Unlike, say, Danny Elfman, I can't say I'd ever noticed too many obvious trademarks in Shore's music, but this and his work for Jackson, have started to bring his mannerisms into focus. The way he voices his orchestration, the emphasis on low end sonority and dissonance caused by subtle shifts rather than melodramatic clashes. Two major motifs dominate the score, both rather fragmentary, but one ascending and one descending. Rather unfortunately, the ascending vaguely brings to mind Lord of the Rings and the descending Zimmer's Thin Red Line. However, both ideas are rather brief so it's hard to pin it down to much beyond style for the former and coincidence for the latter. In any event, a larger proportion of the album is less obviously melodic and rather more concerned with ratcheting up the tension.
A History of Violence's nearest bedfellow in the Shore filmography is Silence of the Lambs, both sharing a deep sense of unease, even if the suspense here isn't chilling in quite the same way. As with Silence of the Lambs, the score is rather hard work, with little let up from the dense orchestration and gloom. Make no mistake, this is a finely wrought work with plenty to comment it, but the tone isn't hugely appealing and the occasional flickers of light (such as in Tom or Ending) are short lived and still cut with a dash of melancholy. Not one of the composer's most memorable or striking efforts, but expertly crafted with atmosphere to spare.
Rating ~ 
Total Time ~ 40:14