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[EviLore]

Sony wouldn't even tell Low Roar its music was for Death Stranding - “We were in the gutter”

One of the best things about Death Stranding is how it uses sound and music to elicit emotion.

www.vg247.com

One of the bands Kojima Productions used for Death Stranding’s soundtrack is Low Roar, a post-rock group with an American frontman, based out of Reykjavík, Iceland. Before Death Stranding, the band wasn’t in a good place, and much of the music was recorded on a laptop in lead singer Ryan Karazija’s kitchen.

When Karazija first got the call for Low Roar’s music to be used, he had no idea of what impact it was about to have on the band’s status.

“Sony contacted us in an obscure email offering us a certain amount of money to use the song ‘I’ll Keep Coming’, and they were not willing to tell us what they’re going to use the song for,” he told me over email. “At that time we were in a gutter so we accepted it. And it turned out it was for Death Stranding.”

From that iconic first trailer featuring a naked Norman Reedus at the beach with some dead crabs and a baby, the band started growing in popularity.

You only have to look at the comments on their songs on YouTube to see how much of an impact Kojima’s game has had – thousands and thousands of messages from fans of the games, now all connected by their shared love for the game’s music as well as the game itself.

The band hasn’t had chance to play the game for themselves, however, as they’ve been busy making the most of this new wave of fans, getting out there and playing music on the touring circuit.

But what about that one fan – the one who made all of this possible in the first place? “We had dinner twice,” Karazija explained of his experiences with game director Hideo Kojima. “He’s a lovely man.”

Great band. See them live if they hit up your area!

 

[Kamina]

I have to say, the music was excellent and fit perfectly to the in-game scenes.

 

[brap]

Music belongs in the gutter. Some of the most generic shit I've ever heard. Whispery pop bs.

 

[Mista]

This is beautiful. The power of video games

The tracks that were used in the game were 100% spot on

 

[Psykodad]

Music belongs in the gutter. Some of the most generic shit I've ever heard. Whispery pop bs.

Don't be so serious

 

[Agnostic2020]

I loved don’t be so serious and I ll keep coming . They were amazing

 

[Spaceman292]

Music belongs in the gutter. Some of the most generic shit I've ever heard. Whispery pop bs.

pleb

 

[GymWolf]

The music was one of the highlights of the game.

 

[Heinrich]

The music was one of the highlights of the game.

this is just sad.

 

[struggler_guts]

That's hilarious, but not completely suprising.

 

[Psykodad]

this is just sad.

How so?

 

[MiyazakiHatesKojima]

this is just sad.

How is that sad?

You need to stop hating on Death Stranding or I'll tell my mom, you jerk!

 

[ethomaz]

The whole sound track for the game was pretty good.

I loved when you are walking and all the sounds stops to start the music in the right moment when you are progression the story.

Loved.

this is just sad.

Indeed sad comment.

 

[Heinrich]

How so?

if the music is the highlight of a game, well then this speaks a lot about the great „gameplay“

 

[DynamiteCop!]

Contextually for the game the music was great, and I don't mean contextually as if it related but more in the fact that it was tied to the game. Having said that the music agnostic of the game isn't anything great, I wouldn't listen to it, it's nothing special.

 

[ethomaz]

if the music is the highlight of a game, well then this speaks a lot about the great „gameplay“

“was one of the highlight”

Gameplay is another

 

[MajinSweet4]

if the music is the highlight of a game, well then this speaks a lot about the great „gameplay“

"The music was one of the highlights of the game. "

 

[MiguelItUp]

We get it, some of you didn't like the game, Jesus.

I caught Low Roar live here a couple of years ago. Highly recommend. They're phenomenal live.

 

[Spukc]

Never heard of them before death stranding.
I like that one song..

Loads of bleeps&bloops

 

[GymWolf]

this is just sad.

Yeah, it's sad that deaf people can't really enjoy the game at his full potential.
Some scene are really improved by the music.

 

[kaworid]

Music belongs in the gutter. Some of the most generic shit I've ever heard. Whispery pop bs.

Yeah i am sure your musical taste is so refined you only listen to the 17 hour ring cycle

 

[MrJTeera]

Really love this track when it first appeared and when someone put it in structures near cool scenery after.

 

[Dacon]

We get it, some of you didn't like the game, Jesus.

I caught Low Roar live here a couple of years ago. Highly recommend. They're phenomenal live.

People on this board feel the need to remind people how much they hated a game in every thread involving said game, some even going so far as to demean those who did enjoy it as if their own personal opinion is the objective standard of quality. You learn to ignore them.

Low Roar's music is what initially grabbed my interest in Death Stranding. I'll form my own opinion on the game when it launched on pc later this year.

 

[Tomeru]

this is just sad.

What do you mean? Come on, Give Me an Answer.

 

[D3SCHA1N]

What do you mean? Come on, Give Me an Answer.

And quick, cause I'll keep coming.

 

[Clear]

Enjoyed the Low Roar tracks, but being honest the MVP of the Death Stranding soundtrack is Silent Poets. Only 2 tracks, but they are both standouts.

 

[Tomeru]

And quick, cause I'll keep coming.

I think we'll Keep Wating (10 years).
Minimum.

 

[mcjmetroid]

this is just sad.

 

[GymWolf]

Enjoyed the Low Roar tracks, but being honest the MVP of the Death Stranding soundtrack is Silent Poets. Only 2 tracks, but they are both standouts.

The standouts for me was the bb theme.

 

[SLoWMoTIoN]

People on this board feel the need to remind people how much they hated a game in every thread involving said game, some even going so far as to demean those who did enjoy it as if their own personal opinion is the objective standard of quality. You learn to ignore them.

Low Roar's music is what initially grabbed my interest in Death Stranding. I'll form my own opinion on the game when it launched on pc later this year.

I love DS. Not the game but the reactions around it!

 

[Trimesh]

Music belongs in the gutter. Some of the most generic shit I've ever heard. Whispery pop bs.

I'm wondering if there is anything at all you actually like? Based on your posts on this board, you define yourself pretty much entirely by the things you despise. And there are a LOT of them.

 

[ethomaz]

People on this board feel the need to remind people how much they hated a game in every thread involving said game, some even going so far as to demean those who did enjoy it as if their own personal opinion is the objective standard of quality. You learn to ignore them.

Low Roar's music is what initially grabbed my interest in Death Stranding. I'll form my own opinion on the game when it launched on pc later this year.

The most shocking fact is that they hate the game without ever play it.

Kojima hate in forum is really a thing.

 

[#Phonepunk#]

awesome stuff. they really were the perfect match for the game. the moment "Don't Be So Serious" started playing i knew i was in for a magical time...

 

[imsosleepy]

oh man the music really was one of the highlights in the game for me for sure!
When did a hard piece of the game and at the perfect timing that music starts playing.. my god it felt so epic

 

[DonF]

I feel the music fit the game perfectly and set a really cool mood, but I would not listen the music on my own while at work or on my commute.

 

[Terenty]

I didnt know anything about the band before DS, but it just shows how backwards a lot of the things in the society are, when shitton of crappy "music" is being rotated 24/7 and has millions of views on youtube, while talents like Ryan Karazija from Low Roar are nowhere to be seen or heard.

Just listen to these beautiful pieces, the man is a genius songwriter no less imho.








And there is lots more great songs throughout his discography. The most impressive thing is there's almost no filler on Low Roar's four albums.

 

[MiguelItUp]

People on this board feel the need to remind people how much they hated a game in every thread involving said game, some even going so far as to demean those who did enjoy it as if their own personal opinion is the objective standard of quality. You learn to ignore them.

Low Roar's music is what initially grabbed my interest in Death Stranding. I'll form my own opinion on the game when it launched on pc later this year.

Oh for sure, with Death Stranding it's been excessive though. Honestly pretty sad and seemingly exhausting. Lmao.

Ditto! I was intrigued by the look of the world and universe, along with the music bringing it all together. I'll Keep Coming and Easy Way Out were getting jammed like crazy.

When they came through a part of me was like, "Nah, I only know those two songs, it'd feel weird going." I go to live shows all the time, but I wouldn't normally see a band that I'm not uber into. But I really loved the songs I heard, and I knew they were from over seas and didn't know when is have another opportunity. I'mm really, really glad I decided to go. After that show I definitely was a fan of their stuff.

 

[SentientStone]

Glad to hear, I won’t be playing DS until PS5 but I bought 3 of their vinyls just cause of the trailers.

 

[mortal]

I'm very pleased to hear that. I've become a fan ever since that very first announcement trailer.

 

[SCB3]

The music in Death Stranding was really fitting and I loved when it kicked in on the long trips (it also let you focus on getting there rather than Avoiding shit tier BT's, go that was such a pain at times)

 

[cireza]

Here, take these 1000$ and let us use your music however we want. You don't need to know that it is a big AAA project marketed to death.

 

[Enjay]

Sad as fuck story. Hope these guys end up okay when it's time for them to go find real jobs.

 

[#Phonepunk#]

Sad as fuck story. Hope these guys end up okay when it's time for them to go find real jobs.

Sad? This gave them a ton of exposure and new fans

The band hasn’t had chance to play the game for themselves, however, as they’ve been busy making the most of this new wave of fans, getting out there and playing music on the touring circuit.

Not sure what is sad about any of this. Obscure band on its way out getting money and exposure, seems like a win.

 

[Grandmaster Hash]

I didnt know anything about the band before DS, but it just shows how backwards a lot of the things in the society are, when shitton of crappy "music" is being rotated 24/7 and has millions of views on youtube, while talents like Ryan Karazija from Low Roar are nowhere to be seen or heard.

Just listen to these beautiful pieces, the man is a genius songwriter no less imho.








And there is lots more great songs throughout his discography. The most impressive thing is there's almost no filler on Low Roar's four albums.

this says a lot about our society

 

[Thabass]

And it's probably because Kojima specifically wanted it for his game more than likely. Kojima is the man.

 

[Elios83]

Well they make great music, I didn't know them before DS so it's nice that a game was able to do give them recognition.

 

[MDSLKTR]

Dollarstore Radiohead.

 

[SweetShark]

How is that sad?

You need to stop hating on Death Stranding or I'll tell my mom, you jerk!

Mom is a codename for his military assassin after the death of ********.

 

[ROMhack]

Hmm so far the music hasn't been vibing much for me. Hopefully it'll grow on me as I get a bit further in.

 

[#Phonepunk#]

its a nice mix of electro & acoustics IMO. it really matches the atmosphere perfectly. you can just picture a foggy field or hillside when you hear their music.

the R1 scanner sends out this really nice topographical hologram display of the landscape whenever you press it, leaving behind some neat AR markers here and there. underneath all that digital display is this rolling, realistic looking natural landscape. the music perfectly fits with the way all this comes across, the visual experience, as well as the pacing of it all. it has the perfect kind of futurism that is rooted in a detached but grounded humanity.