Metal Underground.com

If you liked the movie “Saw IV,” head down to your local video store and pick up a copy of the slasher-thriller, but don't bother with the soundtrack because even if you did like all the music in the film, the only tune on this “from and inspired” mix that’s actually from the film is franchise composer Charlie Clouser's instrumental, “Just Begun.” If you dig his tunes, his arrangements are featured prominently on the previous three films’ soundtracks.

Now, to be honest, I’ve never been a huge fan of movie soundtracks, so I wasn’t really grasping too much to the hope of listening to something audibly brilliant. Usually, I find soundtracks a collection of songs that probably worked great within the confines of their original medium, but lose something when jumbled up into an album. Of course, this isn’t always the case. The soundtrack for “Bill and Ted’s Bogus Journey” was wicked, featuring living guitar legend Steve Vai, Extreme, Primus, Faith No More and some old school Slaughter, and of course the more recent “Metal: A Headbanger’s Journey” was simply awesome. But there are a lot dof lame movie song comps in between, and “Saw IV” is no exception.

A collection of music from and inspired by the film, most of the tunes selected for the mix just don't seem to suit such a malevolent flick. There are a few industrial goodies, like “Beatcrusher” from Dope Stars Inc. and I dug Emilie Autmn’s “Dead is the New Alive,” but the majority of the tracks are pretty much your standard, run-of-the-mill emo/screamo and recyclable bubblegum variety. The first track, Nitzer Ebb’s “Payroll,” is instrumentally groovy, but is so vocally repetitive and non-dynamic, I'd almost prefer gouging out my own eyes. Or maybe sew my ears shut… If that was the filmmaker's intention when they compiled this mix, it worked! But somehow I don't think that’s what soundtrack producers Jonathan Platt, Jonathan McHugh and – yup, another Jonathan – Jonathan Scott Miller had in mind.

Tallying in at 19 songs, it’s just too long to be this full of lackluster songs, and is certainly a weak follow-up to the “Saw III” soundtrack, which featured metal heavyweights Slayer, Lamb of God, Messhugah and more of Clouser’s ingenious arrangements.

Ministry makes an appearance here with “Life is Good,” but fans probably already own the industrial metaller’s 2007 release “The Last Sucker.”

A fan of Skinny Puppy years ago, it was good to see them making a contribution with a remix of “Spasmolytic,” originally from their 1990 release “Too Dark Park.” But, again, if you’re a fan, you probably already have this. The Deftones Mix appeared on the 2004 Skinny Puppy comp “Ultimate Remixes.”

Truly the most fitting song for the film is “Dread Prevailed” by The Red Chord, a particularly brutal song from a particularly brutal band for a particularly brutal movie. If you dig these guys, pick up their latest full-length “Prey For Eyes.” Not only is this song on the band’s third full-length release, there are 13 other tunes that are just as good, and maybe even better.

Notably missing from the soundtrack is the tune “I.V.” by X Japan. If you’ve seen the movie, this is the song that plays during the closing credits. It starts off promising enough with a bit of a Stabbing Westward vibe, but the chorus is baked with some seriously cheesy crust, so it’s probably just as well it didn’t make it because then I’d have to hear it again.

If one version of this disc wasn’t enough, it turns out there are actually three versions of the album: the physical CD, reviewed here, a digital download and an expanded digital download. They’re all a little different, so if you really want to pick this up, make sure you’re getting the best mix for your buck. Clouser’s “Just Begun” is only available on the physical CD and the extended digital edition. Avenged Sevenfold and Human Abstract are only on the actual disc, and tunes from Collinz Room and The Absence are only available on the digital versions.