Darkness Falls
Brian Tyler
" Fabulous entrance of Tyler, rising to the occasion "Written by Thomas Glorieux - Review of the regular release
The 3rd Varèse Sarabande release of Brian Tyler music suddenly appears to be the best of the trio. For those who've missed it, Varèse has been re introducing Brian Tyler to the market after a failed attempt with The 4th Floor and Frailty in 1999 and 2001. After all, nothing spells out Brian Tyler better than a rhythmic affair (The Hunted), an epic affair (Children of Dune) and a brass blast affair (Darkness Falls). And for those who paid attention, Darkness Falls will remain their favorite of the trio.
Because, let's be honest. What's not to like? Brass, stings, rhythm, percussion, thrills, shocks and eeriness, namely thrilling horror music in a nutshell. For about 48 minutes you're being transferred to the city of Darkness Falls, a small town with a terrible legend. Considering legends come back to haunt you, it's better for them to stay in the light. And that battle between darkness and light triggers Tyler to write some of his most beloved rhythms yet. Because "Evil Rises" will soon show you that some composers are born for this kind of genre.
A track that is found near the finale of the film, this out of sequence cue thunderously opens in true Aliens fashion the album, to unleash true rhythmic brass blasts from darkness itself, unleashing with it the familiar string and brass rhythm Tyler is now overtly known for. Further takes on this thunderous style are "Eye Contact" (a total roller coaster ride of thrills and chills), "A Bit Crispy" where the brass truly shrills at the end, and the tracks "Stay in the Light", "Der Zylinder", "We are Not Safe in Here" and "That Has Got to Hurt" (Alien 3 shrills) that deliver brief but stunning horror stings. Welcome to Darkness Falls where Tyler rises to the occasion.
In several tracks the ominous main theme of the town makes an appearance, this in "Darkness Falls", "Eye Contact", "Overhead", Consultation", "Is this Kyle Walsh?" and "End Titles", but the climax is left for "Meet the Tooth Fairy" (which is an atonal feast) and the excellent suite "End Titles" (bringing all the best moments together in 1 take).
The other tracks divide themselves in the underscore moments of the album, but even those don't appear to be forgettable at all. In "25 Words or Less" mysterious music tries to counterbalance the feeling of hope, "Lose a Tooth" delivers some brief minutes of relief, "One Kiss" dares to mix the mysteriousness of the main theme with a passionate moment for piano and love, "Consultation" dares to include the unoriginal solo vocal all the while "Is This Kyle Walsh?" explodes after a soft main theme opening.
So, even if you receive some of the most thrilling rhythmic horror moments you've heard in a long time, Darkness Falls isn't totally flawless. Apart from the amazing opening moment, the actual horror moments are less than a minute and a half long, leaving practically no room for any rhythmic development. And even though I like how this album jump starts the experience, I rather wished it would have been in chronological order. After all, horror movies always tend to leave the meatiest battles for the end of the film. All in all, Darkness Falls remains one of Tyler's best efforts, but it's just not not a brilliant album experience.
Tracklisting
1. Evil Rises (2.26) Excellent track
2. Darkness Falls (2.33)
3. Eye Contact (1.50)
4. Interrogatorio (2.12)
5. A Bit Crispy (1.20) Excellent track
6. 25 Words or Less (1.41)
7. Stay in the Light (1.20)
8. Lose a Tooth (1.31)
9. Der Zylinder (2.58)
10. One Kiss (1.56)
11. Let There be Light Sort of (1.06)
12. We Are Safe in Here (0.37)
13. We Are Not Safe in Here (0.41)
14. Aftermath (1.28)
15. Overhead (0.56)
16. Consultation (2.10)
17. Utter Darkness (1.28)
18. That Has Got to Hurt (1.24) Excellent track
19. Kyle and Michael (2.28)
20. Perception Tank (1.37)
21. Blood Red Herring (0.44)
22. Meet the Tooth Fairy (2.47)
23. Reading the Legend (0.42)
24. Is This Kyle Walsh? (1.51)
25. The Mask (1.03)
26. End Titles (7.07) Excellent track
Total Length: 48.32
Because, let's be honest. What's not to like? Brass, stings, rhythm, percussion, thrills, shocks and eeriness, namely thrilling horror music in a nutshell. For about 48 minutes you're being transferred to the city of Darkness Falls, a small town with a terrible legend. Considering legends come back to haunt you, it's better for them to stay in the light. And that battle between darkness and light triggers Tyler to write some of his most beloved rhythms yet. Because "Evil Rises" will soon show you that some composers are born for this kind of genre.
A track that is found near the finale of the film, this out of sequence cue thunderously opens in true Aliens fashion the album, to unleash true rhythmic brass blasts from darkness itself, unleashing with it the familiar string and brass rhythm Tyler is now overtly known for. Further takes on this thunderous style are "Eye Contact" (a total roller coaster ride of thrills and chills), "A Bit Crispy" where the brass truly shrills at the end, and the tracks "Stay in the Light", "Der Zylinder", "We are Not Safe in Here" and "That Has Got to Hurt" (Alien 3 shrills) that deliver brief but stunning horror stings. Welcome to Darkness Falls where Tyler rises to the occasion.
In several tracks the ominous main theme of the town makes an appearance, this in "Darkness Falls", "Eye Contact", "Overhead", Consultation", "Is this Kyle Walsh?" and "End Titles", but the climax is left for "Meet the Tooth Fairy" (which is an atonal feast) and the excellent suite "End Titles" (bringing all the best moments together in 1 take).
The other tracks divide themselves in the underscore moments of the album, but even those don't appear to be forgettable at all. In "25 Words or Less" mysterious music tries to counterbalance the feeling of hope, "Lose a Tooth" delivers some brief minutes of relief, "One Kiss" dares to mix the mysteriousness of the main theme with a passionate moment for piano and love, "Consultation" dares to include the unoriginal solo vocal all the while "Is This Kyle Walsh?" explodes after a soft main theme opening.
So, even if you receive some of the most thrilling rhythmic horror moments you've heard in a long time, Darkness Falls isn't totally flawless. Apart from the amazing opening moment, the actual horror moments are less than a minute and a half long, leaving practically no room for any rhythmic development. And even though I like how this album jump starts the experience, I rather wished it would have been in chronological order. After all, horror movies always tend to leave the meatiest battles for the end of the film. All in all, Darkness Falls remains one of Tyler's best efforts, but it's just not not a brilliant album experience.
Tracklisting
1. Evil Rises (2.26) Excellent track
2. Darkness Falls (2.33)
3. Eye Contact (1.50)
4. Interrogatorio (2.12)
5. A Bit Crispy (1.20) Excellent track
6. 25 Words or Less (1.41)
7. Stay in the Light (1.20)
8. Lose a Tooth (1.31)
9. Der Zylinder (2.58)
10. One Kiss (1.56)
11. Let There be Light Sort of (1.06)
12. We Are Safe in Here (0.37)
13. We Are Not Safe in Here (0.41)
14. Aftermath (1.28)
15. Overhead (0.56)
16. Consultation (2.10)
17. Utter Darkness (1.28)
18. That Has Got to Hurt (1.24) Excellent track
19. Kyle and Michael (2.28)
20. Perception Tank (1.37)
21. Blood Red Herring (0.44)
22. Meet the Tooth Fairy (2.47)
23. Reading the Legend (0.42)
24. Is This Kyle Walsh? (1.51)
25. The Mask (1.03)
26. End Titles (7.07) Excellent track
Total Length: 48.32