This 30-track soundtrack for the Windows title Apocalypse carries the subtitle Agnosia -- a medical term for the inability to recognize things -- and the music lives up to that disorienting premise. The tracklist bounces between moods with a restless energy: Paradise at the end of time and tranquility offer moments of calm before apocalypse and silent nightmare plunge into darker territory.
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It's the kind of mid-2000s Japanese PC game score that isn't afraid to be eclectic. The action-oriented tracks are where the album really hits its stride. Juggernaut, crossfire, and ExtremeDrive deliver hard-hitting compositions that would feel right at home in an intense combat sequence, while Heat Drive and GunDrive have a mechanical urgency that suggests vehicle or mech-based gameplay.
Deus ex machina and SAMAEL bring dramatic weight with their ominous, almost biblical grandeur, fitting the game's apocalyptic theming perfectly. Jesters adds an unpredictable, almost manic energy to the mix. The quieter moments provide effective contrast.
Sheltered sky and peaceful day offer genuine respite, and restoration has a hopeful quality that balances out the album's heavier tracks. The closing A.La.Ve. brings things to an interesting conclusion, while Fantasy Star and Try Out BGM hint at the game's lighter side.
Judgement day and Lost Paradise round out the apocalyptic narrative arc with appropriately weighty compositions. It's a dense, varied listen that rewards the full playthrough.