Versatile composer Bear McCreary, known for his work on beloved TV series including Battlestar Galactica and The Walking Dead, recently released a 4-track EP for a free-to-play multiplayer sci-fi Strategy PC game, Moon Breakers.
Available on iTunes for $3.96, the EP has its strengths and weaknesses. Its key weakness is that Bear offers two versions of the game’s main theme and sells each for $.99, so half of the EP is paying for essentially the same song twice. Personally, I’m okay with just owning the long version and doing without the shorter in-game cut.
Beyond that, I must also say that the aforementioned theme is the weakest track, melodically, of the three tracks here. The best track is, without any question, “Clans of the Space Pirates.” Bear pulls out all the stops on this track, making an epic orchestral/Celtic prog-rock track (featuring uilleann pipes as the lead) that lasts for 7 minutes. I can imagine Davy Spillane doing a live performance of this track. In fact, that needs to happen.
The only other track on the EP, “Government Armada,” drops the prog-rock and goes all out militaristic orchestra, like a solid Gundam theme or something of that nature. I love the dynamic variation on this track and the way Bear builds tension in the song’s “B” section. Good stuff. Very good stuff.
Use the iTunes link above to purchase if you want to add it to your collection. I’m happy to have it in mine. Now, the only thing I’m wondering, is if Moon Breakers‘ developers (Imba Entertainment) will commission even more music from Bear McCreary? This reviewer certainly hopes so.
