Halo 2: Original Soundtrack
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| Halo 2: Original Soundtrack | |
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Released: |
November 9, 2004 (Vol. 1) |
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Sumthing Else Music Works | |
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Composer(s): |
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Performance: |
Steve Vai, Breaking Benjamin, Incubus, Nile Rodgers, Nataraj, and Hoobastank |
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Total length: |
69:20 (Vol. 1) |
The Halo 2: Original Soundtrack is the musical score for Halo 2. It was composed by Martin O'Donnell and Michael Salvatori and produced by Nile Rodgers, with a few tracks by rock bands such as Breaking Benjamin, Incubus, and Hoobastank.[1][2][3]
The soundtrack is split into two volumes. Volume 1, packaged as Halo 2: Original Soundtrack and New Music Volume One, was released in 2004. Volume 2, packaged as Halo 2: Original Soundtrack Volume Two, was released in 2006.[4][5]
Overview[edit]
Production[edit]
During the development of Halo 2, in summer 2004, veteran music producer Nile Rodgers and Bungie audio director Martin O'Donnell decided to present the game's music in two separate volumes. Volume 1 contained music from the game that were completed as of the volume's production, alongside songs that were inspired by the game, created by the bands who also contributed towards the soundtrack. Volume 2 contained the rest of Halo 2's soundtrack that was not ready for Volume 1's release date. This volume is arranged in a suite format, presented as a concept album that follows along the levels, story, and atmosphere of Halo 2. All of the songs featured in Volume 2 are utilized elsewhere in the game, in contrast with Volume 1.[4][5][6]
Within Bungie, Jay Weinland was audio lead and C Paul Johnson was sound designer, and on the outside Stan LePard provided additional orchestrations, with Simon James conducting the Northwest Sinfonia.[3]
The first piece of music produced for Halo 2 was The Last Spartan for the Halo 2 announcement trailer in August 2002. Later on, what would become Metropole and Earth City would be produced for the Halo 2 E3 demo in May 2003.[7]
Alongside Martin O'Donnell and Michael Salvatori's symphonic and orchestral compositions, Halo 2's soundtrack also leans on heavy guitar riffs, with many rock bands showing enthusiasm in contributing music such as Breaking Benjamin's Blow Me Away, Incubus's The Odyssey, and Hoobastank's Connected.[8] Nile Rodgers connected O'Donnell with guitarist Steve Vai, when all three of them held a session at Studio X in Seattle, Washington. Riffing on the Halo Theme featured in Halo: Combat Evolved, Rodgers's encouragement led Vai to improvise many guitar riffs while the Halo Theme played, eventually creating the Halo Theme MJOLNIR Mix.[3][9][8] Rodgers would also create his own spin on the Halo Theme with Never Surrender, a techno-mashup that sampled both the original theme and Vai's MJOLNIR Mix.[8][2]
Another musician who contributed to the soundtrack was John Mayer, who played guitar for Beholden outside the purview of his agency or Microsoft, and thus remained uncredited until 2014.[10]
Release[edit]
Halo 2: Original Soundtrack and New Music Volume One released alongside Halo 2 itself on November 9, 2004. Halo 2: Original Soundtrack Volume Two was completed by early 2005, but legal issues pushed its release date all the way to April 25, 2006.[6] Both volumes were distributed by Nile Rodgers's publishing label Sumthing Else Music Works.[8][2][11]
Not all tracks the rock bands performed appear in the game itself, such as most movements in The Odyssey by Incubus. Connected by Hoobastank is listed as a "Bonus Cut" on the CD's track listing.[2][12]
Never Surrender also does not appear within Halo 2, but does appear as an Easter egg in Halo: Reach.[13]
Halo Theme MJOLNIR Mix was released on November 22, 2007 for the music rhythm game Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock as a free Xbox LIVE download.[14]
Halo 2's soundtrack was remastered for Halo 2: Anniversary by Skywalker Sound, and was released alongside the game and Halo: The Master Chief Collection as the Halo 2: Anniversary Original Soundtrack on November 11, 2014.[15]
Track listing[edit]
Album credits[edit]
Volume 1[edit]
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Volume 2[edit]
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Covenant scripture[edit]
Contained within the booklet inserts for both volumes of the OST are some sections of Covenant scripture. Volume 1 included an excerpt from the Writ of Union, originally cut from Halo 2 itself and later featured in Halo: Contact Harvest,[16] while Volume 2 contains an excerpt from the Ratification Parley.[17][18]
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Production notes[edit]
- Prior to the release of the Halo: Reach Original Soundtrack, Volume 1 featured the most music to not appear in game. Music exclusive to the soundtrack includes Never Surrender by Nataraj and Nile Rodgers, The Odyssey (2nd, 3rd, and 4th Movements) by Incubus, and Connected by Hoobastank.
- Connected in particular is highlighted as "(Bonus Cut)" in the track listing.
- Blow Me Away by Breaking Benjamin and Follow (1st Movement of The Odyssey) by Incubus also feature vocals, while only instrumental versions appear in game.
- Blow Me Away utilizes the same stems as Broken Gates from Mombasa Suite, and the bells from later on in Outskirts.
- On the track list for Volume 1, 2nd Movement of the Odyssey is erroneously listed as being 5:10 instead of 7:40.[2][12]
- When played in reverse, Destroyer's Invocation from Mausoleum Suite in Volume 2 plays a cryptic message.
Halo: Combat Evolved Remixes[edit]
Music from Halo: Combat Evolved that was remixed or served as inspiration:
- The Halo Theme as Halo Theme MJOLNIR Mix.
- Perilous Journey as Peril.
- A Walk in the Woods as Heretic, Hero.
- Rock Anthem for Saving the World as Unyielding.
- Perchance to Dream as Flawed Legacy.
- The Maw as Remembrance, and the ending of Wage from Delta Halo Suite.
- Under Cover of Night as Wage from Delta Halo Suite.
- On a Pale Horse as Leonidas from Delta Halo Suite.
- Shadows as Shudder from Mausoleum Suite.
- Opening Suite's 4th movement
slowstring[19] as Cold Blue Light from Cairo Suite. - Brothers in Arms's ending was incorporated into Great Journey from Finale, and as the opening of Impend.
- Covenant Dance as the percussion of Veins of Stone from Sacred Icon Suite.
Gallery[edit]
Volume 1 cover art.
Volume 1 credits.
The Writ of Union from Volume 1.
Volume 2 cover art.
Sources[edit]
- ^ Halo 2: Original Soundtrack Vol. 1, Song credits
- ^ a b c d e Discogs, Martin O'Donnell And Michael Salvatori – Halo 2 Original Soundtrack And New Music: Volume One (Retrieved on Sep 24, 2025) [archive]
- ^ a b c Music4Games, Interview with HALO 2 composer Martin O'Donnell (Retrieved on Jun 19, 2006) [archive]
- ^ a b Halo 2: Original Soundtrack Vol. 2, Media notes
- ^ a b Discogs, Martin O'Donnell And Michael Salvatori – Halo 2 Original Soundtrack: Volume 2: Media Notes (Retrieved on Sep 24, 2025) [archive]
- ^ a b Music4Games, Interview with Halo 2 Volume Two composer Martin O'Donnell (Retrieved on Jun 19, 2006) [archive]
- ^ Music4Games, HALO 2 Sessions Report (Retrieved on Oct 18, 2003) [archive]
- ^ a b c d Billboard, November 2004 (Issue #45) - 'Halo 2' Soundtrack Bolsters Game Push., page 43–45
- ^ YouTube - Sumthing Digital, The Moment the Halo 2 Theme Was Born
- ^ Halo 2: Anniversary marketing, Remaking the Legend
- ^ Discogs, Martin O'Donnell And Michael Salvatori – Halo 2 Original Soundtrack: Volume 2 (Retrieved on Sep 24, 2025) [archive]
- ^ a b Halo 2: Original Soundtrack Vol. 1 - Track list
- ^ Halo: Reach, campaign level New Alexandria: Club Errera Easter egg
- ^ Xbox Wire, Guitar Hero III: Halo Theme Mjolnir Mix (Free) (Retrieved on Aug 17, 2025) [archive]
- ^ IGN, Listen to the Halo 2 Anniversary Soundtrack Right Now -- IGN First (Retrieved on Sep 24, 2025) [archive]
- ^ Artstation, Halo 2 storyboards (Retrieved on Dec 13, 2021) [archive]
- ^ Halo 2: Original Soundtrack Vol. 1 - Covenant Writ of Union, Canto I
- ^ Halo 2: Original Soundtrack Vol. 2 - Ratification Parley
- ^ Halo: Combat Evolved Editing Kit, game file
tags\sound\music\misc\slowstring.sound
