Reign of Fire

Review by Thomas Glorieux:

While the movie Reign of Fire didn't exactly did great things at the box office, one of the great aspects (besides the obvious stunning special effects) was the bleak mood that surrounded the entire movie, giving for the entire film (except for the final minute) the impression that things wouldn't clear up. I rather enjoyed the movie and so I came in contact with Edward Shearmur's score. Having heard his music in many films since then, Reign of Fire remained a bit in my head because it delivered no stunning music in melodic sense, but stunning music in the sense that it gave the bleak surroundings of the movie even more gray and black. Shearmur is in fact one composer that kept his style so close together that listening to this score is not for fun, but for meaning. And to get that, I recommend seeing the movie before hearing what the score has on offer, since it is no picnic of melody. Shearmur is of course starting to build his career on footsteps that promise great things since he basically sees to adapt his style to either the powerful (Reign of Fire, Species II), small (K-Pax) or spoof (Johnny English) with ease. And Reign of Fire stands testament to the abilities that even dark gothic and rhythmic compositions can work if you actually accept it. This score started to work actually from the second to third listen and even if it at times is so dissonant, the moments that Shearmur unleashes the pace or the power is where Reign of Fire promises good things for the future of film composition.

The score of Varèse Sarabande is no small listen either. The London Metropolitan Orchestra delivers a furious listen and unleashes what can only be described as howling brass blasts and not a moment of ease awaits you. From the first seconds of 'Prologue', this score sets the tone. Already then percussions command the pace and fanfares the power of the orchestrations, behind all this mass of sound lies the sole theme you will remember hearing back. 'Enter the Dragon' by then even takes further center stage with at times dissonant sounds, the brass remains the same, strong and furious. 'Field Attack' promises to be a bit different and so it actually is, with brass fanfares and once more strong dissonance, however later on in the track the percussion starts pumping up (ala Aliens) and the rhythm becomes clear, here especially the fanfares are good to enjoy, even for the fainthearted listener, but above all its powerful and thrilling as hell. 'Meet Van Zan' is capturing probably the best statement of the sole theme, repeating it twice strong and so the fanfares are again easier to enjoy. But don't think the sound changes, they still remain dark and moody. 'Archangels' is where the sole score comes to mind the most, meaning Sphere of Elliot Goldenthal where the snarling brass, electronics and flutes take more center stage and at times reminds me of the music that worked with the nightmares, attacks or fire sequences. Still, Reign of Fire is not Sphere so don't start comparing the two. 'Dawn Burial' remains actually rather soft and somber and once more stating the sole theme quite soft. One of the few tracks that actually doesn't set high tones with me is 'A Battle of Wills' which is mood and almost doesn't contain a piece where anything happens. Sad since it is the longest track of the score.

'Inferno' is then better to enjoy, capturing in the middle a very good but dark dramatic fanfare which sets the pulse racing again before 'Magic Hour' really delivers the effect with an at the second minute brilliant fanfare (people that remember the movie will probably know which scene this particular piece underscores) and so it makes much more effect (again here Sphere comes to mind prominently). Even here some very subdued background choir is heard and while it is sad that Shearmur didn't employ the dark gothic strengths of a choral effect, it is also understandable since it would have ruined the bleak atmosphere of the score even more. 'Rebirth' ends the soundtrack with the few notes that deliver something more relieving, optimistic, lighter and is therefore at least an optimistic finisher of what else is a very bleak score. However how bleak this score sounds, it is no pussycat because the brass, string, percussion as brass clusters are ever present in a very pompous listen. Reign of Fire gives also the testament to Shearmur that it didn't fail to be completely forgettable since a score with no real themes, actual promising melody or interesting tone could have easily failed too. However it didn't and along with K-Pax it proves that Shearmur adds at least something different if it isn't promising in the first place. For dark lovers of gothic bleak but powerful music, Reign of Fire is a piece where no melody is required to let the blood pumping, that it boils more then it should is sole due to the power of the orchestra as the handling of Shearmur as composer and conductor. Reign of Fire promises nothing, delivers nothing to be cheering for but everything to feel pumped up with, giving almost an hour of relentless but actually stunning film music.

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Tracks

Single Disc

1. Prologue (3.22)

2. Enter The Dragon (3.18)

3. An Early Harvest (2.42)

4. Field Attack (4.11) Excellent Track

5. Marauders (2.47)

6. Meet Van Zan (3.49) Excellent Track

7. Archangels (3.57)

8. Dawn Burial (3.02)

9. A Battle Of Wills (5.31)

10. The Ruins At Pembury (2.11)

11. Inferno (3.23)

12. Return To London (4.11)

13. Magic Hour (5.23) Excellent Track

14. Rebirth (2.40)

Total Length: 50.38

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

=== Link to Composer Site: Edward Shearmur ===