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THOMAS BERGERSEN & NICK PHOENIX (Two Steps from Hell)
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- CommentTimeMay 11th 2010 edited
Two Steps from Hell: the masters of the genre "epic music." They released their first production album in 2006. Since then they've become one of the most popular trailer music production companies around and have grown a relatively huge fanbase. All tracks are extremely professional, extremely polished and usually manage a good degree of originality.
Thomas Bergersen is quite active on the net, moreso than Nick, and updates fans on progress on his upcoming commercial album, Illusions, on his Facebook page.
Public releases:
-TSFH's first commercial album, "Invincible," has been released on iTunes and Amazon and will soon get a CD release.
-The soundtrack to The Human Experience has also been released. It features about 14 minutes of score by Thomas Bergersen.
Upcoming public releases:
-Illusions, a solo album by Thomas Bergersen.
-Sun, an album with some of Bergersen's music from Illumina and Dreams and Imaginations.
-A sequel to Invincible -
- CommentTimeMay 11th 2010
Cool! Best news I've heard in a long time! Is "Invincible" download only, or will there be a cd release? If not, I'm downloading this now! -
- CommentTimeMay 11th 2010
Whoops! It says "Available for download only" in the top right corner... guess I'll be downloading it then -
- CommentAuthorRanietz
- CommentTimeMay 11th 2010
Here's their website where you can listen to some audio clips. And yes, I'm a big fan. -
- CommentTimeMay 11th 2010
Also they have about 23 full songs/demos on their Facebook page. -
- CommentTimeMay 11th 2010
woohoo, I love these guys. I downloaded this immediately. Thanks for the heads up, if not I would never have known it was even commercially availablewaaaaaahhhhhhhh!!! Where's my nut? arrrghhhhhhh -
- CommentTimeMay 11th 2010
Feliz wrote
Two Steps from Hell: the masters of the genre "epic music."
As a genre or a style? I'd say they do a pretty good job of giving Hollywood producers what they want for their trailers, but I'd much prefer to listen to the "epic" music from guys like Rosza, Williams, Goldsmith et al.
Not that this stuff isn't enjoyable - it is. But in small doses. -
- CommentTimeMay 11th 2010
I found their music to have that strong orchestrated sound, but them usic itself to be unmemorable, often wearing out it's listening experience before the cues are over. A number of their cues can be heard in complete, lossless quality here:
http://www.ExtremeMusic.comThe views and opinions of Ford A. Thaxton are his own and do not necessarily reflect the ones of ANYONE else. -
- CommentTimeMay 11th 2010 edited
it has the trailer music of Star Trek, Mass Effect 2, 2012, Prince of Persia and Inkheart, for me this is all I need, powerful stuffwaaaaaahhhhhhhh!!! Where's my nut? arrrghhhhhhh -
- CommentTimeMay 11th 2010
My fellow countryman Bergersen is widely known as a world class creator of samples and mockups.I am extremely serious. -
- CommentAuthorRanietz
- CommentTimeMay 11th 2010
Thor wrote
My fellow countryman Bergersen is widely known as a world class creator of samples and mockups.
Yes. He makes some of the best mockups out ther. Just listen to Mojo Madness. It's an William-esque mockup he did a couple of years ago. All samples. -
- CommentTimeMay 11th 2010
I will say this... I'm flabbergasted by how far synthesizers have come. We are really getting close to the day where we aren't going to be able to tell the difference between something rendered on the computer or performed by the Hollywood Studio Symphony.
-Erik-host and executive producer of THE CINEMATIC SOUND RADIO PODCAST | www.cinematicsound.net | www.facebook.com/cinematicsound | I HAVE TINNITUS! -
- CommentTimeMay 12th 2010
Steven wrote
Feliz wrote
Two Steps from Hell: the masters of the genre "epic music."
As a genre or a style? I'd say they do a pretty good job of giving Hollywood producers what they want for their trailers, but I'd much prefer to listen to the "epic" music from guys like Rosza, Williams, Goldsmith et al.
You're using epic as an more of an adjective. When I wrote that I was thinking of it as a classification (trailer music/E.S. Posthumus/O Fortuna-esque stuff). Yes, Roza, Williams, etc. are epic too.
justin boggan wrote
I found their music to have that strong orchestrated sound, but the music itself to be unmemorable, often wearing out it's listening experience before the cues are over.
I get a few of their tunes stuck in my head all the time, but I guess I can see where you're coming from. I feel like Thomas is capable of a huge range of things (Nick too, probably), but the fact that they're both always writing production trailer music really limits some of the creativity that could be there. I would really like to see what they could come up with for an original movie score. And I'm also really excited to hear Thomas' Nemesis II, where he has more freedom to experiment and do what he wants.
Ranietz wroteJust listen to Mojo Madness.
Thanks for that link, Ranietz! I hadn't heard that one! It's great! How can be so good at getting realistic synthesized sounds?
Erik Woods wroteI'm flabbergasted by how far synthesizers have come. We are really getting close to the day where we aren't going to be able to tell the difference between something rendered on the computer or performed by the Hollywood Studio Symphony.
Have you listened to the demo for the new Hollywood Strings virtual instrument? Allegro Aditato. Listen to it. It's all synth but it takes a really trained ear to figure that out! It's also currently my favorite track by Thomas. Justin, you should take a listen too, maybe you'd like it. The composition is great and not too repetitive. -
- CommentTimeMay 12th 2010
Listen to demos over at the vienna symphony library. Or symphobia. You'll be blast away.
http://vsl.co.at/en/67/702/252.vsl
These people here, TWO STEPS FROM HELL, along with BRAND-X are top in their game. Other interesting projects include of course IMMEDIATE MUSIC (although they sound a bit cheap in comparison), and X-RAY DOG. I hear that AUDIO MACHINE are also interesting, but i haven't heard anything yet.Love Maintitles. It's full of Wanders. -
- CommentTimeMay 12th 2010
Oh and those aren't synths, they're vst samples. There's a technical differenceLove Maintitles. It's full of Wanders. -
- CommentTimeMay 12th 2010
Right... in any case when will the day come that we don't need live players to perform these scores. Just grab your sample library, which sound just as good as the live players, and cut down the cost of union and reuse fees. How many people will be out of work when that day comes?
-Erik-host and executive producer of THE CINEMATIC SOUND RADIO PODCAST | www.cinematicsound.net | www.facebook.com/cinematicsound | I HAVE TINNITUS! -
- CommentTimeMay 12th 2010
It won't be late, seriously. Listen to the samples in that page. It's the best, most realistic vst orchestra out there. The full suite is about 9.000 euros if i recall correctly, from thomann.deLove Maintitles. It's full of Wanders. -
- CommentAuthorTimmer
- CommentTimeMay 12th 2010
Erik Woods wrote
Right... in any case when will the day come that we don't need live players to perform these scores. Just grab your sample library, which sound just as good as the live players, and cut down the cost of union and reuse fees. How many people will be out of work when that day comes?
-Erik-
It'll be a dark day. With it will probably come the death knell of composers who can read and write music.On Friday I ate a lot of dust and appeared orange near the end of the day ~ Bregt -
- CommentTimeMay 12th 2010 edited
Nah, i am not pessimistic. These days vst's and composers who write music on the computer first are indeed the majority and there's still great music and there's also junk, but who can deny junk existed in the past as well? It did; it always co-exists.
People, culture, musical data and musicianship, inspiration, ideas, expression exist but of course, like everything else, they also evolve. What changes it's just the means these days and that's not a negative thing at all. Personally, apart the downward motion in quality that took place between roughly 2006-08, i have to say that i am very, very happy with film, game and tv music from the beginning of 2009 onwards plus some very exciting new names have come along, due to these changes in quality of technical means and wider accessibility.
Things are looking bright and if cheap productions can sound as awesome as the expensive ones these days, this can only mean that more good will come out that probably didn't have the financial and technical means to express themselves 10-20 years ago, but also more junk. Well, it's life, and balance, it's how things are. We filter, and choose what we likeLove Maintitles. It's full of Wanders. -
- CommentTimeMay 12th 2010
Christodoulides wrote
Personally, apart the downward motion in quality that took place between roughly 2006-08...
http://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/apart+from
It bugs me! -
- CommentAuthorRanietz
- CommentTimeMay 12th 2010
In my opinion, samples won't replace a real orchestra in many, many years. First of all the orchestral samples aren't good enough yet (although they're getting better and better). The second reason is, even if we some day get a perfect orchestral sample library, the real orchestra consists of individuals who adds their own personal touch to the music and they react to what the other players in the orchestra do. There's also some degree of imperfection in an orchestra which is hard to duplicate with samples. Samples are often too perfect and can quickly sound cold and lifeless. At least that's the case with commercial samples. I know Thomas Bergersen has his own personal sample library which has all of those imperfections still intact and maybe that's why some of his mockups sounds so real. -
- CommentAuthorPawelStroinski
- CommentTimeMay 12th 2010
Interestingly one of advocates of using real ensembles and real musicians is a certain fellow called Hans Zimmerhttp://www.filmmusic.pl - Polish Film Music Review Website -
- CommentTimeMay 12th 2010
Really diggin' the "Invincible" album!
Wish I knew what trailers the music are from. Only one I'm absolutely certain about is "Super Strength", which is from Wall-E. And I believe "Freedom Fighters" was used in Star Trek, but not sure about that one...
Anyone have a list? -
- CommentTimeMay 13th 2010
Ranietz wrote
In my opinion, samples won't replace a real orchestra in many, many years. First of all the orchestral samples aren't good enough yet (although they're getting better and better). The second reason is, even if we some day get a perfect orchestral sample library, the real orchestra consists of individuals who adds their own personal touch to the music and they react to what the other players in the orchestra do. There's also some degree of imperfection in an orchestra which is hard to duplicate with samples. Samples are often too perfect and can quickly sound cold and lifeless. At least that's the case with commercial samples. I know Thomas Bergersen has his own personal sample library which has all of those imperfections still intact and maybe that's why some of his mockups sounds so real.
Nobody's saying the contrary. But hollywood is business and finance is what will eventually define the outcome.Love Maintitles. It's full of Wanders. -
- CommentTimeMay 13th 2010
Artworks wrote
Really diggin' the "Invincible" album!
Wish I knew what trailers the music are from. Only one I'm absolutely certain about is "Super Strength", which is from Wall-E. And I believe "Freedom Fighters" was used in Star Trek, but not sure about that one...
Anyone have a list?
http://www.soundtrack.net/trailers/
But i don't know if they update it anymore since it's gone from a score site, to movies' promotion. But then again, google is your friendLove Maintitles. It's full of Wanders. -
- CommentTimeMay 13th 2010
Artworks wrote
Really diggin' the "Invincible" album!
Wish I knew what trailers the music are from. Only one I'm absolutely certain about is "Super Strength", which is from Wall-E. And I believe "Freedom Fighters" was used in Star Trek, but not sure about that one...
Anyone have a list?
from what I heard, these are the following
- Freedom Fighters was used indeed in the Star Trek trailer (the final trailer)
- Heart of Courage was used in the Mass Effect 2 trailer
- Master of Shadows was used in the first trailer of 2012
- Moving Mountains I think was used in the second movie of the Twilight saga
- Black Blade in the first awesome trailer of Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time
- Protectors of the Earth was used in the trailer of Inkheart
The rest I still have to listen to, but these are at least the ones I really wanted
Hope this helps a bitwaaaaaahhhhhhhh!!! Where's my nut? arrrghhhhhhh -
- CommentTimeMay 13th 2010
Thanks! And totally forgot about Soundtrack.net... gonna have a look over there... -
- CommentTimeMay 13th 2010 edited
Artworks wrote
Wish I knew what trailers the music are from. Anyone have a list?
I got curious after you asked, so I did my research. Here's what I've pieced together from TSFH's website, Soundtrack.net, TrailerMusicNews.com, Youtube and Google.
1. Freedom Fighters - Star Trek (Trailer #3)
2. Heart of Courage - Mass Effect 2 (Launch trailer)
3. Master of Shadows - 2010 (Trailer #2)
4. Moving Mountains - Jumper (Trailer #2), New Moon
5. Am I Not Human? - New track, only on Invincible (Has not yet been used in a trailer)
6. Enigmatic Soul - No info
7. Fire Nation - From the Power of Darkness album (Has not yet been used in a trailer)
8. Black Blade - Prince of Persia, Star Trek TV Spot #7: Fate of the World , The Book of Eli TV Spot #1 and #5, X-Men Origins Wolverine TV Spot: Choice
9. Super Strength - Wall•e
10. Invincible - From Power of Darkness
11. False King - No info
12. Hypnotica - No info
13. Fill My Heart - Casino Royale (Teaser #2), Young Victoria (International trailer)
14. Protectors of the Earth - Inkheart, The Edge of Love
15. Velocitron - From Power of Darkness
16. Undying Love - No info
17. 1000 Ships of the Underworld - Eclipse, Miracle at St. Anna
18. Tristan - Australia
19. Breath of Ran Gor - No info
20. Infinite Legends – Ondine
21. To Glory - From TSFH’s upcoming album with the working title “Eclipse” (Has not yet been used)
22. After The Fall – Pretty Little Liars (Promo)
The only ones I couldn't find anything on were Enigmatic Soul, False King, Hypnotica, Undying Love and Breath of Ran Gor. I'm sure I've missed a few extra uses on the other tracks too, but I think I've covered a lot of it. -
- CommentTimeMay 13th 2010
Feliz, great work!Love Maintitles. It's full of Wanders. -
- CommentTimeMay 13th 2010
That's excellent work, thanks a lot!