Stargate

Review by Thomas Glorieux:

Anyone wondering where the magic came from? Anyone searching for the mastermind who composed Independence Day the year of the legendary film experience? Well, if still someone is wondering who it is, they haven't been paying attention to the career of David Arnold, which already started sooner I might add with Stargate, one of those guilty pleasures of the last years. Heck, it still feels like this score was composed last year which isn't true of course. But still, the score is one of those recent masterpieces which seems to carry its qualities forever with it, and that is why I see it as a classic soundtrack, even though I know that Independence Day is even better. But the thing is, this score mesmerizes in and outside of the motion picture. Arnold created such a bold sound that it is impossible to understand what magic hasn't been felt when listening to the score. Its wondrous tones or its outstanding menacing qualities for when Ra, the Sun God appears whenever on the forefront. Stargate is equally impressive in both its heroic as darker sound and this is what makes the listen so grand. Also, the score is very long but never unappealing to the human ear and barely carries a dull moment in sight. Stargate easily holds your grasp during the listen, whenever, wherever.

This score is powerful from begin to end, from the broad main theme that explodes on the screen to the massive choral climax that unleashes its devils at the end of both your cinema screen or surround system. 'Stargate Overture' is the tone of both, covering in begin and end a menacing quality with the strings that create this excellent villain theme, just perfect for the nature that Ra upholds. 'Giza, 1928' is then more wondrous with a heavenly choral pride for the discovered Stargate. But Stargate has more themes up its sleeve, like the military march that appears regularly in the begin, like in 'Orion' or 'You're on the Team' which isn't far away from something darker of Godzilla. Or the love theme which appears perhaps a little too less on the soundtrack, 'Daniel and Shauri' for instance. But there is more, apart from the menacing violin theme for Ra (which appears the best in 'Myth, Faith, Belief') there is also the more darker fanfare for the power that Ra symbolizes, without choir like in 'Ra - The Sun God' which is really good or with choir like in 'Procession'. And then the mix of the adventure theme in wonderful form, first in 'Mastadga Drag', later mixed with a world climax of the choral fanfare for Ra in a knockout track 'Kasuf Returns'. Frankly even at this point I'm amazed to find so much themes in the score and I'm someone who has heard this one for about 6 times now. And for us trailer freaks, 3 parts of this music were used in the teaser of Dragonheart, the choral wondering at the end of 6, the mysterious ominous tones of 8 to represent the beginning of the teaser and the heroic adventure theme (also in Jumanji for instance) of 29 to give it a more spicy flavor.

Of course I'm not over with praising this score to the death, 'Battle at the Pyramid' has great action music that links itself to Independence Day with its thunderous brass and rhythm and frankly from track 19, this album uses the one bombastic theme performance after the other, whether if good or bad in tone. Stargate is simply all this and more, because I could go on and on. To this day I simply keep putting my amazement further because I'm stunned to find out that the score packs so much punch. Even an Arnold fan will be surprised as how much decibels this baby packs when you play it loud, and believe me the volume knob goes to extreme proportions when I listen to this action packed and Lawrence of Arabia kick ass score. A soundtrack doesn't need to be subtle when it doesn't try to and Arnold seems to have gotten the message to go in style. See this as a mixture of Raiders of the Lost Ark (the more western feel overall) covered on the sheer bombast of Independence Day and you've got the message as what this score listens like. A melodic treat for all fans and a bombast of fanfare and choral magnitude that doesn't quit until the last seconds have stopped breathing, or at least the orchestra players that is. This is not for softies and if so, be ready to be transported to something grand, when you listen and use Stargate as your one-way ticket home.

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Tracks

Single Disc

1. Stargate Overture (3.00) Excellent Track

2. Giza, 1928 (2.11) Excellent Track

3. Unstable (2.08)

4. The Coverstones (0.59)

5. Orion (1.29)

6. The Stargate Opens (3.58) Excellent Track

7. You're On The Team (1.56)

8. Entering The Stargate (2.57)

9. The Other Side (1.44) Excellent Track

10. Mastadga Drag (0.56) Excellent Track

11. The Mining Pit (1.34) Excellent Track

12. King Of The Slaves (1.15)

13. Caravan To Nagada (2.16)

14. Daniel And Shauri (1.53)

15. Symbol Discovery (1.13)

16. Sarcophagus Opens (0.56)

17. Daniel's Mastadge (0.49)

18. Leaving Nagada (4.10)

19. Ra - The Sun God (3.23)

20. The Destruction Of Nagada (2.09)

21. Myth, Faith, Belief (2.19)

22. Procession (1.43) Excellent Track

23. Slave Rebellion (1.00)

24. The Seventh Symbol (0.58)

25. Quartz Shipment (1.27)

26. Battle At The Pyramid (5.02) Excellent Track

27. We Don't Want To Die (1.58)

28. The Surrender (1.45)

29. Kasuf Returns (3.06) Excellent Track

30. Going Home (3.10) Excellent Track

Total Length: 64.49

The use of artwork or photos is posted for non profitable reasons

=== Link to Composer Site: David Arnold ===