2017’s Hollow Knight has a lot of really great music, thanks to the talented work of musical artist Christopher Larkin. Each song perfectly fits the scenario it plays in, whether to immerse the player further in its rich world or to energize them during a boss fight. Let’s take a look back at some of the best pieces from the Hollow Knight soundtrack, as anticipation builds for Hollow Knight: Silksong.
Greenpath
Greenpath is a beautiful and peaceful region in Hollow Knight. After the cold gray emptiness of the Forgotten Crossroads, it’s a breath of fresh air to find yourself in the cozy greens and blues of Greenpath. The music for Greenpath is fittingly whimsical and peaceful, with its melody played on harp and accompanied by violin. It marks the region with a familiar and comfortable feeling when you get there.
Like most of Hollow Knight‘s music, the Greenpath theme has multiple variations. These variations play depending on what’s happening in the game – whether the player is fighting an enemy, or resting in a quieter part of the region. The variation that plays during combat adds percussion and more string lines, making the song sound more tense and energetic while still keeping the same tempo as the more peaceful version.
Broken Vessel
The Broken Vessel is a boss that can be fought in the Ancient Basin region. It’s a vessel, just like the player character, that escaped the late-game region known as the Abyss. However, at some point before the events of Hollow Knight, this vessel was killed. When the player enters the boss arena, a swarm of Lightseeds – small bugs almost entirely made up of Infection – pile into the Broken Vessel’s corpse to start the boss fight.
The boss fight’s music is a slow march, played primarily on strings. This is not an energetic boss fight like many of the others in the game. Instead, it is somber and sorrowful, mourning the death of the Broken Vessel and that its body is being puppeteered by the Infection. Like many pieces in the game’s soundtrack, it includes the Hollow Knight’s leitmotif, inherently tying this boss fight and this vessel to the fight against the Hollow Knight.
Sealed Vessel
This is the boss music for the fight against the titular Hollow Knight. Much like the boss fight itself, the music has multiple phases. It starts with rising tension on strings, as the player releases the Hollow Knight from its chains. The game’s overarching leitmotif is found all through this song, energetic but mournful. Much like the Broken Vessel was puppeteered by the Infection, the Hollow Knight itself – the vessel tasked with containing the Infection – is in part being controlled by it.
The music shifts to being slow and somber, much like the Broken Vessel’s theme when the Hollow Knight has taken enough damage that it begins to attack itself. This is also the version of the theme that plays in the optional Path of Pain region as well as the birthplace cutscene in the Abyss. Combined with cut Dream Nail dialogue from the fight, this has led to the fanbase theorizing that the Hollow Knight is trying to help the player character stop the Infection.
Honorable Mentions
Queen’s Gardens
The Queen’s Gardens are, the gardens dedicated to the Pale King’s wife. They’re connected to Greenpath, and so its theme includes references to Greenpath’s theme while also having its own identity. Its theme has similar instrumentation to Greenpath’s, but the melody includes a leitmotif that could be linked to the Pale King. It’s another sign of the brilliance in the Hollow Knight music.
City of Tears
The City of Tears was once Hallownest’s capital city, though its original name has been lost to time. Its new name comes from the perpetual rain in the city, owing to its location directly under the Blue Lake. Unlike most of the area themes of the game, this song doesn’t have multiple variations. Even in combat, the music is still played on soft piano and vocals that seem to echo in the grand but abandoned city.
Crystal Peak
Crystal Peak is a large abandoned mine, with shining pink crystals found everywhere. Myla, one of the few surviving miners, implies that the crystals themselves sing. This is referenced in the region’s theme, with the shimmering instrumentation accompanying the melody. The more energetic versions of the theme, including the combat variation, include an intense, driving percussion and guitar.
Final Thoughts
Anticipation has been building for Hollow Knight: Silksong since it was announced in February 2019. In December of 2019, Larkin also released samples of two songs from Silksong‘s soundtrack – “Lace” and “Bonebottom”. “Lace” is an energetic string theme, likely the theme that will be used for a fight against the character of the same name. “Bonebottom”, on the other hand, is a somber piece played on strings and piano.
Matthew “Leth” Griffin, Team Cherry’s head of PR and marketing, shared that originally Silksong had been planned to release in the first half of 2023. In April of this year, Silksong also got a Microsoft Store page, showing that the game has been given an E 10+ rating by the ESRB. Could Silksong‘s release be closer than we think? What kind of music will we be able to hear once it does release?
For More Great Content
Are you desiring top-tier content that covers everything? From thrilling sports and intoxicating entertainment news to gaming tips and professional betting advice, Total Apex covers it all. Delve into our no-fluff articles to stay ahead of the game with the latest sports action, uncover the hottest trends in entertainment, and get the latest scoops in the gaming industry that will take your experiences to the next level.
Finally, our betting advice will give you a decisive edge over the competition and increase your odds of beating the books. Whether you’re looking to stay updated or gain a competitive edge, Total Apex is your one-stop shop for all things compelling and relevant. Don’t forget we cover Fantasy Sports, too!
Check out all our sites: Total Apex Sports, Total Apex Fantasy Sports, Total Apex Entertainment, Total Apex Sports Bets, and Total Apex Gaming. Out of the ashes of obscurity will rise a beast. Always remember to Respect The Hustle! Follow us on Twitter/X @TotalApexSports to stay informed.
