Quake
Irrelevant quake
If you ignore this logistical hurdle, then for me it was the 1996 release date, four years after I was born, which is why I had no contact with Quake . Nevertheless, I didn't want to miss the opportunity to at least listen to the OST, which was composed by none other than Trent Reznor, the singer of the band Nine Inch Nails. Anyone hoping for industrial rock gold in the ten-track score though, will be disappointed.
Apparently, halfway through the recording of the DOOM like theme Quake the instruments' microphones were switched off. The result is nine repetitive dark-ambient pieces that create a steampunk atmosphere à la Thief with rhythmic, mechanical humming. It's not really exciting and is at best suitable as background music for engine room footage or the next sonography. So if you haven't just been invited below deck for an ultrasound scan on a cruise ship, you can catch up on this experience here ... or just leave it alone.
No. | Title | Artist(s) | Ratings |
---|---|---|---|
01 | Quake | Trent Reznor; Nine Inch Nails | |
02 | Aftermath | Trent Reznor; Nine Inch Nails | |
03 | The Hall of Souls | Trent Reznor; Nine Inch Nails | |
04 | It Is Raped | Trent Reznor; Nine Inch Nails | |
05 | Parallel Dimensions | Trent Reznor; Nine Inch Nails | |
06 | Life | Trent Reznor; Nine Inch Nails | |
07 | Damnation | Trent Reznor; Nine Inch Nails | |
08 | Focus | Trent Reznor; Nine Inch Nails | |
09 | Falling | Trent Reznor; Nine Inch Nails | |
10 | The Reaction | Trent Reznor; Nine Inch Nails |
Year: 1997
Type: Original Soundtrack (OST)
Composer(s): Jeehun Hwang
Number of tracks: 8
Scourge of Armagon
In the immortal words of Professor Hubert J. Farnsworth: "Good news everyone!" The reason being that the music for the two mission expansions Scourge of Armagon and Dissolution of Eternity was not composed by musician Trent Reznor, as in the main game, but by Korean composer Jeehun Hwang. Thankfully, he produces something that can be classified as video game music with certainty - that's a step forward.
Unfortunately, that's about it when looking at the positive side, because the eight tracks of the OST (which, according to the fan wiki , are officially untitled, but some of them are buzzing around the airwaves with names) hardly get beyond a mere 'nice'. At least that's my conclusion after listening to the tracks from 1997.
For an uninspired shooter game from back then, the mix of C&C (Pandemonium, Back Into Action, Approaching Scourge), orchestral borrowings (Twisted Reality) and thriller (Abandon Hope, Demise of the Fiends, Cathedral of Blasphemy) is certainly suitable. However, tracks like Hell Fortress or the beginning of Approaching Scourge seem to be borrowed from a fantasy game from the Might & Magic or Soul Reaver-series. It doesn't quite fit together for me, but it's still an improvement on the ambient mix of the main game.
No. | Title | Artist(s) | Ratings |
---|---|---|---|
01 | Pandemonium | Jeehun Hwang | |
02 | Abandon Hope | Jeehun Hwang | |
03 | Back Into Action | Jeehun Hwang | |
04 | Twisted Reality | Jeehun Hwang | |
05 | Demise of the Fiends | Jeehun Hwang | |
06 | Hell Fortress | Jeehun Hwang | |
07 | Approaching Scourge | Jeehun Hwang | |
08 | Cathedral of Blasphemy | Jeehun Hwang |
Year: 1997
Type: Original Soundtrack (OST)
Composer(s): Jeehun Hwang
Number of tracks: 8
Dissolution of Eternity
Same composer, same game ... same main game that is. Dissolution of Eternity is already another expansion and, like Scourge of Armagon, was also not programmed by id Software but by another developer. While the first add-on was created by Hipnotic Interactive (Star Trek: Elite Force II, Legacy of Kain: Defiance), Rogue Entertainment (Strife, American McGee’s Alice) is responsible for the second expansion.
Here, just like there, Jeehun Hwang has taken care of the music. He continues his style from the previous mission pack seamlessly, with no musical surprises or total failures. The score, which also consists of eight tracks, remains true to its mantra of mediocrity and swims happily in the waters of associations with other, better soundtracks. I do like it a little better because of Tempus Fugit , but that's about it.
No. | Title | Artist(s) | Ratings |
---|---|---|---|
01 | Dissolution of Eternity | Jeehun Hwang | |
02 | Gateway to Eternity | Jeehun Hwang | |
03 | Blood Sacrifice | Jeehun Hwang | |
04 | Into Hell's Fortress | Jeehun Hwang | |
05 | Tempus Fugit | Jeehun Hwang | |
06 | Tower of Wrath | Jeehun Hwang | |
07 | Overlord | Jeehun Hwang | |
08 | Elemental Fury | Jeehun Hwang |