After Stephen Norrington directed the first Blade film, the 2002 sequel Blade II was helmed by the genre maestro Guillermo del Toro. The film finds Wesley Snipes’ title character teaming up with his former vampire enemies, the Bloodpack, against a new strain of mutant vampires who are hunting humans and vampires alike. Joining Kris Kristofferson in the supporting cast were Ron Perlman, Norman Reedus and Donnie Yen.

Blade II was the second of three collaborations between del Toro and composer Marco Beltrami, after the New York subway monster thriller Mimic and ahead of the first Hellboy film. Blade II is a tour-de-force for Beltrami’s aggressive action-horror style, with symphonic thrills, scares and chases galore. It also incorporates a strong Asian element, given that del Toro was influenced by anime, with taiko drums and shakuhachi adding to the full orchestra and choir. There’s even an electronica aspect, as Beltrami collaborated with DJ Danny Saber on several cues.

Blade II was released as a 33-minute program by Varèse Sarabande in 2002, which has been nearly tripled in length for this 38-track, 97-minute Deluxe Edition. Liner notes by Daniel Schweiger incorporate new interview comments by the composer.

A1. Blood Bank Creeps
A2. Nomack The Knife
A3. Blade II Main Titles
A4. Moo Cow
A5. Wheel And Deal
A6. Wet Whistler
A7. Waiting For The Sun
A8. Suckheads Infiltrate
A9. Caliban By Helicopter
A10. Big D Hosts Big B
B1. The Imp ‘n Pimp
B2. Meet The Bloodpack
B3. Reapers In The Kitchen
B4. I.H.O. Paincakes
B5. Priest Splits
B6. Little Boy Blue
B7. Bath Time
B8. Nyssa Needs A Napkin
C1. Sewer Pickles
C2. B Slice
C3. Charge Of The Light Grenade
C4. Blade’s Discharge
C5. Crispy Reapers
C6. Nyssa Swallows
C7. Who’s The Man?
D1. Big D Educates
D2. Nomack Snacks
D3. Blood Bath
D4. Reinhart Splits
D5. Family Feud
D6. Smackdown
D7. Nyssa Over Easy
D8. End Credits