Damien: Omen 2 (Deluxe Edition)

Review by Thomas Glorieux:

2 years after his only Oscar, Jerry Goldsmith returned to the genre he alone created musically. While perhaps more frightening in the time than now, the whispering Latin words by a choir and the chanting for the only demon in the game, Goldsmith's score worked really well in context. And why change a winning formula? Damien: Omen 2 is the cousin to that score and it basically repeats the same formula, with a slightly altered version of the theme and by god lots more choir now then ever before. Also basically this album version doesn't let one single optimistic tone appear, not like the film version where one only escapes 'Snowmobiles', which is short but perhaps just needed. However, I find the album version more interesting because here the tracks are longer, expand on the ideas more of Goldsmith and above all show the good tracks of The Omen returning. No rest for the wicked and the ominous tone of his Oscar score immediately sets the tone in 'Main Title', where the slightly altered main theme is heard by full singing choir, the menacing brass and the strings show no easy way but a menacing way. A track that is good in film soundtrack but better on album is 'Runaway Train', and in the expanded track the choir growing rhythmically on the moving train's gaining speed is one where Goldsmith just does everything right. 'Claws' is differently titled in the film soundtrack ('A Ravenous Killing') but the score remains the same, singing choir, dancing strings around it and the brass ominous as ever. Some touches of his masterpiece Poltergeist comes through in 'Thoughtful Night', where the strings set the eerie mood just as that score, while the Latin spoken words make for brief impact. In fact this cue could place itself without any trouble on the Poltergeist CD and you would only know through the choir its not from the Steven Spielberg produced classic.

Another good track recapturing The Omen's success is 'Broken Ice' in both versions, the choir again sets the demon rhythm and the constant string and brass work as the real growling success around it. A bit even Gremlins in its darkness. 'Fallen Temple' is longer in the album order but this only adds some underscore after the immediate choral burst of Latin chants, still its quite effective. 'I Love you, Mark' is just like the other track a more inspired Poltergeist piece, choir especially soothing over it, and watch out for the brief electronic effect and the dangerous trumpet at the end. Perhaps there isn't much difference anymore then but 'The Knife' is still noticed through the electronic bouncy effect and the choir setting up the rhythm again. 'End Title (All the Power)' is strangely less demonic and threatening, especially due to the choir, brass version of the theme and perhaps makes a good transition for the final installment The Final Conflict, where even more angelic choir would be spotted. The film order unleashes some new tracks, albeit these are in the same style and add only more demonic chanting. 'Aunt Marion's Visitor' and 'Another Thorn' is noted for the bouncy electronics however, which I find appear just a little bit more then the almost total orchestral performance on the album presentation. Still, Damien: Omen 2, revived as the other 2 Omen scores is a continuation of the success formula. And how well it may sound, it still loses half of its frightening effect and more original demonic strength. And the fact a wonderful, no brilliant track as 'Second Coming' (The Final Conflict) isn't heard in such a score still makes some difference. Still, the wonderful presentation (Deluxe Format) of Varèse is again a must for the Goldsmith collectors and all 3 show a true stamp Goldsmith alone created, musically.

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Tracks

Single Disc

The Album

1. Main Title (5.05)

2. Runaway Train (2.40) Excellent Track

3. Claws (3.16)

4. Thoughtful Night (3.08)

5. Broken Ice (2.20) Excellent Track

6. Fallen Temple (2.56) Excellent Track

7. I Love You, Mark (4.39)

8. Shafted (3.02)

9. The Knife (3.22)

10. End Title (All The Power) (3.30) Excellent Track

The Film Soundtrack

11. Main Title (2.05)

12. Face Of The Antichrist (2.21)

13. Fallen Temple (1.35)

14. Aunt Marion's Visitor (0.38)

15. Another Thorn (1.18)

16. A Ravenous Killing (3.08)

17. Snowmobiles (1.14)

18. Broken Ice (2.23)

19. Number Of The Beast (1.34)

20. Shafted (3.02)

21. The Dagger (1.58)

22. Thoughtful Night (2.38)

23. I Love You, Mark (4.13)

24. Runaway Train (1.12)

25. The Boy Has To Die (1.26)

26. All The Power & End Title (3.15)

Total Length: 69.02

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=== Link to Composer Site: Jerry Goldsmith ===