Year: 2005
Type: Original Soundtrack (OST)
Composer(s): Michael Gordon Shapiro
Number of tracks: 24

★★★★★

A feast of stereotypes

The review for the first Empire Earth was the 10th on this website and was published on December 15, 2019, almost exactly four years ago. Also, four years after Empire Earth , in 2005, the successor, Empire Earth II, was released. A mere coincidence that I am writing this review now, or is fate? Who knows, who knows.

The very cumbersome subheadline for the first installment was "Rightfully forgotten classic with catchy tunes" back then. Something that I probably wouldn't write like that today, but it summarizes the game and the soundtrack quite well: Great back then, not so much today. If it weren't for my nostalgia-soaked heart still clinging to the sounds of my childhood, the verdict would probably be harsher.

Empire Earth (2001)

Empire Earth II (2005)

It's all the more pleasing that I can approach the second edition more 'neutrally' due to a lack of hands-on experience. First differences right away: The number of tracks has been increased to 24, whilst significantly reducing their duration. As in the first part we had about an hour of listening pleasure, here it's just under 20 minutes. Admittedly, the tracks of the first Empire Earth were sometimes very repetitive, but also correspondingly catchy.

Furthermore, instead of a trio of composers, this album presents us solely with newcomer Michael Gordon Shapiro. A blank slate for me, he was involved in smaller gaming and film projects before, during, and apart from the third part. An overlooked genius or just one of many? Turns out: a little bit of both.

Overall, the OST can be divided along the playable factions in the campaigns: Germany, Korea, the Middle East, and the USA. Each of these four nationalities has received a different number of corresponding tracks, ranging from Briefing 1-3 to the obligatory Sieg- and Niederlagen-tracks. This ensemble is complemented by the Empire Earth II Overture and Empire Earth II Overture – Mix #2.

While the "Empire Earth II Overture," with its initially ominous, later orchestral chorales, swelling and subsiding, and driving strings, suggests cinematic masterclass, this promise is unfortunately not fulfilled by the rest of the score. The sometimes very short pieces seem to be borrowed from the stereotype department of tropes and present the four nationalities in an expected way: Korean sounds Asian, Mideast sounds oriental, and German as well as USA that seem to be borrowed from the German Briefing #2, that seem to be borrowed from the Call of Duty-clearance sale.

This sounds more derogatory than is ultimately meant. Because in my opinion, the music of the early CoD-installments, especially by Michael Giacchino, ranks among the best World War scores. Overall, however, there remains a feeling of missed opportunities, that there could have been more here. A little bit like a typical party evening, where just as it starts to get good, you stumble off to the bathroom vomiting. So, what could have been a beautiful experience quickly becomes a checked-off memory without lasting substance.

No.	Title	Artist(s)	Ratings
01	Empire Earth II Overture	Michael Gordon Shapiro	5
02	German Briefing #1	Michael Gordon Shapiro	3
03	German Briefing #2	Michael Gordon Shapiro	3
04	German Defeat	Michael Gordon Shapiro	2
05	German Campaign Victory	Michael Gordon Shapiro	4
06	German Victory	Michael Gordon Shapiro	3
07	Korean Briefing #1	Michael Gordon Shapiro	3
08	Korean Briefing #2	Michael Gordon Shapiro	3
09	Korean Early Briefing	Michael Gordon Shapiro	3
10	Korean Defeat	Michael Gordon Shapiro	2
11	Korean Early Victory	Michael Gordon Shapiro	2
12	Korean Campaign Victory	Michael Gordon Shapiro	3
13	Korean Victory	Michael Gordon Shapiro	2
14	Mideast Briefing	Michael Gordon Shapiro	4
15	Mideast Defeat	Michael Gordon Shapiro	2
16	Mideast Victory #1	Michael Gordon Shapiro	2
17	Mideast Victory #2	Michael Gordon Shapiro	4
18	USA Briefing #1	Michael Gordon Shapiro	3
19	USA Briefing #2	Michael Gordon Shapiro	3
20	USA Briefing #3	Michael Gordon Shapiro	4
21	USA Defeat	Michael Gordon Shapiro	3
22	USA Campaign Victory	Michael Gordon Shapiro	3
23	USA Victory	Michael Gordon Shapiro	3
24	Empire Earth II Overture - Mix #2	Michael Gordon Shapiro	3