Power of Darkness

Last updated
Power Of Darkness
TSFH-PowerOfDarkness-Steven-R-Gilmore.jpg
Demo album by
ReleasedMarch 10, 2010 [1]
Length1:24:42 (main tracks) [2]
3:24:46 (incl. alternatives)

Power of Darkness is a demonstration album by the music production group Two Steps from Hell, originally released exclusively to clients in the motion picture and advertising industry for the purpose of licensing in March 2010. It was uniquely distributed on a flash drive, rather than a physical disc. [1] It includes 32 principal tracks, [3] split into two themed volumes. [2] Additionally, it contains a large collection of alternative versions; therefore, in total, Power of Darkness consists of 77 tracks. They are composed by Thomas J. Bergersen and Nick Phoenix. [2] The album was recorded in Prague, Czech Republic (by Capellen Orchestra), in Los Angeles, and in Utah, United States. [1] The cover artwork and the sleeve are designed by Steven R. Gilmore. [4]

Contents

Some tracks were made available to the general public on subsequent commercial albums, starting with Invincible (2010). [5] In 2017, the album was finally released to the public, albeit modified to consist of only tracks which had still not yet been made commercially available and under the title of Power of Darkness Anthology. [6]

Track listing

Below is the original track listing.

The public re-issue of the album as Power of Darkness Anthology was released on 1 August 2017. Its listing is different to the original – it is most of the remaining tracks which, until its release, were still unavailable for public purchase and arranged in a different order; tracks which had already been released to the public on other commercial albums were excluded. Therefore, Power of Darkness Anthology features 40 tracks and has a total length of 01:39:57. [6] The main versions of "The Soul That Must Awaken" and "Ghost Brigades" were omitted from the release as the group were "just not happy" with them, opting to including their alternatives instead. [7]

Volume 1 – "Epic drama" [8]

Main tracks

No.TitleWriter(s)Later released on the public album:Length
1."Power of Darkness" Thomas J. Bergersen Halloween 2:50
2."Fire Nation" Nick Phoenix Invincible 3:00
3."Black Blade"Thomas J. BergersenInvincible3:06
4."Master of Shadows"Nick PhoenixInvincible3:05
5."What's Happening To Me"Thomas J. Bergersen Archangel 3:09
6."Atlas"Thomas J. Bergersen Classics Volume Two 2:34
7."Earth Rising"Thomas J. Bergersen Classics Volume One 3:21
8."The Soul That Must Awaken"Nick Phoenix3:18
9."Eternal Honor"Nick PhoenixPower of Darkness Anthology2:16
10."Gravitation"Thomas J. BergersenPower of Darkness Anthology1:55
11."Bed of Nails"Nick PhoenixPower of Darkness Anthology1:34
12."Invincible"Thomas J. BergersenInvincible2:52
13."The Ancients"Nick PhoenixClassics Volume One2:55
14."Dark Harbor"Nick PhoenixArchangel3:15
15."Jump!"Thomas J. BergersenClassics Volume One4:37
16."The Cross of Antiquan"Nick PhoenixClassics Volume One2:28
17."Ten Feet Tall"Nick PhoenixPower of Darkness Anthology1:59
18."Ironwing"Nick PhoenixArchangel2:38
Alternative mixes
All tracks (except for nos. 7, 8, 10, 15, 16 and 18) were later released on the public version of the album, Power of Darkness Anthology.
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Power of Darkness (No Choir)" Thomas J. Bergersen 2:49
2."Fire Nation (No Choir)" Nick Phoenix 3:03
3."Fire Nation (Alternative Version)"Nick Phoenix0:33
4."Black Blade (No Choir)"Thomas J. Bergersen3:05
5."Master of Shadows (No Choir)"Nick Phoenix3:04
6."Master of Shadows (Alternative Version)"Nick Phoenix3:04
7."Master of Shadows (Alternative Version 2)"Nick Phoenix3:04
8."Master of Shadows (Alternative Version 3)"Nick Phoenix3:04
9."What's Happening To Me (No Choir)"Thomas J. Bergersen3:09
10."What's Happening To Me (Alternative Version)"Thomas J. Bergersen3:10
11."Atlas (No Choir)"Thomas J. Bergersen2:33
12."Atlas (Alternative Version)"Thomas J. Bergersen2:33
13."Earth Rising (No Choir)"Thomas J. Bergersen3:21
14."The Soul That Must Awaken (No Choir)"Nick Phoenix3:18
15."The Soul That Must Awaken (Alternative Version)"Nick Phoenix3:20
16."The Soul That Must Awaken (Alternative Version 2)"Nick Phoenix3:19
17."Eternal Honor (No Choir)"Nick Phoenix2:15
18."Eternal Honor (Alternative Version)"Nick Phoenix2:15
19."Invincible (No Choir)"Thomas J. Bergersen2:50
20."The Ancients (No Choir)"Nick Phoenix2:56
21."Dark Harbor (No Choir)"Nick Phoenix3:16
22."The Cross of Antiquan (No Choir)"Nick Phoenix2:29
23."Ten Feet Tall (No Choir)"Nick Phoenix2:00
24."Ironwing (No Choir)"Nick Phoenix2:37

Volume 2 – "Action" [9]

Main tracks

No.TitleWriter(s)Later released on the public album:Length
1."Fight The Machine"Nick PhoenixPower of Darkness Anthology2:04
2."Ironheart"Thomas J. BergersenClassics Volume One3:03
3."Velocitron"Nick PhoenixInvincible2:32
4."Titan Dune"Thomas J. BergersenArchangel2:11
5."Argovia"Nick PhoenixPower of Darkness Anthology2:27
6."He Who Brings The Night"Thomas J. BergersenArchangel3:09
7."Norwegian Pirate"Thomas J. BergersenArchangel3:00
8."Decimator"Thomas J. BergersenHalloween1:54
9."Kronos"Nick PhoenixPower of Darkness Anthology2:29
10."Magnan Imus"Nick PhoenixClassics Volume One2:47
11."Freefall"Thomas J. BergersenPower of Darkness Anthology2:04
12."Clockmen"Nick PhoenixPower of Darkness Anthology2:03
13."Ghost Brigades"Nick Phoenix2:33
14."72 Virgins"Thomas J. BergersenHalloween1:50
Alternative mixes
All tracks (except for nos. 5, 6, 8, 9, 13, 14, 16 and 17) were later released on the public version of the album, Power of Darkness Anthology.
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Ironheart (No Choir)"Thomas J. Bergersen2:03
2."Velocitron (No Choir)""Nick Phoenix2:32
3."Titan Dune (No Choir)"Thomas J. Bergersen2:10
4."Argovia (No Choir)"Nick Phoenix2:27
5."Argovia (No Choir Alternative Version)"Nick Phoenix2:29
6."Argovia (Alternative Version)"Nick Phoenix2:29
7."He Who Brings The Night (No Choir)"Thomas J. Bergersen3:09
8."He Who Brings The Night (No Choir Alternative Version)"Thomas J. Bergersen3:08
9."He Who Brings The Night (Alternative Version)"Thomas J. Bergersen3:09
10."Norwegian Pirate (No Choir)"Thomas J. Bergersen3:00
11."Decimator (No Choir)"Thomas J. Bergersen1:54
12."Kronos (No Choir)"Nick Phoenix2:29
13."Kronos (No Choir Alternative Version)"Nick Phoenix2:47
14."Kronos (Alternative Version)"Nick Phoenix2:47
15."Magnan Imus (No Choir)"Nick Phoenix2:46
16."Magnan Imus (No Choir Alternative Version)"Nick Phoenix2:47
17."Magnan Imus (Alternative Version)"Nick Phoenix2:47
18."Freefall (No Choir)"Thomas J. Bergersen2:04
19."Clockmen (No Choir)"Nick Phoenix2:03
20."Ghost Brigades (No Choir)"Nick Phoenix2:34
21."72 Virgins (No Choir)"Thomas J. Bergersen1:49

Critical reception

IFMCA-associated reviews website, MundoBSO, [10] rated it seven out of ten stars. [11]

Trailer Music News called it "probably the most epic album by Two Steps From Hell" at the time. [3]

Charts

As a demo, the album was not available for public purchase and therefore unable to enter any charts.

However, the re-release of the album as Power of Darkness Anthology in 2017 was a public offering and did chart as follows:

Chart (2017)Peak
position
US Classical Albums ( Billboard ) [12] 10
US Classical Crossover Albums (Billboard) [13] 9

Use in media

Two Steps From Hell's music has been featured frequently in trailers and commercials.

Related Research Articles

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References

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