 | Album Title: Primal Original Soundtrack Score Recording |
| Record Label: Silva Screen | |
| Catalog No.: FILMCD-366 (UK Edition); SIL-CD 1152 (US Edition) | |
| Release Date: May 12, 2003; June 10, 2003 | |
| Purchase: Download at Bandcamp |
Overview
The music directors of Sony’s gothic action-adventure Primal went with a predictable approach: licensed industrial rock for the combat scenes, an orchestral score for the non-action sequences. But Paul Arnold and Andrew Barnabas’ score is anything but a run-of-the-mill Gothic game soundtrack.
Body
Right from the start, Primal announces its operatic intentions with the soprano vocalise in “Opening Credits”. In the composers’ capable hands, the Primal soundtrack’s best compositions, like “Jen Meets Ariella” and “The Turbulent Depths,” attain real symphonic stature and weight.
The heavy atmosphere is balanced by a resilient, darkly glowing romanticism that tugs at the heartstrings in the most tasteful and effective of ways. A battle track like “Raum & Empusa” turns out to be an awe-inspiring behemoth, and “A Kingdom Restored” is enchanting, ethereal and soaring all at once.
One of the best-produced game soundtracks ever written, Primal‘s entire soundtrack is performed by The City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra and Chorus under the baton of Nic Rain. Their performances emphasise the composers’ knack for ear-catching orchestrational details – the solo violin parts in the album’s last third are stunning.
Summary
All this makes Primal one of the best Gothic Western game scores ever written. The music comes highly recommended for those with a taste for lavish, dark, and operatic music. While the physical version is only available second-hand, the album can also be downloaded for a fair price.
