***Note: This review is in the Game section because of it is based on the Mortal Kombat series.***
A soundtrack inspired by the Warriors of Mortal Kombat......right. A soundtrack I felt would have had a hard rock feel to it, but all we got was an album full of techno and dubstep. Do they have raves in the Outworld or the Netherealm? I’m not saying that techno or dubstep are bad, but I wasn’t expecting the WHOLE album to be what it is. My main problem with this album is that “Mortal Kombat: Songs inspired by the Warriors” is the name of it, but there is only 12 tracks. Where is Cyrax’s track? Or maybe a track for Jax?
JFK(1/2 of MSTRKRFT) was asked to be executive producer and was asked to bring together a variety of electronic/techno artists to create the album, and the result is Mortal Kombat: Songs Inspired by the Warriors. JFK was asked to find the best artists in techno music.....where’s Daft Punk? And why couldn’t someone with a history with the company be the one to do this?
I honestly gave this album a chance, something I rarely do to a soundtrack. I promised myself to listen to the whole song to the end, no matter what I thought of it. I wasn’t completely pleased, but not completely upset with it. It had huge potential to be a great album, but fell short with the choosing of the artists. If it was done by one artist(Tron Legacy-Daft Punk), then maybe it would’ve been a success. Maybe Skrillex. Not a huge fan, but best choice.
#1 “Deathstalker(Scorpion’s Theme)”- JFK
As I said above, do the have raves in the Netherealm? Deathstalker is a fitting name Scorpion, but not for the song. I don’t feel a sense of badass in this track. Scorpion is a character that should have a hard rock/ metal track, this is more of a trance track. Take away the name and you wouldn’t even know this was Scorpion’s theme, let alone an MK track. Simply, there’s no Scorpion to it. Good to know the “Executive Producer” of the album can’t even do Scorpion justice. Click the video below to listen to the track.
#2 “Mileena’s Theme”- Tokimonsta
Mileena’s theme is a little better. It has a dark feel to it, good pace. It doesn’t fit Mileena completely but it works well. Not to mention it actually has Mileena’s “Let’s Play!” soundbyte at 2:33, on of the only tracks that have a soundbyte in the song. Click the video below to listen to the track.
#3 “Helado(Sub-Zero’s Theme)”- Harvard Bass
First off, 7:33. Way too long for a song. Second, Helado? Is Sub-Zero the ice cream man? Helado is Spanish for ice cream. Third, I cannot take an artist with the name of an Ivy League school in its name seriously. Now, on to the good stuff. I do like the freezing sounds used in the games being used in the track. But at 7:33 long, it leaves so much more wanted. It’s a good song, but time is its downfall. Click the video below to listen to the track.
#4 “Liu Kang's Theme”- Congorock
This is one of the instances on this album where I say, “It fits.” Listening to this track made me imagine Liu Kang performing a Kata or doing capoeira, which I think was the point. Being the main protagonist, the track does do him justice by being one of the top tracks on the album. Click the video below to listen to the track.
#5 “Goro’s Theme”- Bird Peterson
What can be said about Goro? Big, cold blooded, ruthless, scary as shit if you run into him in an alley. So is the song. Starts slow and dark, as Goro is. Then, he gets a ghetto breakdancer in an alley treatment. Now, I imagine Bird Peterson has a drawing of Goro playing dice with Kintaro in an alley or roughing up Motaro cuz he looked at Sheeva the wrong way when he made the track. Around the 3:40 mark, it stops and you hear chains and an unworldly growl, before picking back up. I like the track because imagining Goro breakdancing amuses me. Click the video below to listen to the track.
#6 “Reptile’s Theme”- Skrillex
The gem of the album. This track was the track heard during the commercials for Mortal Kombat(2011). Fast paced and not as repetitive as other tracks, this track stands out from the others. Oh, and it actually tells you who its about. The iconic “Toasty!” is thrown into the track with Shao Kahn’s menacing laugh, “Finish Him!”, “Flawless Victory!”, “Excellent!” and “Fight!” quotes, making this the most Mortal Kombat inspired track on the album. Click the video below to listen to the track.
#7 “Raiden’s Theme”- 9th Wonder.
Who let DMX on this album? Oh wait, nevermind. When I look at Raiden, I do not see gangster or pimp or a wanabe, I see a God. A white one at that. The song just does not fit the guy. It fits Jax a lot better than it does Raiden. Click the video below to listen to the track.
#8 “Johnny Cage’s Theme”- LA Riots
Johnny Cage, a $500 sunglass wearin’, girl stealin’, high class livin’, son of a gun. Died more times than I can count. Lives in the 80’s. One of those is a lie. The song sounds like it came straight out of a club in the 1980’s. Does not fit him. And, since when does Johnny Cage win? Ok, that one time against Goro. Yes, they added a “Johnny Cage Wins!” soundbyte to it. No, just no. Click the video below to listen to the track.
#9 “Baraka’s Theme”- Run DMT
Scratch what I said about Jax in Raiden’s Theme summary. This fits Jax better. Baraka, the man who has giant, sharp teeth and twin death blades sticking out of his arms, has been given a street racing song. Although this would work if they remade the Road Rash games and added him as an unlockable character, it does not work for him as a fighter. Click the video below to listen to the track.
#10 “Kung Lao’s Theme”- Felix Cartal
Belongs in a dance club, not this album. Kung Lao deserves better. That is all. Click the video below to listen to the track.
#11 “Kano’s Theme”- Them Jeans
The treacherous, yet loveable Aussie, Kano. As badass as he is, this song is not. If you get and Australian character to make a song for, add sounds you hear in Australia. You wouldn’t give an Asian a Salsa song, would you? Where’s the didjeridoo? Crocodile Dundee would not be pleased. Click the video below to listen to the track.
#12 “Shao Kahn’s Theme”- Sound of Stereo
The last person you fight in 90% of the MK games. Big, powerful, and intimidating, Shao Kahn is probably the hardest to fight against in the games. But, can be overconfident and leaves openings to be attacked. This track is not intimidating, hardcore, or loud. Might it have been someone else like Smoke, then yes. But not Shao Kahn. Click the video below to listen to the track.
Like I said, I wasn’t pleased by it, but I wasn’t completely disappointed. It had its bad tracks, but there was a few good tracks. Nothing memorable, but what do you expect when someone with no common knowledge about Mortal Kombat is the Executive Producer. Chances are, if someone from NetherRealm Studios was in charge, the album would’ve been a lot different.
Best Inspired: Reptile, Liu Kang, Goro
Worst Inspired: Raiden, Shao Kahn, Scorpion
iTunes Rating- 4 out of 5 stars
Amazon Rating- 3 1/2 out of 5 stars
My Rating- 3 out of stars
*Bonus Track* Noob Saibot’s Theme- Abstract-ONE
I found this on Youtube. I felt this song could be on the album. Funny enough, it sounds better than most of the songs on the album. And the guy isn’t even famous! Click the video below to listen to the track.
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