Nightwarriors: Darkstalkers' Revenge Original Soundtrack

NIGHTWARRIORS: DARKSTALKERS' REVENGE
ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACK

—by Charles McCarter

1. Invitation to the Charm of Darkness

2. Cool Love

3. Mad Rhythm

4. Night Battle Party

5. Chaos Flare

6. Endless Battle Game

7. Pure Yet Alone

8. Bluffman

9. Oriental Sisters

10. Artman

11. Murder Pentagram

12. Space Symphonic

13. Memories

14. A Sad Destiny

15. Precious Spirit

16. Dark Diamond

17. Planet Burning

18. Destruction of God

19. The Final Kiss

20. The Disappearing Light

21. Escape From the Labyrinth

Viz currently holds the monopoly on all things DARKSTALKERS, what with the video and the comic already under their belts. And Viz music has also released a domestic version of the CD soundtrack to the popular OVA series.
Otani Kou is the composer for this album. Fresh from his work on GUNDAM WING, he has turned his eye toward creating a musical atmosphere appropriate for these monsters and their world. He says in the liner notes that he chose hard rock as a base for the album, and then used other styles and instrumentations to add different accents and give each character's tracks some individuality.
The first track, which is also the opening theme, really sets the mood for this CD. Combining a little bit of more traditional sounding instrumentation with electronic instruments, it creates a sound that is at once eerie and energetic. It sets the pace for this album—fast and furious, with a few brief slower moments so that the listener can catch his breath and get ready for the next ride.
Even the slower tracks have a decidedly driving beat. "Cool Love," with its piano melody juxtaposed against a backdrop of atmospheric electronic music, is somewhat reminiscent of the music from VAMPIRE MIYU, but with more energy and urgency.
Some of the tracks seem to be "theme tracks" for some of the characters. For example, "Oriental Sisters" can only be for the two Chinese ghosts. Some of the other tracks may not be quite so easy to pinpoint, but careful listeners should be able to guess who is "Pure Yet Alone."
The battle music tends to start sounding a bit repetitious, but since it's job is basically to underscore the visual action, that's not really a crime. It's still a pretty good listen, despite the repetitive nature of some of the tracks. The slow tracks have also been well thought out, and are much more evocative and emotional than the battle music. "The Final Kiss" is a beautifully haunting piece of music; it's hard to believe that it's from the same show as the first track.
Good use of synthesizers is made to get that ethereal "otherworldly" effect that is so much a part of the show. And Otani's choice of "hard rock" for the core produces some strikingly original sounding pieces. For example, "Bluffman" begins with a very clich馘 PHANTOM OF THE OPERA-esque pipe organ melody, but it is underscored by a syncopated drum beat, giving it an almost danceable quality and a totally different feel. The piece then moves into a slower, more lilting melody that is different from the first section.
Since there are no vocals in the OVA, don't be surprised to find an absence of vocals on this soundtrack album. And, while I admit that I prefer good vocals over BGM most of the time, I'm also kind of relieved that we don't have a CD full of Morrigan and Felicia singing silly songs about what it means to be a Darkstalker. (And I shudder to think of what the Sasquatch's song would have been.) In an age when singing seiyuu seem to have gotten out of hand, this CD neatly avoids that trap and sticks with some very interesting and original music.
If the show appealed to you, most likely the music will also. While it lacks the symphonic splendor of some of the more lushly orchestrated OVAs, it more than makes up for that in originality and sheer energy. In an age where the domestic release of anime soundtracks seems to have slowed to a mere crawl, the soundtrack to NIGHTWARRIORS is one of the most welcome releases in a long time.