The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Original Game Soundtrack Review

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Original Game Soundtrack
Composed by: Jeremy Soule
Published by: DirectSong
Date of Release: December 2011
Price: $29.99

As I sit here at my desk preparing to write my review, I pause a moment to savor the rich orchestral swells that are being pumped into my ears through my softly padded monitors. I cannot help but smile as the choir picks up, beginning to chant an epic poem in the tongue of the dragons. I am for the third time experiencing the majestic aural tapestry that Jeremy Soule has woven around the fifth entry in the Elder Scrolls mythos, and I know for certain that I will return again and again to do so.




The Elder Scrolls series has long been a staple in the western RPG world, however the first two entries took a more simplistic approach to their music. Starting with the third entry things began to change, as Jeremy Soule began to work his magic. Though Morrowind and Oblivion had amazing soundtracks worthy of much acclaim, Mr Soule has truly outdone himself with the Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim.




The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Original Game Soundtrack comes packaged on four cds which are housed in a gorgeous digipack adorned with concept art from the game. The first three discs contain the games main soundtrack, and the fourth is an amazing lengthy ambient suite. The tracks are excellently mastered, and lack any sort of compression or clipping. This would make excellent demo material for showing off an epic sound system, as the soundscape ranges from epic thundering choral marches to peaceful ambient trillings.




My only complaint with this set is honestly the lack of any liner notes. There's not even an included booklet of any sort. It would have been nice to have some insight into the Mr Soule's feelings as he worked on this album, however it's not nearly enough of a flaw to detract from the overall quality of the set. If you are a fan of The Elder Scrolls or Jeremy Soule's work in general, then you owe it to yourself to pick up this soundtrack. It is available directly from DirectSong at $29.99.