Gun (Video Game Score)

Review by Thomas Glorieux:

Christopher Lennertz is becoming quite adept at scoring games. Easily it was due to his continuation of composing for the MOH scores, and therefore he got the opportunity to explore further genres, namely From Russia with Love (the Bond game) and Gun, an action western shooter. This score is a nice example of getting it done well, because Lennertz explored the westerns apparently close, starting early on with 'A Gloomy Opening' we have all the trademarks a more Western based score should have, ethnic solo vocal over percussion, flute, guitar and brief solo violin and at the end darker brass grows which improve near the end. 'Danger Lurks around every Corner' then shows us 2 brief returning themes, either the opening danger theme or the more heroic inclined hero theme which is variated; both on brass toying around. And 'Games are for Texans' just improves on the ethnic factor more, with eerie strings opening and setting the guitar, angry cello and a percussion rhythm to the mix, it makes the effect pleasing and rhythmically exciting. However 'Horse Race' takes that all away, with the heroic theme immediately setting the track in motion, briefly spotting material that MOH: European Assault such pleasing (meaning parts of the theme) while the suspension is brought orchestrally down, its however constant exciting play of drums and brass sets the action in motion. The way it moves to an exciting finish is all the more rewarding. Drums leads the heroic theme in the opening 'A Round Up', this again repeating the material over and over. 'Street Victory' is a nice heroic track, perhaps not bringing much difference from what we heard before, but the execution is more stretched out in heroic crowd pleasers of moments, at least in the first minutes.

Thereafter a more on edge marching suspense is layered around the brass, however how Lennertz never fades down parts of the theme still makes it heroic in effect. The brass is reaching blowout proportions in the end. 'Planning our Move' is great, western guitar plucks the edge away, letting the theme and part MOH material work around that. With 'Setting the Trap' its back to ethnic majority time, letting the heroic theme this time be heard in more western based exotic tilts, guitar, flute and violin. The second part is more orchestral growing material underscoring the preparation. 'Waiting for Something to Come' for the first time introduces us to the harmonica before gloomy western and later brass building suspense are creating heroic darker licks. 'A Standoff Worthy of Heroes' and the first part of 'Father, I Have Avenged You' are great heroic moments, swelling up in brass pieces around the hero theme while whirling strings at times bring back MOH in mind. 'End Credits' has a finishing effect with the guitar, percussion and brass bringing back the themes for the final time. In the end, nothing is wrong with Gun, more everything clicks perfectly together. Why? Perhaps because I mixed it in a pleasing mix, because some tracks were short and so I glued them together, made false names simply up and pasted them to what I assumed could be that. So, reading these names for people who played the game will make no sense whatsoever. However, for people who have no clue what to expect and want basically a filmscore ala experience, Gun is a pleasing listen. Its orchestral, bombastic and creating action rhythms that will make the game a great experience. In the end, its all what it has to do and therefore I'm promoting Gun to be the best Lennertz game score yet. Recommended for western lovers wanting a thrill without a choral effect.

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Tracks

Single Disc

1. A Gloomy Opening (4.34)

2. Danger Lurks Around Every Corner (2.41)

3. Games Are For Texans (4.11)

4. Horse Race (5.37) Excellent Track

5. A Round Up (4.27)

6. Street Victory (5.09) Excellent Track

7. Planning Our Move (2.30) Excellent Track

8. Setting The Trap (4.16)

9. Waiting For Something To Come (4.53)

10. A Standoff Worthy Of Heroes (5.28) Excellent Track

11. Father, I Have Avenged You (4.26)

12. End Credits (4.18)

Total Length: 52.57

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