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Frontlines -Fuel of War- Special Edition Soundtrack :: Review by Harris Iqbal
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Album Title: | Frontlines -Fuel of War- Special Edition Soundtrack |
| Record Label: | THQ | |
| Catalog No.: | N/A | |
| Release Date: | February 29, 2008 | |
| Purchase: | Buy at eBay |
Overview
Kaos Studios' Frontlines: Fuel of War is a first-person shooter set at the outbreak of a third World War. The in-house composer at the developer, Matthew Harwood, made his major video game debut on this title. Aware of the stagnation of military orchestral scores, he decided to incorporate some experimental approaches to his score. A 17 track soundtrack was released with the special edition of the game ahead of a more complete digital release.
Body
Two lyrical songs headline the special edition soundtrack for Frontlines: Fuel of War. A collaboration between Matthew Harwood and Scott Cresswell, "Closer to Home" is an original rock anthem to capture the commitment of a soldier. The vocal parts emphasise the a major contrast between the soft and contemplative verse, with the heavy and motivating chorus. Some may also enjoy the social commentary, which is still relevant for today. The other track, "Solid Objects", is by brotherly duo Skunk Tux. It's a motivating rock song with heavier instrumentals and a greater country influence. However, it is less tailored for the game itself and seems more inspired by the band's life in Texas. It will be an enjoyable addition to the soundtrack for most nonetheless.
Moving to the instrumental tracks, the selections are hampered by a number of major omissions, including the "Main Theme" present on the full release. Instead the "Main Menu" themes serves as an encompassing theme to capture the tone of the soundtrack. During its three minute development, Harwood elegantly mixes orchestra samples and electronics, bright and reflective parts to subtly immersive effect. The final result is quite refreshing, given it combines familiar staples of military soundtracks with more creative sounds tailored towards the scenario.
Among the more atmospheric tracks, "Heat" rejects all orchestral instruments in favour of cutting-edge beats and percussive forces. Harwood still manages to hook listeners with a web of polyrhythms, while creating a raw and immersive environment in the game. In fact, it reminds me somewhat of Amon Tobin, but it is a bit less wild. "K.I.A." and "Hindsight" are also excellent examples of electronic underscoring. They won't appeal to everyone on a stand-alone basis, but they're certainly more creative and interesting than most ambience out there.
Harwood continues to reflect his talent for dramatic electro-orchestral scoring on "On the Offensive" and "Armored Cavalry". Both combine the trademarks features of other military soundtracks with aspects representing the detailed scenario and Harwood's personal fingerprints. Among the action tracks, Of the more transient entries, "Road Block" is also exciting with its use of fast-paced beats and disorientating panning, while "Industry" takes the distortion and percussion up a notch. There are also a few orchestral action tracks, "Temper" and "Jumping In", used during the most intense scenes in the game. While they don't quite parallel those of Homefront, they're still enthralling listens and the brass melody, in particular, achieves amazing heights in the former.
Summary
Overall, Harwood's soundtrack for Frontlines: Fuel of War manages to offer a solid mixture of typical military influences with experimental electronic stylings. It isn't quite as encompassing or well-produced as Homefront, but it is a mostly an entertaining and fulfilling listen. That said, this disc isn't a great bonus with the special edition of the game, as it features numerous omissions. It is better to purchase the more widely accessible digital version of the soundtrack isntead.
