MovieChat Forums > Kull the Conqueror (1997) Discussion > Kull score is GOOD, damn it!!

Kull score is GOOD, damn it!!

posted 20 years ago by funeralmoon-1
17 replies | jump to latest

I've heard many critiques over the years since the film's release about the SCORE.

I've always thought that Joel Goldsmith did an excellent job. NO matter what you think of the film, I think the score stands alone. I thought it was a brave choice to mix metal with orchestral score, and I think it worked really well.

There is a long standing connection between the fantasy genre and heavy metal. (I hate saying "heavy metal" because most people just think of 80's hair metal. But if I say "black metal" or "death metal" or "doom metal" or whatever, people don't always get that either.) I think Joel Goldsmith did a good job of understanding that connection.

If you by chance DID like the score to Kull, I'd also recommend listening to the band Therion out of Norway. Same principle, metal with orchestra.

[–] captainbubby 20 years ago

I've never been a "metal fan" but I bought the soundtrack to this film. I do think it's great and rather daring. It's almost as if some bigwig at the studio said to throw in metal music to attract the teens and then Joel Goldsmith, instead of just giving up and doing some half assed job, he put his heart into it and came up with something genuinely unique, the vocal chanting mixed with metal and classical intruments is a great effect.

[–] LonghairedGerman 19 years ago

The film is on TV right now and I love the score!!! The metal guitars are a great idea! Unintentionally funny at first, but then it works!

"Am I the only one who sees the giant monkey!?"

[–] crowmagnumman 17 years ago

That's actually almost exactly what happened. Under the song samples at Joel Goldsmith's site he talks about how shocked he was when the director wanted him to score it with heavy metal music. He also talks about how he ended up sort of enjoying it when he got into recording it.

[–] dragonfiregames 19 years ago

Actually there is a Genre of Metal that deals greatly with Orchestra, my friends, behold the might that is Power Metal. Go to www.swordmetal.com to learn more. I can name you a hundred metal bands that sound similar but also have a unique sound to them. Italy's band Rhapsody is an awsome example. It probably has the firmest connection with the orchestra. If you want something a little more darker, try Iced Earth(more well known). One of the most well known pioneers of power metal is Iron Maiden though there are actually far better ones now. Manowar is the band that defined Power Metal so look to them for some awsome sword swingin ballads! Hope this helps!

PS: Iron Maiden and Helloween started it in the 60's/70's but it really took hold in the early 80's, it definatly is not new, that is all!

[–] mo_55 19 years ago

Iron maiden are not power metal. They are classic metal, well thats wht I call it. There are in fact many types of music to this genre. This includes opera metal (nightwish or therion) power metal (edguy, dragonforce) melodic death metal (dimmu borgir, old man's child). I'm a big fan of this epic metal music. Quite odd for me because I'm Australian and this is more listened by people from Europe. I beleieve the whole world should get into this sorta stuff.

These are some good bands to start off with:

Nightwish : Oceanborne (girl who sings in opera, very dark heavy metal. My favourite band!)
Edguy : Hellfire club (lot of fun, quick power metal, kick ass lead singer)
Kamelot : The Black Halo (power metal, slower powerfull riffs, yet not too heavy)
Rhapsody : Symphony Of Enchanted Lands (very strong symphony scores giving a medieval feel, also gets very fast with kick drums)
Lost Horizon : A Flame To The Ground Beneath (power metal, awsome drum variations, high pitch vocals like the darkness)
Therion : Secret Of The Runes (opera metal, much like nightwish, both male and female sing in opera)

Tell me what you think!

[–] 19 years ago

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[–] MRlambfries 17 years ago

"I guess it's no more distracting or inconsistent than a Queen song blaring during a fight scen(e)."
Of this film you speak - there can be only one.

[–] 17 years ago

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[–] dragonfiregames 17 years ago

Iron Maiden is most definately one of The Great Founders of power metal. Along with Helloween, Manowar, Dio, and Judas Priest, they crafted a marvel. All of those are great CD's btw :D I have seen all of them except Edguy in concert. A funny thing about Therion is they started off more as death metal when they were formed in the 80's. As you said, they are now more symphonic. And I wish Nightwish still had Tarja...
Now my brief listing of some good bands from each of the epic genres:

Power Metal: HammerFall, Blind Guardian, Helloween, Manowar, Kamelot
Melodic(Operatic) Metal: Epica, Elis, Nightwish, Late Therion, Echoes of Eternity, Krypteria, After Forever, Kamelot can go here as well
Melodic Death Metal: Children of Bodem, Dark Tranquility, Into Eternity, Early Therion
Viking and Folk Metal: Amon Amarth, Wintersun, Moonsorrow, Turisas, Ensiferum, Korpiklaani, Folkerth, Falkenbach, Thyrfing

The important thing to remember though is bands frequently mix and change genres a lot, so can't hold ant one band to any one genre usually. Hope this helps.

[–] Garm666 17 years ago

Therion is a Swedish band dude.

[–] dragonfiregames 17 years ago

Not sure who said otherwise but you are right lol

[–] BrainGremlin 15 years ago

The OP did. He said they were from Norway.

In all my life, I will never love a woman the way this officer loved that lip ferret.

[–] Buzzzaw 15 years ago

Yeah! I love orchestrated epic movies..and Heavy "Epic" Metal rock As Well...
What a magnificent blend this movie made for it´s score!!!...It really rocks!!!!

I recommend it to everyone who loves fantastic Tales mixed up with great Metal tunes...

- - - -
"That which does not kill us makes us stronger"... Nietzsche (Conan The Barbarian Opening)

[–] BrainGremlin 15 years ago

Hey, I absolutely love symphonic metal genres, be it like Within Temptation, Epica, Graveworm or Equilibrium! Might check out the movie just to hear it.

In all my life, I will never love a woman the way this officer loved that lip ferret.

[–] 15 years ago

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[–] bond_98 11 years ago

I agree that the movie isn't that Bad. It's not great. But ive seen far worse. Also most of the criticism is that the movie isn't exactly like the Books. Which is seems to be the reason to hate anything.

[–] 11 years ago

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