Sony Music Masterworks releases the original soundtrack to the video game God of War: Ragnarök by composer Bear McCreary. Also included within the 28-track collection is an original vocal track from McCreary and multiplatinum-selling singer-songwriter Hozier entitled 'Blood Upon the Snow'...

Bear McCreary pulls out all the stop with his new score for the video game God of War: Ragnarök. It's got just about everything you could wish for: epic themes, slow reflective pieces and more than a few themes that tug at the old heart strings. The soundtrack incorporates traditional Northern European instrumentation, folk elements and an Icelandic choir to capture the game’s Nordic influences.

Discussing the soundtrack, McCreary says: "Among the most exciting surprises of my experience on God of War: Ragnarök was the opportunity to co-write and co-produce ‘Blood Upon the Snow’ with the prolific Irish singer-songwriter, Hozier. I have always admired his captivating lyrical sensibilities and rich, velvety tenor vocal tone. I had a blast hanging out with him in the studio and crafting a song together that supports the emotional arc between father and son. I believe our song is the perfect finale for this epic narrative journey.

"When I set out to score God of War: Ragnarök over three years ago I began by reading a lengthy script. Hours later, tears ran down my face as I turned the final pages. In order to musically support this ambitious new narrative, I would need to fill God of War: Ragnarök with new musical themes and sounds, and interweave them with material from my score from God of War (2018). I hope that gamers around the world will feel the joy and passion that went into the making of this music."

This truly is a joy from the very first to the very last note. Not only does it work wonderfully in the game, but it also stands on its own two feet as a beautiful collection of themes in its own right.

10

Darren Rea