Beyond the Ring

Review by Thomas Glorieux:

We know the hit movie Ringu, we liked the American version more namely The Ring of Gore Verbinski, and while Ringu 2 was a boring film and there is an American film in the making of it, perhaps a chance for Zimmer to repeat his mastery. But we didn't discuss Beyond the Ring yet, coming from a sole man's idea of making a sequel score to The Ring, based on a small existing story and therefore completely fictional, Beyond the Ring is the work of unknown Mac Styran, but therefore not forgettable. The sound may then be sampled but the ideas are there, and it is this what makes the listen more then worthwhile. To come up with a theme is good but it also revokes a bit the spirit of both's Zimmer's theme because it sounds somewhat urgent and time consuming (like time is ticking away) but also somewhat futuristic but this has more to do with the fact that it resembles somewhat the same tone as The 6th Day of Trevor Rabin. Anyway, the theme is heard a lot, but it works well in context and is heard already from the opening 'The Girl (Overture)', it starts atmospheric but only here does The Ring of Hans Zimmer come to mind, sort of make a transition from one score to another, the piano work also reminds you of what Zimmer did but when the choir and the beats make way for the theme, you know your in different territory. Anyway, it works well the choir and the theme, and it sets you ready for the next tracks. Stuff such as 'Innocent Youth' which is more harmless and shows the piano theme for the little girl (when she wasn't climbing out of TV's and scaring the shit out of you) but the composer reminds us of the danger by returning inevitably to the main theme. 'Its Spreading' continues with the threat by using a suspension building ala Zimmer and the main theme with choir, especially the piano makes nice statements which are always a nice indication of alterations of themes.

To call this score less moody and more straight to the point is an understatement, because we know what has happened and what will happen (not that Ringu 2 is showing anything of that because its boring as hell). Anyway, 'Circle' opens softly but it starts after a minute with constant main theme statements and sampled choir hiding perhaps the piano every time, but it works well as a fast piece to be sure. Beats, percussion, choir you name it but 'Field' is working excellently by stating a need for time (like it is running out) and therefore follows good the previous track's tone. 'Eternal' may sound relieving at first with its piano music but it nonetheless moves to powerful main theme statements, it isn't over yet. I definitely dig 'End Credits' because it states back the main theme with nice piano moves and occasionally choir, but especially because it sounds sampled and more, cool! In the end, Beyond the Ring is not the moody, atmosphere with the glimpses of action of Hans Zimmer, but its a follow up to several ideas of that, but simply with a bit more speed in the proceedings. Perhaps The Ring sounded orchestral; its the potential of making it succeed that Beyond the Ring does best of all and therefore Mac Styran needs to be commended. The theme works well in context, the briefly relief of Samara's theme shows us a girl without scary faces and the action moves along nice because it feels time consuming in its effect. Together, I think a winning album because it simply follows the line of Hans Zimmer's The Ring. It is not lesser then its predecessor but it follows up to its standards. Not boring like Ringu 2, and if I may say so, perhaps this score could have made of it a faster and more interesting film, since it gives Samara at least again some credibility, as a girl that scares my pants off!

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Tracks

Single Disc

1. The Girl (Overture) (6.18)

2. Innocent Youth (3.20)

3. Its Spreading (3.20)

4. Circle (4.31)

5. Field (3.06)

6. Eternal (2.19)

7. End Credits (4.21)

Total Length: 27.25

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

=== Link to Composer Site: Mac Styran ===