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Toxic Grind Soundtrack (Reviews)

A couple of weeks ago THQ kindly sent me a copy of Toxic Grind for the Xbox (and we posted some screenshots from it). They also put us in contact with Waxploitation, the company responsible for the game's soundtrack. And Waxploitation kindly sent us a copy of the soundtrack CD.

At first the concept of a soundtrack CD for a game seemed a little odd. I know there are a lot of soundtrack CDs available, the most notable being those produced recently for Grand Theft Auto: Vice City (all seven of them!), and the series created for the Wipeout games.

Having played the game, the decision to use mostly electric guitars for the melody, with typical dance beats underlying each track makes sense, as the game is certainly aimed at the more extreme end of the market, with a storyline that's a cross between the X-Games and Rollerball.

All the tracks on the soundtrack have been composed, written and performed by Mesmer, better known as Peter Reardon. Mesmer is best known as a producer sits firmly between the rock, Latin and Rap worlds, having recorded Coolio's "Gansta's Paradise", as well as working with Ol' Dirty Bastard, Xzibit, Insane Clown Posse, Barenaked Ladies and the Beuna Vista Social Club amongst others.

His influences show through, especially on what is perhaps the standout track on the CD, "Kill the Messenger", an incredibly vibrant track that successfully blends Cuban and Latin pan-pipe and flute melodies and rythmns with dance and hip-hop inspired beats, spiced with the ubiquitous electric guitar.

Other tracks of note include "Sleeping Pill", essentially a pure heavy metal track, utilising all the common elements - a driving lead guitar, slightly dirty rythmn, all tied together with a beat that almost owes more the breakbeat than traditional rock and roll.

Included as a bonus track on the CD is a remix by Chris Vrenna (yes, of Smashing Pumpkins fame), who has recently been contributing to the world of game audio, even if only peripherally, by working on the remix of U2's "Elevation" as used in the Tomb Raider movie.

The soundtrack has now established it firmly in my long-term play list, and whilst the game itself is essentially forgettable, the soundtrack certainly isn't.

- posted by cro on 06.12.02
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