Centurions of the Moon
Zaalen Tallis
" A concept score that has many advantages as disadvantages "Written by Thomas Glorieux - Review of the download only release
There aren't that many scores out there that are completely devoid of any cinematic partner. But somehow Centurions of the Moon is a concept album for a story that's produced and written by Tom Hoover and Zaalen Tallis, a concept that inspired Zaalen Tallis to write an accompanying soundtrack for it. The story (about centurions who are abducted by an alien race and are forced to fight for their freedom by aiding the Ashas in their own war) is only the backbone for Tallis' his own project, namely to come up with music that inspired him after he co-created this short story.
In a way, this has been done before. By Joel McNeely for Shadows of the Empire, the 1996 Star Wars novel that was created to convey moods and ideas of the Star Wars universe without the presence of a visual partner. Of course that score offered the unique freedom to create and develop the universe as the composer saw fit. Create ideas and expand upon them to bring what is essentially a composer's dream. No boundaries, no need to start and stop for a specific scene and create a listening experience unlike no other. This is basically what Centurions of the Moon forgets to deliver. You have the freedom to make your own experience, and somehow I have the feeling it is all meant to last for a couple of minutes to end abruptly in an epic trailer fashion style. Suddenly reminding me of a score where it has been done before, namely for Deadly Tide (the game of 1996).
So, expect time constraints, ideas that are perfect for expansion and a synthesized sound that generously succeeds in delivering the ideas of Zaalen Tallis. Sometimes I even wish it was performed by a real life orchestra, showing quite clearly the obvious potential in both idea as execution. Because the ideas are there, and there are multiple examples of moments where I wished it could have lasted longer. Yet this is basically what the big problem is here. IT COULD HAVE. I mean, there were no restrictions. If you wished it could have continued, you could have just created fewer tracks that lasted longer, to get the exact same length you were looking for when you started this. So this kinda feels like a missed opportunity.
What we do get are numerous examples of rhythmic action moments, it's occasional 'horn of doom' statement, and plenty of epic send offs where heroic themes and motifs keep filling the sky. Opening with the main theme in "Centurions of the Moon", the first of many examples where rhythm and strings create the pace for sampled brass. Add to that percussion ('Shoreline Battle") and you get the general idea of Tallis' intentions. Make it as epic and heroic as possible. Barely time for subtlety and emotion ("Remembering Home"), Centurions of the Moon has moments that I wished could have continued for a longer period of time. For instance the main theme inspired march for the heroes discovering the powers of the Alien weaponry ("Flesh and Steel"), and moments like the soft reflective emotion (with vocals) in "Remembering Home" and "Asha History Lesson".
Perhaps the best examples of potential development come during the following moments. We have a strong enough evil theme making some potent impact in "The Rezeks" that should have continued for at least a couple of additional minutes. The shrieking violins and evil march is perfect as villainous theme, and yet somehow it stops before unleashing the initial blow. Another example is the excitement that comes forward from the main theme inspired rhythm in "Battle Plans", crying out for a lengthier duration. But the biggest cry for expansion is perhaps for "War of All" (a great track on its own). Here we have multiple strong ideas and main theme performances all colliding in one, offering terrific 3 minutes that should have continued for a longer period of time. Again, having no restrictions is making it possible to develop and unleash those ideas. And even if the composer feels it is enough, the soundtrack fan in me isn't fully satisfied yet (which shows it hurts stopping the track after a nonetheless satisfying 3 minutes). Ps a track the fans of Deadly Tide will definitely appreciate. The awesome action motif (I want this in full orchestral strength one day) returns in "We Fight as One".
It's all pretty clear once you read the short summaries of the story (which is available at the site of MovieScore Media). It's music that perfectly reflects the summaries that were envisioned. It is not complex music, but at least it's satisfying and entertaining. The motifs and themes do their job well, and some might excel even more if they ever got an orchestral encore. But for now we have an album that offers its tracks in the same structure and in the same format, ready to stop all too frequently with a trailer ending fashion. That and the fact true development is not fully possible (due to the familiar feeling it can not last for too long) leaves me with the feeling it could have been more, if time was just given to the sometimes entertaining ideas that flow within the world of Centurions of the Moon.
Favorite Moment - Wall of All (1.04 - 1.34)
I love this action motif, it's got an excitement factor that I missed in several blockbuster scores these days.
Track Listing
1. Centurions of the Moon (1.47)
2. Shoreline Battle (1.40)
3. Abduction (1.34)
4. Welcome to Asha (2.05)
5. Flesh and Steel (3.00)
6. Remembering Home (2.05)
7. Asha History Lesson (2.37)
8. The Rezeks (2.09)
9. Serpent Formation (1.38)
10. And So It Begins (2.14)
11. Battle Plans (3.01)
12. Infiltration (1.09)
13. To Be a Centurion (2.30)
14. War of All (3.30) Excellent track
15. Make Them Bleed (1.37)
16. We Fight as One (2.00) Excellent track
17. Victorious (1.50)
18. The Fallen (2.00)
19. Mass Seduction (2.08)
20. Return to Earth (2.22)
Total Length: 42.56
In a way, this has been done before. By Joel McNeely for Shadows of the Empire, the 1996 Star Wars novel that was created to convey moods and ideas of the Star Wars universe without the presence of a visual partner. Of course that score offered the unique freedom to create and develop the universe as the composer saw fit. Create ideas and expand upon them to bring what is essentially a composer's dream. No boundaries, no need to start and stop for a specific scene and create a listening experience unlike no other. This is basically what Centurions of the Moon forgets to deliver. You have the freedom to make your own experience, and somehow I have the feeling it is all meant to last for a couple of minutes to end abruptly in an epic trailer fashion style. Suddenly reminding me of a score where it has been done before, namely for Deadly Tide (the game of 1996).
So, expect time constraints, ideas that are perfect for expansion and a synthesized sound that generously succeeds in delivering the ideas of Zaalen Tallis. Sometimes I even wish it was performed by a real life orchestra, showing quite clearly the obvious potential in both idea as execution. Because the ideas are there, and there are multiple examples of moments where I wished it could have lasted longer. Yet this is basically what the big problem is here. IT COULD HAVE. I mean, there were no restrictions. If you wished it could have continued, you could have just created fewer tracks that lasted longer, to get the exact same length you were looking for when you started this. So this kinda feels like a missed opportunity.
What we do get are numerous examples of rhythmic action moments, it's occasional 'horn of doom' statement, and plenty of epic send offs where heroic themes and motifs keep filling the sky. Opening with the main theme in "Centurions of the Moon", the first of many examples where rhythm and strings create the pace for sampled brass. Add to that percussion ('Shoreline Battle") and you get the general idea of Tallis' intentions. Make it as epic and heroic as possible. Barely time for subtlety and emotion ("Remembering Home"), Centurions of the Moon has moments that I wished could have continued for a longer period of time. For instance the main theme inspired march for the heroes discovering the powers of the Alien weaponry ("Flesh and Steel"), and moments like the soft reflective emotion (with vocals) in "Remembering Home" and "Asha History Lesson".
Perhaps the best examples of potential development come during the following moments. We have a strong enough evil theme making some potent impact in "The Rezeks" that should have continued for at least a couple of additional minutes. The shrieking violins and evil march is perfect as villainous theme, and yet somehow it stops before unleashing the initial blow. Another example is the excitement that comes forward from the main theme inspired rhythm in "Battle Plans", crying out for a lengthier duration. But the biggest cry for expansion is perhaps for "War of All" (a great track on its own). Here we have multiple strong ideas and main theme performances all colliding in one, offering terrific 3 minutes that should have continued for a longer period of time. Again, having no restrictions is making it possible to develop and unleash those ideas. And even if the composer feels it is enough, the soundtrack fan in me isn't fully satisfied yet (which shows it hurts stopping the track after a nonetheless satisfying 3 minutes). Ps a track the fans of Deadly Tide will definitely appreciate. The awesome action motif (I want this in full orchestral strength one day) returns in "We Fight as One".
It's all pretty clear once you read the short summaries of the story (which is available at the site of MovieScore Media). It's music that perfectly reflects the summaries that were envisioned. It is not complex music, but at least it's satisfying and entertaining. The motifs and themes do their job well, and some might excel even more if they ever got an orchestral encore. But for now we have an album that offers its tracks in the same structure and in the same format, ready to stop all too frequently with a trailer ending fashion. That and the fact true development is not fully possible (due to the familiar feeling it can not last for too long) leaves me with the feeling it could have been more, if time was just given to the sometimes entertaining ideas that flow within the world of Centurions of the Moon.
Favorite Moment - Wall of All (1.04 - 1.34)
I love this action motif, it's got an excitement factor that I missed in several blockbuster scores these days.
Track Listing
1. Centurions of the Moon (1.47)
2. Shoreline Battle (1.40)
3. Abduction (1.34)
4. Welcome to Asha (2.05)
5. Flesh and Steel (3.00)
6. Remembering Home (2.05)
7. Asha History Lesson (2.37)
8. The Rezeks (2.09)
9. Serpent Formation (1.38)
10. And So It Begins (2.14)
11. Battle Plans (3.01)
12. Infiltration (1.09)
13. To Be a Centurion (2.30)
14. War of All (3.30) Excellent track
15. Make Them Bleed (1.37)
16. We Fight as One (2.00) Excellent track
17. Victorious (1.50)
18. The Fallen (2.00)
19. Mass Seduction (2.08)
20. Return to Earth (2.22)
Total Length: 42.56