Sound Horizon is a Japanese symphonic rock musical group with composer Revo [ja] (Japanese pronunciation: [ɾebo]) as the leader and only permanent member. They describe themselves as a "fantasy band" and have released works that closely resemble classical suites. Their songs often revolve around historical events and classic fairytales. When creating music based on other people's stories, the band uses the name Linked Horizon.[1][2][3]

Sound Horizon
OriginTokyo, Japan
GenresSound Horizon:
Linked Horizon:
Years active2001–present
LabelsBellwood Records
(2004–2006)
King Records
(2006–2011)
Pony Canyon
(October 1, 2011–present)
MembersRevo
Past membersSee Sound Horizon band members
Websitesoundhorizon.com

History

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Logo of Sound Horizon

Sound Horizon began with Revo releasing his music creations on the internet on his website in the late 1990s. In 2001, Sound Horizon participated in Comic Market as part of a dōjin music circle and released their first story CD, Chronicle, an all-instrumental track CD, with occasional narration, background chorus and sound effects.[4] The inclusion of actual singing began from their second release (Thanatos) onwards. Their subsequent works were released at Comic Market and M3.[3][5]

Sound Horizon's first major release was in 2004, with the album Elysion ~Rakuen e no Zensōkyoku~ (lit. Elysion ~Prelude to Paradise~). Their first maxi-single, "Shōnen wa Tsurugi o...", which was released in 2006, includes "Shūtan no Ou to Isekai no Kishi ~The Endia & The Knights~", the theme for the PlayStation 2 simulation RPG Chaos Wars, and "Kamigami ga Aishita Rakuen ~Belle Isle~", the opening theme for the MMORPG Belle Isle.[4]

Although Aramary was their main female singer through the Elysion album, her departure afterward led Sound Horizon's style to shift quite a bit, to having many vocalists, rather than just one main female one (previously Aramary) and one main male vocalist (Jimang). Revo himself also tended to sing more often in the later albums, beginning with Roman.[5]

On September 3, 2008, Sound Horizon released the album Moira. The album featured Takashi Utsunomiya of TM Network as one of the vocalists.[6] Moira debuted at No. 3 on the Oricon weekly album charts, selling over 45,000 copies in its initial week.[7]

Sound Horizon released the single "Ido e Itaru Mori e Itaru Ido" on June 16, 2010. The single featured guitarist Marty Friedman and Vocaloid Hatsune Miku,[8] along with a beta voicebank for Vocaloid known as "Junger März PROTOTYPE β".[3]

In 2012, Revo began a new project called Linked Horizon, beginning with his work on the score for the Nintendo 3DS game Bravely Default: Flying Fairy, a series of EPs and album.[2] In 2013 and subsequent years, Linked Horizon performed the first, second, third, fifth and eighth opening themes, as well as the fourth and series finale ending themes, for the anime adaptation of Attack on Titan along with a series of EPs and albums.[9]

In June 2014, Revo also composed the first opening theme of Sailor Moon Crystal, "Moon Pride".[10]

In September 2020, as part of their major debut's 15th anniversary projects, Sound Horizon announced a Blu-ray story album, Ema ni Negai wo!, which would allow listeners to make choices and experience the story differently depending on those choices.[11] The "Prologue Edition" was released on January 13, 2021, and the "Full Edition" was originally scheduled for release on March 15, 2023, but was delayed to June 14 of the same year.[12]

Band members

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Discography

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Sound Horizon's main albums are called 'Stories' or 'Horizons' and are numbered, starting with Chronicle.

Pico Magic, Pico Magic Reloaded, Elysion ~Rakuen e no Zensōkyoku~ and Chronology are compilation albums and are not counted as story albums.

Chronicle 2nd is an expanded reissue of the first Chronicle album.

The ninth story Nein was released in 2015, even though the eighth story, with the working title Rinne, hasn't been released yet.

Doujin albums

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Title Album details
1st Story Chronicle
2nd Story Thanatos
  • Released: August 11, 2002
  • Label: Self-released
  • Format: CD
3rd Story Lost
  • Released: December 30, 2002
  • Label: Self-released
  • Format: CD
Pico Magic
  • Released: May 4, 2003
  • Label: Self-released
  • Format: CD
Pico Magic Reloaded
  • Released: August 17, 2003
  • Label: Self-released
  • Format: CD
1st Story Chronicle 2nd
  • Released: March 19, 2004
  • Label: Self-released
  • Format: CD

Sound Horizon major releases

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Albums

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Title Album details Peak position Sales Certifications
JPN
[13]
Elysion ~Rakuen e no Zensōkyoku~

Elysion ~楽園への前奏曲~ (Elysion ~Prelude to Paradise~)

  • Released: October 27, 2004
  • Re:Master Production released: July 29, 2020
  • Label: Bellwood Records
  • Formats: CD, digital download
4th Story Elysion ~Rakuen Gensō Monogatari Kumikyoku~

Elysion ~楽園幻想物語組曲~ (Elysion ~Paradise Fantasy Story Suite~)

  • Released: April 13, 2005
  • Re:Master Production released: July 29, 2020
  • Label: Bellwood Records
  • Formats: CD, digital download
29
5th Story Roman
  • Released: November 22, 2006
  • Re:Master Production released: August 26, 2020
  • Label: King Records
  • Formats: CD, digital download
19
6th Story Moira
  • Released: September 3, 2008
  • Re:Master Production released: September 30, 2020
  • Label: King Records
  • Formats: CD, digital download
3
  • JPN: 45,000+
7th Story Märchen
  • Released: December 15, 2010
  • Re:Master Production released: October 21, 2020
  • Label: King Records
  • Formats: CD, digital download
2
  • JPN: 100,000+
Chronology [2005–2010]
  • Released: April 13, 2012
  • Label: King Records
  • Formats: CD
4
9th Story Nein
  • Released: April 22, 2015
  • Re:Master Production released: November 25, 2020
  • Label: Pony Canyon
  • Formats: CD, digital download
2
7.5th or 8.5th Story Ema ni Negai wo! (Prologue Edition)

(絵馬に願ひを! (Prologue Edition) "Wish on the Ema")

  • Released: January 13, 2021
  • App release: October 17, 2022
  • Label: Pony Canyon
  • Formats: Blu-ray, digital download, iOS, Android
1 (Blu-ray chart)
7.5th or 8.5th Story Ema ni Negai wo! (Full Edition)

(絵馬に願ひを! (Full Edition) "Wish on the Ema")

  • Released: June 14, 2023
  • Label: Pony Canyon
  • Formats: Blu-ray
5 (Blu-ray chart)
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Singles

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Title Details Peak position Sales Album
JPN
[17]
"Shōnen wa Tsurugi o..."

(少年は剣を... "A Boy's Sword Is...")

  • Released: October 4, 2006
  • Re:Master Production released: August 26, 2020
  • Label: King Records
  • Formats: CD, digital download
9 Non-album single
"Seisen no Iberia"

(聖戦のイベリア "Holy War of Iberia")

  • Released: August 1, 2007
  • Re:Master Production released: September 30, 2020
  • Label: King Records
  • Formats: CD, digital download
8 Non-album single
"Ido e Itaru Mori e Itaru Ido"

(イドへ至る森へ至るイド "The Id That Leads to the Forest Leading to the Id")

  • Released: June 16, 2010
  • Re:Master Production released: October 21, 2020
  • Label: King Records
  • Formats: CD, digital download
2
  • JPN: 64,308+
Prologue to Märchen
"Halloween to Yoru no Monogatari"

(ハロウィンと夜の物語 "The Story of Halloween and The Night")

  • Released: October 19, 2013
  • Re:Master Production released: October 30, 2020
  • Label: Pony Canyon
  • Formats: CD, digital download
3
  • JPN: 65,827+
Non-album single
"Vanishing Starlight"

(ヴァニシング・スターライト)

  • Released: October 1, 2014
  • Re:Master Production released: November 25, 2020
  • Label: Pony Canyon
  • Formats: CD, digital download
3
  • JPN: 47,516+
Prologue to Nein
"Halloween to Asa no Monogatari"

(ハロウィンと朝の物語 "The Story of Halloween and The Morning")

  • Released: November 13, 2024 (digital download, streaming), March 5, 2025 (CD)
  • Label: Pony Canyon
  • Formats: digital download, CD
TBA
  • JPN: TBA
Non-album single

Live recordings

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Story Concerts are a type of theatre concerts, that each reproduce a Story Album on stage, with the singers all in costumes and acting their roles in addition to singing.

(This list does not include live recordings released as extra content with albums)

Title Details
4th Story Elysion ~ Welcome to the Paradise Parade ~

Elysion~楽園パレードへようこそ~ (Elysion - Rakuen Parade e Youkoso)

  • Released: March 8, 2006
  • Label: Bellwood Records
  • Format: DVD
5th Story Roman ~ The Stories that Connect Us ~

Roman~僕達が繋がる物語~ (Roman ~Bokutachi Ga Tsunagaru Monogatari~)

Triumph of the Second Territorial Expansion

[Triumph]~第二次領土拡大遠征の軌跡~ (Triumph ~Daini ji Ryoudo Kakudai Ensei no Kiseki ~)

  • Released: February 8, 2008
  • Label: RAP PRODUCTS
  • Format: Photobook with a live DVD included
6th Story Moira

『Moira』~其れでも、お征きなさい仔等よ (Moira ~Soredemo Oyukinasai Korayo~)

  • Released: March 25, 2009
  • Label: King Records
  • Format: DVD
Triumph of the Third Territorial Expansion

第三次領土拡大遠征凱旋記念『国王生誕祭』 (Daisan ji Ryoudo Kakudai Ensei Kaeson Kinen "Kokuou Seitan Matsuri")

  • Released: December 9, 2009
  • Label: King Records
  • Format: Blu-ray, DVD
Across the Horizon - 5th Anniversary Movie
  • Released: March 24, 2010
  • Label: King Records
  • Format: Blu-ray, DVD
7th Story Märchen ~That Brightly Shining Era in Which You’re Smiling Even Now~

『Märchen』 ~キミが今笑っている、眩いその時代に・・・~ (Märchen ~Kimi ga Ima Waratsu te Iru、Mabui sono Jidai ni...~)

  • Released: July 27, 2011
  • Label: King records
  • Format: Blu-ray, DVD
The Assorted Horizons - Treasured Blu-ray & DVD

メジャーデビュー10周年記念作品 第1弾 (Mejā Debyū 10 Shūnenkinen Sakuhin Dai 1-dan)

  • Released: June 18, 2014
  • Label: Pony Canyon
  • Format: Blu-ray, DVD
9th Story Nein ~Welcome to the Western Antique Attic Shop

『Nein』〜西洋骨董屋根裏堂へようこそ〜 メジャーデビュー10周年記念作品 第1弾 (Nein ~Seiyou Kottou Yaneura Dou e Youkoso~ - Mejā Debyū 10 Shūnenkinen Sakuhin Dai 4-dan)

  • Released: January 20, 2016
  • Label: Pony Canyon
  • Format: Blu-ray, DVD

Linked Horizon

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Albums

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Title Details Peak position Sales
JPN
[18]
Luxendarc Daikikō
ルクセンダルク大紀行 (Large Diary of Luxendarc)
15
Shingeki no Kiseki
進撃の軌跡 (Trajectory of the Attack)
  • Released: May 17, 2017
  • Label: Pony Canyon
  • Formats: CD, digital download
2
Shingeki no Kioku
Best Album 進撃の記憶 (Memory of the Attack)
  • Released: August 7, 2024
  • Label: Pony Canyon
  • Formats: CD
5

Singles

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Title Details Peak position Sales Certifications Album
JPN
[20]
"Luxendarc Shōkikō"

ルクセンダルク小紀行 (Small Diary of Luxendarc)

  • Released: August 22, 2012
  • Label: Pony Canyon
  • Formats: CD, digital download
8 Luxendarc Daikikō
"Jiyū e no Shingeki"

(自由への進撃 "March to Freedom")

  • Released: July 10, 2013
  • Label: Pony Canyon
  • Formats: CD, digital download
2
  • JPN: 250,000+
Shingeki no Kiseki
"Seishun wa Hanabi no Yō ni"

(青春は花火のように "Youth is Like Fireworks")

  • Released: October 5, 2015[23][24]
  • Label: Pony Canyon
  • Formats: Digital download
N/A
"Rakuen e no Shingeki"

(楽園への進撃 "Attack on Paradise")

  • Released: September 19, 2018
  • Label: Pony Canyon
  • Formats: CD, digital download
5 TBA[26][27]
"Shinjitsu e no Shingeki"

(真実への進撃 "Attack on the Truth")

  • Released: June 19, 2019
  • Label: Pony Canyon
  • Formats: CD, digital download
8 TBA
"Nisennen... Moshiku wa... Nimannen Go no Kimi e"

(二千年... 若しくは... 二万年後の君へ・・ "To You 2,000... or... 20,000 Years From Now...")

  • Released: November 5, 2023
  • Label: Pony Canyon
  • Formats: digital download
TBA
  • JPN:
Shingeki no Kioku
"Saigo no Kyojin"

(最後の巨人 "The Last Titan")

  • Released: November 6, 2023
  • Label: Pony Canyon
  • Formats: digital download
TBA
  • JPN:
Shingeki no Kioku
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Live recordings

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Title Details
A Travelogue of Luxendarc

ルクセンダルク紀行 (Rukusendaruku Kikou)

  • Recording of the Revo Linked BRAVELY DEFAULT Concert
  • Released: March 20, 2013
  • Label: Pony Canyon
  • Format: Blu-ray, DVD
The Trails of the Advance

『進撃の軌跡』総員集結 凱旋公演 ("Shingeki no Kiseki" Souin Shuuketsu Gaien Kouen)

  • Recording from Linked Horizon's Shingeki no Kiseki tour
  • Released: December 26, 2018
  • Label: Pony Canyon
  • Format: Blu-ray, DVD

Revo

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Title Details Peak position
JPN
Leviathan

リヴァイアサン/終末を告げし獣 (Leviathan/The Beast That Foretells the End) image album

  • Released: March 2, 2005
  • Label: King Records
  • Formats: CD
-
Poca Felicità

Gunslinger Girl image album

  • Released: December 21, 2005
  • Label: Marvelous Entertainment
  • Formats: CD
-
森雄介 (Yusuke Mori) ...for rest
  • Released: May 17, 2006
  • Label: Bellwood Records
  • Formats: CD
-
霜月はるか†Revo Schwarzweiß

霧の向こうに繋がる世界 (Worlds Connected Beyond the Mist)

  • Released: June 14, 2006
  • Label: TEAM Entertainment
  • Formats: CD
-
Revo&梶浦由記 Collaborate Maxi Single Dream Port
  • Released: June 18, 2008
  • Label: King Records
  • Formats: CD
-
Bravely Default Original Soundtrack

(ブレイブリーデフォルト フライングフェアリー オリジナル・サウンドトラック Bureiburī Deforuto Furaingu Fearī Orijinaru Saundotorakku)

21[29]
Moon Pride

Sailor Moon Crystal opening theme

3
Bravely Default II Original Soundtrack
  • Released: March 3, 2021
  • Label: Pony Canyon
  • Formats: CD, digital download
12
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Awards and nominations

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Year Award Category Work/Nominee Result
2013 Newtype Anime Awards Best Theme Song "Guren no Yumiya"
(from anime Attack on Titan)
Won[30]
Animation Kobe Awards Theme Song Award "Guren no Yumiya"
(from anime Attack on Titan)
Won[31]
Billboard Japan Music Awards Animation Artist of the Year Linked Horizon Won[32]
2017 Newtype Anime Awards Best Theme Song "Shinzō wo Sasageyo!"
(from anime Attack on Titan Season 2)
8th place[33]
The Anime Awards Best Opening "Shinzō wo Sasageyo!"
(from anime Attack on Titan Season 2)
Nominated[34]

References

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  1. ^ Sound Horizon Official Site. Profile
  2. ^ a b "ブレイブリーデフォルト』全楽曲はSound HorizonのRevoによる書き下ろし! サントラやRevo新プロジェクトも発表" [All songs of Bravely Default are written by Sound Horizon's Revo! Soundtrack and Revo's new project announced]. Famitsu (in Japanese). June 19, 2012. Retrieved April 5, 2018.
  3. ^ a b c "物語音楽の旗手Sound Horizonが新曲先行配信 さやわかが「並行世界」をキーワードに読み解く". Real Sound (in Japanese). August 22, 2014. Retrieved April 6, 2018.
  4. ^ a b "幻想楽団 Sound Horizonが初TOP10入り?" [Fantasy orchestra Sound Horizon enters the first TOP 10?]. Oricon News (in Japanese). October 4, 2006. Retrieved December 20, 2016.
  5. ^ a b Saiseau, Nikkan (December 1, 2013). "「紅白出場は歴史的事件」3分でわかる、Linked Horizonの歴史" [Kōhaku shutsujō wa rekishi-teki jiken, Linked Horizon history in less than 3 minutes]. Niconico News (in Japanese). Archived from the original on December 2, 2013. Retrieved April 6, 2018.
  6. ^ "超豪華ヴォーカリスト参加で贈る、Sound Horizon待望のStory CD第6弾!". Nifty Music Network (in Japanese). Livedoor. August 19, 2008. Archived from the original on March 1, 2011. Retrieved June 19, 2010.
  7. ^ "Oricon Weekly Album Charts for the third week of September 2008" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved June 19, 2010.
  8. ^ "Sound Horizon、オリコンデイリーシングルーチャート2日間連続の第1位!". CDJournal.com (in Japanese). June 18, 2010. Retrieved June 18, 2010.
  9. ^ "Attack on Titan Opening CD Sells 129,000 in 1st Week". Anime News Network. Retrieved December 12, 2013.
  10. ^ ""Attack on Titan" Theme Song's REVO Composes "Sailor Moon Crystal" Opening". Crunchyroll. Retrieved June 5, 2014.
  11. ^ Music Natalie Editorial Department (September 15, 2020). "Sound Horizon、リスナーが物語を選択できるStory BDリリース" [Sound Horizon to release a Story BD where listeners will be able to choose the story]. Natalie (in Japanese). Retrieved November 3, 2024.
  12. ^ Music Natalie Editorial Department (March 7, 2023). "Sound Horizon新作Blu-ray「絵馬に願ひを!」発売延期、納得のいく作品に仕上げるため" [Sound Horizon's new Blu-ray "Ema ni Negai wo!" release postponed to polish the work to a satisfactory level]. Natalie (in Japanese). Retrieved November 3, 2024.
  13. ^ "Sound Horizonのアルバムランキング" [Sound Horizon album ranking]. Oricon (in Japanese). Retrieved April 11, 2018.
  14. ^ "Japanese CD certifications 2010" (Enter Sound Horizon into the アーティスト then select 検索) (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. December 2010. Retrieved November 15, 2018.
  15. ^ "週間 アルバムランキング 2012年04月23日付(2012年04月09日~2012年04月15日)" [Weekly Album Ranking April 23, 2012 (April 9–15, 2012)]. Oricon (in Japanese). 2012-04-23. Archived from the original on 2012-04-29. Retrieved 2018-11-15.
  16. ^ "年間 アルバムランキング 2015年度" [Album Ranking of 2015]. Oricon (in Japanese). 2015-12-26. Archived from the original on 2016-01-31. Retrieved 2018-11-15.
  17. ^ "Sound Horizonのシングルランキング" [Sound Horizon single ranking]. Oricon (in Japanese). Retrieved April 11, 2018.
  18. ^ "Linked Horizonのアルバムランキング" [Linked Horizon album ranking]. Oricon (in Japanese). Retrieved August 14, 2024.
  19. ^ "週間 CDアルバムランキング 2017年05月29日付(2017年05月15日~2017年05月21日)" [Weekly CD Album Ranking May 29, 2017 (May 15–21, 2017)]. Oricon (in Japanese). 2017-05-29. Archived from the original on 2017-05-29. Retrieved 2018-11-15.
  20. ^ "Linked Horizonのシングルランキング" [Linked Horizon single ranking]. Oricon (in Japanese). Retrieved April 11, 2018.
  21. ^ "週間 シングルランキング 2012年09月03日付(2012年08月20日~2012年08月26日)" [Weekly Single Ranking September 3, 2012 (August 20–26, 2012)]. Oricon (in Japanese). 2012-09-03. Archived from the original on 2012-09-02. Retrieved 2018-11-15.
  22. ^ "Japanese CD certifications 2013" (Enter Linked Horizon into the アーティスト then select 検索) (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. August 2013. Retrieved April 6, 2018.
  23. ^ "Linked Horizon to Perform Opening Theme for Attack on Titan: Junior High TV Anime". Anime News Network. August 31, 2015. Retrieved August 31, 2015.
  24. ^ TVアニメ「進撃!巨人中学校」OPテーマがLinked Horizonに決定!配信は10月5日から開始!. Attack on Titan: Junior High (in Japanese). August 31, 2015. Retrieved August 31, 2015.
  25. ^ "週間 シングルランキング 2018年10月01日付(2018年09月17日~2018年09月23日)" [Weekly Single Ranking October 1, 2018 (September 17–23, 2018)]. Oricon (in Japanese). 2018-10-01. Archived from the original on 2018-09-27. Retrieved 2018-11-15.
  26. ^ "Linked Horizon、「進撃の巨人」3期EDテーマ収めた進撃縛りシングル" [Linked Horizon's Attack on Titan Season 3 ending theme be stuck in tying single] (in Japanese). Natalie. July 30, 2018. Retrieved July 31, 2018.
  27. ^ Pineda, Rafael Antonio (July 30, 2018). "Linked Horizon Performs Ending Theme for Attack on Titan Season 3 Anime". Anime News Network. Retrieved July 31, 2018.
  28. ^ "週間 CDシングルランキング 2019年07月01日付" [Weekly CD Single Ranking for July 1, 2019]. Oricon Style (in Japanese). Retrieved June 26, 2019.
  29. ^ "Bravely Default: Flying Fairy Original Soundtrack ranking on Oricon chart". Oricon (in Japanese). October 22, 2012. Retrieved April 5, 2018.
  30. ^ Loo, Egan (October 14, 2013). "Attack on Titan wins Top Prizes in Newtype Anime Awards". Anime News Network. Retrieved April 11, 2018.
  31. ^ Loo, Egan (October 25, 2013). "Hayao Miyazaki, 'Attack on Titan', 'Garden of Words' win Anime Kobe Awards". Anime News Network. Retrieved August 16, 2018.
  32. ^ "【Billboard JAPAN Music Awards 2013】AKB48がアーティスト・オブ・ザ・イヤーを含む4冠を3年連続で達成" [Billboard JAPAN Music Awards 2013: AKB48 won 4 awards including Artist of the Year for 3 consecutive years]. Sankei Shimbun (in Japanese). December 14, 2013. Retrieved February 7, 2019.
  33. ^ Loo, Egan (October 7, 2017). "Fate/Apocrypha, Sword Art Online Movie win Top Newtype Anime Awards". Anime News Network. Retrieved April 11, 2018.
  34. ^ Orsini, Lauren (January 17, 2018). "Here are all the nominees for The Crunchyroll Anime Awards". Forbes. Retrieved April 11, 2018.
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