John Debney's score for the video game "Lair" is as bold as they come.  Debney, a long time veteran of feature films, steps into the realm of game scoring and produces a spectacular result with this score.  For the fans who devoured his work on "Cutthroat Island," this is the next move for you.

"Lair" is a game that is set in Roman times, and though I don't have insight as to the particulars of it, the story that unfolds musically is truly epic and boasts a grand scale.  Debney uses a 90 piece orchestra to full capacity and the depth is ever present.  It used to be that game composers had to make use with smaller orchestras, having to make the music sound larger than the sum of its parts, but there's none of that here.  Indeed, right from the opening track, this score attacks you with endless energy and action, making use of every orchestral component.

 

The thematic structure for "Lair" is enticing.  There are multiple themes at work, many of which come across with a very real sense of Roman flair.  Listening to it, I could envision a Symphony in Ancient Rome playing some of the notes that music delivers.  When you talk about a score placing you in the thick of it, "Lair" is a great example of how that's done.

 

Much of the score offers bold, intense action fare with themes that range from dark to valiant.  While the music is so dense with rich sound, Debney is able to maintain a nice balance with the instrumentation.  In other words, statements that should be in the forefront are there and are not drowned out by the depth of sound.  There is also a great pacing established with many of the tracks, some of which reminded me of John Williams' highlight cues from the "Star Wars" prequels, 'Duels of the Fates,' and 'Battle of the Heroes.'  While I am not saying that Debney's work is derivative of those tracks, I am saying that the styles are similar enough to warrant a reference.  So, in that, "Star Wars" fans should join the "Cutthroat Island" listeners in finding enjoyment with this score.

 

The construction of the score plays very much like a film soundtrack.  There is a natural sense of progression that is heard with the music, culminating in a finale that is quite climactic and genuinely exciting.  Some game scores seem to offer great individual tracks that are great when heard one at a time with distinct differences from one to the next.  In essence, making each track a finale.  What makes "Lair" so successful is that it presents a unified arrangement that builds its way to the climactic sequences, which by the way, also employs the use of a choir to add to the epic tones of it.

 

When you listen to this score, and I do urgently recommend that you buy it soon, you will also hear passages that offer a female soloist, which adds another dimension to the story.  While not my favorite moments of the soundtrack, these dramatic vocals do add a nice layer of balance to the proceedings and allows the rest of the score to benefit from it. 

 

Ultimately, the only way you won't enjoy "Lair" is if you are into the softer side of film and game music.  Beyond that, I can't imagine that you won't enjoy this score because I love it and have been listening to it weekly since I purchased it.  It's a grand, epic experience that I hope you all get a chance to enjoy. 

 

It's what orchestral music is all about.