Mausoleum Suite
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Mausoleum Suite is the fifth track in Halo 2: Original Soundtrack, Volume 2. It is composed of Destroyer's Invocation (0:00-4:36), Falling Up (4:36-6:25), Infected (6:25-7:41), and Shudder (7:41-8:10).
Overview
Destroyer's Invocation
Destroyer's Invocation (4:36) begins with eerie low strings and slow percussion, leading into a reversed message hidden in the piece, then transitions with digital chimes and sounds into a reprise of Weight of Failure from Prologue. The first section first plays in the opening cinematic of the level The Arbiter, when Tartarus and his Jiralhanae took Thel 'Vadamee to the Mausoleum of the Arbiter. It plays again in the level Gravemind, when John-117 rescues Marines imprisoned in High Charity. The track plays in The Great Journey (combined with the vocals of Veins of Stones from the later track Sacred Icon Suite), when Thel 'Vadam battles Tartarus in the Control room of Installation 05. The reprise of Weight of Failure plays when 'Vadamee is offered the Arbiter body armor, then continues to the scene in which Covenant Special Operations forces traveled to the Threshold gas mine. The first section of the piece was arranged into Cryptic Whisper in Halo 2: Anniversary Original Soundtrack.
Falling Up
Falling Up (1:49) begins with low male vocals, low synth notes, and slow percussion. High vocals soon replace the male vocals, followed by the introduction of digital chimes, creating an eerie atmosphere. The piece ends abruptly with complications and crescendo in chimes and vocals. The piece plays in the level The Oracle, when Thel 'Vadamee first enters the Flood research area, then continues as he fights off waves of Flood before escaping on an elevator. The first part of the piece was arranged into Steward, Shepherd, Lonely Soul in Halo 2: Anniversary Original Soundtrack.
Infected
Infected (1:16) starts with a slow tribal beat, and vocals similar to Ancient Machine, before descending into cascades of chaotic synth effects and distorted guttural vocals. The sirens in Shadows from Halo: Original Soundtrack were re-used near the end. The piece plays in the level The Oracle, when Thel 'Vadamee pursues Sesa 'Refumee after surviving a Type-26 Banshee crash. The piece was extended and arranged into the first part of Menace No More in Halo 2: Anniversary Original Soundtrack.
Shudder
Shudder (0:29) is a variation of Ancient Machine, and plays during the ending cutscene in the level The Oracle where Thel 'Vadamee carries Sesa 'Refumee's body to the hangar bay door and 343 Guilty Spark is captured by Tartarus.
Hidden Message
When Destroyer's Invocation is played backwards, a voice can be heard. At normal speed it is inaudible; however, when speed up words can be heard. Whoever is the owner of the mysterious voice is debatable, though it appears to allude to Mendicant Bias.[1]
| “ | I have walked among men and angels for 3,000 years. Time has no end, no beginning, no purpose. I wandered the earth seeking forgiveness for my horrible crimes against God and man. I live to see death and destruction. Evil over the light, but the light cannot be extinguished. I live in a prison of my own demise. I am lost in time. |
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Production notes
- The name of the track alludes to the Mausoleum of the Arbiter.
- The beats of the soundtrack have a striking resemblance to the beats heard in the theme music for Marathon 2: Durandal.
Sources
- ^ YouTube - Veronica O, Halo 2 Mausoleum Suite Secret Backwards Message (Mendicant Bias?) (Retrieved on Dec 7, 2020)
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