Two different vocalists singing the same Bond-inspired theme song and both versions go impossibly hard. Cynthia Harrell's American take on "Snake Eater" is the one everyone knows, that smoky torch-song delivery over brass and strings.
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But Akiko Wada's Japanese version hits with this totally different weight, more raw and dramatic. The "Abstracted Camouflage Mix" opens the disc by chopping the melody into something almost trip-hop. Sandwiched between are orchestral cuts like "The Treading Behemoth" that remind you Harry Gregson-Williams was scoring this like a real Cold War thriller.
Bootleg packaging aside, this is a fascinating snapshot of MGS3's sound before the full game dropped. Perfect for anyone who's ever hummed Snake Eater on a ladder.