic irony of Midra’s story is that he thought it noble to endure, but enduring only ensured the Flame would take hold stronger when he did finally give in - in order for Midra to win he had to give up and lose much earlier
When I first went into the marsh I was like "WTF is Torrent afraid of?" Kept moving on foot. Got into the manse, still nothing particularly alarming, then I see Midra, weird but he went down in a few hits, nothing too bad. Then the cutscene plays and I started to feel a bit concerned. After seeing the _self-decapitation_ I knew I stepped on the Elden Ring equivalent of a landmine and was about to face a monster, then the fight started and WHOA BOY! Malenia might be hard but this boss is THE most terrifying and brutal boss in the game. And he is a sidequest! Literally a boss for those who like to F around and find out. Midra, Lord of FAFO!
It's fitting that this is one of the few places, if not the only place period, that Torrent absolutely will not go into. The Frenzied Flame extinguishes everything it burns, down to the very soul. It doesn't simply kill you; it erases you. So all those times you accidentally get Torrent killed in a fight amount to minor mistakes in the grand scheme of things. But the Frenzied Flame? There is no coming back. Death is permanent with it. Hence why Torrent dies in the Frenzied Flame ending, and why Melina promises to deliver you Destined Death should you dare to become the Lord of the Flame.
3:50 is the most underrated OST of Elden RIng. Violins ramping up tension and choir dropping the beat while Midra draws his sword around dancing. That's good boss design in my book.
You can almost say that FromSoftware went full 4th wall-breaking with how he spins and twirls to the tempo of the song. Which is fitting! Given it's the first time we've battled an actual Lord of the Frenzy Flame, which fits the bill as far as cosmic and eldritch horror's concerned imo.
@@Sormyr Thanks, I thought I was the only one being blown away by this "choregraphy". I really wished you could have a Mending run of Frenzy and have Midra go through a THIRD phase, scaling up to (Outer) God of Frenzy only if you made the Frenzy quest. Just so that we can have some more of this majestic theme, I can't get enough, I won't get enough of it. Also because Midra himself is not *that* hard compared to others.
The abyssal woods were an incredible and eerie surprise after exiting some unassuming catacombs. The suspense was well-crafted by the dim atmosphere, Torrent's fear, and the messages left on the ground. The final strike of dread for any Bloodborne player came from picking up the winter lantern flies... Despite how annoying it was to navigate this entire area on foot, the location is one of my favourites in all of Elden Ring. The delightfully haunting music here is so above-and-beyond for an optional side area.
Exiting the catacombs I was ignoring the messages on the ground for a while, thought they were from players. Then the first message I bothered to read: “Do not let it see you.” That got me shaken, and then trying to summon Torrent and seeing that it’s frightened and cannot be summoned made me even more anxious. This zone and experience was awesome
I came to find this comment as soon as I heard it (my actual fight didn't last long enough for it to show up in-game I don't think, but the song was so good I had to find it). Imagine my surprise when that showed up, instant flashback to the sewers. Masterwork, this might be my favorite of the new OSTs.
I love that it balances between beautifully melodic and nearly screeching to the point of hurting your ear, the interplay of the gracefully poised midra and the raging, devouring flame of frenzy
@@lord0fmemes266 Messmer was much more difficult than Midra, I found Midra quite simple as a boss (that might be because he was my 9th remembrance boss to kill out of the 11 remembrance bosses that were in the DLC, Messmer was my 3rd or 4th remembrance). Midra's attacks are also much more observable than Messmer at times as well imo.
This boss is FromSoft's nod to us letting us know they, too, love Bloodborne and have never forgotten its majesty. This OST sounds angry, aggressive and oppressive, just like all the nightmares that once consumed us once upon a dream. Brilliance
I mean the way I look at this, he's having the time of his life. He knows that unleashing the yellow flame will destroy everything. But he's suffered for so long he just doesn't care anymore. Look at the way he moves, he's dancing, throwing his arms into the air, he's enjoying this
@@martusmartus8976 so this is technically the closest we ever get to facing a outer god? Cause Elden Beast was technically just a oversized pet of the Greater Will. That would awesome if the case.
I guess it really depends. Frenzied flame isn’t the “desired” ending, so perhaps we aren’t actually the lord of frenzied flame. Or perhaps there are LORDS of the frenzied flame, like a court almost.
Messmer and Midra were my two favorite bosses in this DLC. Especially Midra blew my mind. I absolutely adored Midras Manse and the Abyssal Forest. And Winter Lanterns oh man!!! This was like a Christmas present for my Bloodborne loving horror fanatic. Midra didn't disappoint. He was pure chaos! Madness! Absolute perfection!
Of all the cutscenes across all the souls games I’ve played, 1,2, 3 and ER…midra accepting that he cannot endure any longer, and embracing the frenzied flame is my favorite. All time. My eyes go wide every time the flame swells and he raises his hands like the second coming of Christ (chaos flavored).
And what may seem strange to some players is that he doesn't care and grabs sword at spike, piercing his own hand. But it's only showing in how much pain he already was. He barely can feel anything at all.
@@insertedgynamehere___969 The only reason I cannot enjoy bloodborne because sony looks at market statistic and then says, f bloodborne pc port or even any game regarding bloodborne at all.
Midra’s fucked up bedsheet: It would be difficult to even call this clothing anymore, after the countless hours Midra spent writing against his eternal internal cage tore his robe to shreds. Slightly boosts frenzy incantations.
Miyazaki has said he wants to “sharpen bloodborne and sekiro’s combat philosophy in future games” in recent interviews. So u might be getting just that.
@@Moody.SmiruaiH.P. Lovecraft creation. Hes related to Cthulhu, and is a pretty evil eldritch God. The whole "Madness" concept stemming from H.P. Lovecrafts outer gods inability to be understood by human minds, leading to insanity.
The fact that his moveset is almost all about delayed attacks, somehow forces you to keep your cool in the face of madness. Getting behind him and remaining steadfast not reacting early is key. Keeping your cool and not panicking is always part of the experience but it feels deliberate that they ask of you not to react to early here. It's like that in each and every attack it would seem. I'd say it's another instance where From takes their storytelling to the next level, by drenching the gameplay with it. Even if I had an easier time with him than with most of the DLC bosses (except Romina, I don't understand how I first tried it) I find this to be one of the most fun bosses to fight. Right next to the Divine Lion, the Demihuman Swordsman, Messmer and Bayle.
I'm sorry for cheesing you on my first playthrough Midra. Just fought him for real on NG+. The entire fight feels like a waltz. Absolutely hypnotising.
Easily the best ost in the game by a mile, the feeling and aura it gives is amazing. It starts off tame and gets chaotic at the end . And i love how it transitions into a waltz at the end . Absolutely brilliant and perfect for this boss fight. It fits the theme of the boss fight perfectly as we are fighting chaos and madness, Absolute masterpiece
Decided it would be fun to play this while I do my afternoon run, and pretend I was being chased by some horrible monster. DUDE. I was fucking terrified, I knew it was made up but I tried to keep the illusion. My heart was beating so fast even though I just stared running and was sweating so hard despite it being cold where I’m at. But my adrenaline was PUMPING.
I was disappointed that they cut the merchant/frenzied flame side quest and dialogue from the base game. I am less disappointed now. They basically reworked those themes into Midra's story. And we got an absolute banger of an OST to boot.
Those deep bassy notes sound so out of place among the Elden Ring soundtrack, almost alien. There couldn't be a more fitting boss theme to implement something like that.
Actually very cool that the meter switches between 3/4 to 5/4 but never settles into the 4/4 rhythm it feels like it's trending to. Really brings out that feeling of madness.
when i saw the transition sequence, i assumed he was going to inflict constant passive frenzy, at least when looking at him. i feel like looking at a boss and thinking "it should have been worse" is an indication miyazaki has broken me
I really love the addition of a digital bass during the 2nd phase to get that deep clean but grumbly sound. It's honestly a sound I never thought I'd hear in a fromsoft souls game, since they usually go strictly with live instruments. It gives it almost that movie trailer esc feel. Damn does this track stand out because of it.
3:53 When this came in, with that fucking amazing looking abomination of the frenzied flame in front of me, I was just so goddamn impressed I didn't even care of dying. This is the best gaming experience i've ever had.
Am I the only one who feels like Midra's and Micolash's themes are somehow so similar, yet polar opposites of each other? Like, Micolash's theme feels like a descent into insanity, while Midra's comes off as a twisted, maddened ascent from that very same madness not into sanity, but chaos? I'm probably not making much sense, the two just feel so similar and so different at the same time
No I know exactly what you’re saying. They both sound like mania but Micolash sounds like the bad ending of going insane while Midra sounds like he somehow gained control over the madness which he did. This ost is so fitting in every way. I’m glad we got some bangers cause I was honestly really dissapointed with the music in the base game. It all blended together also I just like the bloodborne and dark souls style of music more
I don't know what instrument it's called, but I love that the song has call backs to the instruments used to signify the coming of a lord in Leyndell and Elphael. Only this time it sounds much more desperate and terrifying.
Exactly. By far my most favorite area in the game and I was actually wishing for a Frenzy Flame area or at least any reference or Lore background to Frenzied Flame and From Soft delievered it in the utmost. And on top of that an absolutely haunting boss and theme. Peak From Soft.
If the timeline theories are correct and the Frenzied Flame ending does lead to the Dark Souls timeline, then Midra's pose would ironically become "Praise the Sun". As in "praise the giant burning orb that dictates whether the world continues or not". The Sun was praised before Ash Lake even existed.
