Los Angeles, CA (Top40 Charts/ CineMedia Promotions) Lakeshore Records will release the The Darkest Hour - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack, available digitally on December 20th and in stores on January 17, 2012. Tyler Bates (Conan the Barbarian, 300) composed the original score. Also featured on the soundtrack are two songs, "
I Like That" by Richard Vission and
Static Revenger feat. Luciana and "Москва (Moscow)" by Marselle.
His blazing orchestra has ventured from the epic excitement of 300 to discover the moving spirituality of The Way. Nerve-shredding samples were unleashed in his studio to terrify audiences through two Halloween films, and fill their ears with the outer sonic limits of sci-fi scoring with The Day the Earth Stood Still. His music basks in the sexual ennui of Californication, and takes no prisoners - as the propulsive adrenalin of Army of Two: The 40th Day.
These are but some of the diverse subjects and stylistic approaches that define the repertoire of Tyler Bates, a composer who's always sought to innovate with his numerous works for film, television and video games. For more than a decade, Bates' work has stood out in the ever-evolving world of soundtracks, his unique voice carrying a contemporary vibrancy into the traditional power of scoring. The result is a sound that's pushed boundaries, while always delivering on the impactful power that occurs when energetic music meets moving image.
Bates found steady work in the early 90's creating energetic scores for low-budget independent films. As his work received increasing notice, Bates founded the band Pet with singer-songwriter Lisa Papineau. Becoming one of LA's most popular bands, Pet's song "L'il Boots" hit platinum on the soundtrack for Crow: City of Angels. Bates then toured with such groups as Blink 182,
Limp Bizkit and
Social Distortion before deciding to solely focus on scoring movies for a variety of films including Get Carter, City of Ghosts, Baadasssss!, Dawn of the Dead, 300, Watchmen, The Devil's Rejects, Super, The Way, Doomsday, Sucker Punch, and Conan The Barbarian.
The Darkest Hour is the story of five young people who find themselves stranded in Moscow, fighting to survive in the wake of a devastating alien attack. The 3D thriller highlights the classic beauty of Moscow alongside mind-blowing special effects.
"This music reflects the headspace of our survivors as they navigate their way through an alien-infested Moscow," said Bates. "The score is largely electronic - comprised of a palette of modular synthesizer experiments and propulsive rhythms featuring a vintage Synare at its core. Its atonal voice is an extension of the eerie electrical sound design that often makes one's hair stand on end."
"Tyler is a legend of fantasy, horror and sci-fi genre films. I saw him as the master architect of our sonic world," said director Chris Gorak. "Tyler and his talented team of musicians and mad scientists have created a heart-pounding and heart-wrenching signature score."
Sonic architect Bates designed a score utilizing nontraditional instrumentation. He described "The decision to make this journey without the aid of choir and brass melodies required me to delve deep into the complexity of the non-orchestral aspect of the music in effort to convey the essence of Moscow's desolate streets through sound and music. The vast expanse of a micro-waved Moscow, void of human life, allowed for emotional themes to be stated entirely with solo instruments."
Summit Entertainment and Regency Enterprises present The Darkest Hour in theaters December 25, 2011. The Darkest Hour - Original Motion Picture
Soundtrack on Lakeshore Records will be released digitally on December 20th and in stores on January 17, 2012.
