Medal of Honor: Airborne (Soundtrack Review)

Medal of Honor: Airborne (Soundtrack Review)

After leaving the series on top with Frontline, Michael Giacchino finally returns to the MOH series with Airborne. So how does this score hold up to Giacchino’s other MOH scores? Well, it’s certainly a different take on the music than the other MOH material.

I mean Giacchino has taken the music in an almost completely different style and tone. He brought this newer/darker style from his time on LOST and Alias and twisted it into a MOH score. Heck, there’s a new theme in the score that is only two notes away from the John Locke’s theme from LOST.

You can still find heavy influences within his work from John Williams, but now there is the added bonus of string instruments taking a stronger position in this soundtrack. There are a ton of newer themes and only a handful of older themes returning from the other MOH soundtracks. The old themes that show up are nice, but most of them are cameos.

One such returning theme is the old school MOH theme that builds into the new airborne theme. This is a nice touch by the composer to merge the old with the new. The Airborne theme has its moments but not as heroic as Giacchino’s other main themes, but it’s still fun to listen to them. Many of his newer themes do have a darker texture to them.

The Airborne score can never live up to Frontline. This is because the tracks will not draw you in emotionally like Frontline. On that level, they’re not supposed to. There are no vocals or suites like in Frontline. It’s still a remarkable score and stands out from all the rock-filled scores in videogames today. Despite the shift in style, it’s good to see Michael Giacchino branch out and try something different.

Grade: B

My favorite tracks…

Operation Neptune: Here’s a new march with one of the newer themes. This track is a prime example of the newer style that Giacchino is trying to voice.

Unblocking Utah: Here’s an uplifting track that’s probably my favorite from the entire score. The song is fast and fun. It moves into the strong old school MOH theme toward the middle.

Operation Varsity: Here’s another new theme that’s a march as well. I like how the piece builds upon itself. Look for an old MOH theme from the first score to make a short appearance.

Dropping into Nijmegen: It has some cool ethnic drum mixed with an older theme.

Wreckage of Nijmegen: Remember the beautiful “Operation Market Garden” track from Frontline? Well, that theme returns in a different arrangement. This track has a sinister quality compared to Operation Market Garden.