Call of Duty 2 (Video Game Score)

Review by Thomas Glorieux:

When it was announced Graeme Revell would continue the series of Call of Duty as composer, I saw potential. Not because that meant future icon Michael Giacchino would leave the series after his atonal but very impressive bombardment in Call of Duty, but more that it was something Graeme Revell didn't do yet. It was his first step at Video Game music but more, his first test at war music. And for that, the results could be interesting. After hearing the rip of both game adaptations he handled, Call of Duty 2 and Call of Duty 2: Big Red One I was right to think that way. First of all, Revell proves he is still a good composer when he can handle a melodic (read non background) approach but more, that Revell is really at home in this category of music, furthermore Call of Duty 2 is more melodic and exciting then Call of Duty. The line is set more on melodic action music and while this leaves a different taste then the atonal assault of Giacchino, it means also more that Revell went for a rhythmic brass feast that resulted in both attacking and suspense music, with a bit of nobility along the way. This CD features both scores mixed and molded together, meaning these are all samples from the complete rip, put together in the most pleasing listening experience and while all those short tracks were omitted, the longer tracks were mixed together and what you get is what I made of it, my complete own design. It starts with Call of Duty, the more direct theme laden effort and the least action based effort. 'Call of Duty Hymn' presents us the noble main theme ala hymn while 'Approaching a Ridge / Successful Mission' brings us the first part of the action music, which is more an on edge approach of trumpets and flutes, leading to a heroic uplifting Soviets theme and choral hymn statement, rather good. 'From Decoy to Victory' is again the drum and action sound, but the end is particularly impressive when the hymn theme returns in most uplifting form, putting heroism to the tone of the score. And while the Soviet theme receives some variations in 5, the strings surge in 'Emotional Hell'.

With 'Victory Awaits Us, So does Glory' the up temp brass and Soviet theme returns, along with choir and strings. The whole score is rather good and memorable, with 'Battle Near the Rhine' bringing a suspense build up on the action theme and with 'British Fireaction & Heroism' another theme surfaces, namely the hope theme in noble brass and a choral Soviet statement. And while this is the thematic easy to remember listen, Big Red One turns out to be the more action rhythmic attempt. And here again Revell proves he's up to the task. First starting with a Saving Private Ryan noble theme for light choir in 'Opening Fanfare' and a fulfilling end statement in 'You did Great Soldier', its the middle part that growls the entire way on rhythm, brass and suspense, in which Revell too proves to have a knack for it, 'Charging Bucholz Town' having heroic color and suspense building up all at once, 'A Dragon Tank for Breakfast' a drum attached storm setting for brass, 'Right Now Ladies!' the action theme for this score (meaning another one) bringing suspense and emotional hell all in once, but in a nice pleasing package. And while little stands in the way of solemn music, the action is more aplenty with 'Liberate the Turret' being a true delight, the opening fanfare gets excellent variations and plays in heroic color while Revell proves he can really let a theme dance of joy. 'A Chase Worthy of Attention' holds the short but frenetic brass rhythm up to par and 'The Railcompound' is the exciting dangerous brass feast, which pumps up and does so for 4 minutes, before 'The Kass Canyon Pass' brings suspense music that continues to set the listener and gamer ready for what to come. What pleases me most about the 2 releases is that Graeme Revell scored 2 different soundtracks, no themes return and Big Red One takes another approach, basically to show that both are fresh sounding brothers. Both naturally feel the same way, they got the same orchestral feel and dangerous lurks, but thematically Call of Duty 2 is the most memorable, Big Red One then is the more exciting one on action suspense music. If Revell wanted to go for the all out orchestral effort (mimicking the Giacchiono power and ruckus), I would have bet Call of Duty 2 to have been more exciting then it already is, but both efforts stand together well as they are, being a fresh and interesting Graeme Revell effort, putting almost everything he composed in the same year to shame.

Call of Duty 2: ***1/2
Call of Duty 2: Big Red One: ***1/2

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Tracks

Single Disc

Call of Duty 2

1. Call Of Duty Hymn (2.09)

2. Approaching A Ridge / Successful Mission (4.50)

3. What Is War? War Is Quickly Dying! (0.36)

4. From Decoy To Victory (5.00) Excellent Track

5. A Soviets Vision Of War (2.20)

6. Emotional Hell (3.33)

7. Victory Awaits Us, So Does Glory (4.50) Excellent Track

8. Waiting To Defend The Compound (3.00)

9. Battle Near The Rhine (3.16)

10. British Fireaction & Heroism (1.52) Excellent Track

11. A Hopeful Ending (1.00)

Total Length: 32.26

Call of Duty 2: Big Red One

12. Opening Fanfare (1.45)

13. Charging Bucholz Town (3.53)

14. A Dragon Tank For Breakfast (3.42)

15. A Soldier Hurt (2.22)

16. Right Now Ladies! (2.40) Excellent Track

17. Death Of A Soldier (1.40)

18. Liberate The Turret (2.06) Excellent Track

19. A Chase Worthy Of Attention (1.27)

20. Omaha Revisited (2.10)

21. The Railcompound (4.27) Excellent Track

22. The Kass Canyon Pass (5.23)

23. You Did Great Soldier (2.17)

Total Length: 33.52

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=== Link to Composer Site: Graeme Revell ===