Soul of the Ultimate Nation
Howard Shore
" Middle Earth continues in Video Gaming "Written by Thomas Glorieux - Review of the regular release
It has been several years since Howard Shore amazed the world when he composed the extensive beloved trilogy of Lord of the Rings, heralded by some to be the best music composed since Star Wars. But more than that, it gave us a palette of emotional color that we just didn't hear enough of Howard Shore. After that it made us look even more forward to King Kong, but friendly disputes led to the non scoring of the monster blockbuster. A lot of people were disappointed by the outcome of this decision because who wasn't looking forward to what Shore could cook up then? Luckily for score followers, he was already attached to the biggest online game of the year, namely Soul of the Ultimate Nation. And for Howard Shore this was a new challenge because he'd never done game composition before.
Unlike the years before it, game music has expanded considerably under the guidance of respected movie composers Michael Giacchino, Christopher Lennertz and game artists like Jeremy Soule pushed game music to new astounding heights, rivaling the big movie brothers of Hollywood itself in sheer scope. Considering the scope of the game and the success of the LOTR music, it was inevitable that something like Howard Shore's music could lend this massive role playing adventure a musical scope of magnitude itself. He only had to delve back into the depths of Mordor, flying over Minas Tirith and blend Rivendell with Shelob's lair to let Soul of the Ultimate Nation be born.
Meaning, you have come back to Middle Earth personally through gaming. One thing is clear how, much this score resembles and listens like LOTR, it is not LOTR whatsoever, because there is barely a musical motif that reminds you of those scores. It's just the personal feel and orchestral sound that brings Middle Earth back into our hearts, only darker. Furthermore, SUN is epic, stellar and powerful music that might lack the recognizable themes, but that is easily compensated through the almighty feel of the recording.
The Asian release covers roughly 65 minutes of music, covering probably the biggest highlights of Shore's composition, while making good use of the orchestra and choir, in LOTR fashion. It takes barely about 15 seconds to discover that it sounds like LOTR, this in "Sanctuary of Ether" through the Elvish sounding choir. But Shore luckily continues his own SUN path after that. In "A Prelude to Revolt" and "Helron's Castle" the fanfares are all over the place. Through choral support it marches through the remaining minutes, leaving only a returning action fanfare as guide through all that epic scoring.
Further along Shore keeps the quality high enough in "Tides of Hope", "The Triumph" and "The Valley of Dragons". The first covers a truly enlightening majestic The Right Stuff nobility, while choir erupts the epic feeling of Middle Earth in the middle track, with even a few notes stating the fellowship theme. The 3rd track covers the score's most intriguing moment when a solo vocal states an otherworldly ethereal but wonderful motif, only to be gunned down by the brass through an amazing finish.
Sadly I find the middle part of the album a bit forgettable. "Empire Geist" has dark ominous music and "Immortal Emperor" has a percussive moment. Namely these are tracks that don't truly deliver. But if you aren't blown away by "March to Victory", I don't know what will because it has amazing choral music. The rumbling "Requiem for the Dead" is once more LOTR in tone through the percussive mood and unnerving strings, never erupting into anything explosive except for the action fanfare at the end.
"Etheral Life", "A Pernicious Plot" and "Graveyard of Aiort" don't really amount to anything bombastic though. They all capture a unique mood whether it is through the warm tone of track 17, the dark vocal sub theme in 18 or the moody atmosphere in 19. Yet luckily Shore builds to a final worthy of finales after that, because "Menace of the Army Wings" is 8 minutes of pure bombastic fun, rhythmic brass (stating the opening track's Elvish theme) and brilliant fanfares. Namely it's finally a track that builds to a lethargic finish so to speak off. The percussion never shuts up, the brass remains devilish enough and there's a standout finish that closes the LOTR celebrity tour for good.
So Soul of the Ultimate Nation might be a dark saturated score, it nonetheless keeps you locked in from begin to end. I must admit that the listening experience isn't always up to par, but through enormous will and big outstanding moments you get the music you came for. It is full of resemblances to Middle Earth, Mordor and Shelob's lair and lays a foundation without stating the obvious themes to make it truly memorable. So if you want music that continues Howard Shore's victory quest, by all means give Lord of the Rings IV: Soul of the Ultimate Nation a spin.
Tracklisting
1. Sanctuary of Ether (2.35)
2. A Prelude to Revolt (6.47) Excellent track
3. Tides of Hope (3.19) Excellent track
4. Helron's Castle (2.10)
5. The Triumph (2.08)
6. The Valley of Dragons (2.18) Excellent track
7. Forest of the Beasts (4.03)
8. Empire Geist (3.23)
9. The Epitaph (3.05)
10. Night of the Crescent Moon (1.35)
11. Hymns of the Battlefield (2.14)
12. Immortal Emperor (2.44)
13. March to Victory (2.10) Excellent track
14. A Poem for Nemesis (2.20)
15. Soul Of The Ultimate Nation (3.13)
16. Requiem for the Dead (4.35)
17. Etheral Life (2.53)
18. A Pernicious Plot (2.12)
19. Graveyard of Aiort (2.44)
20. Menace of the Army Wings (7.55) Excellent track
Total Length: 64.35
Unlike the years before it, game music has expanded considerably under the guidance of respected movie composers Michael Giacchino, Christopher Lennertz and game artists like Jeremy Soule pushed game music to new astounding heights, rivaling the big movie brothers of Hollywood itself in sheer scope. Considering the scope of the game and the success of the LOTR music, it was inevitable that something like Howard Shore's music could lend this massive role playing adventure a musical scope of magnitude itself. He only had to delve back into the depths of Mordor, flying over Minas Tirith and blend Rivendell with Shelob's lair to let Soul of the Ultimate Nation be born.
Meaning, you have come back to Middle Earth personally through gaming. One thing is clear how, much this score resembles and listens like LOTR, it is not LOTR whatsoever, because there is barely a musical motif that reminds you of those scores. It's just the personal feel and orchestral sound that brings Middle Earth back into our hearts, only darker. Furthermore, SUN is epic, stellar and powerful music that might lack the recognizable themes, but that is easily compensated through the almighty feel of the recording.
The Asian release covers roughly 65 minutes of music, covering probably the biggest highlights of Shore's composition, while making good use of the orchestra and choir, in LOTR fashion. It takes barely about 15 seconds to discover that it sounds like LOTR, this in "Sanctuary of Ether" through the Elvish sounding choir. But Shore luckily continues his own SUN path after that. In "A Prelude to Revolt" and "Helron's Castle" the fanfares are all over the place. Through choral support it marches through the remaining minutes, leaving only a returning action fanfare as guide through all that epic scoring.
Further along Shore keeps the quality high enough in "Tides of Hope", "The Triumph" and "The Valley of Dragons". The first covers a truly enlightening majestic The Right Stuff nobility, while choir erupts the epic feeling of Middle Earth in the middle track, with even a few notes stating the fellowship theme. The 3rd track covers the score's most intriguing moment when a solo vocal states an otherworldly ethereal but wonderful motif, only to be gunned down by the brass through an amazing finish.
Sadly I find the middle part of the album a bit forgettable. "Empire Geist" has dark ominous music and "Immortal Emperor" has a percussive moment. Namely these are tracks that don't truly deliver. But if you aren't blown away by "March to Victory", I don't know what will because it has amazing choral music. The rumbling "Requiem for the Dead" is once more LOTR in tone through the percussive mood and unnerving strings, never erupting into anything explosive except for the action fanfare at the end.
"Etheral Life", "A Pernicious Plot" and "Graveyard of Aiort" don't really amount to anything bombastic though. They all capture a unique mood whether it is through the warm tone of track 17, the dark vocal sub theme in 18 or the moody atmosphere in 19. Yet luckily Shore builds to a final worthy of finales after that, because "Menace of the Army Wings" is 8 minutes of pure bombastic fun, rhythmic brass (stating the opening track's Elvish theme) and brilliant fanfares. Namely it's finally a track that builds to a lethargic finish so to speak off. The percussion never shuts up, the brass remains devilish enough and there's a standout finish that closes the LOTR celebrity tour for good.
So Soul of the Ultimate Nation might be a dark saturated score, it nonetheless keeps you locked in from begin to end. I must admit that the listening experience isn't always up to par, but through enormous will and big outstanding moments you get the music you came for. It is full of resemblances to Middle Earth, Mordor and Shelob's lair and lays a foundation without stating the obvious themes to make it truly memorable. So if you want music that continues Howard Shore's victory quest, by all means give Lord of the Rings IV: Soul of the Ultimate Nation a spin.
Tracklisting
1. Sanctuary of Ether (2.35)
2. A Prelude to Revolt (6.47) Excellent track
3. Tides of Hope (3.19) Excellent track
4. Helron's Castle (2.10)
5. The Triumph (2.08)
6. The Valley of Dragons (2.18) Excellent track
7. Forest of the Beasts (4.03)
8. Empire Geist (3.23)
9. The Epitaph (3.05)
10. Night of the Crescent Moon (1.35)
11. Hymns of the Battlefield (2.14)
12. Immortal Emperor (2.44)
13. March to Victory (2.10) Excellent track
14. A Poem for Nemesis (2.20)
15. Soul Of The Ultimate Nation (3.13)
16. Requiem for the Dead (4.35)
17. Etheral Life (2.53)
18. A Pernicious Plot (2.12)
19. Graveyard of Aiort (2.44)
20. Menace of the Army Wings (7.55) Excellent track
Total Length: 64.35