For better or worse, the first Silent Hill soundtrack is quite different from its successors. While the soundtracks after this one showcased great haunting dark ambient melodies and trip hop influences that made them pleasant even outside of the game, the first Silent Hill game’s soundtrack focuses on lumbering, reverberating industrial noise that frequently features almost primitive, pounding rhythms.

While this makes for a horrifying and oppressive soundtrack that greatly enhances the game it is in, as a great soundtrack should, it does not reward outside listening as well as future Silent Hill soundtracks. There are a few very brief moments of dark ambiance that are similar to the later soundtracks that are very comforting to come across in the soundtrack. A welcome moment of respite from the usual harsh noise.

There’s also a surprising amount of consistency, for a soundtrack. There’s little to no gaps between songs, so the whole thing flows naturally, even better than the soundtrack for Silent Hill 3. Silent Hill‘s soundtrack isn’t one of Akira Yamaoka’s best by any means, but it’s an excellent soundtrack within the context of the game and remains a frightening experience outside of it, if not as accessible as his other works. Because it’s so different, it may have an appeal to an entirely different group of people, which is nice, but I prefer the more traditional songs such as the excellent, creepy title track and the sorrowful “Not Tomorrow” (of which its full version isn’t even on this soundtrack). I’m going out on a limb and suggesting that this is a soundtrack strictly for fans of the series. Fortunately, I am one; very much so.