Invincible goes tangible
Zimmer lines up trailer music All Star!
On May 20, 2011, Walt Disney Pictures will release the 4th installment to the Pirates of the Caribbean series, "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides".
In this 4th installment, Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp), leads an expedition to the Fountain of Youth. On the way he encounters Mermaids, Zombies and the most feared Pirate, Blackbeard, as well as his Daughter, Angelica.
The music will be composed once again, by film composer Hans Zimmer. The Soundtrack for the film will be released 3 days prior, on May 17, 2011.
Like on the previous 3 films, there are Additional Composers contributing music to this film. They are: Matthew Margeson, Geoff Zanelli, Guillaume Roussel, Magic Box Music' John Sponsler and Tom Gire, and Two Steps From Hell' Nick Phoenix and Thomas Bergersen. This is Nick Phoenix and Thomas Bergersen' first time working on the music for the Pirates films. John Sponsler and Tom Gire previously collaborated with Hans Zimmer and the other Additional Composers on both Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest and Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End. Also joining the cast of composers for this film is the Internationally acclaimed Mexican guitar duo, Rodrigo & Gabriela. This is their first time collaborating with Academy Award Winning Composer Hans Zimmer and their first time working on the music for the Pirates of the Caribbean films.
You can hear samples of the music Magic Box Music did for Pirates 2 and 3 on their official website: www.magicboxmusic.com
I recently e-mailed: Thomas Bergersen, Nick Phoenix, Tom Gire and John Sponsler, asking them these 5 questions:
- What is/are your role(s) on this film?
- How did you get on board this project?
- What style of music will you be bringing to the film?
- Hw much music have you been asked to write?
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What is it like to write music for such a big film like this and what is it like working alongside hans zimmer?
Thomas Bergersen could not go into detail, but here is what he had to say, "i'm not doing much on this movie, Hans Zimmer has done all the new melodies etc. There won't be any surprises musically it's the good old HZ sound that we all love. I'm doing about 10 minutes of music on it."
Tom Gire and John Sponsler were unable to say anything, due to signing non-disclosure agreements.
Nick Phoenix could not be reached for comment.
I would like to thank all the composers I e-mailed for their responses and input.
An exciting update from Two Steps From Hell!
Thomas J Bergersen of Two Steps From Hell posted an exciting new message on facebook:
"Two Steps is going great - we are working on 3 new albums, one to be released very shortly, and the other two to follow, hopefully before the end of the year. "Illumina", "Eclipse" and "Two Steps From Heaven".
I'm also working on my solo album on the side.
Best, Thomas"
Thomas' solo project refers to the upcoming public release of "Nemesis 2", a disc which is tailored not for movie advertising but for our listening enjoyment. Thomas has been working on it for several years, and we can't wait to hear the results.
We don't yet know exactly what style of music the other three discs will feature, however its a fairly safe bet that my idea to use an orchestra of inflatable swimming pool equipment was utilized on at least one of them. I'm sure of it!
Thanks to Shuyan for the news!
Feel the POWER...
...of Darkness, yeah, it is finally on ExtremeMusic, after several weeks of waiting. Someone did not want this album to be put on this site since PoD is out for weeks now. However, we are happy it is out now. Probably the most epic album by TSFH, contains 32 tracks. Whats your favourite?
Review: Two Steps From Hell's Invincible!
After four weeks locked in combat with vicious guinea pigs (among other things), I am pleased to present at last our review of Two Steps From Hell's first public release, Invincible! This is the first (or second) step in our plan to control the world review all of the major public releases as they become availible to us. We've managed to shave the delay from four years to four weeks, so we are hoping that by 2020 we can bring you reviews of new releases four seconds after they come out. I think we are well on our way! Our next review will feature Music Junkies' brand new album "Good Idea", which is available in our store!
If any of you have been wondering where to spend your pirate booty, we hope the review will give you a hint! Itunes accepts treasure chests, right?
"When you ask the average trailer music fan what their favorite company is, chances are good that Two Steps From Hell will be one of the first names out of their mouth. Founded in 2006 by renowned composers Thomas J Bergersen and Nick Phoenix, Two Steps From Hell has rapidly grown to become one of the most recognizable and respected names in the industry." Read More > > >
Two Steps From Hell: Invincible
When you ask the average trailer music fan what their favorite company is, chances are good that Two Steps From Hell will be one of the first names out of their mouth. Founded in 2006 by renowned composers Thomas J Bergersen and Nick Phoenix, Two Steps From Hell has rapidly grown to become one of the most recognizable and respected names in the industry. Their music has been featured in some of the most memorable trailers in recent memory, such as in promos for Star Trek, 2012, Prince of Persia, Mass Effect 2 and countless others. Unsurprisingly, their outstanding work has earned them a huge cult following online, and for years fans have been relentlessly begging them to release their music to the public. After years of waiting, our wishes have been fulfilled!'
Formerly known as “Genesis”, Invincible contains 20 of the duo's most popular tracks from previous albums, as well as 2 previously unreleased compositions. Don't let the burly Gladiator on the cover fool you into thinking that only epic and combative cues are featured. While there is plenty of action, it is joined by an array of softer, emotional and romantic pieces, several featuring beautiful solo vocals. Together, the myriad of tracks take the listener on a dramatic, epic journey through the spectrum of human emotions, tugging at the heartstrings all the while. After listening to the album, its easy to understand why it has built up such an incredible amount of hype in the community.
Thankfully, the album meets the lofty expectations set forth by the community easily, often managing to surpass them. For those of you hurrying to save the world from rampaging guinea pigs, I urge you to stop reading, buy Invincible, and listen to it while battling the ferocious beasts. Win or loose, your battle is guaranteed to be approximately 954% more epic!
Though I'm sure that just about everyone has a favorite song that didn't make the cut, Thomas and Nick have done an outstanding job of assembling the very best tracks from their catalog. Though certainly not perfect, the album is an unparalleled 58 minute musical experience that stands as one of the finest examples of the genre as a whole. For those of you seeking to turn all of your friends into Trailer Music junkies, this should be your weapon of choice. Were I to give every track the attention it deserves we would be here all night, so I will only take the time to comment on a few of the most outstanding pieces.
The album opens with the dramatic sweeps of “Freedom Fighters”, one of TSFH's most popular and recognizable tracks after featuring in trailers for Star Trek. The mix included on the album is the finest yet, with subtle percussion adding to the impact of the sweeping, emotionally charged theme.
“Master of Shadows” has also built up a great deal of anticipation since being featured in trailers for 2012. However, the version on the album is different then the version we are familiar with from the trailers, and the change is arguably for the worse. The version on the album features pronounced orchestral strings on top of the rock beat of the original, and at times they are simply overwhelmed and lost against the screaming chorus and pounding percussion. In addition, the smooth strings break up the sharp staccato pacing of the song. That said, the new version has been steadily growing on me, and either way it's still an absolutely fantastic listen and certainly my favorite of Nick's many contributions.
“Am I Not Human?” is the first of the two unreleased tracks on the album. Its an intriguing piece, combining an electronic techno background with a gradually growing orchestral melody. Nick lends his own voice to the track (seriously, what can't these guys do?), and the result is a somewhat haunting, unsettling piece. It's far from the best track on the album, although given the competition that still means that it's nothing short of excellent.
“Black Blade” is one of the finest action cues on the album, and it sounds even better on here then it did in the trailers, benefiting from added percussion and vocals. It begins slowly, allowing the orchestra to build up tension before finally exploding with the full choir. The next time you are outnumbered and facing a mass of enemy guinea pigs, this is the song to propel you to victory.
Though known for their pounding epic tracks, TSFH also excels at creating pieces that appeal to the inner romantic in all of us. Nowhere is this more apparent then in “Fill My Heart”, which features beautiful vocals by Aya Peard. You know the burly Gladiator on the cover? The story (as a guinea pig told me) was that he was listening to the album before the photo shoot, and when he reached this song he just collapsed to the ground sobbing and muttering “It's just so beautiful!” Naturally, a crying Gladiator doesn't make for the best album cover, so they had to keep his face in the shadows. It still took them more then 20 minutes to get the guy off of the floor and keep his mouth in a straight line.
Before concluding, I want to single out “To Glory”. Taken from an upcoming album tentatively known as “Eclipse”, this track alone is worth the price of admission. After weeks of deliberation, meditation, and leaping around my house with a cardboard sword fighting guinea pigs, I have come to the conclusion that it is possibly the best song Two Steps From Hell has ever released. It's a relentless 4 ½ minute ride that will prepare you for just about anything. This is what action music was always meant to sound like.
The biggest problem with the album lies not with the music itself, but the problems inherent in digital distribution of music. Fans have been clamoring to hear this music in lossless, and there are few albums more deserving of such clarity. Unfortunately the rules set in place by distributors means that for now it is limited to lossy mp3's. Nonetheless, the music still sounds sharp and epic even with mp3 compression, and this is one album which even the most hardcore audiophiles should snatch up. It's worth it.
Ultimately, Invincible is a musical triumph and a powerful testament to just how much Trailer music has grown and matured during the past several years. There isn't a bad apple in the entire bunch, and each track will tug at your heart in its own unique and powerful manner. I won't say outright that this is the best album I've ever heard, but it ranks very highly on my list. It doesn't matter if you are a fan of trailer music or not; Invincible is likely to please any fans of orchestral and choral music (along with some who aren't particular fans of either).The next public release, Nemesis II, will no doubt raise the bar even higher. Invincible represents the vert best of Thomas and Nick's first few years at Two Steps From Hell, and if tracks like “To Glory” and “Ocean Princess” are any indication of what's coming up, we have some truly unimaginable surprises in store for us over the next few years!
Invincible is everywhere!
Finally Invincible has arrived to Amazon and iTunes as well. However strange to say there are several differencies in the pricing... In contrast to CDBaby (17.99 $) , iTunes release costs 9.99 $ 11.99 $ , Amazon release costs 8.99 $. In addition you can buy there separate tracks for 0.99 $.
If you have any idea about the reason of different pricing, do not hesitate to share it with us..
An Invincible Day Has Arrived!
You've all been waiting desperately for the past several weeks for this glorius, fantastic day to arrive. Ordinarily i would begin this story with some clever tale or the other, but ill spare you this time. Two Steps From Hell's widely anticipated first release, Invincible, is out. Right now! I know you are quivering with excitement, leaping into the air and shouting in pure joy (as the neighbors call the police because they think you have gone insane). Head on over to CDBaby and get downloading!
Its only in a downloadable format at the moment, though it remains to be seen if a CD release is forthcoming. It features 22 amazing tracks, featuring lots of fan favorites such as Freedom Fighters, Black Blade and Master of Shadows! It even has some brand new, never-before seen songs! So grab your credit card and get to it! Don't have a credit card? Well, it will be a while before the cops nab you anyway, so I suggest simply stealing one from an unsuspecting passerby in the street and using it.
Tracklist:
- 1. Freedom Fighters 2:31
- 2. Heart of Courage 1:57
- 3. Master of Shadows 3:05
- 4. Moving Mountains 3:02
- 5. Am I Not Human? 3:00
- 6. Enigmatic Soul 2:53
- 7. Fire Nation 3:00
- 8. Black Blade 3:06
- 9. Super Strength 1:58
- 10. Invincible 2:52
- 11. False King 2:16
- 12. Hypnotica 2:08
- 13. Fill My Heart 2:24
- 14. Protectors of the Earth 2:50
- 15. Velocitron 2:32
- 16. Undying Love 2:52
- 17. 1000 Ships of the Underworld 1:40
- 18. Tristan 2:33
- 19. Breath of Ran Gor 2:00
- 20. Infinite Legends 2:03
- 21. To Glory 4:36
- 22. After The Fall 2:27
Two new demos by Thomas Bergersen for Hollywood Strings
East West/Quantum Leap posted full versions of Thomas Bergersen's two new demo tracks for their latest sample instrument library, Hollywood Strings. You may have heard parts of these in the video intro, but you can now hear them in their completion.
You can go to the product page to check out the demos, or we have the direct links below:
Both tracks are great, but I have to say I'm more partial to Allegro Agitato. It's 5 whole minutes of Bergersen epicness.
East West/Quantum Leap's newest string library is a big deal in the professional composing world. Listening to the demos I'm extremely impressed with the realism of the strings. As a learning composer myself, I look forward to the day when I can afford this. While nothing beats a live orchestra, this is certainly going to come close.
In other news, Thomas wrote that he has been sick for a week now with H1N1. We wish him the best, and hope he gets better!
Two Steps From Hell is "Invincible"
Of all the companies in the Trailer Music world, there are few with the prestige, popularity and consistent quality of Two Steps From Hell. For months us fans have been eagerly awaiting news of their public albums. Rejoice, for the wait is finally over!
Formerly known as "Genesis", this epic album will contain "Many of your favorite tracks". It will be a compilation of songs from their previous albums, including tracks from their latest release "Power of Darkness". A full track list is not yet available, which will be revealed along with a release date soon! In any case, the album will be upon us in a few short weeks, and will be availible from iTunes, Amazon and CDBaby! The full announcement can be found on the Nemesis II blog!
But why are you still reading this? You need to hurry! Run to your local store, get the most expensive speakers they have. If you can't afford it, rob old ladies get a job and prepare yourself for what promises to be one of the best public albums in Trailer Music history!
