Song Changes: Minor tweak to smoothen the first transition that takes place at 1:12. This transition does not exist in the in-game version, and was hacked together in the original for the ost, which has always bugged me.
right at the part where this song kicks in, the gonarch jumps down from a cliff face, dislodging an HEV-suited corpse from the wall near the player. if you look closely, the suit has NIELSEN on its name tag. absolutely brilliant.
In my opinion, Gonarch's Lair in Black Mesa: Xen is not only one of the best boss fights in video games period, but also has one of the most subtly disturbing endings. At the beginning the Gonarch was running around way faster than you and clearly dominating whatever space she was in. At the end, she can barely walk, so she just hobbles around on broken legs while furiously spamming bombs that can't even explode at you, covering the entire room in toxic sludge. In my first playthrough, she sorta had herself stuck onto a pillar in the middle, and she ended up drenching herself in sludge too. It's like the Gonarch realizes how powerless she really is, in the face of the man that's killed hundreds of her children, and spends the last moments of her probably hundreds of years of living crying and screaming like an angry child.
And my first runthrough, I'd ran out of ammo to get her to that point, and had to resort to dumping a load of satchel charges at her feet (the first time I'd touched the stupid things since Questionable Ethics). We were both reduced to our most pathetic attacks. It just felt like a wholly organic, epic moment
What better way to hunt down the man who's slaughter countless soldiers and aliens by pretending to run away in fear in an attempt to lure him into a trap?
1:35 This part of the music carries a huge threat and adrenaline. You can't make a mistake, there's no second chance for Gordon. It's the music of the struggle for life.
I really like how this song progresses. Is starts like a regular Xen track: ominous and terrifying. At 1:13 it turns into action song, where you can really feel the Gonarchs' power. And then at 1:36 it turns triumphant and epic, only highlighting almost surreal visuals of Xen and the importance of whole mission. At the end song rolls back to starting tone, like saying "So you have survived this? Good job, but be ready for more...". This is why I like this song so much. It definitely goes into my list of epic battle songs.
my experience was more painful (mostly caused by change on hard difficulty, poor newbie-like jetpack control at this stage, and badly knowlege of his attack animations) . This track don't turn me in action, but drop into terrifying feel of "battle with no chance to win". Big tough guy kills me at least 10 rounds, awkwardly bunch of my deaths was from rocks which he kick in my face.
Dude had to be high on some epic quality recreational drug when he composed this tune. It is insanely insane. Brings a whole different meaning to the fight. You can feel the intensity of the situation rising gradually just by listening to this track. Also, at 1:36 you can literally feel that shit has just gotten real. You are a legend in the making. Hope to hear more from you in the future.
In the original Half-life I hated going to xen. I played through the game maybe 40 or 50 times and stopped at the end of the lambda chapter. With black mesa source, it did a full 180. This song made me fall in love with xen when you see that first incredible vista. The music in BMS is absolutely, hands down better than any music I've heard in a major triple A title. I love it.
I have played Half Life (1998) around 213 times but I'm still not bored. But I also have a strong desire to play Black Mesa. What a game Valve has created
I have a played thousands of hours across hundreds of video games, yet I will always remember the first time I played Black Mesa and this song hit as the single most emotionally powerful moment of video gaming that I have ever experienced. Even thinking back on it still gives me chills. Bravo Joel Nielsen, and I truly hope to hear more masterpieces from you in the future.
This one….it‘s the one…I love the entire soundtrack but this is your magnum opus, absolute legendary track, it‘s tense yet hopeful,epic and uplifting. Absolutely nothing beats this, even outside of the BM Soundtrack. The Atmosphere, the buildup, the peak starting at 1:35 ,and the way the track goes into the ending with the heavy and deep synths, this track is what perfection means Also heavily recommend this track when doing any intense physical activities
Honestly the best part about the Xen soundtrack and specifically this song is how it feels kind of like it represents the musical equivalent of a brightly colored caterpillar or frog being highly toxic. Its beautiful sure, but don’t forget that it could kill you with ease. You have these incredibly emotional vocals and these synth pads that sound very etherial, I think all of these represent the beauty of Xen. And then you have this low, intense, droning synth bass, and percussion that, at times can take the forefront of the music, reminding you of the underlying danger in the Borderworld, from both the wildlife and the forces of the Nihilanth. Another thing is that a lot of songs in the whole soundtrack have a melancholy undertone, even the action-packed songs. Which is also cool because it represents just how depressing the situation is at large. Humanity getting invaded by the Nihilanths forces, who are in turn running from the Combine, who are also probably expanding because they’re afraid of some other force out there.
I enjoyed the fact that the percussion in this track is a clear homage to "Drums and Riffs" from the original Half-Life (that plays after you launch the portal satellite rocket). Hell, the whole track has the same vibe, just more other-world-ly. Great stuff.
Still coming back to this incredible song and basically the whole Xen soundtrack after I played Black Mesa a year ago ! What a moment ! Thank you, Mr Nielsen for making such amazing pieces to this anthology remake !
Dear Mr. Nielsen, even though you probably heard it numerous times, I would like to thank you from the bottom of my heart for crafting such a masterpiece. I already loved your work in Black Mesa, but what you did with Xen is just breathtaking - so much so that I was sad every time the music stopped. It's safe to say that you elevated the already fantastic experience with Black Mesa one level further and infused it with ton of atmosphere and emotion. Thank you again for creating one of the best game soundtracks ever.
The music, the battle, all epic. The Gonarch felt like a truly intelligent creature in Black Mesa. As she realizes this might be her end, she becomes determined to take Freeman out with her. Defending her home in the most vicious ways she can. Even as her body fails and she becomes desperate, there's still a feeling of sentience and humanity to her. Desperately trying everything she can to protect all that she knows, even if she knows it won't work... One of the many reasons this game got me so involved. The humanity, of everything. Every grunt, every boss, every scientist. Thanks for this beautifully haunting soundtrack.
My favourite track from the album. It has everything, from the ethereal voice, the aggressive drums (reminds me of the earthbound tracks), to the melodic synths. This combination is so unique and made the chase unforgettable to me. Amazing work!
I'm gonna say that Joel Nielsen's work made me love the new Xen and Gonarch fight even more. With the way the fight could end, Gordon sparing the Big Momma, this masterpiece of a music brings an oddly satysfying emotion of a respect. As the song ends, the fight could also abruptly end in a truce and mutual respect between species. Sparing Gonarch should be canon imho.
I absolutely love how Joel shifted the type of music used between the time you're on Earth, and the time you're on Xen. The tracks that play on Earth are familiar, played with familiar instruments, ones you'd be able to name off the top of your head. They have a natural and common feeling to them. Xen is the exact opposite, and that's a good thing. The tracks that play on Xen feel otherworldly, distant, mostly alien, and that's supposed to be how you feel. They're played with coarse electric tones and notes, a complete 180 from the tracks you've been hearing on Earth, containing familiar drums, percussion, guitar, piano, keyboard, etc. Again, this is the exact opposite of Xen. That's good. On Earth, the music fits because, well, you're on Earth, and you know the instruments that are being used in the songs. You come across all of these foreign species, but still feel as if you belong, like you're on Earth. On Xen, you're met with songs that have vocals, more electric than on Earth, and have a completely different style than those at home, on Earth. When you're ripped from Earth and teleported to Xen, you'll feel disassociated, out of place, like you don't belong. The fact of the matter is, you really *don't* belong, and all the monsters and aliens you've been fighting on Earth, ones you've never seen outside of a controlled enclosure before the Cascade, make that clear. You're in their habitat, encroaching on their territory. You are just as foreign and alien to them here, as they were to you on Earth. They can now use the fact you're out of your comfort zone against you, leaving you vulnerable, and giving them the advantage, the upper hand. This is all consistent due to the fact you're now platforming across fleshy pillars, abnormally large leaves, impossible trees, and a lot, lot more. On Earth, you belong. On Earth, the monsters and aliens are foreign; they don't belong. On Xen, you don't belong. On Xen, the monsters and aliens are the environment; they belong. You belong on Earth, you don't belong on Xen. You're the alien now, and they *will* make that clear. On an unrelated note, The Hunting V2, Ascension V2, Shadows of Death V2, Internal Conflict, and Resonance have to be my top 5 favorite tracks of this game, and any and all video games for that matter. Et erit cum vos praemisit , Mr. Nielsen.
In the Xen missions, I always saw the drums and synth as humanity struggling against the unknown nature of the etheral voices of Xen. Like how at the begining the vocals ogerpower the drums but by the end, the drums are the main sounds.
Respect from Russia, man. Your skills is awesome. Cant stop listening whole OST, again and again. Hope to see your name in big movies and AAA games soon ;) Good luck, you are really cool.
@@wasdplayer That would be a waste of the man's prodigious talents. Impressively atmospheric music that sounds gorgeous both in the game and stands as a work of art in its own right. Half Life: Alyx is Valve's first serious undertaking in nearly a decade. I would say CD Projekt Red would be a far superior (and more appropriate) place for him.
Damn, funny how one of my most fav song is a remix of a remarkable game soundtrack. I've instantly came here to look for this masterpiece after finishing the game. Great job man!
I didn't know what to exactly expect going into Gonarch's Lair but it absolutely was not this. which made it all the better when it DID show up. this song mixed with the proper chase sequences and atmosphere of the boss fight gave me a genuine sense of dread ( and fear somewhat ) of Gonarch on my first runthrough. it made it very clear that Gonarch was a formidable threat. this is sound design working at it's finest when it is able to instil proper emotions.
The whole Gonarch chase and the fight at the lair is one of the few times a video game has ever made me legitimately freak out. My heart rate was through the roof running from it and it just felt so satisfying killing it. The Crowbar Collective did an unreal job realizing what Xen could really be, and your music absolutely seals it for me.
I've never been more blown away by a game soundtrack before. The songs in Black Mesa literally que on at all the best possible moments. It's so deliberating scripted and it is basically perfection. This, Apprehension, and Blast Pit 3 are my favorites! 🤟
That part when the music blasts at the same time Gonarch appears in front of you is just brilliant!, I preffer the older version for listening outside of the game but this definitely fits much better in game.
I watched Soup Emporium's video about Black Mesa and the music floored me. He even mentioned the "sound effect" for walking on damp ground 🤣 This is incredible! 👏
Your music truly captures the essence of Half-Life, heightening the experience to levels I thought weren't even astronomically possible. It was this part of Xen, along-side this music, that made me fully understand Black Mesa isn't just a great game or an excellent re-imagining of Half Life 1. It's a goddamn masterpiece that surpasses the original game in nearly every way (in my opinion).
That moment when Gonarch jumped down and the synth started playing. It was so scary and also great. I even could not breath, my hands were shaking so much. When I finished the game, I had to get this song. Thanks Joel!
At 1:35 is the tune of pure survival. It is the tune of struggling for your life. That moment is when you realize Gonarch will never stop until you find a way to escape it or kill it, but killing it up to that point seemed impossible considering everything you hit it with hadn't slowed it down at all.
I've listened to this non stop for a long time, this is on the top boss fights soundtrack for sure. the music made me feel true horror and andrenaline while doing the mission, thank you Mr Nielsen, it is always a pleasure listening to this absolute gem.
Xen's soundtrack has won me over, it made everything 10x times better. You have some great talent, I wish you the best and hope to hear more of your work in the future!
A masterpiece created masterpieces. I wanna talk all day about how ur music is just too good for this world. I had to pause the game to search for it. It made the game so much enjoyable. I swear the whole XEN soundtracks are just phenomenal. I just wanna say THANK YOU SO MUCH for creating every one of it. It's PERFECT.
God this music inspires me to play through Black Mesa for the 11th time haha, I would do anything to just jump through that Portal and relieve this wonderful experience freshly
And here I was just thinking "hey, this track (Alien) is good, but every time I listen to it I feel like it's missing some 80s cyberpunk synth" and then BAM this shit happened.
The second part of this track with the synths and what not is INSANE and got me way too pumped while I was playing through that part of the game. Like F U C K M E
This track gave me one of the most vivid gaming experiences this year, with goosebumps and overwhelming feel of epicness. I will not forget this. Thank you Joel!
Joel man, your whole OST for this game is fantastic. I've been a Half Life fan since I was 7 when the game first came out - it's what originally got me curious about wtf theoretical physics is, which ultimately led to me getting a degree in it, so the HL universe has always obviously been a super important piece of fiction to me. I was all over Black Mesa when it first came out and loved the hell out of it. Then Xen dropped and so did my jaw, straight to the floor. The devs really knocked it out of the park doing the original game justice, and you did the same with your music to convey the right emotional tone. Everything about this game, especially the ost, especially especially the Xen segment, is an absolute S tier masterpiece. Thank you so much for this, hope your musical talent is getting all the attention it rightfully deserves
@@vitalixy3578 if Half Life didn't exist Valve wouldn't exist and steam wouldn't exist either and there would be no such thing as the best FPS Game in the world
Absolutely phenomenal, please write more OST's. Black Mesa's OST is always on my playlist for about 3 years by now, since I've discovered that game. Just like a game itself being replayed by me at least once a year; what a masterpiece. Entire atmosphere of the game is amazing (in a big way thanks to this OST), it keeps drawing me back in.
This could be a movie seriously Its amazing I was on discord while playing this Part and streamed it to my friend cause i knew its gonna be epic BUT THIS EPIC?!? My friend has No Idea of half Life and this music was so good He asked about the price of black Mesa etc. And IS interessted in buying the Game! This piece of music is the Definition of art
The music throughout Gonarch Lair (and Xen altogether) is so good it literally brings a tear to my eye, every time I replay this section of the game I cover up in goosebumps until it's over. Truly a masterpiece, You brought Xen to a whole different level with music design, thank you!
When I played the original, I didn't pay much attention to Gonarch, but with the release of the remake, I realized how hard it was for Gordon to make it all the way to Nikhilant, and the fight with Gonarch was really too brutal. Gordon had to constantly run as fast as he could and hide in narrow openings.
Entire OST is great and atmospheric, somehow carries spirit from 1998 original and that dnage in general without cheap tricks and simple pandering to nostalgia. The Hunting alone would make it worth buying, track's just awesome. Would fit high profile trailer at E3 or similar high profile event. Congratulations, Mr. Nielsen!
Song Changes: Minor tweak to smoothen the first transition that takes place at 1:12. This transition does not exist in the in-game version, and was hacked together in the original for the ost, which has always bugged me.
it's a good enough reason to listen again!
i was confused when this track 1:12 was not in the game
it sounds really amazing
I noticed the change, and it makes an awesome soundtrack even better.
What's the tittle of Gargantua Chase.
By the way loving your BGMs of Black Mesa and XEN Chapter. ♥
@@gesie0504 The one you're thinking of is Surface Tension 3.
right at the part where this song kicks in, the gonarch jumps down from a cliff face, dislodging an HEV-suited corpse from the wall near the player. if you look closely, the suit has NIELSEN on its name tag. absolutely brilliant.
Holy crap I didn't notice that until you said that, that is attention to detail.
@@AxisChurchDevotee authos of this amazing piece of music, lol
@@olegbeon who’s Joe?
@@schadenfreude1061?
@@schadenfreude1061 Joel Nielsen!
*Gordon arrives in Xen*
Gonarch: *YOU PICKED THE WRONG HOUSE FOOL!*
LMAO
Freeman: (Oh shit, here we go again)
I think it would be better if gonarch says " *YOU PICKED THE WRONG LAIR FOOL* " but it's funny too :d
Freeman: And you *PICKED THE WRONG GUY!*
Freeman: Eh ey ey BIG MOMMA, it's me Gordon CHILL CHILL!
In my opinion, Gonarch's Lair in Black Mesa: Xen is not only one of the best boss fights in video games period, but also has one of the most subtly disturbing endings. At the beginning the Gonarch was running around way faster than you and clearly dominating whatever space she was in. At the end, she can barely walk, so she just hobbles around on broken legs while furiously spamming bombs that can't even explode at you, covering the entire room in toxic sludge. In my first playthrough, she sorta had herself stuck onto a pillar in the middle, and she ended up drenching herself in sludge too. It's like the Gonarch realizes how powerless she really is, in the face of the man that's killed hundreds of her children, and spends the last moments of her probably hundreds of years of living crying and screaming like an angry child.
And my first runthrough, I'd ran out of ammo to get her to that point, and had to resort to dumping a load of satchel charges at her feet (the first time I'd touched the stupid things since Questionable Ethics). We were both reduced to our most pathetic attacks. It just felt like a wholly organic, epic moment
I always forget how cool the half-life fanbase is
Chris Dammer trust me, we always cool
You can actually spare Gonarch in the game. Just found out today
@@handsomejack8797 WOT?
When Gonarch's Lair does a better job at Hunt Down the Freeman.
We dont talk about that shit show here
it doesn't exists my friend we dont know anything like Hunt Down the Freeman.
More like hunt down the refund.
What better way to hunt down the man who's slaughter countless soldiers and aliens by pretending to run away in fear in an attempt to lure him into a trap?
@@the_furry_inside_your_walls639 I wouldn't say "Slaughtered" he was only acting in Self Defense.
Us: omg this game is so fantastic and deep!
Valve in 97: dude wouldn't it be epic if we put a giant testicle on a 20 foot tall armored spider
The best part about this is that that's exactly what they said.
@@JackFoxtrotEDM seriously lol?
@@someguy15721 Yeah they literally said that. Look it up if you don't believe me. Fucking hilarious.
@@someguy15721 Oh and look up the cut enemy called Mr. Friendly while your at it...
@@MegaRazorback i know of mr friendly... not sure of what to think about him....
Can't stop but respect that good implementation of "Drums and Riffs" from original game's soundtrack
1:35 This part of the music carries a huge threat and adrenaline. You can't make a mistake, there's no second chance for Gordon. It's the music of the struggle for life.
Freeman: (Arrives)
Gonarch: *WHAT ARE YOU DOING IN MY LAIR*
I read this with Shreks voice lol
_"I've just tried to leave it, through the portal you just mindlessly destroyed (thank you very much btw.), you goddamn overgrown headhumper!"_
"Somebody once told me the world was gonna role me I ain't the sharpest tool in the shed..."
Gonarch: This is my lair!
Qué clase de nombre es ese? Xd
Almost two years later I still have goosebumps... This is one of the best OSTs I've ever listened to. Great job!
I've just discovered Black Mesa.
Played through this game this year and yes, this soundtrack blew me away. love it.
I really like how this song progresses.
Is starts like a regular Xen track: ominous and terrifying.
At 1:13 it turns into action song, where you can really feel the Gonarchs' power.
And then at 1:36 it turns triumphant and epic, only highlighting almost surreal visuals of Xen and the importance of whole mission.
At the end song rolls back to starting tone, like saying "So you have survived this? Good job, but be ready for more...".
This is why I like this song so much. It definitely goes into my list of epic battle songs.
1:36 is my favorite part of the song because that's where the epicness begins.
my experience was more painful (mostly caused by change on hard difficulty, poor newbie-like jetpack control at this stage, and badly knowlege of his attack animations) . This track don't turn me in action, but drop into terrifying feel of "battle with no chance to win". Big tough guy kills me at least 10 rounds, awkwardly bunch of my deaths was from rocks which he kick in my face.
TBH I think 1:36 is more "Oh God oh fuck!" than simply epic
Dude had to be high on some epic quality recreational drug when he composed this tune. It is insanely insane.
Brings a whole different meaning to the fight. You can feel the intensity of the situation rising gradually just by listening to this track. Also, at 1:36 you can literally feel that shit has just gotten real. You are a legend in the making. Hope to hear more from you in the future.
Lol thanks for the kind words. Definitely no drug use tho.
@@JoelNielsenMusic haha. I know there were no drugs.
In the original Half-life I hated going to xen. I played through the game maybe 40 or 50 times and stopped at the end of the lambda chapter. With black mesa source, it did a full 180. This song made me fall in love with xen when you see that first incredible vista. The music in BMS is absolutely, hands down better than any music I've heard in a major triple A title. I love it.
I have played Half Life (1998) around 213 times but I'm still not bored. But I also have a strong desire to play Black Mesa. What a game Valve has created
@@manishamathur589 black mesa is by the crowbar collective
black mesa got us must love Xen chapters while half life only good on black mesa chapters
Sure dude
@@A_Man_with_a_Dream 👍
Damn, this track gave me so much chills during the Gonarch's chase in the game. Absolutely well done OST, sir!
it keep player to be "cold-minded scientist" istead of "barbarian with crowbar and whoosh-jets"
I have a played thousands of hours across hundreds of video games, yet I will always remember the first time I played Black Mesa and this song hit as the single most emotionally powerful moment of video gaming that I have ever experienced. Even thinking back on it still gives me chills. Bravo Joel Nielsen, and I truly hope to hear more masterpieces from you in the future.
That's exactly what I think and how I felt!
This one….it‘s the one…I love the entire soundtrack but this is your magnum opus, absolute legendary track, it‘s tense yet hopeful,epic and uplifting. Absolutely nothing beats this, even outside of the BM Soundtrack. The Atmosphere, the buildup, the peak starting at 1:35 ,and the way the track goes into the ending with the heavy and deep synths, this track is what perfection means
Also heavily recommend this track when doing any intense physical activities
the hit of synth when gonarch comes thru the webs,
xD
The part where you drop out the synths is just mint.
Honestly the best part about the Xen soundtrack and specifically this song is how it feels kind of like it represents the musical equivalent of a brightly colored caterpillar or frog being highly toxic. Its beautiful sure, but don’t forget that it could kill you with ease.
You have these incredibly emotional vocals and these synth pads that sound very etherial, I think all of these represent the beauty of Xen.
And then you have this low, intense, droning synth bass, and percussion that, at times can take the forefront of the music, reminding you of the underlying danger in the Borderworld, from both the wildlife and the forces of the Nihilanth.
Another thing is that a lot of songs in the whole soundtrack have a melancholy undertone, even the action-packed songs. Which is also cool because it represents just how depressing the situation is at large. Humanity getting invaded by the Nihilanths forces, who are in turn running from the Combine, who are also probably expanding because they’re afraid of some other force out there.
I love reading comments like this, it's great to hear this is noticeable.
pretty similar to Studio Ghibil's "Princess Mononoke," ngl. It and the Half-Life series have really good considerable moral complications.
I enjoyed the fact that the percussion in this track is a clear homage to "Drums and Riffs" from the original Half-Life (that plays after you launch the portal satellite rocket). Hell, the whole track has the same vibe, just more other-world-ly. Great stuff.
Still coming back to this incredible song and basically the whole Xen soundtrack after I played Black Mesa a year ago ! What a moment ! Thank you, Mr Nielsen for making such amazing pieces to this anthology remake !
Freeman : sees gonarch
Gonarch : WHY ARE U RUNNING???
I see what you did there.
Of all the Black Mesa soundtrack, this is my favorite, it's totally amazing
Yeah, all the claiming has been turned off.
@@JoelNielsenMusic Yes! I just saw it in another comment
Thank you very much for that! You have earned my respect and admiration
Dear Mr. Nielsen, even though you probably heard it numerous times, I would like to thank you from the bottom of my heart for crafting such a masterpiece. I already loved your work in Black Mesa, but what you did with Xen is just breathtaking - so much so that I was sad every time the music stopped. It's safe to say that you elevated the already fantastic experience with Black Mesa one level further and infused it with ton of atmosphere and emotion. Thank you again for creating one of the best game soundtracks ever.
The music, the battle, all epic. The Gonarch felt like a truly intelligent creature in Black Mesa. As she realizes this might be her end, she becomes determined to take Freeman out with her. Defending her home in the most vicious ways she can. Even as her body fails and she becomes desperate, there's still a feeling of sentience and humanity to her. Desperately trying everything she can to protect all that she knows, even if she knows it won't work... One of the many reasons this game got me so involved. The humanity, of everything. Every grunt, every boss, every scientist. Thanks for this beautifully haunting soundtrack.
Respect from Türkiye, your talent is worldwide...
1980'li yapım filmlerinde bulunan "antreman montajı" müziklerini anımsatmıyor mu sana da?
@@SemihAO Harbiden h ajfdsfj
@@SemihAO harbi
HARBİ DEDİK AQ@@SemihAO
tek dinleyen ben değilmişim..
Probably my favorite OST in the game, all of them are so good.
My favourite track from the album. It has everything, from the ethereal voice, the aggressive drums (reminds me of the earthbound tracks), to the melodic synths. This combination is so unique and made the chase unforgettable to me. Amazing work!
I'm gonna say that Joel Nielsen's work made me love the new Xen and Gonarch fight even more. With the way the fight could end, Gordon sparing the Big Momma, this masterpiece of a music brings an oddly satysfying emotion of a respect. As the song ends, the fight could also abruptly end in a truce and mutual respect between species. Sparing Gonarch should be canon imho.
I absolutely love how Joel shifted the type of music used between the time you're on Earth, and the time you're on Xen.
The tracks that play on Earth are familiar, played with familiar instruments, ones you'd be able to name off the top of your head. They have a natural and common feeling to them.
Xen is the exact opposite, and that's a good thing. The tracks that play on Xen feel otherworldly, distant, mostly alien, and that's supposed to be how you feel. They're played with coarse electric tones and notes, a complete 180 from the tracks you've been hearing on Earth, containing familiar drums, percussion, guitar, piano, keyboard, etc. Again, this is the exact opposite of Xen. That's good.
On Earth, the music fits because, well, you're on Earth, and you know the instruments that are being used in the songs. You come across all of these foreign species, but still feel as if you belong, like you're on Earth.
On Xen, you're met with songs that have vocals, more electric than on Earth, and have a completely different style than those at home, on Earth.
When you're ripped from Earth and teleported to Xen, you'll feel disassociated, out of place, like you don't belong. The fact of the matter is, you really *don't* belong, and all the monsters and aliens you've been fighting on Earth, ones you've never seen outside of a controlled enclosure before the Cascade, make that clear. You're in their habitat, encroaching on their territory. You are just as foreign and alien to them here, as they were to you on Earth. They can now use the fact you're out of your comfort zone against you, leaving you vulnerable, and giving them the advantage, the upper hand. This is all consistent due to the fact you're now platforming across fleshy pillars, abnormally large leaves, impossible trees, and a lot, lot more.
On Earth, you belong.
On Earth, the monsters and aliens are foreign; they don't belong.
On Xen, you don't belong.
On Xen, the monsters and aliens are the environment; they belong.
You belong on Earth, you don't belong on Xen.
You're the alien now, and they *will* make that clear.
On an unrelated note, The Hunting V2, Ascension V2, Shadows of Death V2, Internal Conflict, and Resonance have to be my top 5 favorite tracks of this game, and any and all video games for that matter.
Et erit cum vos praemisit
, Mr. Nielsen.
Earth:action thriller.Xen:Epic Action
You guys turned a couple of claustrophobic chambers into a cat and mouse *journey* across Xen. Well freaking done.
Track 5: "Alien"
Track 6: "The Hunting"
Patrick: _"ALIEN HUNTING! ALIEN HUNTING!"_
Shhhhh! We can't let them know were on to them!
Alien vs predator
In the Xen missions, I always saw the drums and synth as humanity struggling against the unknown nature of the etheral voices of Xen. Like how at the begining the vocals ogerpower the drums but by the end, the drums are the main sounds.
Black Mesa: run before it brutally kills you. This is the peak animal of this ecosystem, so you have to be ready.
Half-life: heehoo testicle crab
Respect from Russia, man.
Your skills is awesome. Cant stop listening whole OST, again and again.
Hope to see your name in big movies and AAA games soon ;)
Good luck, you are really cool.
This. Valve should hire this guy.
а я вот смотрю на аву и скажу что ты не из раши
@@wasdplayer That would be a waste of the man's prodigious talents. Impressively atmospheric music that sounds gorgeous both in the game and stands as a work of art in its own right.
Half Life: Alyx is Valve's first serious undertaking in nearly a decade. I would say CD Projekt Red would be a far superior (and more appropriate) place for him.
@@EasyPeasyLemonSqueezyXD а я звёздочки вместо букв всё чаще вижу. Это тоже крыша течь начинает?
Respect from Poland too. Amazing soundtrack. I wish I could hear it in new movies/series, good luck. Totaly greed with @ЕБ*ШИТ&РУЛИТСЯ.
The extra transition at 1:12 sounds incredible!! Extra from the game, I mean. This track is Godly good.
I just saw you on SexyNutella playthrough of Xen lol It seems that Im just the 2nd biggest HL fan 😜
@@AndersonMallony-EricCF Haha! Thanks man! Sexy Nutella has some great videos. He was the inspiration for my Black Mesa run.
Damn, funny how one of my most fav song is a remix of a remarkable game soundtrack. I've instantly came here to look for this masterpiece after finishing the game. Great job man!
Running away from Gonarch will be my best experience in this game. Such cool moment
I’ve never seen music so I’m sync with a game in my life, its never fit so perfectly. I’ve played so many games but this I can easily say is PERFECT 👌
man, you've made an iconic game even better! procs to YOU, SIR!
I didn't know what to exactly expect going into Gonarch's Lair but it absolutely was not this. which made it all the better when it DID show up. this song mixed with the proper chase sequences and atmosphere of the boss fight gave me a genuine sense of dread ( and fear somewhat ) of Gonarch on my first runthrough. it made it very clear that Gonarch was a formidable threat.
this is sound design working at it's finest when it is able to instil proper emotions.
The whole Gonarch chase and the fight at the lair is one of the few times a video game has ever made me legitimately freak out. My heart rate was through the roof running from it and it just felt so satisfying killing it. The Crowbar Collective did an unreal job realizing what Xen could really be, and your music absolutely seals it for me.
sinceramente la mejor banda sonora que haya escuchado en cualquier juego, cada música queda a la perfección con la situación donde suena, Joel te amo
I've never been more blown away by a game soundtrack before. The songs in Black Mesa literally que on at all the best possible moments. It's so deliberating scripted and it is basically perfection. This, Apprehension, and Blast Pit 3 are my favorites! 🤟
That part when the music blasts at the same time Gonarch appears in front of you is just brilliant!, I preffer the older version for listening outside of the game but this definitely fits much better in game.
One of the most epic songs I've ever heard. This is just something else. You seriously just came up with this masterpiece? This song is perfect to me.
Кто после тизера ТопДог 5?)) ТопДог шедевр! Даня красава!
man having those vocals as a kind of omnipresent siren of death through out these chapters is bloody brilliant.
The Gonarch on her last legs when 1:12 hit was just pure atmosphere at it's finest. Truly gave the battle a sense of urgency and importance!
Last legs?
HALF LIFE 2 EP 2 REFERENCE???!!!
I watched Soup Emporium's video about Black Mesa and the music floored me. He even mentioned the "sound effect" for walking on damp ground 🤣 This is incredible! 👏
Your music truly captures the essence of Half-Life, heightening the experience to levels I thought weren't even astronomically possible.
It was this part of Xen, along-side this music, that made me fully understand Black Mesa isn't just a great game or an excellent re-imagining of Half Life 1.
It's a goddamn masterpiece that surpasses the original game in nearly every way (in my opinion).
This brilliant song develops similar to "Forget About Freeman". Thank you for the song! Nice it's in my streaming service's db :)
That moment when Gonarch jumped down and the synth started playing. It was so scary and also great. I even could not breath, my hands were shaking so much. When I finished the game, I had to get this song. Thanks Joel!
this is maybe the best soundtrack i have ever heard. absolutely perfect job!
At 1:35 is the tune of pure survival. It is the tune of struggling for your life. That moment is when you realize Gonarch will never stop until you find a way to escape it or kill it, but killing it up to that point seemed impossible considering everything you hit it with hadn't slowed it down at all.
I've listened to this non stop for a long time, this is on the top boss fights soundtrack for sure. the music made me feel true horror and andrenaline while doing the mission, thank you Mr Nielsen, it is always a pleasure listening to this absolute gem.
Respect from Russia. Amazing track.
Xen's soundtrack has won me over, it made everything 10x times better. You have some great talent, I wish you the best and hope to hear more of your work in the future!
A masterpiece created masterpieces. I wanna talk all day about how ur music is just too good for this world. I had to pause the game to search for it. It made the game so much enjoyable. I swear the whole XEN soundtracks are just phenomenal.
I just wanna say THANK YOU SO MUCH for creating every one of it. It's PERFECT.
God this music inspires me to play through Black Mesa for the 11th time haha, I would do anything to just jump through that Portal and relieve this wonderful experience freshly
Some of the best fitting atmospheric music ive ever heard in a video game.
Congrats on making Black Mesa a classic!
Respect from Kazakhstan. Its really great job. Love your soundtrack. Thank you very much for these emotion!
And here I was just thinking "hey, this track (Alien) is good, but every time I listen to it I feel like it's missing some 80s cyberpunk synth" and then BAM this shit happened.
I hear drums and riffs at the beginning. I never noticed that XD
what an amazing score... the transitions are just brilliant
Nihilanth: nooo you cant kill the ecosystem killing the gonarch
freeman: haha crowbar goes brr
1:36
Freeman = (arrives)
---- And -----
Gonarch = (Tailing Him )
Hell of amazing track.
1:36 this part is so damn good
This battle with Gonarch is new experience in HL universe. From Russia with love always for this stuff
This game and this soundtrack are masterpieces.
The second part of this track with the synths and what not is INSANE and got me way too pumped while I was playing through that part of the game. Like F U C K M E
Been a long time since i heard something that moves my soul. This song digs deep.
1:36 I don't know how many times I fell off the cliff running from the Gonarch
Real epic
This track gave me one of the most vivid gaming experiences this year, with goosebumps and overwhelming feel of epicness. I will not forget this. Thank you Joel!
Joel man, your whole OST for this game is fantastic. I've been a Half Life fan since I was 7 when the game first came out - it's what originally got me curious about wtf theoretical physics is, which ultimately led to me getting a degree in it, so the HL universe has always obviously been a super important piece of fiction to me. I was all over Black Mesa when it first came out and loved the hell out of it. Then Xen dropped and so did my jaw, straight to the floor. The devs really knocked it out of the park doing the original game justice, and you did the same with your music to convey the right emotional tone. Everything about this game, especially the ost, especially especially the Xen segment, is an absolute S tier masterpiece. Thank you so much for this, hope your musical talent is getting all the attention it rightfully deserves
1:37 Always gets me
this just screams the "ive come too far to die now" vibe. go freeman, lmao.
it's just great....
It's coming!
Valve:(hits blunt) LETS PUT A GIANT TESTICLE ON A 20 FT ARMOURED SPIDER
I'm so glad I grew up with this: Half Life
But dang this is better: Black Mesa
Black Mesa wouldn't exist without Half Life, both complement each other.
@@vitalixy3578 if Half Life didn't exist Valve wouldn't exist and steam wouldn't exist either and there would be no such thing as the best FPS Game in the world
Absolutely phenomenal, please write more OST's. Black Mesa's OST is always on my playlist for about 3 years by now, since I've discovered that game. Just like a game itself being replayed by me at least once a year; what a masterpiece. Entire atmosphere of the game is amazing (in a big way thanks to this OST), it keeps drawing me back in.
Valve should be proud of their fanbase.
This could be a movie seriously
Its amazing
I was on discord while playing this Part and streamed it to my friend cause i knew its gonna be epic
BUT THIS EPIC?!?
My friend has No Idea of half Life and this music was so good He asked about the price of black Mesa etc. And IS interessted in buying the Game!
This piece of music is the Definition of art
update: 3 of my friends bought it
Listening with Headphone will make you tense, this is masterpiece Mr Nielsen
Great work going on in these sequences, wonderful to listen to 💪🏼
The best remaster I ever played by far, and this BF-like soundtrack makes it even better. Congrats!
The music throughout Gonarch Lair (and Xen altogether) is so good it literally brings a tear to my eye, every time I replay this section of the game I cover up in goosebumps until it's over. Truly a masterpiece, You brought Xen to a whole different level with music design, thank you!
Holly mother its amazing... just WoW. Great job.
When I played the original, I didn't pay much attention to Gonarch, but with the release of the remake, I realized how hard it was for Gordon to make it all the way to Nikhilant, and the fight with Gonarch was really too brutal. Gordon had to constantly run as fast as he could and hide in narrow openings.
Whoa 😦 🔥
Entire OST is great and atmospheric, somehow carries spirit from 1998 original and that dnage in general without cheap tricks and simple pandering to nostalgia. The Hunting alone would make it worth buying, track's just awesome. Would fit high profile trailer at E3 or similar high profile event. Congratulations, Mr. Nielsen!
This truly sends chills. Great job.
This boss fight was *far superior* to the underwhelming final fight. ~2 decades of battling crab heads all lead to that inevitable clash of titans.
DAMN
I't been a long time sinca a soundtrack gave me so much chills, this is a masterpiece
Been playing this on loop for a solid 15 minutes now. Beautiful!
Black Mesa soundtracks are best soundtracks i ever seen!
This is how I feel when there is a spider in my room at night
That's what Gordons head crab PTSD does to him
TDFC 5 !