Customer Reviews

Damien: Omen II (The Deluxe Edition)

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Jerry Goldsmith's score for the first sequel (and second part of the trilogy) to The Omen is, like the movie itself, more muscular and over the top, almost operatic. It grabs for the throat right at the opening of the synthesizer enhanced main title (Goldsmith was the first film composer to place the instrument in his orchestra) and it doesn't let go until the final jab of the end title. What is even better is that this deluxe edition not only has the original release soundtrack, it also contains the newly discovered session tapes of the music used in the film itself - so fans can compare and contrast the studio style soundtrack with the original score recordings (detailed liner notes explain why many soundtracks in the 70s were actually recordings of different performances, and even arrangements, than what actually appeared in the films themselves). Coming from one of the great composer's most impressive fertile periods (76-79), Damien Omen II is an essential for any Jerry Goldsmith collector and/or film music buff. Highest recommendation.

I wasted no time in getting this soundtrack once I saw that it was being sold, and I don't think that anybody else should either. There have been years of waiting for this soundtrack to be released, and now it's finally here with the original rerecording album made in 1978. Jerry Goldsmith has updated his sound of Ave Satani to a very scary and mystifying way. The score is the scariest out of all three Omen films, and I think that Goldsmith should've received an Oscar for this film to. I don't know why the album was released while this one was waiting to be made, because there are lots of memorable pieces of music in this cd. One of them is the music in track number 16: A Ravenous Death, and 18: Broken Ice. Goldsmith's music did better than what the characters could do in the film any day. I recommend this soundtrack to anyone who wants to finish their Omen Trilogy soundtracks, but for me personnally, I think that the first and second soundtracks are enough. The reason why is because Goldsmith's music wasn't the same in The Final Conflict. The beat was slower and the music wasn't as crafty.

After years of litigation and relative obscurity the second in Goldsmith's masterful "Omen" trilogy is now available in this deluxe edition featuring the original album release and the soundtrack version. Although the composer won an Academy Award for the first installment, the sequel boasted super-charged versions of familiar themes and chants superbly orchestrated to accompany the on-screen horrors of the tale of Satan's offspring. Newly restored tracks are greatly appreciated to fans of the film and Jerry Goldsmith. Clocking in at slightly less than seventy minutes this is an unrelenting excursion into terror from one of Hollywood's premiere musicians.

Actor turned director Don Taylor gives us the second installment of "The Omen", which is entitled "Damien:Omen II". This horror sequel of Satan's son features Jonathan Scott-Taylor as Damien Thorn, William Holden (Richard Thorn), Lee Grant (Ann Thorn), Robert Foxworth (Paul Buller), Lew Ayres (Bill Atherton), Lance Henriksen (Sgt. Neff) and Sylvia Sidney (Aunt Marion). Sidney and Henriksen are the scene stealers in this gruesome tale, keeps the audience in a state of panic. But it is the score from Jerry Goldsmith that spreads a menacing and disturbing evil that gives your goosebumps...more goosebumps.

What better composer to score a demonic-satanic possed teenager, and deal with the devil of a creepy screenplay. And give the menacing disturbing atmosphere with shades of eerie tense tones that can give you nightmares, even during the daytime. The answer to all your questions is legendary icon Jerry Goldsmith. Fills the goth program with every spell of musical genius he possesses.

Varese Sarabande delivers this deluxe edition in gothic-style, allowing the "film-score-buff" to enjoy the entire score that was hidden in the vaults all these years. The CD is divided into two
parts ~ "The Album" section has ten tracks and "The Film Soundtrack" has sixteen tracks, which in many cases are short cues, but lend so much to the story-line that we wonder why it
was left out in the first place. But this is what Varese is so good at, gathering and sharing the complete score with all their fans of movie music.

Goldsmith once again sends chills up and down your spine. Our composer has a talent for musical storytelling, he opens the door with "FACE OF THE ANTICHRIST", chanting voice mixed with low percussion and the plucking of string instruments is effective. With the cue "AUNT MARION'S VISITOR", as ravens gather to bring on the demise of a favorite relative. Taking a breather from terror we hear "SNOWMOBILES", a break in the action with an outstanding arrangement of strings and woodwinds racing the scales. Get ready for choir and organ with "NUMBER OF THE BEAST", strong cue with counterpoints adding satanic horror that would terrify the bravest music fan, brilliant choral performance on this one. A single male voice beckons as others join in "THE BOY HAS TO DIE", echoing the cry for the life of Damien is the eerie sounds of orchestra, as the women chorus join with a haunting reply, this in my opinion has highlight written all over it.

Hats off to the National Philharmonic Orchestra, Lionel Newman (conductor) and our host Varese Sarabande for this undertaking, bringing the full score to all the "film-score-buffs" around the
world. In closing, listen to the final track "ALL THE POWER AND END TITLE", this makes the whole Satan recruitment of Damien worthwhile, as our composer Jerry Goldsmith pulls out all the stops, gotta love it!

Total Time: 68:10 on 26 Tracks ~ Varese Sarabande 302-066-309-2 ~ (2001)

One of the great sequels in film music; as a movie, very possibly the schlockiest piece of junk ever conceived to follow up a near-masterpiece. So, yes, in terms of the movie itself, "Damien" is to "The Omen" as "Piranha" is to "Jaws." And I honestly wasn't too sure how well the music from "Damien" would hold up on its own. After seeing the movie, I remember that the soundtrack (music, dialogue, and everything else) was extremely unpleasant, and the music had seemed a little over-the-top. But now I realize that was purely a response to the over-the-top visuals that plague this glorified splatter-fest. Removed from those visuals (and with at least a couple years having passed since I actually saw the film), the music is actually quite brilliant. Goldsmith amps up the chorus this time, using them in what feels like every cue, whereas many in "The Omen" were purely instrumental. He has reworked the "Ave Satani" lyrics into a newer, more complex and (dare I say) even more engaging theme, with more drama and less pomp. In that respect the score succeeds magnificently where the movie failed so abominably. And, again unlike 'The Omen," "Damien" is, from start to finish, dark and darker. With the exception of the brief cue "Snowmobiles," a flurry of strings bringing to mind a Christmas morning stampede downstairs, there is nothing pastoral, sweet, or optimistic about the music. It's purely visceral, and the sheer power of it is staggering. I still like the "Final Conflict" score best out of the trilogy, but "Damien" is more than an adequate contender. On this disc, you also get the unique experience to hear two separate versions of the score-- the original album recordings by the National Philharmonic, and the actual film cues (by an apparently unnamed orchestra). You'd think that arrangement would be a little dull, but the sequence of each program is different and the cues all sound different-- thematically, at least (the orchestras do sound remarkably similar).

Often sequels are of lesser quality than their predecessor is, and often the soundtrack spirals along with it. While Damien wasn't as good as it's predecessor, the fight wasn't a fair one. It's predecessor had set the tone. Damien was by all rights a good film- and its score was even better.

In this second chapter of the "Omen"-trilogy, composer Jerry Goldsmith takes his famous original theme a step further.
The ominous choirs are still there singing "Ave Satani", but the melody to their words has changed. Also, the accompanying piano has waxed into synthesizer. The orchestra is either relentless or pursuing, and there is no bedtime song anymore to ease the mind. The Antichrist has become aware of himself.

The score haunts me with every passing minute and it certainly competes with Goldsmith's Academy Award winning original composition. In fact - being more mature than that original composition - I might venture as far as deeming Damien superior to The Omen.

This is the 'Deluxe Edition' soundtrack, which features the digitally restored originally released album, and new cues. In fact, this CD contains all the music that was in the movie and several fragments more.

Are there any faults? Well, would I state it that way if there wouldn't be?
Goldsmith uses a few cues quite literally taken from "The Omen", which were fantastic and great to hear again in new context, but seeing how he developed the rest of the themes, it looks a little cheap.

This feeling dissipates however, once you realise how it makes "Damien" sound like an alternative version of "The Omen", granting multiple manners for listening to the composition.

All said and done, this is classic Goldsmith and classic horror-suspense.

It gets four stars.

Bram Janssen
The Netherlands

I have looked for this soundtrack for years and I was so glad to finally see it offered. I love the variations on the theme from the Omen II, such as the opening music from the movie, which is why I looked for so long. If you love powerful and furious music, this is for you.

I recently purchased this cd and now have the complete Omen Trilogy produced by Varese. Of the three it's the first soundtrack The Omen that I can not listen to because of the erriness of it. That means Goldsmith was quite effective in accomplishing what he set out to do. The other two scores I can and do listen to. I find the score to the Final Conflict quite impressive. This score is also good and is a must for Jerry Goldsmith collectors. Way to go.

Jerry Goldsmith's score for "Damien: Omen II" may not be as scary as his music for "The Omen", but he still manages to make us chill with those diabolic chants and voice effects, especially those heard in tracks like 'Broken Ice', 'Claws/A Ravenous Killing' and 'Aunt Marion's Visitor', where the voices sound like a raven's. I like the main title because the Ave Satani is performed excitedly in a very propulsive melody, making it one of Goldsmith's best themes.

I have to say that this deluxe edition is outstanding because it gives us the chance to compare the music as heard on the original film soundtrack with the one heard on the original album -as performed by The National Philharmonic Orchestra. Personally I prefer the one as heard on the original album because the music feels more like a concert hall performance. However, try to buy this CD and be the judge.

After years of litigation and relative obscurity the second in Goldsmith's masterful "Omen" trilogy is now available in this deluxe edition featuring the original album release and the soundtrack version. Although the composer won an Academy Award for the first installment, the sequel boasted super-charged versions of familiar themes and chants superbly orchestrated to accompany the on-screen horrors of the tale of Satan's offspring. Newly restored tracks are greatly appreciated to fans of the film and Jerry Goldsmith. Clocking in at slightly less than seventy minutes this is an unrelenting excursion into terror from one of Hollywood's premiere musicians.