** 1/2 VARIOUS ARTISTS “Dracula 2000” soundtrack Columbia

Wes Craven’s latest horror flick aims to update the image of the blood-sucking legend, and what better way than with a hip ‘n’ heavy soundtrack full of aggro-rock’s reigning attackers and fresh young fiends?

Menacing melodies from headbangers Slayer and Pantera fittingly titled “Bloodline” and “Avoid the Light,” respectively, are a dramatic complement to the piercing rhythms of this ferocious compilation’s newer acts, including Powerman 5000 (whose pouncing if repetitious “Ultra Mega” is the first single), Linkin Park (whose semi-hit “One Step Closer” is a standout on the disc) and System of a Down (continuing the tradition of thrashers covering ‘80s hits with a pumped-up version of Berlin’s “Metro”).

Monster Magnet, Static-X, (hed) planet earth and Godhead (with guest vocals from Marilyn Manson) add to the threatening feel here with their clamorous nuggets, even if they lack the hooks to garner any crossover success.

As a sampling of contemporary metal from the dark side, “Dracula 2000” is a diverse and definitive collection that serves to modernize the vampire vibe in the movie. On its own though, most of the individual cuts lack the bite you’d expect from this kind of powerhouse lineup.

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