It’s been awhile since a record label has double dipped on a kaiju soundtrack. This used to be a common occurrence, in fact Godzilla vs. Mothra (1992) to Rebirth of Mothra III (1998) all had single disc and then double disc editions. Generally, the single disc would come first and then a month later would come the more expensive double disc. This was a strategy aimed at getting hardcore fans to double dip, purchasing both.
With this release, Rambling Records revives an old trend, though there’s a notable 11-month gap between this set and the original single-disc edition (RBCP-3502). This longer gap suggests it may have been a response to the film's unexpected popularity rather than a pre-planned move. However, the "double dip" nature of this release is clear, as it barely qualifies as a two-disc set, offering 79:30 minutes of music. That’s just one more minute than the Shin Godzilla soundtrack (KICS-3400). While this could have fit on a single disc, it’s rare for a disc to exceed 79 minutes, so one might give them a pass. Still, the decision seems designed to make this feel like a more significant upgrade from the original 56-minute single-disc edition. This is further undercut by the inclusion of a repeated track, “Resolution,” with added silence to mimic its placement at the end of the credits. While this is more true to the movie experience, it's hard to ignore that without this repeated track the music here could have easily fit on a single disc.
Wow, okay, I’ve blabled too much about disc logistics. Let’s talk about the contents. Now Naoki Sato is known for his bombastic, orchestral scores, but here he crafts a more subdued, atmospheric soundtrack. The music is perfect for the film but less engaging as a standalone listen. Tracks like "Fear," "Portent," and "Confusion" are eerie and subdued, a recurring style that works to elevate their respective scenes but isn’t all that gripping outside of the movie. The standout piece, though, is "Resolution". To the point, it’s one of Sato's best themes, capturing the pressure of the mission with a powerful choir. In fact, as noted, it’s included twice here but it’s so good one can overlook it. "Unscathed" also shines, evoking Godzilla's devastating power.
The adapted Akira Ifukube themes are another highlight, called the "Godzilla Suite" tracks. The first features a fresh take on Mothra vs. Godzilla's main theme, which is very engaging and better as a standalone piece in fact as it felt a little odd during the horrific moments of the Ginza attack. The second suite adapts the Godzilla vs. Destoroyah (1995) end title music while the final suite revisits the Godzilla theme with an interesting orchestral crescendo at the start.
As a whole, the score is atmospheric and unsettling, perfect for the movie but less gripping outside it. Still, the few standout tracks and the renditions of Ifukube's music make it worthwhile for those who enjoy a more subdued score with a scattering of more engaging moments.
In terms of this release, there are 10 tracks that are brand new (I refuse to count the repeated “Resolution” track as new, even though the track list on this release does). All of these, except the Godzilla roar sound effect, appear on the first disc. They are:
- Pain II
- Live
- Honor II
- Scar
- Incident
- Days
- Guilt
- Fear II
- Devine II
Most of these tracks closely resemble those already included, as indicated by the awkward numbering system. I call it awkward because “Pain II” appears before “Pain,” which is done to maintain the original track titles from the single-disc edition. Interestingly, one of the standout tracks is among the unreleased material: the four-minute “Guilt.” This string-heavy piece combines complexity with soothing elements, and I’m surprised it wasn’t released earlier. “Live” also stands out for offering something a bit different from the other tracks, while “Days” is enjoyable but feels out of place with its upbeat tone, contrasting sharply with the rest of the score. The remaining tracks are either short and forgettable, like “Scar” and “Incident,” or too similar to what was already included.
Bottom line, I complained a lot, but this is the optimal way to enjoy this soundtrack. While I wouldn’t recommend fans upgrade if they already have the single disc, unless they are a more hardcore soundtrack collector, this is the more complete offering for those who really enjoy the score.
As for track titles, all the tracks follow the format "Godzilla-1.0 [title name here]" in English. For instance, the first track would be "Godzilla-1.0 Fear." To avoid redundancy, the movie title was omitted below. |
