Soul of the Ultimate Nation (Video Game Score)

Review by Thomas Glorieux:

It has been several years since Howard Shore amazed the world when he composed the extensive beloved trilogy of Lord of the Rings, heralded by some to be the best music since Star Wars. But more, it gave us a palette of emotional color that we just didn't hear yet of Howard Shore. After that it made us look even more forward to King Kong but friendly disputes led to the non scoring of the monster blockbuster. A lot of people were disappointed by the outcome of this decision because who wasn't looking forward to what Shore could cook up now? Inevitably he was then somewhat detached to the biggest online game of the year, namely Soul of the Ultimate Nation. And for Howard Shore this was a new challenge because he'd never done game composition before. But unlike the years before it, game music has expanded considerably under the guidance of respected movie composers Michael Giacchino, Christopher Lennertz and game artists Jeremy Soule to new astounding heights, rivaling the big movie brothers of Hollywood. With Play concerts rising in every part of America under staggering success and praise, it was inevitable Howard Shore's music could lend this massive role playing adventure a musical scope of magnitude. He only had to delve back into the depths of Mordor, flying over Minas Tirith and blend Rivendell with Shelob's lair and Soul of the Ultimate Nation was born. Meaning you come back to Middle Earth personally in gaming. One thing is clear, how much this score resembles and listens ala LOTR, its not LOTR at all because barely a musical motif reminds you of these scores. Its just the personal feel and orchestral sound that brings Middle Earth back in the hearts, only darker. Furthermore, SUN doesn't have big reoccurring themes like those 3 scores but more a whopping mood that delves deep into the hearts of the gamers, and only the feel of Shore's music must make playing this game a fantastic experience. Its epic, stellar powerful music that only Shore could have written, and without the noticeable themes it might make for less then it ultimately is, but the power still is over conquering all disbeliefs.

The Asian release covers roughly 65 minutes of music, covering probably the biggest highlights of Shore's composition, and making good use of the orchestra and choir, in LOTR fashion. It takes barely 15 seconds to discover it sounds like LOTR in 'Sanctuary of Ether' with the Elvish choir. But Shore continues his own SUN path and not merely LOTR territory, with 'A Prelude to Revolt' and 'Helron's Castle' the fanfares are all over the place, with choral support through marches and a returning action fanfare as guide through all the epic scoring. Let me remind you that the score may sound impressive and bold, it doesn't reach still the stellar scope of LOTR though, it lacks the finishing climax those scores could easily accomplish. Here it more or less is absent despite building towards interesting finishes. But Shore keeps the quality high enough in 'Tides of Hope', 'The Triumph' and 'The Valley of Dragons'. The first covers a truly enlightening majestic Right Stuff ala nobility while choir erupts the epic feeling of Middle Earth in the middle track, with even a few notes stating the fellowship theme (for fans demand?). The 3rd track covers then the score's most intriguing moment when a solo vocal states an otherworldly ethereal but wonderful motif, only to be powered by the brass to an amazing finish. Sadly I find the middle part to lack the interesting qualities of begin and the last track, 'Empire Geist' with its dark ominous music, 'Night of the Crescent Moon' with its returning alternate vocal theme while 'Immortal Emperor' has a percussive moment. However if you aren't blown away by 'March to Victory' I don't know what can do it its place, with an amazing choral march of magnitude while 'A Poem for Nemesis' expands a bit on this theme, only lighter. 'Soul of the Ultimate Nation' by then just gloriously delves deep in the underscore of LOTR, with variations on several sub themes of the score in interesting fashion, including the action fanfare subtle on horns and flutes. And the rumbling of 'Requiem for the Dead' is more LOTR in tone with the percussive mood and unnerving strings, never erupting into anything explosive except for the action fanfare at the end.

That Shore builds to a final worthy of all finals is clear when 'Etheral Life', 'A Pernicious Plot' and 'Graveyard of Aiort' don't amount to real bombastic music. They all capture a unique mood whether its the warm tone of track 17 and an Alien like eeriness in the violins, the dark solemn like vocal sub theme in 18 or the moody atmosphere in 19. But Shore still makes sure you will remember the finale because if one track has the potential of equaling the LOTR epic allure, than its 'Menace of the Army Wings'. 8 minutes of pure bombastic fun, rhythmic brass (stating the opening track's Elvish theme), the choir bringing brilliant fanfares on their highest note, its finally a track that builds to a epic moment with brass and choir, almost a lethargic finish so to speak off. The percussion never shuts up its feisty rhythm this unlike the choir or fanfares, the brass remains devilish enough and a standout finish closes the LOTR celebrity tour for good. Soul of the Ultimate Nation is perhaps a dark saturated score, too dark for my liking because the second part can't really deliver the quality of the first, apart from several noteworthy tracks. But that Shore still keeps you locked away in the SUN mood is evident. This score must truly work like movie music in the game and I only imagine what it must feel like playing it. I will be honest, its a rating the listening experience doesn't truly deserve because as said the second part needs true will to fight through the dark registers of the game. But in quality of several tracks its another testament to Howard Shore that he made the most out of non LOTR music while sounding exactly like LOTR music. Its saturated in resemblances to Middle Earth, Mordor and Shelob's lair and lays a foundation down without stating the obvious themes to make it truly memorable. If you want a thematic powerhouse score I guess SUN will bore you for more than its fair share of time. But if you want music that delves deep down into a specific mood and doesn't let go, surrounded by some amazing powerful cues, than Soul of the Ultimate Nation might please you. Its in a way sad he didn't went for the big finish, but that absence separates Lord of the Rings from Sun and luckily we have that difference, if not they could have called it Lord of the Rings IV: Soul of the Ultimate Nation.

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Tracks

Single Disc

1. Sanctuary Of Ether (2.35)

2. A Prelude To Revolt (6.47) Excellent Track

3. Tides Of Hope (3.19) Excellent Track

4. Helron's Castle (2.10)

5. The Triumph (2.08)

6. The Valley Of Dragons (2.18) Excellent Track

7. Forest Of The Beasts (4.03)

8. Empire Geist (3.23)

9. The Epitaph (3.05)

10. Night Of The Crescent Moon (1.35)

11. Hymns Of The Battlefield (2.14)

12. Immortal Emperor (2.44)

13. March To Victory (2.10) Excellent Track

14. A Poem For Nemesis (2.20)

15. Soul Of The Ultimate Nation (3.13)

16. Requiem For The Dead (4.35)

17. Etheral Life (2.53)

18. A Pernicious Plot (2.12)

19. Graveyard Of Aiort (2.44)

20. Menace Of The Army Wings (7.55) Excellent Track

Total Length: 64.35

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=== Link to Composer Site: Howard Shore ===