Medal of Honor: Warfighter (soundtrack)

Lore & Background

The music for Warfighter was composed by Ramin Djawadi, who also composed the music for Medal of Honor (2010). The official soundtrack was released on September 25, 2012, on iTunes and Amazon, nearly one month before the release of the game. The soundtrack consists of 21 tracks, 2 of which were composed by Mike Shinoda, the co-vocalist and rapper of Linkin Park.

Linkin Park's song 'Castle of Glass' from their album Living Things serves as the theme song for Warfighter, and variations of the song appear on the soundtrack. Themes from the previous game reappear as well, albeit in slightly differed forms. The song was also released as a promotional single for the soundtrack just like the band's previous contribution of 'The Catalyst'. The song was nominated for the 'Best Song in a Game' award at the 2012 Spike Video Game Awards. The official video was released on October 10, 2012.

The soundtrack uses 'Castle of Glass' as the theme song which, as Loudwire noted in their Living Things review, features 'very different electronic elements and unique sounding samples that the band have added to their musical palette.' Yet it is one of the most direct that the band has done, with a traditional song structure and a melody reminiscent of country music.

Reader's Guide

The Medal of Honor: Warfighter soundtrack is significant as the musical accompaniment to a major first-person shooter title, composed by Ramin Djawadi, who had previously scored the 2010 Medal of Honor game. Its release nearly a month before the game itself allowed the music to build anticipation. The inclusion of Mike Shinoda, co-vocalist of Linkin Park, on two tracks bridged the game's score with the band's popular rock sound. The theme song 'Castle of Glass' served as a promotional single, continuing the collaboration between Linkin Park and the Medal of Honor series that began with 'The Catalyst'. The song's nomination at the 2012 Spike Video Game Awards highlighted its recognition within the gaming community. The soundtrack's blend of Djawadi's orchestral style with Shinoda's electronic and rock elements, along with the reuse and variation of themes from the previous game, created a cohesive audio experience that tied the two titles together. Its legacy lies in representing a period when video game soundtracks were increasingly released as standalone products and featured prominent musical artists.

Did You Know?

• The soundtrack was released on September 25, 2012, nearly one month before the game's release.
• Two of the 21 tracks were composed by Mike Shinoda, co-vocalist of Linkin Park.
• The theme song 'Castle of Glass' was nominated for 'Best Song in a Game' at the 2012 Spike Video Game Awards.
• The official video for 'Castle of Glass' was released on October 10, 2012.