Why is the alternate/original version of On a Rail 2 not included in the soundtrack? I know the one in the game is completely different, so calling it the “(Mesa Remix)” wouldn’t work, but a lot of people want to substitute it with the one in the leak. I know the raw file is floating around, but why not just include it in the OST to make it easier for people? And another thing, is it still possible to download the 2008 soundtrack? And if not, those songs should be added in this soundtrack release in their own “Old” folder.
I still have the older OST files. I dunno if they’re still out there on the interwebs.
i’ve made my donation but i’m not listening to ANYTHiNG until i actually sit down with the game. i want to be pleasantly surprised. i’ve already ruined the new (reverse) theme for myself. i just KNOW that had i heard it in-game first, i’d have shed TWO tears instead of just ONE.
Beautifully haunting work.
-Kawai Tei-
Joel I just realized I haven’t said I love the soundtrack yet, which I do, it’s fucking epic. Nice work.
Nice work Joel! I realize Surface Tension tracks was the way to make a great soundtrack. I appreciate that guitar you used in “End Credits Part 1” intro. What inspired or influenced you in this work?
An additional question. Do you took inspiration from Mirror’s Edge soundtrack?
^ I second this. I love that song and I think it should at least be uploaded to the youtube channel
As mentioned at the bottom of the bms page on my website, a friend played the violin, and another friend played some of the drums and some of the guitar.
The soundtrack was basically done in 2009. There were some changes made after (like the OAR2 redo) and there might have been a track or two added, but everything was pretty close to final. Most of the music was composed between 2006-2008, and then just tweaked and modified from there.
It would be a bit confusing having so many ‘similar’ versions on the soundtrack. That, and I don’t really like the old versions. 
Everything is still out there tho. And if people can’t find them I can provide urls, as they are still on my site, just not directly linked.
The guitar riff at the start of End Credits Part 1 is meant to be a very loose throwback to the Hazardous Environments/Valve theme.
(Mirrors Edge was released after most of the soundtrack was already composed. I did enjoy that soundtrack myself, especially the theme.)
Hey Joel! I’ve listened to a couple of tracks, but can’t wait to sit down and listen to them in game. I’ve noticed that this soundtrack is very guitar driven, as opposed to Kelly Bailey’s more electronic and synth sound. I’m just wondering what your reason was behind this.
Joel Nielsen, Thank you very much for the wonderful soundtrack to the beautiful game!
I am curious about this myself as well.
Also btw I really love Surface Tension 2.
It´s because guitars are awesome!
Honestly, I´m happy it turned out this way. I always loved HL2´s soundtrack a lot more because it was a bit on the heavier side and I always miss that when I play the original.
Speaking of that, was it done with so much guitar to make it more in-line with HL2? Or because it was something you personally wanted to do?
Needs more cow bell.
-Kawai Tei-
Great work.
As mentioned above, it was indeed because HL2 ep1/2 soundtracks used guitars. It also allowed me to go for a raw sound that fit well with Black Mesa. Most of it being old and dirty, (other than LC and QE) I wanted the music to reflect this.
Awesome! I’ve always liked the music of the HL series, it finds a nice balance between action oriented songs and ambient, atmospheric electronic sounds. I think BM’s soundtrack will be no exception!
It is indeed awesome, and I can hear the EP2 inspiration, especially in certain parts of songs like Surface Tension 2
Super excited about listening to the OST! Playing the game too of course! :jizz:
I’ve only listened to like 5 songs total. Couldn’t resist. 
Yeah I’m trying not to listen to too much (Somehow I’ve managed to completely avoid QE 1 and Forget about Freeman, but I loved some of the ones that I did hear, so I currently have a playlist of some HL1 tracks with the old “lighter” BM surface tension/we’ve got hostiles, and Surface Tension 2. That way there’s only one song I really listened to, and the others will be different to my ear in the actual game when I play.
I am tempted to put all the original HL1 music in, but if I do, that would just be to see how it feels, and also to see how it meshes up with Black Mesa, not because I prefer it to the BM OST (TBH I actually like some of the BM OST better than the HL1 OST, with exceptions such as Nuclear Mission Jam or Diabolical Adrenaline Guitar, etc.)