4 out of 5

Label: Sumthing Else

Producer: Brian Reitzell

Generally, I’ll pick up a game or movie soundtrack for one of two reasons: 1. while watching / playing, the music actually catches my attention, or 2. I follow the composer.  I haven’t played Red Faction, and I wasn’t aware of Brian Reitzell prior to this soundtrack.  I’ve had the benefit of living in a digital age where the indie Humble Bundle exists, which offers soundtracks along with the cheapo games they sell… which has given me the opportunity to listen to scores for things I’d never even have the chance to hear otherwise.

That setup in tow, Brian Reitzell’s score automatically comes across as professional for, yeah lists, two reasons: 1. Every track I would glance at the title and feel like I could connect an appropriate mood to the composition.  Maybe in-game the feel is totally different, but a more ambient track like “Cavern” totally evokes, for me, the space and echo that the name implies.  2. I want to play Red Faction.  Isn’t that an accomplishment?  I have no idea what the game is, but the music makes me want to play.

The latter of those two would seem like ultimate praise, and, honestly, it is.  At moments I thought to myself how perfect this score was.  Reitzell – who turns out to have done his time in the industry, going back to Redd Kross – knows how to write actual songs, not just themes, so that even more beat-based tracks like “The Swarm,” or something more ethereal like “The Specialist” will open up beyond the initial feelings they lay down, building into something that stands on its own.  At the same time, there’s some awareness of this being a soundtrack and not a solo act, so while I was surprised at the emotional depth that would creep into the tracks, Brian seems kind enough to not try and shove his way into the foreground.  These work perfectly as accompaniment, but can be ignored if need be.  There’s also, admittedly, a lack of story to the whole thing, which goes along with that more song-based feel to it.  Each track – except for the couple that do seem to share thematic elements – each track could be for a different type of game, from the orchestral sweep of the initial “Overture” to the more aggressive “Zealots,” I read and find out that Red Faction is a third person sci-fi shooter – which does match the blend of organic and electronic feel throughout the album – but still, I don’t get a story in mind as I do with some of my favorite soundtracks.

Red Faction was a wonderful surprise that has me digging up Reitzell’s other score work.