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

 * 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 [[Image:Halo2Soundtrack1.jpg|thumb|right|Cover Art, Volume 1]]
 * 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

 * 1) Prologue - 2:35 [I. Rising (:20); II. Cloistered Expectancy (:25); III Weight of Failure (1:50)] [[Image:Halo2Soundtrack2.jpg|thumb|right|Cover Art, Volume 2]]
 * 2) Cairo Suite - 9:42 [I. Cold Blue Light (1:54); II. Waking Spartan (3:36); III. Jeweled Hull (2:03); IV. Chill Exposure (2:09)]
 * 3) Mombasa Suite - 6:41 [I. Metropole (1:29); II. Broken Gates (2:47); III. Encounter (2:25)]
 * 4) Unyielding - 3:05
 * 5) Mausoleum Suite - 8:10 [I. Destroyer's Invocation (4:36); II. Falling Up (1:49); III. Infected (1:16); IV. Shudder (:29)]
 * 6) Unforgotten - 2:09
 * 7) Delta Halo Suite - 11:26 [I. Penance (2:32); II. Wage (2:42); III. Leonidas (2:28); IV. Dust and Bones (3:44)]
 * 8) Sacred Icon Suite - 7:26 [I. Cortege (3:38); II. Opening Volley (:28); III. Veins of Stone (3:20)]
 * 9) Reclaimer [featuring Steve Vai (Guitarist)] - 3:05
 * 10) High Charity Suite - 8:27 [I. Rue and Woe (1:30); II. Respite (2:17); III. Antediluvia (2:22); IV. Pursuit of Truth (2:18)]
 * 11) Finale - 3:10 [I. Great Journey (1:15); II. Thermopylae Soon (1:55)]
 * 12) Epilogue - 3:49 [I. Beholden (1:03); II. Road to Voi (2:19); III. Subsume (:27)]

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.
 * There is a hidden message in the song Mausoleum Suite,
 * The track unforgotten was played at the swimming part of the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
 * There are four extra tracks not included in neither 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.