The doors of Paradise open...


Elysion ~Paradise Fantasy Story Suite~ was released on April 14, 2005. Was the first Story CD after their major debut with Bellwood Records. 


The album contains 11 songs, but there are a total of 45 tracks on the CD.

The album came with a booklet and the system sound effects included in the CD as a bonus.


Benefits:

Depending of which store you bought it:

  • Toranoana: "Welcome to Rakuen Chart". A single foldout page with a quiz to determine which character you will connect to at the end through a series of YES/NO questions. There were some different paths that went to the same result.


    The results are: The energetic [Yield type], the ferocious [Sacrifice type], the naturally born [SH type], the shy [Baroque type], the innocent [Ark type], and the dreamy [StarDust type].


  • Animate: "Message card". A card with a music score written on the back.


  • Melonbooks: a postcard draw by Yokoyan.


  • Others stores: Stikers of the cover


Extras:

  • Tracks 12 to 43 are each 5 seconds of silent audio.
  • Track 44 serves as a bonus track being 48 seconds long, containing the conversation between Abyss and El when he returns home before he dies.
  • Track 45 is 7 seconds of silent audio.

Elysion computer sound effects collection

    • Start sound effect. (DTStart.wav): "I... will never boot up a desktop again in my life..."
    • Shutdown sound effect. (DTEnd.wav): "Come... let's turn off the desktop. And return to paradise, dearest brother..."
    • Empty the recycling bin sound effect. (Gomibako.wav): "Still, I want to empty the Recycling Bin..."
    • Email sound effects. (Mail.wav): "You got virus spam emails... why? Tell me... why? Answer me!"
    • System error sound effect. (Error.wav): "Dear Lord, I have committed an error."


Events & Lives:

  • The [ "Elysion ～Paradise Fantasy Story Suite～" release commemorative event] was held at Toranoana Nº1 Store in Akihabara, Tokyo on April 17, 2005. With a capacity of 100 people (80 seated). And at the "YAMAGIWA SOFT" store in Akihabara on April 22, 2005. With a capacity of 150 people.
    Participants: Revo , Aramary , Shingo "Jake" Saito , Shigeru Tamura. At the end, each fan who attended the event was handed a colored paper signed by Revo and Aramary.

    The event activity was:


    • Broadcast of エルの楽園［→side:E→］PV (El's Paradise［→side:E→］ PV)
    • A talk session. According to reports, Revo didn't talk much. (*In past reports it seems that Revo wasn't good at speaking on public or was nervous about it, but when he starts to speak, it seems to go on for a long time.)
    • The Revo session: Revo guitar playing and singing with Aramary. Revo played "The Beast of The Endness" from Levianthan Image Album
    • They play "《Ark》- Acoustic Version -". Revealed for the first time. With a slightly slower tempo.
    • Q&A session "Ask Your Lordship". The questions from the questionnaires distributed at the entrance to the event and collected before the performance.

      Click to enlarge the picture

  • Sound Horizon Live in Amlux in Ikebukuro, Tokyo on April 29, 2005. Amlux is an exhibition and sales hall for Toyota vehicles, and the general public can enter. It was Sound Horizon's first official live, with about 300 viewers.
    There were goods sold on the venue: Pin badge; Pendant; Leather lighter case; Leather cellphone strap; Sticker. Also the CD's were being sold: Elysion ~Prelude to Paradise~ and Elysion ~Paradise Fantasy Story Suite~ with a first-come, first-served basis of one sticker each (total of two) + signed colored paper or CD store POP was included.

    Some of the Live goods

    The live performance began with Jimang dressed as Abyss (though there was no mask), narrating the story. [Welcome to the wasteland of time!]. Each song was introduced by Jimang with a red lighting in scene.


    In "The Tragedy of Ballad the Poet" at the end of the song there was the sound of bells, metal sounds, hammering sounds and a small scream at the end.
    During "StarDust": Aramary walked through the audience in the middle, went to the back to get the rose bouquet, and then walked through the audience back to the stage.

    The talk session:
    Click to enlarge the picture

    At the end, they sang "Ark - acoustic version-" with slow tempo, Aramary introduced the performers again. Jimang/Abyss shows up last, holding a flute and starting the "The Pied Piper and the Parade" and leading the members out of stage.

    Before completely leaving they announced: [The parade never ends, from Amlux to Nakano ZERO! If you are ready to betray the setting sun, follow me to Paradise Parade!], referring the [ Elysion ~Welcome to Paradise Parade~ ] live that will be held at Nakano ZERO.

  • The [ Elysion ~Welcome to Paradise Parade~ ] performance was held at the Nakano ZERO Hall in Tokyo on July 24, 2005. At the end of the show, it was announced that an additional performance would be held on October 19, 2005.
    During "StarDust" 1st performance Aramary stabs him with a knife. During the 2nd performance Aramary added a gun to her right hand and performed the shooting.
    During "El's  Paradise [- side A -]" 1st performance El is talking with a bird, during the 2nd performance they changed it to a fairy (puppeteered by Screaming Mad Geroge).
    The re-arrangement of "The World of Rein" to "Jimang's World [→ side:J →]" was revealed as an encore song for the first time."

    Elysion Live Pamphlet

    The shop was the same as the previous event but added a T-shirt and a silver ring. No CD were sold. But a pamphlet was issued with a message from Revo: "SH, who has been weaving stories to be heard, took on the challenge of acting out stories to be shown through collaboration with the genius Mr. Mad George. Please forget for a moment the performance on the CD and the interpretation based on it. Welcome to the upcoming Horizon Parade!"

    Some of the Live goods

  • The [ "Elysion ~Welcome to Paradise Parade~" DVD premiere ] event was held in Tokyo, Nagoya, and Osaka on January 7, 8, 9, 18, and 19, 2006, to commemorate the release of the live DVD.



    The event activity was:
    • DVD screening premier
    • Fantasy band mini event (Revo, Jimangu, Saito "Jake" Shingo, Shigeru Tamura)
    • Elysion special talk with Revo and Screaming Mad George. And one day two special guests: former Yokohama Ginbae guitarist, Johnny and current Bellwoods Records producer Masato Asanuma.

    During this event they sang "The World of Revo". The 1st day Revo forgot most of the lyrics and hum most parts. By the 3rd day he learned the lyrics. They changed some lyrics: ``In the lord's hand is a black accordion.`` '' a dog with black and silver fur that brings good luck, roars...'' and Jake who has dog-ears ``Woof!''. Also ``The sinner is in Revo's eyes~''.
    They also play "The day I shot down my lover -Jimang Ver.-" and "Holy War and the Reaper" also Revo played some songs that didn't belong to Sound Horizon, like for example an instrumental song from Howl’s Moving Castle on accordion and  "過ぎ去りし永遠の日々" by Coba (Yasuhiro Kobayashi) also on accordion.

    They gave a flyer with the lyrics to "El's picture book [The Pied Piper and the Parade]" to sing along. One of the days they tricked spectators and instead they gave an illustration of Abyss with the V sign, the drawing was made by Revo saying [“What a pity...”]. 

    Click to enlarge the picture

DVD & PV:

  • Promotional Video: "El's Paradise［→side:E→］"
    According to Revo: "It's a video work rather than our promotional video."' Apparently, SFX (special effects) artist Screaming Mad George was "enthusiastic to participate." he created the MV and he continued by taking charge of overall directing during the live performance. Was also in charge of digital video art, mask and doll production. Revo and him met while working on Leviathan.

  • DVD: "Elysion ~Welcome to the Paradise Parade~" release on March 7, 2006 by Bellwood Records. It was No. 2 on Oricon's daily DVD sales chart on its release day and No. 2 on its weekly DVD sales chart on its release week. Was the first DVD release by Sound Horizon. It has recordings of both days of the live.

    Originally 2 versions were released: RE and LE. Among the First LE came with 3 different color covers (Black, White, Red), a Photobook (48 pages), and included a DVD with "El's Paradise［→side:E→］PV", "Making of the PV" and "Making of the Live".


    Notes: The order of the tracks in the video/live does not match the album order.

    Benefits:
    • Toranoana: Special protection cover case & Illustration card

      Illustration card

    • Animate: Cover box with Yokoyan ilustration (The box its transparent and has a portrait of El in the front).
    • Yamagiwa: "Masked man" T-shirts


Mangas & Novels:

  • Ark: A comic interpretation of Ark by Yukimaru Katsura was release on November 18, 2006 the 1st chapter in Shueisha's monthly magazine "ULTRA JUMP.


    It also had an interview "Revo × Yukimaru Katsura ROMAN Talk". And the 2nd chapter was released December 19, 2006.

    Link to read the full scans of the interview. Translation still needed

    On December 19, 2015, when the Moira manga started to serialize, in addition to it, they released a bonus comic of Ark in the form of a booklet. The old interview wasn't included on it.


  • Elysion ~ A story that revolves around two paradises~, a manga adaptation draw by Sakura Kinoshita and written by Ao Jyumonji. Published in Monthly ASUKA from April 24, 2015 to May 24, 2016. Later serialized in two volumes in October 26, 2015, and May 26, 2016 respectively.


    Benefits:
    • Magazine Supplement Special: “Elysion: A Story Around Two Paradises” Sheet
    • Magazine Recruitment Special: 
      • Cover illustration “Elysion: A Story Around Two Paradises” Book Car (Abyss & El)
      • Cover illustration “Elysion: A Story Around Two Paradises” Book Car (Lafrenze & Orpheus)
      • Autograph colored paper featuring Revo and Sakura Kinoshita.


    • Single volume special edition 1:
      • Melonbooks: newly drawn illustration card
      • WonderGOO: Lafrenze and Orpheus Illustration Postcard
      • Toranoana: "The Witch and Lafrenze" Chapter 1 double-page illustration card
      • Animate: Limited set "Draft Album". Includes an unreleased draft booklet. The cover is a new picture drawn by Sakura Kinoshita.


    • Single volume special edition 2:
      • Toranoana: illustration card of Abyss girls
      • WonderGOO: postcard of El
      • Melonbooks: special illustration card
      • Animate: Limited set clear file


    • Twitter Retweet Giveaway on May 25, 2016: 10 reposters will be randomly selected to receive a copy of the original painting signed by the illustrator and Revo.



  • Elysion ~ A story that revolves around two paradises~, a novel written by Ao Jyumonji and illustrated by Hidari. Published by KADOKAWA. Released Vol 1 on February 14, 2015 and Vol 2 on June 27, 2015.


    Benefits:
    • Volume 1:
      • TSUTAYA: Autographed illustration card (Side: ABYSS)
      • Toranoana:  Autographed illustration card (Side: ELYSION)
      • Animated: Limite set Cover Style CD Case


    • Volume 2:
      • Animate: Storage box
      • TSUTAYA: Newly Written Short Story "Elysion The Little Ark of Two Seats That Reached the Stardust
      • Toranoana: Illustration card with autograph (Abyss girls)
      • Animate: Limited set Hanging picture


    • Animate Special Event book market points exchange: You can exchange 5 points for a button badge with an image of "Elysion: A Tale of Two Paradises".


    • Twitter Retweet Giveaway on June 27, 2015: 2 reposters will be randomly selected to receive a framed illustration autographed by Ao Jyumonji and Hidari.


Extras Notes:

  • The release it's all composed of two sides Elysion and ABYSS, from the appearance packaging, lyrics pages, disc design to the album content. While reading the booklet is all composed from the front and back as the  two sides. Being the odd-numbered pieces Elysion side and the even-numbered the ABYSS side. You need to flip upside down the booklet to read one side or the other. The side of the album was changed from "Elysion ～Paradise Fantasy Story Suite～" to "ABYSS ～Hell Fantasy Story Suite～.

  • The order of track lyrics display in the booklet reading the "Elysion ～Paradise Fantasy Story Suite～" side: Tracklist→01→Staff List→03→10→05→08→07→06→09→04→11→02→Tracklist. And when reading the "ABYSS ～Hell Fantasy Story Suite～ side: Tracklist→02→11→04→09→06→07→08→05→10→03→Staff List→01→Tracklist.

  • The initials for the tracks "Ark," "Baroque," "Yeild," "Sacrifice," and "StarDust" are combined to form "ABYSS". But the colors doesn't match the girls colors: "Ark" represented with violet, "Baroque" with blue, "Sacrifice" with orange, "StarDust" with red except for "Yeild" that is green. The colors show for the girls in the cover match the colors show in "ABYSS" and "Elysion" if you look at them starting from the last word and reading backwards or if you read "Elysion ～Paradise Fantasy Story Suite～" side Tracklist→01→Staff List→03→10→05→08→07→06→09→04→11→02→Tracklist since this order is the backwards order for ABYSS since its being flipped 180º.

  • The even-numbered tracks (The ABYSS tracks) all have a quotation at the beginning “Perhaps she...is my Elys...” with a music box playing. If you put all of them together and arranging them in the tracklist order, the music box melody in the background can form the prelude melody of "El's Paradise [- side E -]".

    Listen to Abyss music box arrangle

    Listen to side E intro

  • Bonus tracks: The words Ark, Baroque, Yield, Sacrifice, and Stardust, have a total of 32 letters. Likewise, there are 32 silent tracks, from numbers 12 to 43. ABYSS has a total of five letters/characters, and each bonus track has 5 seconds of silence. The final silence, track 45 is 7 seconds long, so is the number of letters in ELYSION is 7, and there are 7 songs called “El’s~” in the album. In connection with the last line of bonus track 44 "The Fourth Horizon— Its true name is...", it is more likely to mean the word ELYSION being that its follow by track 45, rather than the seven songs trapped in the loop.

  • Revo commented that when acting for the Promotional Video: "El's Paradise［→side:E→］", the most difficult part was ``playing dead'' and ``Staying still in the same outfit.' ' "My body hurt because of that."

  •  According to Revo's interview with "Anican R music (vol.2) N19" in 2007 translated by Moko-chan. Revo felt the style used previously was more like a drama CD, and wasn't the best to keep up for most of the audience. He also put a lot of thought into the structure the CD, from order of the tracks, design of the album, he used the whole CD as an art form.

    Revo's interview with 'Anikan R Music' Vol. 2 released in 2007

  • Revo’s comments on individual albums from 'QuickJapan' Vol.93 release in 2010.
    Revo's interview with 'Quick Japan' No.93 in 2010

  • Aramary leaving Sound Horizon: Shortly after the release of the DVD recording the 4th Elysion concert. Screenings for the DVD were held over several days, but Aramary never showed up. About a year after Sound Horizon made its major debut, Aramary left the group. First, the agency 'Rap Products' declared a new system called 'Second Period' and announced the live tour list without Aramary. And a few days later, Revo announced Aramary's withdrawal through his personal website, and Aramary also expressed his position on withdrawal through her personal website, confirming the withdrawal. Although Aramary left the group, 'another Aramary' did not join as the main vocalist. This is because Sound Horizon has changed into a form that fits the saying, ‘It can take on any arrangement.’ Therefore, several vocalists and narrators freely participated in each project, and Revo himself began participating as a vocalist.
    (This story deserves a more full explanation to be told in another time)

  • In 2012 King Records released the First LE DVD live under the name Encore.Press.Version.
    In launching this product, there was no prior contact or confirmation with Revo or the actual record company from Bellwood Records and King Records. Revo felt it will betray the fans who purchased the product as a "first limited edition" when it was released in 2006. And requested that sales be stopped because it goes against his intentions. King Records did not got a respond to the request to stop sales, and only removed the DVD bonus "Girls' Portrait Photo Album" that was originally announced on the special website called Sound Horizon's Archives. 

    Revo's comments on the website.

    This DVD was then finally released on July 25, 2012. 

    This black cover was different from the previous LE black cover

  • Animate released a campaign. Commercial debut 10th anniversary "Sound Horizon" old works market. During the campaign period (October 27 to November 30, 2014) you culd get a free Cover Size Sticker when you purchase some of the SH releases up to May 2012 at animate. There were four stickers options: "Elysion ~Paradise Fantasy Story Suite~", "Roman", "Moira", and "Märchen"


  • “Sound Horizon” x “Color Collection”: Starting in November 17, 2016 a colection of mini figure of 180 characters from Sound Horizon was released. The 1st set had a figure of El, and the 3rd set had an Abyss one. They are approximately 4 cm. In some store by preordering the 3 sets a tote bag came with them.


  • Re:Master Project: This album, along with 10 others, was remastered on July 29, 2020 for the Sound Horizon's 15th Anniversary. It came with a postcard draw by Yokoyan.

    Postcard that came with the release