Kyle Dixon & Michael Stein - Stranger Things 5 Soundtrack Review

Now that the hubbub surrounding the final season of Stranger Things has died down, we can all relax and bathe in the warm glow of a completely satisfying and fulfilling finale. Okay, so maybe not.

The Stranger Things ending was met with a level of psychosis not seen since the 1518 Dancing Plague, with a fandom so unwilling to accept it was over that it gave rise to its very own conspiracy theory. Conformity Gate saw legions of fans meticulously combing through every second of the final series in the hope of unlocking the Duffer Brothers’ secret masterplan. In the end, it turned out to be less masterplan and more breadcrumb trail, leading straight into an infinite wormhole that Vecna himself would be proud to call home.

As a casual fan, I don’t think the Stranger Things finale was a total disaster. The Duffer Brothers have always excelled at giving us characters we genuinely care about. The problem is that, somewhere along the way, they seemed to forget what to do with them. Because of this, like many others, I was quietly hoping for a few meaningful main character deaths. Many of them have not had much to do since the second season so why not put them, and us, out of our misery? Unfortunately, the Duffers played it safe and the finale pretty much passed by without major incident, leaving the whole of season five feeling a bit futile.

Frustratingly, many questions were left unanswered. What happened to the military? Is Dipshit Derek’s family still tied up in that barn? Did the Demobats migrate south for the winter? Will Ted Wheeler ever get a decent breakfast? I guess we will never know.

What we do know is that Stranger Things 5: Original Score is now available on all major streaming services, all three hours and 95 tracks of it. It is the perfect antidote for those still reeling from the show’s lacklustre ending, offering the opportunity to enjoy season five without actually having to watch it. 

In spite of the show’s many inconsistencies, one thing that has remained resolute throughout its 10 year run is its original score. Composed by Kyle Dixon and Michael Stein, it has become an integral part of the show’s enduring success. Often overshadowed by the series’ penchant for repurposing 80s hits, it’s arguably Dixon and Stein’s instrumental work that truly gives Stranger Things its pulse. Tracks like ‘Kids’, ‘Eulogy’ and, of course, the main title theme are as much a part of the fabric of the Stranger Things universe as Demogorgons, Eggos and oversized walkie talkies.

Dixon and Stein are long standing members of the electronic band SURVIVE. The Duffer Brothers approached the band after hearing their 2012 track Dirge, a John Carpenter inspired, synth-laden composition. This effectively provided the blueprint for the unmistakable Stranger Things sound.  

Unsurprisingly, their musical input for this latest season does not stray far from these origins, and why should it? The haunting, synth infused soundscapes found here are glorious and, when detached from their onscreen obligations, remind us just how wonderfully weird and brilliant Stranger Things once was. It’s a testament to Dixon and Stein that almost all of these tracks can be listened to in isolation and still be instantly recognisable as part of the Stranger Things world. The score is rich with nostalgia and atmosphere, and the series simply would not be the same without it.

The Duffer Brothers have indicated that several spin off series are in development, so it’ll be interesting to see where within the Stranger Things universe we’ll be taken next, which characters will be dragged back into service, and whether Dixon and Stein will be involved.

Personally, I will settle for nothing less than a Dipshit Derek six-part miniseries.