Track Listing

1. Anvil Of Crom
2. Riddle Of Steel Riders Of Doom
3. Gift Of Fury
4. Wheel Of Pain
5. Atlantean Sword
6. Theology Civilization Wifeing
7. Search
8. Orgy
9. Funeral Pyre
10. Battle Of The Mounds
11. Orphans Of Doom
12. Awakening

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #32596 in Music
• Released on: 2003-04-28
• Number of discs: 1
• Format: Soundtrack
• Original language: English
• Dimensions: .21 pounds
• Running time: 129 minutes

Customer Reviews

A fantasy classic
This is probably Poledouris' best known work and for good reason: it's a masterpiece. In the movie, the opening act (tracks 1-4) is driven completely by his epic music and tell the story without the aid of dialogue. As well the perfectly barbaric drums, I believe Poledouris used an outrageously large horn section for the Conan theme giving it a uniquely primal sound quality. 'Riders of Doom' gives us the opera that the story and style demanded and has been used in trailer after trailer since. The achingly sad and atmospheric 'Gift of Fury' sends a shudder down the spine and the act is rounded off with the rhythmically driven 'Wheel of Pain' as Conan grows before our ears. As if this isn't enough, Poledouris' treats us with the addictive 'Orgy' and fantastic themes for Valeria and Subotai. The influence of Rosza's Ben-Hur is obvious in Poledouris' themes and fanfares and his sheer energy is breathtaking. Aside from lacking 'Conan's Crucifixion' and a more complete 'Battle of the Mounds' this release is more than satisfying and should definitely be in your CD collection.

THE Fantasy standard.
If you are a soundtrack collector then I suggest you put this on the top of your shopping list.
Basil Poledouris set the standard for the fantasy genre when he scored 80's classic 'Conan the Barbarian' and his legacy can still be heard today with the likes of Howard Shore and his epic 'Lord of the Rings' score heavily borrowing(in some places) from this one.
This is certainly the most atmospheric film score I have ever heard, and in some places it is almost achingly beautiful.

I swear you will be doing yourself a service if you order this CD right now, it is too good to miss.

PERHAPS THE BEST OST ...EVER!!!
Powerful, moving & heavy - 3 adjectives that don't even begin to do this justice!
One of the finest OST's ever composed (certainly my favourite) and the only ones even close are perhaps the Lord Of The Rings, Gladiator & The Revenge Of The Sith CDs.
It's damned good Classical/Symphonic/Orchestral music whatever the purists and snobs will say.
The film is a dark, violent, adult fantasy film & the score reflects this. The likes of The Anvil Of Crom & Riddle Of Steel/Riders Of Doom are stirring, warlike pieces right up there with Holst's epic Mars, while The Search & The Orgy will take the mind back to a mythical age of long forgotten lands! The Orgy is really a more bombastic take on Bolero, only
more ominous & ancient in feel. Atlantean Sword mesmerises with an almost ambient feel. Every piece is amazing, and the sum of the parts is a perfect score literally!
It's really heavy in places, percussion, MASSIVE choirs, huge brass & strings, easily as heavy as Wagner!
It's a fitting tribute to it's composer, the late Basil Poledouris, and must have influenced the likes of Howard Shore, Michael Kamen & Hans Zimmer. If you like Lord Of The Rings, particularly the 'Mordor' themes, this will blow you away! I'd also recommend the fully orchestral, Scorched Earth Orchestra Plays Metallica's Master Of Puppets CD. Not in Conan's league but some similiar musical themes. Indeed, Conan The Barbarian OST should have crossover appeal to Metal/Rock fans, especially if they dig the Metallica S&M project.
One slight negative, this isn't 100% complete - for example, there's some really good music at the climactic battle (when Conan slays Rexor) that is absent - You can get a fuller OST BUT only if you are willing to pay silly money (like £70!!) for it, and it will probably be second hand. Be assured though, all the main themes are here in their entirety and I forecast little in the way of any dissapointment.

Must go, I need to hunt down the Excalibur OST....