Armored
John Murphy
" Armored is rough and sadly that's not for everyone "Written by Thomas Glorieux - Review of the regular release
Armored tells about a group of security guards that plan the perfect heist, but their plan is compromised when one individual puts a wrinkle in their foolproof robbery. Suddenly they hunt the money that's waiting inside the armoured truck, and the man that's responsible for this problem. The director of Vacancy and the upcoming Predators takes the pedal to the metal, with fan-favourite John Murphy as the composer who must get the job done.
While John Murphy is a composer who's liked by many, Armored isn't one that will back up the adoration. In fact, I think it might (sporadically) halt it. The problem of Armored is that it's constantly loud and rough, without much time to breath.
Starting softly in "Morning", the beats soon take over the familiar John Murphy style, and it doesn't look back after that. Murphy's electronic rage soon turns into rocking noise in "Armored Truck Chase" and "Fake Heist", in the likes a Trevor Rabin would be criticized for. The electric guitar recreates the rocking edge in "Ty's Decision", "Getting Cover" and "Ty Saves the Cop", just like he did it in 28 Weeks Later. The only problem is, it was more appropriate there.
I'm not saying Armored's ineffective or inappropriate, but it's neither refined or interesting, if you heard a couple of Murphy scores by now.
The tracks that don't deliver you a rocking headache are either on edge ("Federal Reserve") or blessed by the cool sound of Murphy's voice ("Stashing the Cash"). The problem however is that they sound so much like the rest we've heard here, it doesn't compensate anything anymore.
That makes sure you'll experience the second part of Armored with exactly the same musical material of the first part. Meaning it brings rhythmic suspenseful music, with electric rocking guitars and lots of beats and sound design. The only notable yet moody exceptions are "Killing Dobbs" and the return of the one and only theme in "The End", the one we heard before in the opener "Morning".
People that like their music ballsy, rough and almost entirely with electric guitars will feel pretty much at home with Armored. However it does fail by keeping me entertained, not only because it rehashes the same musical style from start to finish, it also loses its better moments because of these overdone instrumentations. Effective yes, but average and not inspiring, even Armored can't remain bullet proof after this assault.
1. Morning (3.11)
2. Armored Truck Chase (2.38)
3. Ty's Decision (3.29)
4. Fake Heist (1.38)
5. Getting Cover (2.43)
6. Ty Saves the Cop (2.16)
7. Federal Reserve (2.28)
8. Work (1.37)
9. Black Van (1.51)
10. Warehouse (2.04)
11. Stashing the Cash (1.10)
12. Get the Kid Outta the Truck (3.19)
13. Ty Escapes (2.10)
14. Killing Dobbs (3.06)
15. Booby Trap (1.38)
16. Ty Runs (2.20)
17. The End (3.21)
Total Length: 40.59
While John Murphy is a composer who's liked by many, Armored isn't one that will back up the adoration. In fact, I think it might (sporadically) halt it. The problem of Armored is that it's constantly loud and rough, without much time to breath.
Starting softly in "Morning", the beats soon take over the familiar John Murphy style, and it doesn't look back after that. Murphy's electronic rage soon turns into rocking noise in "Armored Truck Chase" and "Fake Heist", in the likes a Trevor Rabin would be criticized for. The electric guitar recreates the rocking edge in "Ty's Decision", "Getting Cover" and "Ty Saves the Cop", just like he did it in 28 Weeks Later. The only problem is, it was more appropriate there.
I'm not saying Armored's ineffective or inappropriate, but it's neither refined or interesting, if you heard a couple of Murphy scores by now.
The tracks that don't deliver you a rocking headache are either on edge ("Federal Reserve") or blessed by the cool sound of Murphy's voice ("Stashing the Cash"). The problem however is that they sound so much like the rest we've heard here, it doesn't compensate anything anymore.
That makes sure you'll experience the second part of Armored with exactly the same musical material of the first part. Meaning it brings rhythmic suspenseful music, with electric rocking guitars and lots of beats and sound design. The only notable yet moody exceptions are "Killing Dobbs" and the return of the one and only theme in "The End", the one we heard before in the opener "Morning".
People that like their music ballsy, rough and almost entirely with electric guitars will feel pretty much at home with Armored. However it does fail by keeping me entertained, not only because it rehashes the same musical style from start to finish, it also loses its better moments because of these overdone instrumentations. Effective yes, but average and not inspiring, even Armored can't remain bullet proof after this assault.
1. Morning (3.11)
2. Armored Truck Chase (2.38)
3. Ty's Decision (3.29)
4. Fake Heist (1.38)
5. Getting Cover (2.43)
6. Ty Saves the Cop (2.16)
7. Federal Reserve (2.28)
8. Work (1.37)
9. Black Van (1.51)
10. Warehouse (2.04)
11. Stashing the Cash (1.10)
12. Get the Kid Outta the Truck (3.19)
13. Ty Escapes (2.10)
14. Killing Dobbs (3.06)
15. Booby Trap (1.38)
16. Ty Runs (2.20)
17. The End (3.21)
Total Length: 40.59