Nemesis

Nemesis
Album:	Halo 4: Original Soundtrack
Composer(s):	Neil Davidge
Length:	3:31
Previous:	Haven
Next:	Ascendancy

Nemesis is the seventh track on the Halo 4: Original Soundtrack.

Overview

The piece opens with high, ethereal strings and synth pads, creating a mysterious and suspenseful atmosphere. Low strings soon join, adding a dark undercurrent as the sound gradually swells. A powerful burst introduces a broad, sweeping theme, one that is similar to the “Requiem” leitmotif, opening with a percussion hit, carried by bold brass, sweeping strings and synth, supported by the full orchestra.

The leitmotif doesn’t last long; brass dissolves into the background, giving way to a more developmental section where urgent, driving synth pulses, active, strong synth percussion, and sustained high strings take the central stage. Melodic fragments are exchanged, and the intensity grows strong—crescendo with rising string lines and brass swells—leading to a significant point of arrival. The 'swooshing' processed cymbals sound at the peak, adding a cinematic flourish, culminating in a significant orchestral swell.

This high energy continues with a determined orchestral passage where the melody is clearly stated by brass, borrowing from one of the “Revival” chant leitmotifs. Strings and synths continue to build a sense of urgency before a sudden burst of powerful choir enters with a percussion hit, chanting a heavily processed, loud, majestic, anthemic melody over a full orchestral accompaniment—a grand statement of superiority—creating the first major climax.

Chant lyrics are in a pseudo-Latin Forerunner language, sounding similar to a Catholic chant. This section features strong, declamatory, synth-textured vocals and a rhythmic chant, supported by pulsing strings and synth, culminating in a rhythmic chant-like “Dom, Dom, Dom, Dom” with string percussive hits, creating a powerful, almost primal impact.

The piece then transitions through a brief, energetic orchestral interlude with driving rhythms and brass fanfares, acting as a bridge that maintains the energy and prepares for the re-emergence of the choir. The choir and orchestra return for a second, equally grand climactic statement, reinforcing the grand, superior, anthemic feel, again punctuated by the powerful chant and strong percussion hits as the “Dom, Dom, Dom, Dom” chant returns.

This leads to a peak of a powerful and final statement of sustained choral and orchestral chord, which is immediately followed by a piano melody that echoes the chant—an eight-note melody, with a percussion hit for the fourth note, followed by another hit for the next fourth note, while sustained strings and synth maintain the atmosphere. The piano melody returns but stops with the fourth note, no percussion, almost unresolved. Strings and synth rise to find a resolution, and the fifth note hits, leading to a resolution.

The piece then subsides into a tranquil coda, where the texture thins, with sustained strings and synth textures becoming prominent as the music slows and fades to a peaceful resolution.

Lyrical Content (Perceived)

As the chant was derived from a pseudo-Latin language, certain words may closely resemble Latin. The following are those perceived approximations:

• “Terra Firma” - Land of the Brave/Solid Earth or similar.
• "Dominus/Dominum" - Lord/Master.
• “Venite” - Come.
• “Dominus Venite” - Lord, Come.
• “Libera” - Free.
• “Dominus Libera” - Lord, Free Us/The Lord is Free.

Which somewhat aligns with the description of this chant being performed by Riser and Chakas, two ancient humans, upon the awakening of Ur-Didact from his Cryptum.

Arrangements

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Appearances

The song can be heard played throughout:

• Briefly in the outro cinematic of Shutdown, as the Ur-Didact prepares to leave Requiem in the Mantle's Approach.
• The ninth and last playable campaign level in Halo 4, Midnight, when John-117 and The Didact face each other for the second and last time in the game.
• In the fifth terminal, when the Forerunners made plans to deal with the Flood: Faber and the Librarian with the Halo Array and the Ur-Didact with the Composer.
• In the opening cinematic of the Spartan Ops episode Exodus, when Jul 'Mdama decides to put Requiem on a collision course with the sun.

Trivia

• The lyrics of the chant are based on a language created by Neil Davidge for Forerunner scores, inspired by Latin.
• The male vocals, inspired by Bulgarian choir, by the London Bulgarian Vocal Choir were recorded at Angel Recording Studios, London.