# Remedy's composer on evil, music and the thinking player

> Control Resonant composer Petri Alanko explains how Remedy games use music to trigger psychological responses without telling players what to think.
- Title: Remedy's composer on evil, music and the thinking player
- Summary: Control Resonant composer Petri Alanko explains how Remedy games use music to trigger psychological responses without telling players what to think. Petri…
- Keywords: petri alanko, remedy entertainment, control resonant, video game music, game composition, alan wake, quantum break, technology, Remedy's, composer, evil, music
- Source: TechRadar — https://techradar.com/gaming/every-remedy-game-has-an-absolute-evil-lurking-at-its-core-that-affects-the-music-says-control-resonant-composer-and-he-uses-the-players-intelligence-and-the-ability-to-think-to-portray-the-psychological-aspect-in-the-soundtrack
- Published: 2026-10-12T10:00:00+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: petri alanko, remedy entertainment, control resonant, video game music, game composition, alan wake, quantum break, technology
## Evil at Remedy's core
Control Resonant composer Petri Alanko says every Remedy Entertainment game has absolute evil lurking at its core, affecting how he composes the music.

> There's always the absolute evil lurking in there
## How evil shapes the sound
The evil affects instruments and the overtone series, bending and separating overtones from each other. It has a gravity that changes the sounds themselves.

> It affects instruments, instrumentation, and the overtone series
## Triggering the lizard brain
When players hear something familiar but slightly off, it triggers their lizard brain into action. Alanko uses this to create a fight-or-flight reaction that introduces action.

> when you hear something familiar to be slightly off, it triggers your lizard brain into action
## Remedy trusts player intelligence
Remedy does not dictate to players or hold their hands. The studio believes in player intelligence and the ability to think and deduce from given facts.

> Remedy is not a dictating entity; we don't do walking simulators, and we don't hold hands
## Music as hints, not answers
Alanko compares Remedy's approach to a good mentalist who lets the audience do the magic. Music provides hints and a basic feeling, but players must find the meaning.

> A good mentalist always lets the audience do the magic
## Building a sonic identity
Remedy introduced orchestra with Alan Wake, then added industrial and electronic flavours in Quantum Break, and musique concrète in Control. Each game adds to the recipe.
## The Remedy Sonic Bermuda Triangle
Alanko calls Remedy's sonic identity the Remedy Sonic Bermuda Triangle. Most raw material comes from acoustic sources with heavy processing, not just synthesizers.

> What I love to call 'A Remedy Sonic Bermuda Triangle', some top-notch processing
## Studios must value music
Alanko says studios should value music more if they care about their games and should avoid AI at all costs when composing.
## Key takeaway

Petri Alanko, composer for Control Resonant, says Remedy Entertainment builds absolute evil into every game's core and uses music to trigger subconscious responses in players who can think for themselves.