End of Days: Original Motion Picture Score [SOUNDTRACK]

John Debney

Product Details

• Audio CD (December 14, 1999)
• Original Release Date: December 21, 1999
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Soundtrack
• Label: Varese Sarabande
• ASIN: B00003GPQZ
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #193,920 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
In the "Main Title," the listener is immediately introduced to the End of Days score's intriguing piece of experimentation--an electronically manipulated boy soprano's voice. Later there are plenty of deviations from this opening idea, but as Big Arnie's soulful motif it's the most recurrent of all the musical material. This opening cue also sets a stylistic precedent for much of what follows. The atonal effect of breathing voices mixed with electronics and somber ensemble is akin to sound design. If it makes for long stretches of unnerving aural distraction, that's to John Debney's credit. Bursting out of the quietude comes some frighteningly loud drama--as you'd expect with Schwarzenegger taking on Satan himself--cue a Terminator-like beat in "The Shooter," fast and furious action crashes in "Helicopter Pursuit," and the showpiece scariness of "Subway Attack & Escape." All the vocal effects find resolution before ascending heavenwards in "Redemption." And then at the album's end come two complete surprises: a bravely experimental "Alternate Main Title" and a "dance mix" of some of the material. It isn't likely to have anyone doing a Beelzebub Bop, but it's certainly frightening! --Paul Tonks

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars John Debney's Millenium Masterpiece, January 26, 2000

By	Eriban (CA, USA) - See all my reviews

Forget the trashy song-compilation soundtrack... the real music from "End of Days" is right here in this audio CD. Composer John Debney (whose memorable work we've heard on films like "Cutthroat Island" and "I Know What You Did Last Summer") continues to show his unbelievable talent by crafting a score of breathtaking beauty, chilling horror, and riveting action. Debney combines a massive choral ensemble with state-of-the-art synth and orchestral power. The main title contains a mournful soprano performance, haunting violins, and haunting choral chants that blows James Newton Howard's "Devil's Advocate" work out of the water. The majority of the action cues are for the most part scored with a fast-paced synth beat in a style similar to the one he used in "Sudden Death". Track 12 departs slightly from this by bringing to full bear the orchestra, choir, and synth into a riveting mix. However, my favorite tracks are 13 and 15. In them, Debney sends the choir soaring heavenward into an homage to God, light, and redemption. These two tracks contain some of the most beautiful choral music I've EVER heard and upon listening to them, I'm not embarassed to say that they have moved me to tears on several occasions. Skip the soundtrack album and give this score CD a try. It's one of Debney's best ever.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Not the end of Debney, March 13, 2003

By	Brandon Cutro (Tyler, Texas United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This is not music to listen to while relaxing. It is genuinely ominous and downright creepy in parts with great results. Composer John Debney utilizes a boy soprano, Theo Lebow, for the main theme, which is a 4 note motif that sounds a lot like something Danny Elfman would write. Debney also uses a Latin voice choir, a Tuvan throat singer, dudek, ethnic flute, ram horn, and a tibet long horn in the mix. Overall, the music is loud and massive with thick orchestrations and wall to wall sound. I have always liked Debney's action music and here, he takes it to great effect. "The Shooter", "Alley Fight", "Helicopter Pursuit", "The Beast Comes A Callin'", and "Subway Attack and Escape" are all knockout action cues with heavy brasses, racing strings, and pounding percussion. Tracks such as "Baptism in Blood", "Jericho Finds Faith", "The Eternal Struggle", and "Redemption" are ominous and very gothic sounding. The alternate main title is really weird and should have been left off the CD, as well as the dance mix. But, the score is great and is really, really dark and full of action.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Classic case of bad movie, INCREDIBLE SCORE!, September 19, 2002

By	Mark Athridge (Manhattan, NYC) - See all my reviews

After seeing End Of Days, I decided that I was felt incredibly let down by the movie, but began a quest to find the score. What I found was store after store carried copies of the soundtrack but I could not find the score. Finally, I came across a copy and wasted no time in picking it up. I had originally wanted this score for the main theme featuring the boy soprano but after listening to all of it, i've added it to my library of CD's to be played during Halloween, it's perfect for setting a creepy mood and stands as either a atmospheric halloween score or as an apocolyptic epic score. Favorite tracks include the main theme and both remixes of it.