Kameo: Elements of Power (Video Game Score)

Review by Thomas Glorieux:

They rise and continue to do so, the game scores on the market. Receiving critical acclaim and popular attention and therefore no longer movie scores stand as the sole commercial outlet for people to buy. And with reason too game scores have become popular items. Several movie composers have made a name for themselves in the branch while the game music no longer sounds like midi compositions that fought their way through levels more then enhance them. Another example of the way it must be done is Kameo: Elements of Power. Performed by the famously growing City of Prague Philharmonic & King's Choir, the composition is from Steve Burke, a rather obscure name now but that was Michael Giacchino too a few years ago, just pointing out that obscurity is not a bad thing per se. Anyway, with Kameo: Elements of Power Burke gave us a taste of his talent and it works really well for an hour's listening. Naturally since its a fantasy game, several ideas might be based on other musical scores but Kameo still makes the most out of its orchestral performance and delivers a nice and loving creation that makes a couple of things happen. First of all with the wonderful 'Hero's Theme' we receive the somewhat main theme as character theme which is a cool almost Russian choral composition, with nice drums attached to it for a powerful feel. This theme is heard in other tracks too but there are more themes to discover, only they don't spot themselves that easy like the rest. 'Ortho's Theme' is soft underscore for strings and oboe while 'Drok's Theme' is more the Darth Vader theme (or so it sometimes reminds me off) due to its marching baddie structure, interrupted only in the middle by the hero theme. Not that these are the sole themes of the soundtrack but they are presented as the themes concert arrangements.

And besides the themes we do have variation between mood, underscore and softer compositions and the more orchestral fantasy heroic action moments, which in truth do sound a lot better. 'Elemental Warriors' with mysterious choir, 'Serenity' capturing a solo violin with vocal, 'Forest Glade' presents a more mystical environment for flute and brief hero themes while 'Crystal Cavern' with its exotic percussion and vocals reaches almost Danny Elfman territory before 'Enchanted Kingdom' is heard, being a more Irish based vocal effort. And the more orchestral powerhouses are scattered around those, 'Kameo's Quest' is the opening track for LOTR like softer choir with marching brass, 'The Badlands' a great action trumpet march with Hero theme variations and actually Enemy of the State like fanfares, you must hear it to believe it. 'The Snow Tribe' is another reminder it sometimes sounds to something similar in feel like here with its sand people melody and method of Star Wars. 'Thorn's Pass' is another excellent action track where the orchestra and choir spare no breath to deliver hero variations and rising choir. Here scores as Primal come to mind, to pinpoint out that the action adventures are the best part of this score. 'Ice Mountain Onslaught' is another marching rhythmic piece, rushing choir over whirling strings and fanfares surrounding a solo vocalist, reaching filmscore heights in depth and composition. The softer choir is signaling 'Legend Unfolds' and ends the disc. If Kameo: Elements of Power is one of your first fantasy game experiences, you will love most if not all of its tracks. If you heard similar efforts like Lineage II and Primal amongst others, you'll notice that Kameo is very good but not that good. But this doesn't take the charm and strength away of Burke's sountrack, because it still holds many strong points to dazzle even the most experienced music listener. And therefore I feel Kameo is at its best in those moments.

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Tracks

Single Disc

1. Kameo's Quest (1.36)

2. Enter The Shadow Realm (0.17)

3. Shadow Realm (1.37)

4. Elemental Warriors (1.24)

5. Hero's Theme (3.07) Excellent Track

6. Serenity (1.32)

7. Forest Glade (5.09)

8. Crystal Cavern (2.20)

9. Enchanted Kingdom (3.09)

10. Dragons Approach (0.39)

11. Thorn's Lair (3.15)

12. Battle Prelude (0.37)

13. The Badlands (3.44) Excellent Track

14. A Lament For Solon (2.14)

15. Into The Light (1.47)

16. Darkness Looms (1.00)

17. Ortho's Theme (4.16)

18. The Snow Tribe (3.23)

19. Theena's Sorrow (1.32)

20. Taken Hostage (0.27)

21. Thorn's Pass (2.48) Excellent Track

22. Ice Siege (0.27)

23. Ice Mountain Onslaught (3.24)

24. Drok's Theme (2.29)

25. Thorn's Arrival (0.30)

26. Danger In The Sky (3.08) Excellent Track

27. Legend Unfolds (2.12)

Total Length: 58.14

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