Transformers - Dark of the Moon OST (23/06/2011)
Marking the third entry into Michael Bay’s Transformers series, Dark Of The Moon has just like its predecessors, spawned a soundtrack filled with some of the biggest names in rock. This time is no exception, featuring songs from Linkin Park, Mastodon, Paramore and Taking Back Sunday.
Linkin Park’s Iridescent, off their latest album, A Thousand Suns, opens the soundtrack. This marks the third Transformers soundtrack that have featured one of the bands songs, and this song was approved by the films composer, Steve Jablonsky, who is a long term fan of the band. This track shows Linkin Parks departure from their early nu-metal sound, with an increased emphasis on melody, electronic influences and a more mature sound. Mike Shinoda shows his developed singing voice during the chorus, and Chester Bennington delivers the catchy, melodic chorus he’s been known for.
Paramore must love soundtracks. After debuting Decode on the Twilight soundtrack in 2008, Paramore have again used a movie soundtrack as a way to release a new song. Monster is the first single the band have had since they released The Only Exception, and the song is much better than anything they’ve written in years. Hayley Williams sounds excellent as usual, with her voice easily being the highlight of the band, and this particular song.
The Only Hope For Me Is You is My Chemical Romance’s contribution to the soundtrack and on first listen seems a little too upbeat and positive, considering it’s on a soundtrack for a movie about giant robots wanting to destroy anything and everything in their path. Gerard Way’s voice creates an uplifting chorus, and the track itself catchy and fun, sounding way out of place with the more serious sounding tracks on the rest of the soundtrack.
Faith (When I Let You Down) is from Taking Back Sunday’s new album, and keeps up the soundtracks theme of faith and hope. This song is heavily This Is War-era 30 Seconds To Mars influenced, which is a shame, after the Brand New Daisy-era worship of El Paso, the first song released off Taking Back Sunday’s new self titled album. The song fits in thematically with the rest of the soundtrack, even if musically it seems to be a bit out of place.
The Bottom by Staind is one of the songs on the soundtrack that actually feels like it fits in with the movie. Aaron Lewis’s vocals have improved greatly over the years, and his vocals are perfectly balanced with the down tuned, nu-metal influenced riffs. The song has a great melodic chorus which showcases Lewis’s vocals, before building up to one of the heaviest parts that Staind has recorded since their first album.
Another new song on the album is All That You Are, by the Goo Goo Dolls, debuting exclusively on this soundtrack. Goo Goo Dolls are most well known for their hit single Iris, and All That You Are seems to sound similar. They are a band who have discovered their sound and stuck to it, so this is a good song if you are a fan of their music.
Closing the soundtrack is a ZZ Top song, Just Got Paid covered by progressive metal band Mastodon. I would have thought one of Mastodon’s heavier or more epic songs would have suited the soundtrack or the movie better, as a ZZ Top seems like an odd choice for a movie like this. The cover is fucking awesome, and showcases a completely different side of the band. Heavy, groovy as fuck and with some killer guitar playing, this is how a cover should be.
All up, while this soundtrack may not be the best soundtrack, it does its job well. It’s catchy, heavy at the right times, and most of the songs fit well. There are some exceptions, but as a whole, the album is solid, and fans of the Transformers movies will love it.
Josh Mitrou
Linkin Park’s Iridescent, off their latest album, A Thousand Suns, opens the soundtrack. This marks the third Transformers soundtrack that have featured one of the bands songs, and this song was approved by the films composer, Steve Jablonsky, who is a long term fan of the band. This track shows Linkin Parks departure from their early nu-metal sound, with an increased emphasis on melody, electronic influences and a more mature sound. Mike Shinoda shows his developed singing voice during the chorus, and Chester Bennington delivers the catchy, melodic chorus he’s been known for.
Paramore must love soundtracks. After debuting Decode on the Twilight soundtrack in 2008, Paramore have again used a movie soundtrack as a way to release a new song. Monster is the first single the band have had since they released The Only Exception, and the song is much better than anything they’ve written in years. Hayley Williams sounds excellent as usual, with her voice easily being the highlight of the band, and this particular song.
The Only Hope For Me Is You is My Chemical Romance’s contribution to the soundtrack and on first listen seems a little too upbeat and positive, considering it’s on a soundtrack for a movie about giant robots wanting to destroy anything and everything in their path. Gerard Way’s voice creates an uplifting chorus, and the track itself catchy and fun, sounding way out of place with the more serious sounding tracks on the rest of the soundtrack.
Faith (When I Let You Down) is from Taking Back Sunday’s new album, and keeps up the soundtracks theme of faith and hope. This song is heavily This Is War-era 30 Seconds To Mars influenced, which is a shame, after the Brand New Daisy-era worship of El Paso, the first song released off Taking Back Sunday’s new self titled album. The song fits in thematically with the rest of the soundtrack, even if musically it seems to be a bit out of place.
The Bottom by Staind is one of the songs on the soundtrack that actually feels like it fits in with the movie. Aaron Lewis’s vocals have improved greatly over the years, and his vocals are perfectly balanced with the down tuned, nu-metal influenced riffs. The song has a great melodic chorus which showcases Lewis’s vocals, before building up to one of the heaviest parts that Staind has recorded since their first album.
Another new song on the album is All That You Are, by the Goo Goo Dolls, debuting exclusively on this soundtrack. Goo Goo Dolls are most well known for their hit single Iris, and All That You Are seems to sound similar. They are a band who have discovered their sound and stuck to it, so this is a good song if you are a fan of their music.
Closing the soundtrack is a ZZ Top song, Just Got Paid covered by progressive metal band Mastodon. I would have thought one of Mastodon’s heavier or more epic songs would have suited the soundtrack or the movie better, as a ZZ Top seems like an odd choice for a movie like this. The cover is fucking awesome, and showcases a completely different side of the band. Heavy, groovy as fuck and with some killer guitar playing, this is how a cover should be.
All up, while this soundtrack may not be the best soundtrack, it does its job well. It’s catchy, heavy at the right times, and most of the songs fit well. There are some exceptions, but as a whole, the album is solid, and fans of the Transformers movies will love it.
Josh Mitrou