Friday, May 29, 2015

Brothers In Arms

To say I thoroughly enjoyed Mad Max: Fury Road would be akin to saying Mt. Everest is a pretty big fucking hill. I thought it was going to be a train wreck of a movie honestly but that's what I get for reading about it before seeing it for myself. It was amazing, and surprisingly what made it an even better experience was the score by Tom Holkenborg aka Junkie XL. I wasn't impressed with his first solo effort 300: Rise of an Empire (he also worked with Hans Zimmer on the amazing Man of Steel score). So when I found out he was scoring Max I held my breath and dove in. Come to find out the water was epic.

My favorite piece off the score (and it wasn't easy picking a favorite) is the cut entitled Brother In Arms. It has everything you could want and need. It's a pulsing, pounding, driving piece with an unsuspecting emotional pull at it's center. When you least expect it the strings and the horns come in behind the relentless percussion and takes the song over, pushing it ever forward. When the drums come back the combination makes this song take flight. As it settles, giving you the impression the song is ending it rears up and smacks you in the face with the drums again. I fucking love this piece.

If you haven't seen Mad Max: Fury Road I have NO idea what you are waiting for but you are missing out on the best non-stop action film in decades. You are also missing out on some truly brilliant music. I wasn't a fan of Tom's after 300: Rise of an Empire, but I am one now. Take a listen and see why, and oh...break out your big boy speakers while you're at it. Enjoy, and you're welcome.