The Killing Room

One of the constant returning factors in Brian Tyler's career is work. You always see him getting work, you always hear him on CD, you always receive the typical effective result. Yet sometimes it is easier to slow down, to take a pause, to work on something else instead. Well a pause is out of the question, but a difference might do it for now. And I think The Killing Room is just the difference you need. A movie about a secret government study, The Killing Room might just deliver you the necessary antidote if you felt a little bit tired after all the typical Dragonballs and Fast & Furious'es.

Because we have to say it, The Killing Room is something different, and change is good. Hear for yourself, in "Begin" you are lured into a eerie mysterious string section, delving your mind deep into Elliot Goldenthal territory as we wander through scores like Heat and Sphere. But the mind sometimes needs a wake up call, and after the meandering "Liberty" comes the shocking "Memorium", a track that is heightened by eerie solo vocals, rising string work and disturbing wake up calls. The real wake up call happens in "Propaganda". First there's nothing wrong and you encounter another Sphere like territorial track, but then suddenly (like the film) out of nowhere comes the shocking sting, and you're left helplessly behind.

The pain and disbelief comes in "Invocation", a constant on edge string work that alerts the senses and our tastes wonderfully well. You see, by now you've realized that The Killing Room is the unique duck in the Brian Tyler pond. Especially if you discover the downright threatening cello work in "Subversion" and the rising creepy Sphere sound in "Disinformation" after a while.

The final tracks show just how strong the score of Brian Tyler is. In the 10 minute long "Adagio Spiritiso", we are treated to cello solos, long lasting string emotions, meandering piano work and heightened string climaxes. The Heat experience in "Denouement" and "End" show the Goldenthal voice really well, ending the score as promising as it began your unknown listening experience.

The strength of The Killing Room lies in its hypnotizing mood, its uneasy experience and its un Tyler like sound. After all, after having attacked him so long for delivering us the same sound over and over again, The Killing Room comes just in the nick of time to rescue us from that statement. Be warned though, The Killing Room doesn't show a hint of that rhythmic, propulsive voice, and people who think they will get this here will be boringly disappointed. Yet for me, The Killing Room isn't boring. For me, The Killing Room is about discovering who you really are. And like the film, Brian Tyler has opened another side for us to discover. Recommended if you want Brian Tyler to do something completely the opposite for a change, which he has.

Tracklisting

1. Begin (5.22)
2. Falling (1.22)
3. Liberty (3.18)
4. Memorium (6.12) Excellent track
5. Propaganda (5.50)
6. Invocation (7.44) Excellent track
7. Subversion (2.28)
8. Disinformation (2.16)
9. Providence (3.23)
10. Agenda (4.48)
11. Dissidents (4.23)
12. Ecclesia (2.43)
13. Adagio Spiritiso (9.58) Excellent track
14. Denouement (3.30) Excellent track
15. End (6.37) Excellent track

Total Length: 69.44