As video games continue evolving into grand cinematic experiences, their soundtracks have become ever-increasingly integral to the experience. Long gone are the tinny, 80s-era chiptunes of yore, since replaced by orchestral scores produced by world-class composers — and now even remix albums by chart-topping electronic artists.

In the case of the hotly anticipated Halo 4, which kicks off a new trilogy cycle in one of gaming’s greatest franchises, Massive Attack producer Neil Davidge has taken over the reins from Marty O’Donnell, the granddaddy of Halo soundtracks. It was a daunting task, but Davidge, an avid Halo player, couldn’t wait to get started after being wowed by a life-sized statue of Halo main character Master Chief at Microsoft’s 343 Industries Washington studio in late-2010.

In fact, he was so excited that he went straight home to his Bristol studio to get a head start, months ahead of schedule.

“I’ve been playing Halo since the beginning,” Davidge tells Huffington Post Canada Music. “We played the first one a half-dozen times with friends, in the studio and with my daughter. Going back and trying to formulate my ideas for the score, I went back and played them again!”

GO TO HUFFINGTON POST MUSIC FOR THE FULL STORY AND SOUNTRACK REMIX PREVIEWS!