Halo 2: Original Soundtrack

The Halo 2: Original Soundtrack was composed and produced by Martin O'Donnell and Michael Salvatori, with a few tracks by Incubus. While the Halo: Original Soundtrack was released in a one format, the Halo 2: Original Soundtrack was split into two volumes, which were released almost two years apart. Volume 1 was released on November 9th, 2004 and Volume 2 was released on April 25th, 2006. Rather than keep the medley form from the Halo: Original Soundtrack, the Halo 2: Original Soundtrack focused more on suites with different chapters, similar to movements in a symphony. Unlike the Halo: Original Soundtrack, the Halo 2: Original Soundtrack focuses more on heavy guitar riffs and beats as evident in the re-designed Halo Theme- Mjolnir Mix. As such, O'Donnell brought in several bands and guitarists (such as Incubus and Breaking Benjamin) to help compose the songs.

Volume 1 of the soundtrack differs greatly from Volume 2 in the presentation and form of the songs. While Volume 1 is made up in a "movement" form, Volume 2 focuses heavily on suites. As stated on the Volume 2 inlay card, Martin O'Donnell details why he chose to use this structure: "I decided to use a "suite" structure that corresponds to the chapters within the game. In a sense, by listening to this soundtrack, you will hear the musical representation of the story of Halo 2."

Volume 1

File:Halo2Soundtrack1.jpg

Cover Art, Volume 1

1. Halo Theme MJOLNIR Mix - 4:11 (Guitarist: Steve Vai)
2. Blow Me Away - 3:25 (Breaking Benjamin)
3. Peril - 2:47
4. Ghosts of Reach - 2:22
5. Follow (1st Movement of The Odyssey) - 4:15 (Incubus)
6. Heretic, Hero - 2:32
7. Flawed Legacy - 1:59
8. Impend - 2:21
9. Never Surrender - 3:36 (Nile Rodgers & Nataraj:)
10. Ancient Machine - 1:39
11. 2nd Movement of The Odyssey - 5:10 (Incubus)
12. In Amber Clad - 1:38
13. The Last Spartan - 2:18
14. Orbit of Glass - 1:18
15. 3rd Movement of The_Odyssey - 6:40 (Incubus)
16. Heavy Price Paid - 2:32
17. Earth City - 3:06
18. High Charity - 1:59
19. 4th Movement of The Odyssey - 9:07 (Incubus)
20. Remembrance - 1:17
21. Connected - 2:39 (Hoobastank) "Bonus Song"

Volume 2

Cover Art, Volume 2

1. Prologue - 2:35
2. Cairo Suite - 9:42
3. Mombasa Suite - 6:41
4. Unyielding - 3:05
5. Mausoleum Suite - 8:10
6. Unforgotten - 2:09
7. Delta Halo Suite - 11:26
8. Sacred Icon Suite - 7:26
9. Reclaimer [featuring Steve Vai (Guitarist)] - 3:05
10. High Charity Suite - 8:27
11. Finale - 3:10
12. Epilogue - 3:49

Additional information

• Original composition: Martin O'Donnell and Michael Salvatori
• Sound design: Martin O'Donnell and Michael Salvatori
• Arrangement: Martin O'Donnell and Michael Salvatori
• Label: Sumthing Else Musicworks
• Performance: Martin O'Donnell, Michael Salvatori, Steve Vai, Breaking Benjamin, Incubus, Hoobastank, Nile Rodgers, Nataraj, Daniel Estrin

Trivia

• Volume 1 also included an excerpt of the Covenant Writ of Union.
• Volume 2 also included an excerpt of the Covenant Ratification Parley.
• When played in reverse, Mausoleum Suite on Volume 2 plays a cryptic message from what is thought to be the Gravemind, but could in truth be many people/AI.
• There are four extra tracks not included in either of the two Halo 2 OST's, and can only be heard during gameplay, these are:
  • Metropolis (Bridge) - This is an altered version of the MJOLNIR Mix track, focusing on the instrumental side.
  • Metropolis (Finale) - Another altered version of the MJOLNIR Mix, this one, focusing on the guitar.
  • Delta Halo (Landing) - This track somehow resembles the track In Amber Clad, yet it is shorter than it's counterpart.
  • Quarantine Zone (Drumrun) - As it's name implies, this track is focused on the drum section.
  • There's another unreleased track, heard in the Cairo Station armory, which sounds similar to part of "Broken Gates"(the part heard when the Phantom drops the final wave of enemies in the courtyard).

Related Pages

• Halo 2
• Halo: Original Soundtrack
• Halo 3: Original Soundtrack