Conan the Barbarian (2011)
Tyler Bates
" Relentless doesn't even cover it! "Written by Thomas Glorieux - Review of the regular release
Conan the Barbarian, a remake that thought it had a chance because it had action, blood, sword fights and 3D. Even more, it assumed some guy could make us forget one Arnold Schwarzenegger ever played the role of Conan, some 29 years ago. Of course they were wrong, and the people made sure the box office numbers proved it abundantly. Of course what were they thinking? Jason Momoa able to surpass or equal Arnold Schwarzenegger? How dumb were they? Then again, one could say the same about Tyler Bates as composer, trying to equal Basil Poledouris' ultimate crowing jewel that still remains Conan the Barbarian.
Yes you heard it, Tyler Bates. A composer who received his loads of bad mouth criticism will deliver us the next epic score in a series of summer disappointments. And knowing it had to box up against a champion that has ruled filmmusic communities for about 30 years now, it meant that Bates seriously had to surprise audiences with this remake. Question now is, did he succeed?
I can tell you already this. I never assumed Bates to overpower or conquer Basil Poledouris' version, so my expectations already dropped considerably. But Conan the Barbarian does take your breath away. And I don't mean that in a good way. Sure, the first tracks deliver us what we expected to hear, and somewhat in a pleasing manner. But the more the overlong album nears its ending, the more I got tired of the relentless never ending action music in what is definitely an album that kills whatever's left of your patience.
"His Name is Conan", "Egg Rage", "Fire and Ice" and "The Mask & 12 Years Later" do give a nice taste of some heroic music (with a main theme to boot) interspersed with some ethnic touches (mostly by solo vocals and percussion). But after track 7, you'll be attacked by never-ending action music that loses more structure the more we hear it. A brief moment of respite in "Victory" and "A Kiss" doesn't outweigh the numerous long attacks of pounding action music. A champion in the negative awards is definitely "Outpost" which for us is sadly also the longest track of the score. The end doesn't particularly engage the listener, because it sadly continues the same road of quick action rhythms, heightened by choral singing, percussive pounds and sadly un-melodic action statements. "Wheel of Torture" (what a track on the Poledouris album) and "Zym's Demise" are sadly action tracks that work on the nerves.
Hell people, I wasn't expecting the world here. But I felt more often than not that I was the only guy supporting Tyler Bates his music. Doomsday and his much maligned 300 were scores that entertained me, but sadly Conan the Barbarian is nothing but relentless action music with very little structure, and sadly no moments of respite. This is a horrible mixed album experience that should have deleted half of this music's running time, so that whatever was left of the calmer tracks were at least somewhat capable of putting you at ease. Now it feels like onslaught after onslaught after onslaught. Never a good thing if you're already despised by many Mr. Bates. I knew this wasn't going to win of Basil Poledouris, but I was expecting it to hold out for at least 1 round.
Tracklisting
1. Prologue (2.08)
2. His Name is Conan (3.35)
3. Egg Race (2.52)
4. Fire and Ice (3.15)
5. Cimmerian Battle (3.19)
6. The Mill (1.55)
7. The Mask & 12 Years Later (3.06)
8. Freeing Slaves (2.38)
9. Prison Interrogation (3.35)
10. Monastery Approach (1.44)
11. Off With Their Heads (1.09)
12. Horse Chase (3.11)
13. Death of a Priest (2.48)
14. One Way Ride (2.35)
15. Outpost (7.57)
16. Fever (4.47)
17. Victory (0.36)
18. A Kiss (2.41)
19. The Temple (1.55)
20. Oceans of Blood (2.41)
21. The Dweller (2.36)
22. Skull Mountain (1.21)
23. Wheel of Torture (2.07)
24. Zym's Demise (2.30)
25. Conan Returns Home (3.42)
Total Length: 70.43
Yes you heard it, Tyler Bates. A composer who received his loads of bad mouth criticism will deliver us the next epic score in a series of summer disappointments. And knowing it had to box up against a champion that has ruled filmmusic communities for about 30 years now, it meant that Bates seriously had to surprise audiences with this remake. Question now is, did he succeed?
I can tell you already this. I never assumed Bates to overpower or conquer Basil Poledouris' version, so my expectations already dropped considerably. But Conan the Barbarian does take your breath away. And I don't mean that in a good way. Sure, the first tracks deliver us what we expected to hear, and somewhat in a pleasing manner. But the more the overlong album nears its ending, the more I got tired of the relentless never ending action music in what is definitely an album that kills whatever's left of your patience.
"His Name is Conan", "Egg Rage", "Fire and Ice" and "The Mask & 12 Years Later" do give a nice taste of some heroic music (with a main theme to boot) interspersed with some ethnic touches (mostly by solo vocals and percussion). But after track 7, you'll be attacked by never-ending action music that loses more structure the more we hear it. A brief moment of respite in "Victory" and "A Kiss" doesn't outweigh the numerous long attacks of pounding action music. A champion in the negative awards is definitely "Outpost" which for us is sadly also the longest track of the score. The end doesn't particularly engage the listener, because it sadly continues the same road of quick action rhythms, heightened by choral singing, percussive pounds and sadly un-melodic action statements. "Wheel of Torture" (what a track on the Poledouris album) and "Zym's Demise" are sadly action tracks that work on the nerves.
Hell people, I wasn't expecting the world here. But I felt more often than not that I was the only guy supporting Tyler Bates his music. Doomsday and his much maligned 300 were scores that entertained me, but sadly Conan the Barbarian is nothing but relentless action music with very little structure, and sadly no moments of respite. This is a horrible mixed album experience that should have deleted half of this music's running time, so that whatever was left of the calmer tracks were at least somewhat capable of putting you at ease. Now it feels like onslaught after onslaught after onslaught. Never a good thing if you're already despised by many Mr. Bates. I knew this wasn't going to win of Basil Poledouris, but I was expecting it to hold out for at least 1 round.
Tracklisting
1. Prologue (2.08)
2. His Name is Conan (3.35)
3. Egg Race (2.52)
4. Fire and Ice (3.15)
5. Cimmerian Battle (3.19)
6. The Mill (1.55)
7. The Mask & 12 Years Later (3.06)
8. Freeing Slaves (2.38)
9. Prison Interrogation (3.35)
10. Monastery Approach (1.44)
11. Off With Their Heads (1.09)
12. Horse Chase (3.11)
13. Death of a Priest (2.48)
14. One Way Ride (2.35)
15. Outpost (7.57)
16. Fever (4.47)
17. Victory (0.36)
18. A Kiss (2.41)
19. The Temple (1.55)
20. Oceans of Blood (2.41)
21. The Dweller (2.36)
22. Skull Mountain (1.21)
23. Wheel of Torture (2.07)
24. Zym's Demise (2.30)
25. Conan Returns Home (3.42)
Total Length: 70.43