Odin Suite | God of War: Ragnarök (Original Soundtrack) by Bear McCreary

The mastermind behind the scenes, Odin’s presence and power brings with it a threat more terrifying and cataclysmic than Ragnorök itself. I haven’t played the game yet, but I was spoiled on the first boss of the game and the cutscene preceding it. I’m unsure about who to designate the suite too, but for now I’ll classify this as the Odin and Thor suite. It could easily change to just being Odin however, since Thor does seem to act as an extension of his might and power. Anyways, Odin’s theme had a tough precedent to outdo, with the magnificent theme for Baldur, but McCreary delivered a fantastic theme for the All-Father. A menacing four note pattern underlies and precedes the Æsir’s theme, low and guttural. Rushing, monotonous strings burrow and fester, adding to the calculative and plotting nature of the character. His motif itself is threatening and foreboding, performed with a male choir or on brass. But with it lies a sense of not only regality and status, but also yearning and tragedy. Perhaps his fate is sealed with Ragnorök, or maybe he yearns for things beyond his reach; an escape from the fated end, or knowledge itself. But even still, his theme festers and becomes rife with his malicious intent, blowing into grand thematic statements on full brass. Thor’s variations differ slightly, with more of a focus on guttural, male vocalizations of not only the four note backing pattern, but also the motif, which  differs from Odin’s variations by having a less extravagant ending phrase and instead a more consistent and simple ending to the melody. I’d argue Bear outdid himself, for he outdid Baldur’s theme by not trying to outpace its energy and relentless nature, but showcasing what makes Odin the threat he is; by focusing on his might, power, and grandeur as the king of the Æsir, and creating a theme deserving of the All-Father. * = edited/rearranged  TRACKLIST: 0:00 Asgard 3:28 The Hand of Odin Asgard 3:36 The Hand of Odin 6:21 The Hammer of Thor The Hand of Odin 6:34 The Hammer of Thor 9:01 The Mask The Hammer of Thor 9:05 The Mask 9:56 The Hand of Odin The Mask 9:59 The Hand of Odin* 11:14 The All-Father* © 2022 Sony Interactive Entertainment America LLC , under exclusive license to Sony Music Entertainment  #GodofWar #GodofWarRagnorök #PS5 Support Bear McCreary! Website - YouTube - Apple Music - Spotify - Listen to the soundtrack! Spotify - Apple Music - ök-original-soundtrack/1651184021 Copyright Disclaimer: Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for “fair use“ for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use.
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