Myth 3: The Wolf Age (Video Game Score)

Review by Thomas Glorieux:

If you haven't guessed it by now, yes it is another game score and one packing a sheer punch on volume levels. The first time I really was catapulted from my seat because it is loud from begin to end. Myth III: The Wolf Age alias a game I heard very little off and coming of a composer who is unknown to me becomes through this a noticed listen. Game scores aren't anymore the light cheesy sounding MIDI thing from before and for one, Zak Belica proves this with combining an orchestra with various leading instruments, such as the Cello for most of the times, bagpipes, Irish flute and primitive drums among huge metal slabs (whatever they may be). You will notice it yourself, Myth III is no light feather and ever on the occasion it only resorts to more synthetic atmosphere, or in other words metallic clangs creating something of a pounding rhythm or cello's bringing creepy moods. As we all know now, it is more the thematic content of the score actually than the instruments that perform it that is of impact, and Belica created one center theme and many sub themes that hardly stick into the mind long. But the fact that I write this review of the score is simply that Myth III is loud music (mixed and played) and that it picks up your attention. Now knowing something of games myself, music doesn't always have the luxury to do this. Or in other words, it takes quite a punch.

From begin to end this score introduces themes and a most powerful clicking atmosphere. The first theme is in the end even the best and the most thematic to remember. 'Connacht's Theme' is pumped further by bagpipes and French horn and introduces us to a bold fanfare but tribal in tone. The performances in which it unravels it further are equally different, furiously in tone in 'Drums of War (Connacht)' where a most powerful drum march underscores the theme in a great mix, as the composer says "to convey the sense that the big C is kicking some tail" but also gently reprised in the final track 'Connacht's Theme (Gentle)' which is a good closing track. One of the leading instruments used (and I might add the only real used instrument) is the cello, coming forward in a lot of tracks, but most either creating a sharp scary edge like in 'Temple (Cello)' or emotionally heavy like in 'Journey (Cello)', 'Failure' which states the cello very loudly yet emotionally charged and 'Mourning' which is very good in creating a dark disturbing yet emotionally sad feeling. They are considered to be the best along with the main theme. But other slight leitmotifs are appearing, like the metallic clangs and bangs giving us sounds to represent ugly (and not so friendly enemies) or even a short and welcome choral moment (but never giving us a good theme) in 'Grim (Choral)'. As we are speaking, sometimes the tracks flow good but not giving us themes we can remember, because they don't appear enough or aren't as apparent as they look. The only one is Connacht's theme because it appears 3 times, and because it is memorable in its tone.

What else to say is 'Drums of War' which is so close to sounding like something from Settlers III or IV, 'Ogre 2' which is a more bouncy happy if so to speak track and 'Gower Dirge' which is several scores combined into one. The theme from track 5 appears with Braveheart like bagpipes in such a tone and almost melodic exactness that it only takes you back to 'I Will Remember you Still', the end title song of The Mists of Avalon, the begin is just like that. Myth III is a score that represents the mood, never heroic or uplifting, usually giving a sense of doom, grief, mystery, awaiting danger, heavy burdens or just plain meanness of the Trows. It does this so in a bombastic way so don't expect to find a short light string moment. This makes the score not bad or uninteresting but perhaps a bit much at times. However the end makes a lot good if so to speak of better tracks and themes. Myth III is like any other game score applauded for its orchestral scope and nature. Belica used one theme and many subthemes or leitmotifs, a sizeable orchestra and various lead instruments on the foreground. Perhaps not making the most of the thematic content but always creating a feeling that the play on screen and the tone on disc brings forth the perfect match.

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Tracks

Single Disc

1. Connacht's Theme (3.30)

2. Temple (Cello) (1.36)

3. March (Erhu) (3.40)

4. Ogre 1 (2.20)

5. Grim (Choral) (2.25)

6. Trow 1 (3.16)

7. Stealth (Cello) (2.46)

8. Drums Of War (2.02)

9. March (Fiddle) (2.54)

10. Journey (Cello) (2.40)

11. Failure (1.10)

12. Gower Dirge (2.04)

13. Trow (2 and 3) (2.25)

14. Grim (Horns) (2.46)

15. Ogre 2 (2.22)

16. March (Cello) (2.17)

17. Stealth 2 (2.43)

18. Drums Of War (Connacht) (2.53)

19. Journey (Voice) (2.31)

20. Temple (2 and 3) (2.29)

21. Mourning (2.18)

22. Connacht's Theme (Gentle) (4.07)

Total Length: 57.26

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