Music is a powerful medium. Capable of stirring up long-forgotten memories and evoking powerful emotion in the listener, music can reduce even the burliest of blokes into blubbering, crumpled heaps. And who says that us guys are afraid to show their sensitive side? Poppycock. Of course, video games are no exception to this rule, and as often is the case, a stellar soundtrack can greatly accentuate the on-screen antics, elevating even the most perfunctory scene to hard-hitting greatness.
In a continued celebration of some of gaming’s ear-pleasing aural accomplishments, PSU presents yet another instalment in our on-going Classic Tracks series. This time around, we’re strapping on our Soviet strikes and revisiting the classic rocker Hell March from Command and Conquer: Red Alert.
Track: Hell March
Album: Command and Conquer: Red Alert – The Music
Composer(s): Frank Klepacki
C&C: Red Alert’s Hell March has become as synonymous with the lauded RTS as much as Tesla Coils and Tanks, and is hands-down one of the most recognisable tracks of the entire series to date. Of course, that’s no mean feat as it is, considering Red Alert boasts one of the finest soundtracks of its time, with composer Frank Klepachi’s unmistakable charm oozing from every pore. But Hell March stands amongst the pack, fusing military sound bites with roaring hard rock guitars and a thumping beat.
In fact, a testament to the song’s popularity and iconic status can be seen in the fact it’s been remade twice, appearing in both Red Alert 2 and 3. Serving as the game’s theme tune, Hell March was originally conceived as the accompanying track for the Brotherhood of Nod for Command and Conquer: Covert Operations. However, after Westwood’s Brett Sperry caught wind of the track, he convinced Klepachi to save the track for Red Alert, which at the time was in development as the next C&C game. Just as well, eh? Check it out below.
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