X JAPAN and HYDE Collaborate on Theme Song for "Attack on Titan" Season Three

X JAPAN’s Red Swan has been chosen as the opening theme for Season 3 of the TV anime "Attack on Titan". The new song, featuring YOSHIKI’s first-ever recording collaboration with vocalist HYDE (VAMPS, L'Arc~en~Ciel), was announced at Anime Expo on July 8th at the season opener’s world-premiere screening in Los Angeles.

Red Swan is an unreleased original piece of music written by YOSHIKI himself for "Attack on Titan", and is X JAPAN’s first new release in a year and four months, following La Venus (Acoustic Version) from 2017's chart-topping "WE ARE X" documentary soundtrack.

This is YOSHIKI’s second contribution to an anime soundtrack this decade, following 2014′s Hero, from the animated film "Saint Seiya: Legend of Sanctuary". YOSHIKI has previously appeared on stage with HYDE, with whom he shares a deep public and private friendship and mutual artistic respect, at large-scale music events such as VISUAL JAPAN SUMMIT and VAMPS’ HALLOWEEN PARTY, but Red Swan is their first attempt at collaborating on a piece of music, and the song is also a contender to appear on X JAPAN’s upcoming album — the band’s first studio release in 22 years — which includes other international guest artists such as Marilyn Manson.

"Attack on Titan" Season 3 will begin broadcast on NHK in Japan on July 23rd, 12:35am (JST) followed by worldwide broadcast and distribution. Red Swan will also be available worldwide.