Black Mesa (video game)/Soundtrack

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Black Mesa soundtrack album cover.

Black Mesa: Xen soundtrack album cover.

The Black Mesa soundtrack was composed by Joel Nielsen. It consists of two albums, the first one featuring the tracks from the earth-bound portion of the game with all the Xen-related tracks released later in the second album. Both albums were released before the respective parts of the game, they can be listened for free on YouTube or bought on several other platforms. The tracks can also be obtained by navigating to steamapps\sourcemods\BMS\sound\music in the mod, or extracting the steamapps\common\Black Mesa\bms\bms_sounds_misc_dir.vpk archive file of the Steam release with an appropriate program.

The first album was released on September 2, 2012, two weeks prior to the mod release. It was later updated with an early version of a track used in On A Rail later in 2012, and with a new track made for the updated Surface Tension in 2016, these additional tracks are only available on some of the platforms.

The first two tracks of the second album to appear in Xen became available on YouTube with release of the Xen Technical Beta on June 25, 2019, with the larger part of the whole album releasing on August 1. It was later updated with three additional tracks, Interloper, Catalyst and Event horizon, as well as minor mixing adjustments of Shadows of Death, Harbinger and Ascension. On November 25, the soundtrack was updated again with adjustments to The Hunting, Respite and Nihilist, and two new tracks – Resonance and Ascension Reprise. As with the Xen chapters themselves, the Xen soundtrack is only available in the game's Steam release.

On August 13, 2021, the first album was updated with ten additional tracks: Deathmatch Trailer, Unforseen Consequeces (Ressed), and eight ambient pieces, Ambience 1 through 8.

Track listing

* = not present in Black Mesa game files.

** = not present in a given soundtrack.

Black Mesa soundtrack

Game #	OST #	Track title	Time	Music style	Level location	Comments
*	06	End Credits Part 1	1:27	Aggressive / uptempo	Does not appear in the game	Originally played during the first part of the credits, replaced with Limitless Potential in the complete game.
*	07	End Credits Part 2	1:56	Melodic / slow	Does not appear in the game	Originally played during the second part of the credits, replaced with Border Worlds in the complete game.
*	24	Unforeseen Consequences	1:07	Melodic / slow	Does not appear in the game	Originally played in Unforeseen Consequences while descending on the cargo lift. During the initial release of the Xen content, the track was removed and briefly replaced with Black Mesa Theme (Mesa Remix). In the final release of the complete game, this scene had its music replaced a second time with Mesa Theme (UC Remix).
*	26	Black Mesa Theme (Mesa Remix)	1:18	Ambient	Does not appear in the game	The original Black Mesa Theme track played backwards, with a different pitch. Originally played on the title screen, as well as right after the Resonance Cascade. During the initial release of the Xen content, this track was replaced with Catalyst for the title screen, and Resonance for the scene after the Resonance Cascade. At that time, this song was moved to Unforeseen Consequences while descending on the cargo lift. In the final release of the complete game, it became completely unused, with Mesa Theme Theme (UC Remix) replacing it during the cargo lift scene.
*	27	Black Mesa Theme	0:54	Melodic / slow	Does not appear in the game	Used on the front page of the Black Mesa website around the time of the 2012 release.
*	29	Blast Pit 2	1:29	Melodic / slow	Does not appear in the game	Originally was to appear in the Blast Pit chapter.
*	31	On a Rail (leaked)	1:40	Agressive / Uptempo	Does not appear in the game	The track heard in the leaked On a Rail gameplay video.
01	09	Inbound Part 1	1:50	Ambient	Black Mesa Inbound: At the first part of the train ride.
02	10	Inbound Part 2	4:00	Ambient	Black Mesa Inbound: At the second part of the train ride.
03	11	Inbound Part 3	3:08	Ambient	Black Mesa Inbound: At the third part of the train ride.
04	01	Anomalous Materials	0:59	Aggressive / uptempo	Anomalous Materials: Upon acquiring the Hazardous Environment Suit.
06	30	Office Complex	1:20	Melodic / slow	Office Complex: When entering the first office after the power switch has been turned off.	Steam version only.
07	13	Office Complex (Mesa Remix)	1:38	Melodic / slow	Office Complex: Upon entering the freezer.	The original Office Complex track played backwards, with a different pitch.
08	25	We've Got Hostiles	1:58	Aggressive / uptempo	"We've Got Hostiles": While ascending on a lift to the surface.	Originally called WGH Topside.
09	03	Blast Pit 1	1:03	Ambient	Blast Pit: Upon entering the silo.
10	04	Blast Pit 2 (Mesa Remix)	1:59	Ambient	Blast Pit: Upon turning on the power generator.	The original Blast Pit 2 track played backwards, with a different pitch.
11	05	Blast Pit 3	1:32	Aggressive / uptempo	Blast Pit: Upon returning to the blast pit, after turning power, fuel and oxygen on.
12	16	Power Up	0:50	Ambient	Power Up: Upon killing the Gargantua.
13	14	On a Rail 1	2:15	Melodic / slow	On A Rail: At the beginning of the chapter, while descending on the first railway turntable.
14	15	On a Rail 2	1:08	Aggressive / uptempo	On A Rail: At the rocket launch pad, while battling the HECU.
15	02	Apprehension (Mesa Remix)	1:27	Ambient	Apprehension: Upon entering a room with three pistons inside. The first 17 seconds plays upon being knocked out by the HECU near the end of the chapter.	The original Apprenehsion track played backwards, with a different pitch.
16	28	Apprehension	1:47	Melodic / slow	Apprehension: Only the first 27 seconds is played while being dragged by two HECU Marines. The full track is never heard.
17	19	Residue Processing	1:01	Aggressive / uptempo	Residue Processing: While riding the conveyor belts.	The original version of this track was featured in the Black Mesa Teaser Trailer from 2007.
18	18	Questionable Ethics 2	0:55	Aggressive / uptempo	Questionable Ethics: Upon obtaining the Tau Cannon.
19	17	Questionable Ethics 1	1:22	Aggressive / uptempo	Questionable Ethics: During the HECU ambush at the lobby.
20, 21	20	Surface Tension 1	2:30	Aggressive / uptempo	Surface Tension: First part is played at the dam; second – while fighting the chopper on the cliffsides.	Originally called Surface Tension Theme.
22	21	Surface Tension 2	2:01	Aggressive / uptempo	Surface Tension: Upon entering the cliff wall area.
23	23	Surface Tension 4	1:30	Melodic / slow	Surface Tension: Upon entering the inner area of the explosives-filled warehouse.
24	32	Surface Tension Uncut	1:34	Agressive / Uptempo	Surface Tension: during the HECU battle against Xen forces when an Alien Craft destroys a tank.	Available only in the Steam version, added in the May 15, 2016 update that expanded the Surface Tension chapter. The original Surface Tension Uncut mod used the leaked On a Rail track instead.
25	22	Surface Tension 3	1:40	Aggressive / uptempo	Surface Tension: First part is played while approaching the Gargantua in the Topside Motorpool's underground parking; second – upon seeing the Gargantua.	The original version of this track, named Black Mesa Trailer 2 was featured in the second Black Mesa trailer from 2008.
26	08	Forget About Freeman	2:30	Aggressive / uptempo	"Forget About Freeman!": Upon rising from the sewers to battle dozens of HECU soldiers and a tank.
27	12	Lambda Core	1:15	Melodic / slow	Lambda Core: While descending the platform with a truck.
*	33	Deathmatch Trailer	2:11	Melodic / Ambient	Does not appear in the game	Played during the Deathmatch Trailer.
05	34	Unforeseen Consequences (Ressed)	1:21	Ambient	Unforeseen Consequences: While descending on the cargo lift.	Also known as Mesa Theme (UC Remix). Remix of Black Mesa Theme (Mesa Mix) with added synths. In the complete game this track appears instead of removed Unforeseen Consequences, with its place taken by a new track of the Xen album, Resonance, to tie Black Mesa and Xen tighter together thematically.
*	35	Ambience 1	1:12	Ambient	Unforeseen Consequences: While jumping across suspended crates.
*	36	Ambience 2	0:39	Ambient	"We've Got Hostiles": While opening the door to Silo D from inside the security booth.
*	37	Ambience 3	1:02	Ambient	Blast Pit: While descending in an elevator just after entering the door to Silo D.
*	38	Ambience 4	1:20	Ambient	Blast Pit: In the sewers leading to the oxygen and fuel supply.
*	39	Ambience 5	0:42	Ambient	Blast Pit: At the top of the elevator shaft leading to the generator.
*	40	Ambience 6	1:13	Ambient	Power Up: Upon entering the security booth overlooking the Gargantua.
*	41	Ambience 7	1:16	Ambient	Questionable Ethics: Upon entering the Advanced Biological Research Lab and seeing the first Alien Grunt.
*	42	Ambience 8	0:31	Ambient	Lambda Core: Upon entering the reactor coolant pools for the first time. (first instance) Lambda Core: Upon arriving at the Lambda Core survey team supply depot. (second instance)

Black Mesa: Xen soundtrack

Game #	OST #	Track title	Time	Music style	Level location	Comments
*	17	Catalyst	2:32	Melodic / slow	Menu Music for Black Mesa.
*	18	Event Horizon	1:26	Ambient	Alternate menu music for Black Mesa.
01	19	Resonance	2:09	Melodic / slow	Unforeseen Consequences: After the Resonance Cascade. On A Rail: After the death of the shotgunner security guard.	According to Joel, this track was added in the complete game to tie Black Mesa and Xen a bit tighter together thematically. The track that originally played in its place, Black Mesa Theme (Mesa Mix), replaced Unforeseen Consquences, which in turn was removed from the game.
03	01	Transcendent	1:35	Melodic / slow	Xen: upon coming out of the cave after being teleported from the Lambda Complex.
04	03	Entangled	1:45	Melodic / slow	Xen: plays upon entering the swamp, and seeing a Bullsquid getting stabbed by a Xen Tree.
05	04	Convergence	1:59	Melodic / slow	Xen: the first 20 seconds are played upon seeing the first island encountered in the original game. The whole track plays upon reaching the large tree branches connected to the aforementioned island.
06	05	Alien	3:04	Ambient	Gonarch's Lair: during the first encounter with the Gonarch.
07	07	Lair	3:52	Ambient	Gonarch's Lair: in a small area containing many yellow crystals, with the Gonarch standing on a large webbing above Gordon.
08	06	The Hunting (v2)	2:55	Agressive / Uptempo	Gonarch's Lair: the first part plays when the Gonarch destroys a bridge after Freeman has crossed the toxic water. The second part plays as Freeman escapes from the Gonarch after exiting a small cavern located next to a waterfall.
*	**	The Hunting (v1)	2:55	Agressive / Uptempo	Does not appear in the game	This version of the track was included in the initial soundtrack release. It features a rougher transition between the two parts of the track.
09	02	Internal Conflict	2:51	Agressive / Uptempo	Gonarch's Lair: during the final battle against the Gonarch.	Used in the 2018 Xen Trailer.
10	08	Mind Games	1:13	Agressive / Uptempo	Interloper: in the vortigaunt village after the Alien Controllers appear.
11	09	Shadows of Death (v2)	2:35	Agressive / Uptempo	Interloper: during the Gargantua chase sequence.
*	**	Shadows of Death (v1)	2:35	Agressive / Uptempo	Does not appear in the game	This version of the track was included in the initial soundtrack release. It features louder vocals and quieter synths compared to the final version that replaced it.
12	10	Interloper	1:44	Agressive / Uptempo	Interloper: after entering the Mines.
13	11	Harbinger (v2)	2:44	Melodic / slow	Interloper: after exiting the sabotaged Alien Grunt production facility in the Mines.
*	**	Harbinger (v1)	2:26	Melodic / slow	Does not appear in the game	This version of the track was included in the initial soundtrack release. It is slightly faster than the version that replaced it and features additional piano instrument.
14	12	Critical Mass	2:08	Agressive / Uptempo	Interloper: during the battle with Alien Controllers on the conveyor belts.
15	13	Ascension (v2)	3:15	Agressive / Uptempo	Interloper: while ascending to the portal leading to the Nihilanth.
*	**	Ascension (v1)	3:12	Agressive / Uptempo	Does not appear in the game	This version of the track was included in the initial soundtrack release. It differs slightly from the final version in its mixing and ending.
16	20	Ascension (Reprise)	3:17	Aggressive / Uptempo	Interloper: while ascending to the portal leading to the Nihilanth.
17	14	Respite (v2)	1:42	Melodic / slow	Interloper: near the last portal leading to the Nihilanth's cave.
*	**	Respite (v1)	1:36	Melodic / slow	Does not appear in the game	This version of the track was included in the initial soundtrack release. It is missing low synth and bass, thus being less intense and slightly lighter in mood.
18	21	Nihilist (v2)	5:15	Ambient	Nihilanth: during the final confrontation with the Nihilanth	The track is made entirely out of the vocals used in the other tracks.
*	**	Nihilist (v1)	5:00	Ambient	Does not appear in the game	An earlier version of the track, with some of the higher frequency tones being louder.
19	15	Limitless Potential	2:14	Agressive / Uptempo	Endgame: First part of the credits.
20	16	Border Worlds	1:43	Melodic / slow	Endgame: Second part of the credits.

External llinks

• Black Mesa Soundtrack on Joel Nielsen's official website
• Black Mesa: Xen Soundtrack on Joel Nielsen's official website