Warlock: The Armageddon

Review by Thomas Glorieux:

2 years after his first film score and 4 years after Goldsmith's score for Warlock, Mark McKenzie was back onto the scoring sheet with Warlock: The Armageddon. Without sounding pretentious but does Warlock need a sequel? I'm afraid not. And without knowing, who saw the sequel? Yes, I did. I remember it was far more colorful then that gritty dark first one, had a pretty lady at the forefront but remembered nothing of how the score sounded, even if it was good or bad. Of course knowing Mark McKenzie, there will always be a melodic content but then I heard Son of Darkness and perhaps it might still be a different listen. It is different but largely better then To Die For II. First of all the orchestral mass is huge (just the sound isn't really sharp and raise the volume up and you will also spot enough hiss backing it up). Yet when I read what troubles plagued McKenzie and orchestra, it is fair to say Warlock: The Armageddon is a success. Of course when McKenzie unleashes orchestra and choir, then it is an enjoyable success.

The 40 minutes of Intrada are amazing in tone and volume. The score pumps up steam from the start with Omen like chants and dark fanfares a la Hellraiser 2. This all in the first minute of 'The Battle Has just Begun', next it follows with pompous statements of the awesome heroic theme before ending with the love theme, it is without knowing a suite to die for. Sometimes the mood becomes pretty soft and beautiful like track 2 or 9 but mostly it is dark, menacing and threatening. 'Birth of the Warlock' has excellent choral chants along with 'Warlock Gathers the Stones', and 'Ken's Magic' is noticed with its brilliant statement of the heroic theme. When the trumpets start to play in galore fashion then it is absolutely sensational (sort of Dr. Jekyll and Ms. Hyde fame). And last the love theme receives some spine tingling beauty in for instance the best of the lot 'Samantha and Ken's Love', here especially it sounds similar to Anna and the King in various places but I'm not starting to say that this is rip off or that is influenced by this, it simply has a strong feel and tone towards it.

The last track 'A Warlock Fantasia' offers the listener all the themes with again excellent trumpet playing of the orchestra. The orchestra in fact should be called a triple recording because in the end McKenzie used 3 different sized orchestras, the choir luckily remained the same. McKenzie fans will enjoy this one for sure, I'm just a tad disappointed. If this would have never been reviewed and I didn't read something of it then I would have probably given it more. But now, even if its just perfect you always expect more or perhaps expected something different in theme or what else. Its like this, begin and end are stunning yet the middle couldn't really hold my interest high enough. But that is just me (crazy old me) and Warlock: The Armageddon is definitely a recommendation if you sizzle with pride on dark gothic scores with the orchestra and choir backing up that fanfare. And without knowing, it might even sound better then Goldsmith's first. Hey, I'm guessing here.

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Tracks

Single Disc

1. The Battle Has Just Begun (4.57) Excellent Track

2. Swimming (2.09)

3. Birth Of The Warlock (3.16)

4. Ken's Magic (3.14) Excellent Track

5. May I Help You Sir? (3.36)

6. Give Me The Stones (2.34)

7. Samantha And Ken's Love (2.11)

8. Party Crasher (2.25)

9. Samantha Becomes A Warrior (2.34)

10. Ken's New Life (4.09)

11. Warlock Gathers The Stones (2.16)

12. Armageddon Averted (3.22)

13. A Warlock Fantasia (4.03) Excellent Track

Total Length: 41.01

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

=== Link to Composer Site: Mark McKenzie ===