Power of Darkness is a demonstration album by the music production group Two Steps from Hell, originally released exclusively to clients in the motion picture and advertising industry for the purpose of licensing in March 2010. It was uniquely distributed on a flash drive, rather than a physical disc.[1] It includes 32 principal tracks,[3] split into two themed volumes.[2] Additionally, it contains a large collection of alternative versions; therefore, in total, Power of Darkness consists of 77 tracks. They are composed by Thomas J. Bergersen and Nick Phoenix.[2] The album was recorded in Prague, Czech Republic (by Capellen Orchestra), in Los Angeles, and in Utah, United States.[1] The cover artwork and the sleeve are designed by Steven R. Gilmore.[4]

Power Of Darkness
Demo album by
ReleasedMarch 10, 2010[1]
Length1:24:42 (main tracks)[2]
3:24:46 (incl. alternatives)

Some tracks were made available to the general public on subsequent commercial albums, starting with Invincible (2010).[5] In 2017, the album was finally released to the public, albeit modified to consist of only tracks which had still not yet been made commercially available and under the title of Power of Darkness Anthology.[6]

Track listing

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Below is the original track listing.

The public re-issue of the album as Power of Darkness Anthology was released on 1 August 2017. Its listing is different to the original – it is most of the remaining tracks which, until its release, were still unavailable for public purchase and arranged in a different order; tracks which had already been released to the public on other commercial albums were excluded. Therefore, Power of Darkness Anthology features 40 tracks and has a total length of 01:39:57.[6] The main versions of "The Soul That Must Awaken" and "Ghost Brigades" were omitted from the release as the group were "just not happy" with them, opting to including their alternatives instead.[7]

Volume 1 – "Epic drama"[8]

Main tracks

No.TitleWriter(s)Later released on the public album:Length
1."Power of Darkness"Thomas J. BergersenHalloween2:50
2."Fire Nation"Nick PhoenixInvincible3:00
3."Black Blade"Thomas J. BergersenInvincible3:06
4."Master of Shadows"Nick PhoenixInvincible3:05
5."What's Happening To Me"Thomas J. BergersenArchangel3:09
6."Atlas"Thomas J. BergersenClassics Volume Two2:34
7."Earth Rising"Thomas J. BergersenClassics Volume One3:21
8."The Soul That Must Awaken"Nick Phoenix3:18
9."Eternal Honor"Nick PhoenixPower of Darkness Anthology2:16
10."Gravitation"Thomas J. BergersenPower of Darkness Anthology1:55
11."Bed of Nails"Nick PhoenixPower of Darkness Anthology1:34
12."Invincible"Thomas J. BergersenInvincible2:52
13."The Ancients"Nick PhoenixClassics Volume One2:55
14."Dark Harbor"Nick PhoenixArchangel3:15
15."Jump!"Thomas J. BergersenClassics Volume One4:37
16."The Cross of Antiquan"Nick PhoenixClassics Volume One2:28
17."Ten Feet Tall"Nick PhoenixPower of Darkness Anthology1:59
18."Ironwing"Nick PhoenixArchangel2:38
Alternative mixes
All tracks (except for nos. 7, 8, 10, 15, 16 and 18) were later released on the public version of the album, Power of Darkness Anthology.
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Power of Darkness (No Choir)"Thomas J. Bergersen2:49
2."Fire Nation (No Choir)"Nick Phoenix3:03
3."Fire Nation (Alternative Version)"Nick Phoenix0:33
4."Black Blade (No Choir)"Thomas J. Bergersen3:05
5."Master of Shadows (No Choir)"Nick Phoenix3:04
6."Master of Shadows (Alternative Version)"Nick Phoenix3:04
7."Master of Shadows (Alternative Version 2)"Nick Phoenix3:04
8."Master of Shadows (Alternative Version 3)"Nick Phoenix3:04
9."What's Happening To Me (No Choir)"Thomas J. Bergersen3:09
10."What's Happening To Me (Alternative Version)"Thomas J. Bergersen3:10
11."Atlas (No Choir)"Thomas J. Bergersen2:33
12."Atlas (Alternative Version)"Thomas J. Bergersen2:33
13."Earth Rising (No Choir)"Thomas J. Bergersen3:21
14."The Soul That Must Awaken (No Choir)"Nick Phoenix3:18
15."The Soul That Must Awaken (Alternative Version)"Nick Phoenix3:20
16."The Soul That Must Awaken (Alternative Version 2)"Nick Phoenix3:19
17."Eternal Honor (No Choir)"Nick Phoenix2:15
18."Eternal Honor (Alternative Version)"Nick Phoenix2:15
19."Invincible (No Choir)"Thomas J. Bergersen2:50
20."The Ancients (No Choir)"Nick Phoenix2:56
21."Dark Harbor (No Choir)"Nick Phoenix3:16
22."The Cross of Antiquan (No Choir)"Nick Phoenix2:29
23."Ten Feet Tall (No Choir)"Nick Phoenix2:00
24."Ironwing (No Choir)"Nick Phoenix2:37

Volume 2 – "Action"[9]

Main tracks

No.TitleWriter(s)Later released on the public album:Length
1."Fight The Machine"Nick PhoenixPower of Darkness Anthology2:04
2."Ironheart"Thomas J. BergersenClassics Volume One3:03
3."Velocitron"Nick PhoenixInvincible2:32
4."Titan Dune"Thomas J. BergersenArchangel2:11
5."Argovia"Nick PhoenixPower of Darkness Anthology2:27
6."He Who Brings The Night"Thomas J. BergersenArchangel3:09
7."Norwegian Pirate"Thomas J. BergersenArchangel3:00
8."Decimator"Thomas J. BergersenHalloween1:54
9."Kronos"Nick PhoenixPower of Darkness Anthology2:29
10."Magnan Imus"Nick PhoenixClassics Volume One2:47
11."Freefall"Thomas J. BergersenPower of Darkness Anthology2:04
12."Clockmen"Nick PhoenixPower of Darkness Anthology2:03
13."Ghost Brigades"Nick Phoenix2:33
14."72 Virgins"Thomas J. BergersenHalloween1:50
Alternative mixes
All tracks (except for nos. 5, 6, 8, 9, 13, 14, 16 and 17) were later released on the public version of the album, Power of Darkness Anthology.
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Ironheart (No Choir)"Thomas J. Bergersen2:03
2."Velocitron (No Choir)""Nick Phoenix2:32
3."Titan Dune (No Choir)"Thomas J. Bergersen2:10
4."Argovia (No Choir)"Nick Phoenix2:27
5."Argovia (No Choir Alternative Version)"Nick Phoenix2:29
6."Argovia (Alternative Version)"Nick Phoenix2:29
7."He Who Brings The Night (No Choir)"Thomas J. Bergersen3:09
8."He Who Brings The Night (No Choir Alternative Version)"Thomas J. Bergersen3:08
9."He Who Brings The Night (Alternative Version)"Thomas J. Bergersen3:09
10."Norwegian Pirate (No Choir)"Thomas J. Bergersen3:00
11."Decimator (No Choir)"Thomas J. Bergersen1:54
12."Kronos (No Choir)"Nick Phoenix2:29
13."Kronos (No Choir Alternative Version)"Nick Phoenix2:47
14."Kronos (Alternative Version)"Nick Phoenix2:47
15."Magnan Imus (No Choir)"Nick Phoenix2:46
16."Magnan Imus (No Choir Alternative Version)"Nick Phoenix2:47
17."Magnan Imus (Alternative Version)"Nick Phoenix2:47
18."Freefall (No Choir)"Thomas J. Bergersen2:04
19."Clockmen (No Choir)"Nick Phoenix2:03
20."Ghost Brigades (No Choir)"Nick Phoenix2:34
21."72 Virgins (No Choir)"Thomas J. Bergersen1:49

Critical reception

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IFMCA-associated reviews website, MundoBSO,[10] rated it seven out of ten stars.[11]

Trailer Music News called it "probably the most epic album by Two Steps From Hell" at the time.[3]

Charts

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As a demo, the album was not available for public purchase and therefore unable to enter any charts.

However, the re-release of the album as Power of Darkness Anthology in 2017 was a public offering and did chart as follows:

Chart (2017) Peak
position
US Classical Albums (Billboard)[12] 10
US Classical Crossover Albums (Billboard)[13] 9

Use in media

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Two Steps From Hell's music has been featured frequently in trailers and commercials.

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Two Steps From Hell music news". twostepsfromhell.com. 17 June 2010. Archived from the original on 17 June 2010. Retrieved 10 April 2022.
  2. ^ a b c "Power of Darkness". trailermusic.info. Retrieved 10 April 2022.
  3. ^ a b "Two Steps From Hell: Power of Darkness". Trailer Music News. 10 June 2010. Retrieved 10 April 2022.
  4. ^ "Two Steps From Hell FAQ". twostepsfromhell.com. 12 June 2010. Archived from the original on 12 June 2010. Retrieved 12 June 2010. Who does the artwork for Two Steps From Hell? The artist is Steven Gilmore www.sgrdesign.com
  5. ^ "Invincible: Two Steps From Hell's First Public Release". Trailer Music News. 8 April 2010. Retrieved 10 April 2022.
  6. ^ a b "Power of Darkness Anthology", Amazon Music, retrieved 2017-09-26
  7. ^ "And now to announce the next anthology series that everyone has been waiting for - Power of Darkness Anthology". Two Steps from Hell. Archived from the original on 10 April 2022. Retrieved 10 April 2022.
  8. ^ Power of Darkness: Volume 1. Extreme Music.
  9. ^ Power Of Darkness: Volume 2. Extreme Music.
  10. ^ "Members". IFMCA: International Film Music Critics Association. Retrieved 9 April 2022.
  11. ^ "Power of Darkness". MundoBSO. Retrieved 9 April 2022.
  12. ^ "TWO STEPS FROM HELL CHART HISTORY". billboard.com. Archived from the original on May 12, 2018.
  13. ^ "Classical Albums - Week of August 19, 2017". Billboard. 19 August 2017. Retrieved 9 April 2022.
  14. ^ "2012: Official Trailer 3". YouTube. Retrieved 2012-08-03.
  15. ^ "Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time - Theatrical Trailer". Facebook. Retrieved 2012-08-07.
  16. ^ "Bulletstorm - Launch Trailer". Facebook. Retrieved 2012-08-07.
  17. ^ "Game Of Thrones - "Iron Throne" Trailer". Facebook. Retrieved 2012-08-07.
  18. ^ "Smuggler Character Progression". swtheoldrepublic. Retrieved 2012-08-07.
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