Conan the Destroyer
Basil Poledouris
" Enjoyable but weaker Conan score "Written by Thomas Glorieux - Review of the regular release
After Conan the Barbarian and its noticed entrance of actor Arnold Schwarzenegger, the heroes continued on their journey. Both Arnold Schwarzenegger and Basil Poledouris returned several years later for Conan the Destroyer. Though being a modest success at the box office, the movie couldn't live up to the originals name and allure. The same can somewhat be said about the musical score of Basil Poledouris. Conan the Barbarian was and remains a milestone in the career of the composer, and Conan the Destroyer never turned out to be as successful, often forgotten amongst the classics in the composer's career.
Quite frankly, this is understandable, especially having heard it on CD so many years later. It doesn't have the scope, the lyricism and the classic epic tone of the original. But it does make for another entertaining ride from time to time. A cue that does its best to mimic the sound of the original score is the opening cue, "Main Title / Riders of Taramis", developing on the same rhythmic pattern and unleashing a catchy if slightly less memorable main theme.
The score does bring some ode to the originals success, especially when Poledouris returns with themes that made the original legendary. The love theme that stood for Valeria in the original returns in this score during "Valeria Remembered", the use of the new main theme is heard in "Elite Guard Attacks" while a nice marching "Approach to Shadizaar" does ample things for the enjoyable factor.
A good track is "Crystal Palace" combining suspense with a nice heroic fanfare that captures Quigley Down Under's style while "Night Bird" dares to paint it a lot more mystical. "The Scrolls of Skelos" is a soft emotional track, just like the soothing "Illusion's Lake" cue after that. A somewhat relaxing middle part and a lack of powerful epic cues show you why Conan the Destroyer ranks far behind its illustrious leader. Even the fanfares without a single main theme statement in "Conan & Bombaata Battle" can't change that fact.
Truthfully, I lack punch and gusto when listening to Conan the Destroyer. Has this got to do with the decent but lacking sound clarity? Has this go to do with the fact Poledouris delivers not one single bombastic track? Or with the fact it's a lot calmer than one would have expected? Either way 30 minutes is enough of Conan the Destroyer, and even the bonus cue on the newly released Conan the Barbarian album didn't fully deliver what Conan the Destroyer stood for. Though it sounds remarkably better, it only brought a slightly slower version of "Crystal Palace" without even stating once the new main theme of this score. It only goes to show, John Milius made Schwarzenenner and Poledouris shine.
Tracklisting
1. Main Title / Riders of Taramis (3.37)
2. Valeria Remembered (3.07)
3. The Horn of Dagoth (2.20)
4. Elite Guard Attacks (2.25)
5. Crystal Palace (6.13)
6. The Katta (1.04)
7. Dream Quest (1.31)
8. Night Bird (2.22)
9. Approach to Shadizaar (2.43)
10. The Scrolls of Skelos (2.24)
11. Dueling Wizards (1.27)
12. Illusion's Lake (1.18)
13. Conan & Bombaata Battle (2.29)
Total Length: 33.38
Quite frankly, this is understandable, especially having heard it on CD so many years later. It doesn't have the scope, the lyricism and the classic epic tone of the original. But it does make for another entertaining ride from time to time. A cue that does its best to mimic the sound of the original score is the opening cue, "Main Title / Riders of Taramis", developing on the same rhythmic pattern and unleashing a catchy if slightly less memorable main theme.
The score does bring some ode to the originals success, especially when Poledouris returns with themes that made the original legendary. The love theme that stood for Valeria in the original returns in this score during "Valeria Remembered", the use of the new main theme is heard in "Elite Guard Attacks" while a nice marching "Approach to Shadizaar" does ample things for the enjoyable factor.
A good track is "Crystal Palace" combining suspense with a nice heroic fanfare that captures Quigley Down Under's style while "Night Bird" dares to paint it a lot more mystical. "The Scrolls of Skelos" is a soft emotional track, just like the soothing "Illusion's Lake" cue after that. A somewhat relaxing middle part and a lack of powerful epic cues show you why Conan the Destroyer ranks far behind its illustrious leader. Even the fanfares without a single main theme statement in "Conan & Bombaata Battle" can't change that fact.
Truthfully, I lack punch and gusto when listening to Conan the Destroyer. Has this got to do with the decent but lacking sound clarity? Has this go to do with the fact Poledouris delivers not one single bombastic track? Or with the fact it's a lot calmer than one would have expected? Either way 30 minutes is enough of Conan the Destroyer, and even the bonus cue on the newly released Conan the Barbarian album didn't fully deliver what Conan the Destroyer stood for. Though it sounds remarkably better, it only brought a slightly slower version of "Crystal Palace" without even stating once the new main theme of this score. It only goes to show, John Milius made Schwarzenenner and Poledouris shine.
Tracklisting
1. Main Title / Riders of Taramis (3.37)
2. Valeria Remembered (3.07)
3. The Horn of Dagoth (2.20)
4. Elite Guard Attacks (2.25)
5. Crystal Palace (6.13)
6. The Katta (1.04)
7. Dream Quest (1.31)
8. Night Bird (2.22)
9. Approach to Shadizaar (2.43)
10. The Scrolls of Skelos (2.24)
11. Dueling Wizards (1.27)
12. Illusion's Lake (1.18)
13. Conan & Bombaata Battle (2.29)
Total Length: 33.38