Medal of Honor: Rising Sun (Video Game Score)

Review by Thomas Glorieux:

After the departure of Michael Giacchino and half of the production crew, the MOH series had to continue somewhat differently, both musically and visually. And while the games picked up the value of true war after a period of time, so does the music start to build from a rather slow start. Of course, Michael Giacchino left a big mark on the series and his scores stand among the best game music ever composed. However Christopher Lennertz is no slouch either and his music promises much too, if it's just somewhat differently available. First of all promos and not commercial releases are available of Lennertz' music and secondly (and this is the biggest flaw of the Rising Sun soundtrack), its the presentation of the material. With Giacchino you had a solid presentation, he would state his theme or rhythm early on and for the next 3 to 4 minutes the man would toy and build upon that rhythm, only to explode with the version or climax possible. So he could develop what he wrote and alternate it between those minutes. Whereas Christopher Lennertz is left with a few tracks that run but 3 minutes while most have to battle to the 1 minute and 30 second mark without any development whatsoever. If you have 31 tracks for a 61 minute score you know that half of the tracks won't deliver the big pada boom feel. And I was right, most of the music here sounds cool and great but it can't deliver the feeling nor the finished development that is necessary to really elevate it to the Giacchino standards. And so alas Medal of Honor: Rising Sun or the first of Lennertz is a good example of a test case promo tour, but that's exactly what it feels like too in the presentation. Tracks as 'PT Attack' with its Giacchino rhythm, 'Deep in Guadal Canal' stating the action theme, 'Saving Pearl Harbor' capturing a nifty brass presentation or 'A Prisoner's Eulogy' with its elegiac choir feel great but they just can't make the material explode like its presented here.

Don't think there isn't any material here that sounds unfinished. It thrives and sounds great, the instrumentation rolls from a solo violin to a packed orchestral punch to exotic percussion but some tracks just stand out in their presentation. The noble main theme feels wonderful in its heroic war feeling and captivating with its choral attitude towards the heroic actions in 'Main Titles', the truly amazing choral hymn in 'Requiem for the California' sounds just spectacular during the game's attack on Pearl Harbor while the exciting 'March on the Temple' takes a stamp out of the Indiana Jones music in the creative process. Good moments to remember are 'Nazi Disguise / Shima's Speech' with the Giacchino nazi motif, the drums and fanfare in 'Tank March', the fun little violin rhythmic piece 'Courtyard Strike' and 'Take Off / Finale' with its wonderful action / choral rise of pure heroic material. In between all that the action theme and war fanfare are ever present to state their dominance yet as said Lennertz can't build upon them that easily like Michael Giacchino could. Nice to know however is how the score actually sings off, with the Giacchino Medal of Honor main theme in 'Hymn to Brother's Lost'. That the score holds many moments where a native flute, exotic percussion or dominant violin lead the battle is evident because we are on Eastern turf. That Lennertz still keeps the score positively charged with the American gun ho orchestral music is all what keeps the score striving for the next punch. As said, in the game the music makes sense and feels just perfect in most of the occasions. However in the game it was clear it wasn't breaking the Giacchino mark of superiority because the material isn't just that good. However that Lennertz has a knack for it too is evident in just several of the many spectacular moments Medal of Honor: Rising Sun has to offer. If only it wasn't sounding like a promo test case of material. Because if it sounded like a true film music experience ala Giacchino, who knows where it would have ended next.

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Tracks

Single Disc

1. Main Titles (3.15) Excellent Track

2. Taiko Brigade (1.18)

3. PT Attack (1.08)

4. Deep In Guadal Canal (1.44)

5. Stalking The Caves (2.40)

6. We're Hit! (1.11)

7. Engine Trouble (2.02)

8. Requiem For The California (1.37) Excellent Track

9. Saving Pearl Harbor (2.05)

10. Singapore Docks (2.04)

11. Passing The Nevada (1.07)

12. Burma (3.05)

13. Elephant Battle (1.12)

14. March On The Temple (2.10) Excellent Track

15. A Prisoner's Eulogy (2.05) Excellent Track

16. Nazi Disguise / Shima's Speech (2.04)

17. Natives Are Restless (1.50)

18. Carrier Deck (1.15)

19. Tanaka's Death / The Hanger (3.36)

20. Tank March (1.23)

21. Philippines / Zero Attack (1.45)

22. Courtyard Strike (1.11)

23. Yamashita's Gold (2.53)

24. Incoming! / Aftermath (1.37)

25. Jungle Swarm (3.49)

26. They Got Donnie (1.03)

27. Shell Shock (2.20)

28. The Sewers (1.30)

29. Shima Escapes (0.54)

30. Take Off / Finale (1.50) Excellent Track

31. Hymn To Brothers Lost (2.57)

Total Length: 61.01

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