Customer Reviews

Silent Hill

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The "music" of Silent Hill is an often maligned aspect of a game that in 1999 proved something terrifying could come from the PS1 gaming console which not only fed on a person's fear of the dark, but fear for the flesh. While Resident Evil did a good job of delivering unto us oozing zombie goodness, Silent Hill was an altogether different kind of game.

I don't think any one aspect of the project really drives this point home with more gusto than the game's soundtrack, which was written and performed by Akira Yamaoka (who currently acts as Executive Producer of the franchise.)

Yamaoka has a knack for creating terror through sound, which plays a huge part in making Silent Hill so terrifying. Don't believe me? Try turning the volume down sometime. It really isn't very effective that way.

The music itself is a strange beast on its own. Not music per se, the mixture of ambient sound with grinding metal and chanting voices is something not to be missed by those with an eclectic taste. There's a kind of energy to what Yamaoka has produced, and despite the fact that it isn't exactly something most people would listen to every day, I personally can't help but admit that I truly enjoy the odd sounds on display out in this compilation.

The first track on the disc -- the Silent Hill main theme -- is among one of the most eerie video game themes ever composed. Compared to the more streamlined "Theme of Laura" from Silent Hill 2, it's quite different and out-there.

The CD moves from track to track pretty much seamlessly, making for a bit of an emotional roller coaster. There's no pause for breath between each scene, and that's something I appreciate.

I did deduct the CD one star, and that's because some of the tracks are a bit short (particularly "Die" and "Not Tomorrow".) It would have been nice to have the length extended a bit, but that's only a slight niggle on my part.

Another reason I deducted a star has to do with the lack of key tracks on the CD. I've got an Expanded OST made by a fan which runs two discs long. There's some really good stuff that was left off the official disc. As a result, it does get a bit boring from time to time.

For those of you like A. Griffiths "Adrian" who wants something a bit more melodic, I suggest the Silent Hill 3 and 4 soundtracks. There's a lot more in the way of actual music on both of those discs, and while the games did feature a lot of the metallic grinding that is found in the original Silent Hill, it was opted to leave a massive chunk of it off of the soundtrack CDs (unfortunately).

The soundtrack for Silent Hill is truly unique in that it isn't music, per se, but if you've got a morbid ear or just a curious mind, I suggest giving it a listen. (A warning, though: if you have a sensitive ear, you might want to avoid tracks like "My Heaven", which does go a bit wild.)

This album is cross genre. A mixture of narrative poetry, modern orchestrations, and avant garde techno. I personally adore it.

It's not often that a console video game merits a soundtrack release; after all, many games behave like films, using pre-recorded popular music tracks and releasing a licensed handful on CD. Not so with the Silent Hill series, where the games are as much about the score as the gameplay itself. You couldn't plug in new or classic Top 40 hits, and realize the same gameplay experience. Akira Yamaoka has created something marvelous with these Silent Hill scores; here, we review the CD for Silent Hill's premier release (PSOne, 1999).

The sounds reach into the varied themes you'll find during the game: frenetic flights, lumbering foes, paralyzing fear. Much of the same goes for his subsequent releases, but the Silent Hill CD is the most severe, lightest in its use of pop influence. The only pure game scores that come close (in readily-available CDs, that is) are those from the Biohazard/Resident Evil series.

The only downside (big enough to strip a star from this review) is the problem of volume. Some tracks start out barely audible, regardless of your personal volume control, and gradually rise to ear-splitting levels (All and Moonchild, for example). Others are hi-volume from the get-go (Until Death). Most tracks have lighter sounds that will be missed at anything below a mid-range volume setting. For the first couple of listens, make note of those tunes where you need to crank the volume up to 11, down to 1, or jam the mute button suddenly, and you'll be OK. Fortunately, this is the only Silent Hill soundtrack with this problem.

Five stars for proficiency, minus one star for performance. Not available currently thru Amazon proper, you'll find copies in the Marketplace and on auction sites.

Like the series, Silent Hill has an excellent soundtrack such as the first game and beyond. Like others say, some tracks suffer volume issues, such as Claw Finger and Afraid of The Dark. Other than that, this is one piece fans would not want to pass by!

It's not often a video game comes along and has music that gives you the biggest creeps of your life. Silent Hill is that very game. This collection of tracks are incredibly moving, and you will remember the experience you had with the game once you pop this disc into your CD player. The game was brilliantly moving, spooky, and original. This disc can be considered just as amazing and influential. Music to remember for years. Well worth buying.

I love the game of "Silent Hill". It scared me to death and is still better than all the sequels. The chance to get the soundtrack was too good to miss, and I soon found out that it was filled with the same kind of nightmarish atmosphere as the game.

So why only 2 stars? Because as I found out, this is not music that you can actually sit down and listen to. When the CD starts up you are treated to the dreamy and mysterious scratchy guitar-backed opening theme which is absolutely stunning. It's very reminiscent of David Lynch's soundtrack music, "Twin Peaks" in particular springs to mind. Little wonder it makes the game's CGI movie intro so effective, and why it was also featured in all the trailers and demo discs when the game first came out. But once I had finished enjoying this theme, the rest of the tracks on the CD soon had me reaching for the fast-forward button. Transplanting the disturbing ambient noises of the game onto an audio CD leaves you with something like aural wallpaper to a nightmare, with metallic scrapings, hollow clanging, distant rumblings and industrial grinding noises all featuring prominently. Now, this may add up to a pretty horrific atmosphere in the game, but music it ain't, and I don't think I have ever let the entire CD play through in one sitting without jumping through most of the middle section. There must be some situations that would call for for an ambient soundtrack like this, but I can't think of many, and that's why I have only given the CD two stars, as only a fraction of it is bearable under normal listening conditions. Don't get me wrong - I was not freaked out or scared by the sounds, just bored.

Stick around to the end, though and you get the more melodic closing themes and the vocal song "Esperandote", plus the bonus track of the music to the "out-takes" if you wait long enough. My biggest gripe - and something that spoiled the whole CD for me - is that the music for Lisa's death scene is not included!! This sorrowful guitar piece was played out at length in the game, but fades out after barely 30 seconds of intro on the CD to make way for yet another industrial noise track. Unforgiveable....what with the distinct lack of real music on the whole album anyway, and they decided to deprive listeners of the most beautiful track of the lot!

Let me just re-affirm: I love the game, I love the musical compostions featured in it. I even love the creepy CD packaging, and the mysterious sounding tracklisting just add to the appeal. (As an aside, I have the European CD release of this which features a picture of the doll-like Cheryl on the cover rather than Lisa, which is possibly even more disconcerting!)

But I don't like 75% of what's on this disc. Its exactly as heard in the game (apart from Lisa's Death - curses!!), so I can't say it's unfair. I just don't enjoy it.

This is a great game score done by the master. I would reccommend it more to die hard fans ( I listen to it all the time!) But not so much to people who may have just seen the movie. It is very industrial, with all of the sounds that are featured in the game.
If u want more haunting music, I reccommend the scores from SH 2 and 4.

i am one who loves music. the thing i like about it though, is that i get inspired to make movies out of it. whats really fun though, do with this soundtrack, is to walk around in the dark (in your house or outside) and listen to the music. its sooo creepy. heh. anyways. this is a must buy if you love the silent hill music.