Although you may be unfamiliar with Two Steps from Hell (TSFH), it is quite likely that you’ve heard their music. The music production company boasts an enviable list of musical contributions to scores of movies, trailers, TV series, and video games, among other types of media.
Several of Two Steps from Hell’s more notable projects include The Dark Knight, a few Harry Potters, Interstellar, The Witcher 3, Uncharted 4, BBC Sherlock, Breaking Bad, Game of Thrones, The Walking Dead, the 2012 London Olympics, and even some figure skating and gymnastic routines. The Los Angeles-based company, formed by composers Thomas Bergersen and Nick Phoenix, has certainly established itself in the entertainment industry.
“Dragon,” the newest release from TSFH, continues to deliver epic music. However, it is not epic in the modern colloquialized sense of cool or amazing, but instead following the tradition of Homer and Virgil. Each song could be overlaid upon the feats of Odysseus, Achilles, and Aeneas, providing a musical tapestry for gods, goddesses, and humans.
With “Dragon”, TSFH delivers an emotionally charged album, following the path of “Heart of Courage” and “Strength of a Thousand Men,” two of their most popular songs.
The album pulls from a variety of musical genres for inspiration, with pop, dubstep, neoclassical, country, and even some folk showing through.
Each genre provides a counterpoint while building off of the other pieces. While the album does not push any boundaries of what TSFH has done before, it does provide a quite enjoyable listen, with high energy and uplifting musical movements.
The title track, “Dragon,” opens with a contrast between operatic vocals and an energetic string ensemble. The opera continues, while the strings are joined by a full orchestra, which continues to build towards an almost feverish tempo until subsiding back into the intro.
This track embodies the movement of the album. While not quite as musically diverse as other songs, it appropriately captures the album’s rise and fall, pulling listeners towards a crescendo, then slowly lowering them back towards a steady pulse.
A few song titles caught my interest since they might be named for their designated project. This is simply speculative, although I think it makes a bit of sense. For example, “Dragon,” “At the Wall,” and “Dragonwing” reflect Game of Thrones. With the eighth season slated to premiere on Apr. 14, this album seems timely. With other TSFH songs appearing in Game of Thrones, it seems quite possible that these tracks will also be included in the new season, if only in a trailer.
My favorite track from the album is “Snowball Fight,” since it masterfully captures the whimsy and joy of a snowball fight. With sweeping movements of uplifting neoclassical music, this piece feels like a nostalgic mix between Charlie Brown, Frosty, and Elf.
Give “Dragon” a listen; it’s well worth your time.
