Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris Original Soundtrack
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Album Title: Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris Original Soundtrack |
| Record Label: Crystal Dynamics |
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| Catalog No.: N/A |
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| Release Date: December 8, 2014 |
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| Purchase: Download at SoundCloud |
Overview
Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris is a multi-platform action adventure game, set in Egypt. Unlike its predecessor in the series which only used recycled music, Temple of Osiris has its own full orchestral score penned by ex-LucasArts composer Wilbert Roget, II, with a few tracks by Paul Houseman. The soundtrack is very cinematic and atmospheric, and it is also well-produced. It works well as the soundtrack to Croft’s latest adventure, giving a grander scale to the game’s proceedings while encapsulating the setting nicely.
Body
The album begins with “Lara Croft Overture”, a rousing introduction that sets the tone for the album with epic orchestration, tropical influence, and mixed meter. There are enough melodic figures to keep the track engaging during its runtime, though there admittedly isn’t a strong enough melody to be particularly memorable. The following “Introduction – The Curse” encompasses many of the other ideas found in the soundtrack, with its Arabian rhythms, a frequent shift in atmosphere, and rather creepy tribal vocals near its end. Again, not very strong as a memorable piece, but it is effective in the moment with its unpredictable changes and enticing percussion.
The bulk of the soundtrack proceeds in this manner, alternating between epic tracks and slower atmospheric ones. The problem of memorability remains for most of the score, and admittedly the large number of tracks does not do the score many favours as there isn’t quite enough variation between each track to justify each. Still, each track is made well with strong instrumentation, such as with the strong mix of majestic strings and infectious percussion in “Army of the Dead”, the exciting and playful “Apep, the Serpent”, the atmospheric and watery “Desert Rains”, and magic and wonder encapsulated in “The Shrine of Osiris”. Some solo instruments get time to shine for great effect, as with the guitar of the creepy “Tomb of the Silversmith” or the flute of the quiet “Isis’ Lament”. Even with the less notable tracks, the atmospheres of excitement and tension are communicated well to the listeners.
The final stretch of the score makes for a decently exciting climax, starting with “Tomb of the Torturer” and its thick atmosphere. Eerie vocals work very well here overtop the underlying tension and sound effects. “Throne of the Mad God” is a nice short piece with a bit of emotion, and then from there “A Clash of Gods” goes full out with the choir and orchestra. The track is pretty stellar with its fast pace and unpredictability, and it’s only a shame that it isn’t longer. “One Last Chance” and “The Fall of Set” continues in this frenzied vein, a bit more straightforward but still effective. “Finale” closes the score out on a cinematic note, summarizing a lot of the score’s ideas in one compact little package.
The soundtrack also comes with three bonus remixes. Sebastian Freij remixes “Isis’ Lament”, rewriting the solo melody for cello, placed above a hypnotic, groovy rhythm. It’s a great chill track with a great performance, and although it is tonally very different from the rest of the soundtrack, there is plenty of exotic emulation keeping it grounded in the Temple of Osiris setting. “Army of the Dead (SuperSquare)” takes things a bit farther away as an electronic remix augmented by the original orchestra sounds. The alluring exotic touches still make it through the digital instruments nicely, and the piece is just as exciting as the original, even keeping the ever-shifting atmosphere as it goes. Finally, zircon images the “Lara Croft Overture” as a drum’n’bass remix with some nice breakdowns. These tracks are a really fun way to end the soundtrack, bringing out the best of the original scores while fully their own work.
Summary
Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris is a solid soundtrack that is a great accompaniment to its game and setting, and an enjoyable listen outside of that. The full orchestra employed does a fine job, giving the score bombast and cinematic atmosphere. The score does at times feel overlong or repetitive, largely due to the lack of strong melodies as well as minimal development of themes. Still, this is largely made up for by busy arrangements, strong performances and good production. The soundtrack is very cohesive, and the remixes at the end are also enjoyable. The soundtrack is available for free, so definitely check it out!
Do you agree with the review and score? Let us know in the comments below!
3.5
Posted on May 29, 2015 by Christopher Huynh. Last modified on May 29, 2015.
About the Author
Christopher Huynh recently finished an undergraduate degree in Physics at McMaster University. He has some proficiency in singing, piano, organ, cello, and gaming. He hopes to continue exploring the vast world of music while sharing it with others however possible.
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