Medal of Honor: Frontline (Video Game Score)

Review by Thomas Glorieux:

" And when he gets to heaven,
To Saint Peter he will tell:
One more Soldier reporting-sir.
I've served my time in Hell. "

Michael Giacchino just keeps on hitting the right notes. Time after time, he is creating new horizons for film music fans to enjoy game music, and those enjoying game music to favor it equally as music that sooths a film of any sort. He has just now reached the fourth installment into the series of Medal of Honor, a successful hit and run game that has become famous for its outstanding music. And how excellent it is, we clearly witnessed after the first listen of Frontline. The first game was mostly covered around action music, which was outstanding onto itself. The second covered a new path and gave it more color. The third which was unfortunately unreleased did set the mood more and the fourth gives even something else, emotional beauty. Not common for action games to carry a load of beautiful music but it all makes utter sense into the game, and understandable when written for a specific fact in World War 2. Frontline easily surpasses the color in Underground and growls better than Allied Assault, just the carrying firepower is sometimes lacking to give it the bombast of the first. But altogether, Frontline is one of the best scores 2002 has to offer, covering all this: the booklet includes a note about the music, excellent track by track descriptions and a view about the recording sessions, plus detailed photos of composer, orchestra and choir, several still shots of the game and lyrics of several vocal moments during the game. In other words, a fantastic and detailed look as how a perfect score is accompanied by perfect attentive extras. Now, we haven't even mentioned how the score keeps us on edge.

The score usually starts with a main theme of some sorts. And Giacchino easily already surpasses us with that alone. Given its rather subdued nature, people could easily dismiss this as a weak opener to the score, but do not think that for a moment. The main theme in 'Operation Market Garden' just isn't that of a powerful nature, more a beautiful climax reaching its finish. It opens with a boys vocal stating a part of Patterson's theme, before giving us a very emotional piece that grows to heavenly proportions through choir at the end. This choir is what keeps Frontline at the edge of perfection, as it graces pieces that couldn't link itself otherwise to the majesty of the music. There is an occasional if even low brooding sound to be found on the score, such as in track 3, 6 and 9 (which at times is quite boring) but others deliver a bit more worth to remember. 'Shipyards of Lorient' begins to build through cymbals, flutes, all wrapped inside a tight tense rhythm. 'Manor House Rally' brasses its way forth and states one of the many sub themes that Giacchino has written for Medal of Honor, which unto itself becomes better furiously in 'The Halftrack Chase'. Easily one of the powerhouse highlights is 'The Rowhouses', covering powerful strokes of the sub theme of track 8, meaning it gets the better performances here. Giving the choir the workout is all discovered when Sturmgeist's amazing choral theme appears in 'Sturmgeist's Armored Train', combining the allies theme, scored with a frenzy pace dueling Patterson's and the Nazi theme. And 'Clipping their Wings' uses the more melodic action material that covers the excellent second part of the score. But then, what graces this album the most is finally stated, as the choir and solo vocal start to appear prominently.

The first 'After the Drop' uses the vocal talents of Anders Marshall in such a fitting order that not only it gives the track beauty but equally relaxing qualities, and that for an action game is quite interesting. Later the sub theme of this track receives choral backup. However, it is not this piece that steals "the best track of the score award" but 'Arnhem' instead. A grieving song for the fallen city, this cue starts emotionally and ends emotionally but with the difference that this sub theme (which is superior) starts to receive immense choral accompaniment. A true highlight and during the furious fighting it all makes utter spine tingling effect. And the last track 'Escaping Gotha' is too good to end the score, first covering the playful part when the mine car chase plays itself on screen, and later getting both the wonderful choral Sturmgeist theme at its disposal plus a set of amazing heroic fanfares for when you finally finish the game. It is a mix of everything that Giacchino does best. The final tracks are usually credited to extra's such as a good placed song ('The Songless Nightingale') and its game (meaning German café version) as the bonus track, quite funny in a disturbing way actually. All together, Medal of Honor: Frontline is a pearl of music material and presentation. The booklet is superb, the music is stunning and the series just keeps moving on. The good part is also that most of the tracks are linked to each other so you usually receive the best listening experience. In general, Frontline covers some of the most exquisite pieces Michael Giacchino ever wrote for Medal of Honor.

" And when people will buy the score,

To the community there will be told:

Another masterpiece has come.

Staying and deserving to be hold. "

\µµµµµ/

Tracks

Single Disc

1. Operation Market Garden (5.32) Excellent Track

Storm in the Port

2. Border Town (3.36)

3. U-4902 (4.44)

4. Shipyards Of Lorient (3.13)

Needle in a Haystack

5. After The Drop * (5.37) Excellent Track

6. Kleveburg (3.32)

7. Manor House Rally (3.48) Excellent Track

8. The Halftrack Chase (3.40) Excellent Track

Several Bridges too Far

9. Nijmegen Bridge (3.21)

10. The Rowhouses (4.40) Excellent Track

11. Arnhem * (5.51) Excellent Track

Rolling Thunder

12. Emmerich Station (3.02)

13. Thüringer Wald Express (2.52)

14. Sturmgeist's Armored Train (3.54) Excellent Track

The Horton's Nest

15. Approaching The Tarmac (3.47)

16. Clipping Their Wings (3.27)

17. Escaping Gotha (7.18) Excellent Track

18. The Songless Nightingale * (2.46)

Bonus Track

19. Unreleased Source Music (4.29)

* Music by Michael Giacchino, Lyrics by Scott Langteau, Vocals by Anders Marshall

Total Length: 79.20

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

=== Link to Composer Site: Michael Giacchino ===