The Matrix Reloaded with a new movie and hard rocking soundtrack

Since the early days of theatrical musical movie releases, it can be seen that a soundtrack can be an integral part of the movie as well as racking up some considerable sales of it’s own. Though movies have somewhat moved away from musicals with the glaring exception of the recent success of Chicago(which further illustrates the point of a quality soundtrack), the soundtrack can still be quite important, especially in the case of a movie with action and appealing to a popular audience. In this case, Matrix Reloaded will no doubt appeal to the same hard rock based crowd as it’s predecessor. That same predecessor can be considered one of the first soundtracks of the 2000’s to be strictly loaded with quality rock bands playing quality songs, not just dumped outtake songs from old sessions. Although the case of the first Matrix saw a soundtrack with mostly previously released material, later soundtracks mastered the art of new material on their soundtracks. Examples being Scorpion King, Daredevil, Resident Evil, and countless others.

This soundtrack is not different, featuring mostly new material, some to be released on albums with near release dates. This soundtrack is expansive in the fact that it also contains a second disc comprised of the albums score. Though Daredevil may be one of the best modern rock soundtracks to date, Reloaded has taken aim at a slightly heavier audience, one know to be a bit fickle at times, but at the same time quite capitalistic at the same time. While a soundtrack like Resident Evil contained high quality material, it sales were nothing to write home about. On the other hand Scorpion King, pushed by big name singles, drove sales into more productive figures.

Hence, a quality single or two, possibly teamed with a couple of videos, could make this baby a serious contender. But before we crown the soundtrack a success, a quick track by track analysis.

Linkin Park - Session is an instrumental track stripped from their recent release. I’ll just plagiarize my Meteora review.

This track puts the flute to much better use establishing an organic. Earthy feel before programmed drums blast in. Slowly new elements fade in with an occasional effect over the drum beat. With each passing 10-15 seconds a new element blends, creating an overall sound very similar to recent NIN work, I’m going to cry if someone starts singing. This by far one of the best instrumentals to hit a cd player since NIN’s double album “Fragile.” I have a whole new level of respect for Linkin Park after that track. I wish it could’ve been longer. The track shows a totally unharnessed sound that sound be splattered all over the album. Unbelievable instrumental, had to be the best in at least the last year. Incredible, fans of the band or the remix album alone must listen to this song. It’s that good.

This track is incredible and would fit perfectly with the computer/machine theme of the movie.

Marilyn Manson - This Is The New S#$* The opening track of Golden Age Grotesque due out very soon. Once again a chance to plagorize.

This track attempts to immediately quell the questioning minds of what the new stuff will sound like. The track opens with drill sounds and an electronic beat. Fast ranting vocals from Manson, coupled over a verse with a NIN industrial type sound with barking vocals. The sound contains the same electro dance sound as Manson cover of “Tainted Love.” The background keyboard and synthesized sounds greatly resemble Downward Spiral and Fragile type sounds. Very elemental music with lots of approaches that culminate to a jam on the chorus. Impressive growth and music contributions to open the album.
The track keeps the perfect theme of the movie, and has a similar sound to MM’s song on the previous soundtrack “Rock is Dead.”

Rob Zombie - Reload is a brand spankin’ new track from Zombie who’s riding the recent release of the House of 1000 Corpses movie and soundtrack. The track is more along the line of remixed Zombie material than his band driven sound of regular LP releases. But don’t that the wrong way. It’s still a very metal song with crunchy deep riffs and classic Zombie vocals. The vocals are laced with computerized over-dubbing, which fits it into the soundtrack theme as well as the previous tracks.

Rob Dougan - Furious Angle is an instrumental track with a mix of orchestral and techno styles on the opening before incorporating an all out techno drum piece. Rob is also the composer of the albums score and is know for mixing classical music stylings with modern techno beats.

Deftones - Lucky You is up next. The track is a cut of the Deftone’s upcoming self-titled album. The track doesn’t resemble the first two albums of the Tone’s, but rather a techno meets White Pony type style. Although saddening to fans of the band, the track is okay, at least to stir your appetite for the new record, though if the entire album sounds like this, the results could be disastrous, especially considering Minerva is not their best work either. The track can becoming a bit annoying due to the chessy techno sounds. But overall the track is a skipper simply based on the fact that it lacks a crucial element that is Deftones, slamming, addictive guitar riffs.

Team Sleep - The Passportal but when in doubt, always give Chino a second chance, as this album does with Chino’s mysterious side project Teamsleep. Months ago an unmastered release of the projects demos were leaked onto the internet, which I haven’t had the pleasure of sampling yet, though good things haven’t been said about it. This track is an instrumental along the techno lines and is not that bad of a track. Although admittedly I’m not a fan of techno, the song does fit on the soundtrack and is playable.

P.O.D. - Sleeping Awake next is P.O.D.’s track which has been distinguished as the lead single off the soundtrack. P.O.D. is coming off a multi-platinum, multi-single album where they ripped hit after hit. The band keeps rolling with this track. Although not their best work, the track has the hard rock sound with catchy riffs and a more vocal approach than some of the bands other songs(more vocals as in more singing, less rap.) Although a decent song, the video was supposed shot over half a month and is highly anticipated to be one of the best of the year. Fans of P.O.D. will have no problem with this track.

Unloco - Bruises is a cut off their recently released album, Becoming I. Unloco have largely missed the popularity boat although they will enjoy a stint on Ozzfest this year. The track and band can easily be stamped nu-metal and with no way around it. The track contains the same guitar riff that other nu-metal bands have tried countless time, while matched with my personal nu-metal favorite, poor, poor vocals. Skip this track.

Rage Against The Machine - Calm Like A Bomb is another cut to match the release off the Matrix I. Although the track lacks the pure energy and power (and convenient title) of “Wake Up”, the song still is a great track from one of the best bands of the late 90’s early 2000’s. The track contains the organic computerized sound that dominates the album, and is mostly supplied by Tom Morrello’s unmatched guitar solo’s of ingeniously organized guitar noise.

Paul Oakenfold - Dread Rock provides one of those classic Mortal Kombat reminiscent action scene fight songs. The song consists of a pretty nice beat with some cool keyboard pieces and a palm muted guitar riff providing some extra input. Nice track under what I call “tolerable techno.”

Fluke - Zion another tolerable techno track not doubt plugged into an action scene. Fluke is a London based band/project that have been cranking out music for about a decade. Fans of techno will probably enjoy, especially since the band has a considerable following pre-dating this release.

Dave Matthews Band - When The World Ends(Oakenfold Remix) Oakenfold does a classy, NIN style touch-up on this remix. Matthews voice blends interestingly over the techno background, creating a great apocalyptic type sound. The original track was cut off DMB’s Everyday, though I highly recommend this version over the former.

Disc II – The Score
The tracks were all produced by Rob Dougan with help from Juno Reactor on most of the songs. The track listing for the score is:

1. Main Title – featured on one of the commercials the track is all orachestral.

2. Trinity Dream – another all orchestral piece from a suspenseful scene.

3. Teahouse – drumming track pulled from another suspenseful scene.

4. Chateau – is a solely Dougan track featuring his same sound as described above.

5. Mona Lisa Overdive – orchestral piece with some live drums. Slower suspense piece.

6. Burly Brawl – has tragic/escape sound more than a fight song sound, but great nonetheless.

7. Matrix Reloaded Suite – is a lengthy, lengthy track at 17 minutes. The piece is all orchestral and builds then breaks to a smooth piece, only to pick up speed to another climax, before falling again. All in all a nice piece of work by Dougan.

The overall soundtrack is the worth picking up. People who dig score will appreciate the addition of it on the end of the soundtrack album. And the album itself does a nice job of collecting high quality and relevant tracks to support the album’s feel and theme. Hard rockers will appreciate the new tracks then can sample before there release on major albums this summer. Overall however the soundtrack is not a Scorpion King or Daredevil, mostly due to quantity but some quality issues as well. The album contains only two unreleased tracks (this is excluding the soon to be released ones) which I feel will overall hurt the soundtrack sales and popularity. But still the album is worth picking up.