Soundtrack Review: Medal of Honor: Rising Sun (2003)

Posted by Jon Blough

February 7, 2009

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2003mohrs Soundtrack Review: Medal of Honor: Rising Sun (2003) This is a review of the video game soundtrack Medal of Honor: Rising Sun by Christopher Lennertz.

This score lacks the melodic grace of Michael Giacchino’s earlier works for the series, but Christopher Lennertz generates enough excitement and has enough solid ethnic instrumentation and style inserted so to bring Rising Sun to a level comparable to Medal of Honor: Underground. Much of the material maintains the stylistic nods to the action works of John Williams, particularly the militaristic use of brass and snare in “Stalking the Caves”, “Passing the Nevada”, and the “Belly of the Steel Beast”-inspired “Tank March”. These cues may lack the creative motif usage found in Giacchino’s works but are exciting nonetheless, especially when one considers the amusing, pompous, tuba-led march in “Elephant Battle”. The ethnic woodwinds and percussion in “Main Titles”, “Deep in Guadal Canal”, and “Yamashita’s Gold” are all superbly balanced with the rest of the orchestra, never feeling forced, while “The Sewers” and “Burma” achieve a soothing, meditative effect, an intelligent effect given this is score for an action-packed video game. The score could have used more ethnic instrumentation in its action material; the use of drums in “Taiko Brigade” is regrettable on in that their appearance is so brief.

Thematically, this score is a notch below any of Giacchino’s works. The new main theme is a quick brass motif, rising in similar structures to that of Giacchino’s Allies theme, that is excitingly referenced in the action cues and the racing “Take Off/Finale”. However, the lack of an extended performance leaves the theme somewhat one-dimensional. The Nazi theme is briefly referenced before being replaced by the rather typical bombastic villain fanfare for Shima. Giacchino’s Allies theme is referenced briefly in “Main Titles”, “Stalking the Caves”, and, in a nice touch, the album’s closing notes, yet one can’t help but want more of it. Helping to make usp for this is some superbly moving choral work in “Requiem for the California” and “Hymn to Brothers Lost”, works comparable to the choral work in Underground. Stronger thematic development as well as more fully realized tracks (only 4 longer than 3 minutes) could have made this a great score. As it is, listeners will enjoy it as a stylistic triumph and a strong continuation of the series.

Album (61:01)
1.    Main Titles (3:15)
2.    Taiko Brigade (1:18)
3.    PT Attack (1:08)
4.    Deep in Guadal Canal (1:45)
5.    Stalking the Caves (2:40)
6.    We’re Hit! (1:11)
7.    Engine Trouble (2:02)
8.    Requiem for the California (1:37)
9.    Saving Pearl Harbor (2:05)
10.    Singapore Docks (2:04)
11.    Passing the Nevada (1:07)
12.    Burma (3:08)
13.    Elephant Battle (1:12)
14.    March on the Temple (2:10)
15.    A Prisoner’s Eulogy (2:05)
16.    Nazi Disguise/Shima’s Speech (2:04)
17.    Natives are Restless (1:50)
18.    Carrier Deck (1:15)
19.    Tanaka’s Death/The Hanger (3:36)
20.    Tank March (1:23)
21.    Philippines/Zero Attack (1:46)
22.    Courtyard Strike (1:11)
23.    Yamashita’s Gold (2:53)
24.    Incoming!/Aftermath (1:37)
25.    Jungle Swarm (3:49)
26.    They Got Donnie (1:03)
27.    Shell Shock (2:20)
28.    The Sewers (1:30)
29.    Shima Escapse (0:54)
30.    Take Off/Finale (1:50)
31.    Hymn to Brothers Lost (2:57)