Civilization V -Gods & Kings- Original Soundtrack
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Album Title: Civilization V -Gods & Kings- Original Soundtrack |
| Record Label: 2K Games |
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| Catalog No.: N/A |
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| Release Date: June 19, 2012 |
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| Purchase: Download with Game |
Overview
The expansion Civilization V: Gods & Kings considerably enhanced the experience of the original game, with subtle gameplay tweaks, new leaders, and other immersing features. One aspect of the expansion that has been undercovered by mainstream media is the soundtrack. Reprising their roles from the original game, sound director / composer Michael Curran and composer / orchestrator Geoff Knorr created new music to portray the leaders and scenarios introduced in the expansion. They created peace and war themes to convey each of the new leaders, as well as several central themes and other compositions. The complete 23 track soundtrack for the expansion (properly numbered/tagged, in MP3, 256 kbps) is installed as a bonus with the game (in the folder Assets/DLC/Expansion/Soundtrack). It comes with my highest recommendation…
Body
In its name alone, Civilization V: Gods & Kings conveys just about everything: the personal, the powerful, and the divine. Michael Curran’s interlinked opening and menu themes for the expansion somehow manages to encompass all these feelings. The choral focus captures the central role religion plays in the game, in conjunction with weighty, cinematic orchestration fitting for Kings and a warm undercurrent to listeners in. These compositions are considerably more thematic than the equivalent tracks composed for the opening game, with the soprano melody proving particularly memorable, but also have much to offer in the harmonic department. Reprising their role from the original game, FILMharmonic Orchestra and Chorus Prague sound excellent under the baton of Andy Brick — capturing the dramatic weight of these compositions, without compromising on classical finesse — and the vocal performance from Jillian Aversa is simply exquisite. The team were able to maintain these production values throughout the score, recording every track will full orchestra.
With my first journey into Civilization V: Gods & Kings, I ended up in the shoes of Haile Selassie of the Ethiopian Empire. As I expanded my cities and built my army (while giving myself some much-needed lessons about Ethiopia along the way), I found the game’s musical accompaniment brought out wonderful feelings in me. Carried over from the original game, a diverse array of well-selected traditional music captures the spirit of Africa during the main gameplay. The original composition for playing as Ethiopia during peacetime captures the leader with calm, dignified orchestrations and subtle traditional influences. The War theme is largely continuous; instead of transforming into a bombastic action theme, the track subtly entices listeners by presenting the elements of the original in conjunction with a brisker pace and thicker orchestration. While it’s unlikely that casual listeners will notice, both tracks even incorporate traditional melody fragments and Selassie’s national anthem, further enhancing its authenticity. Everything about these tracks is understated, with Curran focusing on being artistic sensitivity, while conveying the in-game context. But the final product is also enlightening on a stand-alone basis.
By contrast, Geoff Knorr’s compositions to represent Carthage and the Byzantine Empire channel clear inspirations from epic film scores of Basil Poledouris and others. But rather than offer loud, superficial barrages of machismo, like so many of today’s composers do, Knorr fills these compositions with musical substance: the brass and chorus leads are treated in a unique, inspired way; the orchestrations are balanced and fulfilling; and the tonalities are delightfully rich and ambiguous throughout. Inspired by Gregorian Chants, the Theodora at Peace theme features the most artistic choral writing I can remember in a video game. But much like the score as a whole, perhaps the finest aspect of these compositions is the huge contrasts in dynamics and textures employed as they develop — there are plenty of tender or solemn moments even in the war themes, while the climaxes are truly monumental and well worth the preparation. It all ensures a more dramatic, emotional listening experience, whether as an accompaniment to continuous gameplay or a 71 minute stand-alone album.
The soundtrack for Civilization V: Gods & Kings is filled with contrast. Whether the ravenous bagpipe-supported journeys of Boudicca, the regal classically-styled orchestrations of William of Orange, or the brooding wanderings of the Huns, the composers individually portray each leader, while maintaining elements of continuity throughout the score. Other tracks that seal its status as a five-star soundtrack include Gustavus Adolphus’ War theme, which undergoes an incredible transition from soft folksy contemplations into action-packed gold at the 1:35 mark, as well as Maria Theresa’s themes, which sensitively incorporate Mozart’s Requiem into otherwise original compositions; the “Lacrimosa” providing a tense undercurrent to the otherwise playful Peace theme, the “Dies irae” providing the spectacular, instantly recognisable climax of the War theme. The soundtrack concludes with three diverse compositions to capture the specific scenarios introduced in the expansion: “Fall of Rome” filled with melancholic wanderings and barbaric dissonance, “The Medieval World” enchanted with traditional instruments and sacred vocals, and “Smoky Skies” generating intrigue with its cinematic development.
Summary
As series’ long-timer Roland Rizzo said in a recent interview with us, composing for the Civilization series is a dream job — it’s possible to take plenty of liberties and channel all sorts of historical and world influences while writing such scores. But with Civilization V and its expansion, Michael Curran and Geoff Knorr have embraced such freedom while taking the series’ music to a new level. Civilization V: Gods & Kings expands wonderfully on their already accomplished original score and whether appreciated for its numerous individual highlights or as a collective whole, this soundtrack has an amazing amount to offer. In fact, it’s one of those rare soundtracks that is incredible all-round: artistically, emotionally, thematically, and contextually. Those who have played the game should definitely explore the game’s folders to find this gem waiting for them. Take-Two Interactive should also consider giving the music for Civilization V a true commercial stand-alone release — the musical legacy of the game and its expansion is worth celebrating.
Do you agree with the review and score? Let us know in the comments below!
5
Posted on August 1, 2012 by Chris Greening. Last modified on August 1, 2012.
About the Author
Chris Greening I've contributed to websites related to game audio since 2002. In this time, I've reviewed over a thousand albums and interviewed hundreds of musicians across the world. As the founder and webmaster of VGMO -Video Game Music Online-, I hope to create a cutting-edge, journalistic resource for all those soundtrack enthusiasts out there. In the process, I would love to further cultivate my passion for music, writing, and generally building things. Please enjoy the site and don't hesitate to say hello!
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