The Newton Brothers reprise the iconic X-Men: The Animated Series theme in impeccably heroic form through their score for X-Men ’97, but it’s actually the newer thematic material that’s the star of the show here; cue “Give Them The Forecast” and “Magnus The Savior”!
Much like with John Paesano’s Daredevil theme for Daredevil: Born Again last year, the Newton Brothers have reprised another classic superhero motif with their score for animated series revival X-Men ’97; Ron Wasserman’s original X-Men: The Animated Series theme! It first appears right at the start of this new album in reinvigorated form via “X-Men ’97 Theme”; intensely dramatic percussion and pulsating electronics quickly get the minute-long track off to a ballistic pace, with fist-pumpingly epic synth and an electric guitar then thundering the iconic theme along in absolute style, holding nothing back as the motif practically soars in sheer orchestral triumph. All-in, it’s an explosive start to the revival’s score – bringing back the iconic animated series theme was always going to be a winner, and hearing it play in more modernised yet somehow still very ’90s form in its re-introduction here brings an instant smile. With the fantastic opener fading out, the composers then introduce us to the first of their new character themes in “The Summers”; gentle synth occupies much of this three minute setpiece, keeping the mood still firmly ’90s while also setting a tranquil and rather melancholic atmosphere with strings in the first minute before serene vocals and echoing plinks of percussion then join the fray for a more mysterious back half of the cue – until surging orchestra suddenly rushes the music to a rapid finishing crescendo.
“Give Them The Forecast” then introduces an aptly thunderous (ho ho) theme for Storm, with rapid piano notes opening the track that then build up into tremendous orchestra as dramatic percussion, fiery brass and deafeningly grandiose vocals burst into centre stage. The classic X-Men theme then heroically blasts alongside Ororo in the back half of the track before the music comes to a simmering electronic and strings-focused end. “The Trial Of Magneto” then roars aggressively right as it starts with low-pitched bursts of angry brass and tense strings clashing, though the musical aggression then fades somewhat for the subsequent and Standout “Magnus The Savior”; wary strings open this track with some rather mysterious electronics following, before an absolute orchestral ensemble then leaps dramatically into frame. After a short burst of action however the music then settles at the ninety second mark as a thoughtful, almost noble new theme for Magneto emerges, playing grandly on hopeful strings and vocals before bowing out as intriguingly as it arrived on echoing piano notes. I’m not going to lie – despite it’s short debut this theme is fantastic, and it might be the star of the ’97 show here. A twinkling serenity then occupies “Goodbye”, with mournful strings, moody brass and wistful vocals swirling in melancholy until the music fades to a gentle close.
Eerie swathes of synth and imposingly deep vocals open “Mister Sinister”, with malevolent-sounding organ notes, moody strings and angry brass building emphatically over the course of the villainous theme’s two and a half minute runtime until a deafening finale is finally reached. After some rather intense choir-focused action surges through “Fight Or Die”, an air of mystery descends for the opening seconds of “Remember Who You Are” with twinkling pecussion before brass and strings build to a series of increasingly tense crescendos. Similarly twinkling percussive energy then occupies the minute-long “What Have You Done?” before some very ’90s electronic beats leap enthusiastically into frame for the boppy “Man V.s. Machine” and the subsequent “Boss Battle”. A much more classical sound then emanates from “Nightcrawler” as delicate strings and light vocals introduce an almost religious symphony for the titular mutant, before sorrowful strings then take over for the particularly heartfelt “Trails Of Love” alongside high-pitched, ethereal choir. A standout action moment then arrives with “Busy Bees”; the X-Men theme echoes quietly in the track’s opening seconds with drums starting to set a wary tone, before bolder brass then begins to play and action practically explodes with several gloriously heroic renditions of the X-Men theme soaring on sublimely full orchestra, all the way to a thunderously victorious finish.
Tense action continues into “Invasion”, with dramatic thuds of drums crashing against blasting brass for the track’s first two minutes before the music quietens into synthy ambience for its remaining runtime. Wondrous electronic atmosphere is the focus of “A Different Empire”, with brass then elevating a newly hopeful tone in “Galactic Peace” until it begins to fade towards the end, and a quietly forlorn rendition of Magneto’s theme plays serenely on strings. Some rather ethereal string plucks then open “She’s Back”, hinting toward a theme that then quickly rises to dramatic orchestral thunder with vocals and soaring percussion as Storm triumphantly returns. “We Need You” then soars with similar emphasis in its opening seconds as Magneto’s theme flares on grandiose vocals, strings and drums, with the mood darkening somewhat afterward as horror-like hissing vocals and angry brass descend before a final resolute blast of Erik’s theme on noble brass then sounds – and a wackily ’90s flourish of the X-Men theme on electronics swiftly ends the cue. Intense percussive action then follows for “Break In”, echoing instrumentation for Rogue as dramatic twangs of an electric guitar and intense chanting vocals also join the fray. Five minute setpiece “Fight For Yourself” then simmers solemnly with morose string plucks and eerily echoing electronics to start before building up into powerful string, vocal and brassy emphasis.
Frantic renditions of the animated X-Men theme surge anxiously on brass in action track “Bonding Time” opposite aggressively chanting vocals and drums, before hints toward Magneto’s theme on similarly moody vocals and tense brass sound through “Rising Up”. Slower, more malevolent strings and choir then open “Inevitable Vision”, with the tone turning more angry and tense in the back half as low-pitched electronics and drums build up into dark action territory. This dramatic intensity continues with the vocals now at deafening fever pitch through “Bad Odds” before hope starts to re-emerge in the subsequent “X” as surges of increasingly grandiose synth and similarly imposing drums take the forefront in the track’s first half before the music fades into gentler electronic serenity in its final moments. A rather forlorn piano rendition of the X-Men theme then echoes solemnly in the opening of “You Hurt Me” alongside plinking percussive and very ’90s synth, with a similarly downtrodden rendition of Magneto’s theme following on strings. The piano continues into the start of “Rising Waters”, with an absolutely spectacular playthrough of Magneto’s theme then rapidly following on triumphantly heroic brass, drums and chanting choir – it’s loudest and indeed boldest appearance on the album. To finish up, an aptly and very enjoyably epic final rendition of the X-Men theme thunders on full orchestra through “X-Men End Credits”.
Overall, the Newton Brothers’ soundtrack for X-Men ’97 is a fantastic throwback to the wackily electronic animated series scores of the ’90s, while also still being refreshingly modern in its orchestral style. The iconic theme for the original series – composed by Ron Wasserman – returns in incredible form through opening and Standout Cue “X-Men ’97 Theme”, keeping the same triumphantly epic structure while also feeling reinvigorated and modernised (again, much like the album overall). The theme then appears in similarly heroic style throughout the entire score, with highlights being action setpieces like the thunderous “Busy Bees” and the frenetic “Bonding Time” as well as the brand new and similarly triumphant “X-Men End Credits”. The return of the iconic older motif is not the only thing the Newton Brothers have to offer here either, as standing grandly alongside it is a new theme for Storm, heard in fist-pumpingly epic style on chanting vocals, dramatic percussion and fiery brass in “Give Them The Forecast”. There are also new motifs for the Summers Family (“The Summers”), Nightcrawler (“Nightcrawler”) and Rogue (“Break In”), but the absolute highlight for me has to be the one for Magneto; this stirringly noble theme flares in increasingly heroic flourish all across the score, first appearing in the Standout “Magnus The Savior” before rising in grandiosity through “We Need You” and “Rising Waters”.
All-in, it’s a phenomenal soundtrack for the first season, and I can’t wait to hear season 2!
Score: 8/10
Standout Cues: X-Men ’97 Theme, Magnus The Savior, Rising Waters
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