Silent Hill 3 (2003)

Composer(s):
Akira Yamaoka

Released in:
2003

Reviews

Varied and eclectic video game score.
by Alex (October 10, 2006)
This is my first review of a score based on a video game, and while composer's Akira Yamaoka's resources must have been limited, every one of the 26 tracks are interesting and wide in their scope and style. A sad, gorgeous, too-brief female vocal soloist opens the disc with "Lost Carol". "Clockwork Little Happiness" opens with church organs swelling ominously and then gives away to grinding, industrial blows. "Maternal Hearts" is one of my favorite tracks, with an excellent electronic beat on whick Yamaoka builds ominous synthesized notes and a percusive beat. "Dance With Night Wind" begins with a percusive beat that is interwined with a piano and, surprisingly, a cello (or violin?) in what is the only tracks to employ the use of more traditional instruments. "Prayer" is a dark, frightening, chaotic track with a distorted male chorus. Definitely the most ominous and frightening track.
Though these aren't the only good tracks here, they are the best in my eye.
The reason for my three-star rating is because of several factors, such as the inclusion of dialogue from the game at the end of several tracks (or DURING them!), the poor editing (the end of the previous tracks can be heard at the beginning of the next), and the horribly pretentious, laughably flamboyant liner notes.
I'd like to hear more from Yamaoka. He seems to excel at the use of electronics, synthesized vocals, percusion, and the piano. He's definitely one to watch for.

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