The stage is set for a new battle in the new film “300: Rise of an Empire.”  In this enchanting sequel, composer Junkie XL picks up where King Leonidas left off with his amazing score. Each track expresses the action of the film and will make you feel as if you are witnessing the battle. You should adjust your volume right about now.

We begin this awesome journey with the first track, “History of Artemisia,” which starts out softly, with the low horns and the wind instruments slowly leading into the powerful resonance of drums. “Marathon” rushes in with a cacophony of drums that seem to go head to head with the horns. “From Man to God King” has soulful vocals, low horns and thunderous drums that will shock the listener. “Sparta” has strong, ghostly voices and commanding drums that will have you standing to your feet.

“Artemisia’s Childhood” is a beautiful melody that starts out softly, leading into an orchestral army of drums and horns, making it both a sweet yet violent theme. “Suicide” is a depressing piece that hurries itself through the track and doesn’t give us a chance to feel its mournful impact. “Left for Dead” is practically silent for half of the track. “Fog Battle” is ethereal in the beginning, but the vocals and hard drums will make your heart race with terror.

The melancholy soloist and sorrowful instruments in “A Beach of Bodies” may bring tears to your eyes. “Fire Battle” is indeed a fiery one with the strings and vocals battling the drums in a grand display of epic proportions. The vocals and sitars in “Xerxes’ Thoughts” will have you feeling as if you were lost in a fog. “Queen Gorgo” is a relaxing and calm track, leaving you with a sense of peace and serenity.

“Greeks on Attack” is a rush of adrenaline that stimulates the audience. “History of the Greeks” is a beautiful song with the strings and deep horns making it sound majestic. The deafening drums and forceful horns make “Greeks are Winning” an exceptional  track. “End Credits” rock and instrumental, making this an awesome ending for this soundtrack.

This soundtrack is completely breathtaking. If you were looking for something thrilling and daring, you have chosen the perfect soundtrack. This album is absolutely exhilarating and will leave you wanting more.

Final Grade: A

About The Author

Lauren Beverly

Music Reviewer

I love to write and have been doing so since the age of eight. Fictional stories have always been a favorite of mine, because it gives me a chance to be creative and to express myself in a multitude of ways. On more than one occasion, a song proved to be the inspiration to several stories I have written. Believe it or not, some of those songs were on soundtracks! That’s mostly what I listen to, aside from hits from the 1950’s up to the 1980’s. I’ve learned that anything can be the inspiration to a story, even a poster from the 1990’s or a DVD cover.

I’ve lived in Upper Marlboro all of my life and spent much of my childhood watching cartoons of all kinds, and listening to my older sister’s cassette tapes. Growing up, I listened to everything Jackson related, Paula Abdul, Elton John, and even the controversial group Milli Vanilli. As a teenager, I continued to listen to old-school hits and that was pretty much all I liked, aside from listening to all of Michael Jackson’s music. To this day, I still love old-school hits. That hasn’t changed.

I own a variety of CDs from artists such as Styx, The BeeGees, Michael Jackson, Queen, The Yellow Submarine Soundtrack, and many others. When a soundtrack comes out, there will always be one specific song from that album that I’ll love. It never fails.

I’ve graduated from Bowie State University in December 2013 with a B.A. degree in English.

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