Released 20 years ago
Volume One
Two Steps from Hell · 2006
188 min · 99 tracks · soundtrack
Epic orchestral arrangements blend with powerful cinematic motifs to create an exhilarating soundscape of adventure and drama.
Top tracks — play these first
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Super Strength — This track embodies the album's grandiose style, showcasing powerful brass and driving percussion that set a tone of sheer determination and heroism.
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The Summoning — With its haunting melodies and rich orchestration, this piece captures the album's dramatic essence while illustrating Two Steps from Hell's ability to evoke strong emotions.
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Battle of Dark vs. Light — This composition effectively contrasts light and dark themes with its shifting dynamics, symbolizing the epic struggles often depicted in cinematic storytelling.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
InstrumentalThe album establishes a strong foundation in cinematic music with effective orchestration and thematic development.
What we noticed
- The album features a series of orchestral tracks that often repeat themes with variations, creating a sense of continuity.
- Many tracks are structured around climactic builds, with crescendos leading to powerful resolutions.
- Several pieces include both orchestral and choral elements, enhancing the epic quality of the sound.
- The track lengths vary significantly, with some pieces exceeding five minutes, allowing for expansive development.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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7/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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5/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Significant within its genre. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- dynamic journey with orchestral interludes
- short bursts of thrilling excitement
- epic soundscapes for adventures
- background soundtrack for creativity
- wave-like pacing with dramatic peaks
Maybe skip if you
- prefer concise single tracks
- seek instant gratification
Where this album fits
- Career context
- Released on February 14, 2006, 'Volume One' marked Two Steps from Hell's debut album, establishing them as prominent figures in the trailer music genre. At this point, the duo was beginning to gain recognition for their dynamic compositions, which would later be featured in various film trailers and media.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Audiomachine· Ludovico Einaudi· Hans Zimmer
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
Disc 1
- 1 Super Strength 2:01
- 2 Super Strength 2 2:01
- 3 Super Strength (orchestral) 2:01
- 4 Two Steps From Hell 1:35
- 5 Two Steps From Hell (orchestral) 1:33
- 6 From the Abyss 2:21
- 7 From the Abyss (orchestral) 2:21
- 8 Bigger Than Kong 1:56
- 9 The Legend of Aramis 2:24
- 10 The Summoning 1:51
- 11 The Summoning (orchestral) 1:50
- 12 Battle of Dark vs. Light 3:54
- 13 Born of Ash 2:36
- 14 Born of Ash (orchestral) 2:36
- 15 Interceptors Duel 1:47
- 16 North Country 1:40
- 17 North Country (orchestral) 1:40
- 18 Rise of Evil 1:56
- 19 Rise of Evil (orchestral) 1:57
- 20 Bloodlust 1:46
- 21 Bloodlust (orchestral) 1:45
- 22 Spirit of Death 1:17
- 23 Spirit of Death (orchestral) 1:19
- 24 The Descending Storm 2:07
- 25 The Descending Storm (orchestral) 2:09
- 26 Necromantics 1:39
- 27 Souls Feast 0:29
- 28 Over the Pass 1:52
- 29 Over the Pass (orchestral) 1:53
- 30 City of Malice 1:14
- 31 Birth of Power 1:12
- 32 Birth of Power (orchestral) 1:09
- 33 Dominius 1:02
- 34 Dominius (orchestral) 1:02
- 35 Dawn of War 2:19
Disc 2
- 1 Black Winged Messenger 2:07
- 2 Lord of Chaos 1:42
- 3 Unfolding Armies 1:42
- 4 Unfolding Armies (orchestral) 1:42
- 5 Extinction Level Event 1:25
- 6 Extinction Level Event (orchestral) 1:24
- 7 Peacekeepers 1:00
- 8 Peacekeepers (orchestral) 1:00
- 9 Temple of Damnation 2:06
- 10 Temple of Damnation (orchestral) 2:08
- 11 Cursed! 0:46
- 12 Front Line 1:30
- 13 Front Line (orchestral) 1:29
- 14 Catch 666 2:29
- 15 Horrors and Enchantments 3:11
- 16 Evil Supremacy 0:59
- 17 Exodus 1:36
- 18 Exodus (orchestral) 1:36
- 19 Crimson Death 3:57
- 20 Fistfulla Drums 1:04
- 21 Fatespinner Drums 1:12
- 22 Tsunamis Risismus 0:52
- 23 Two Steps From Heaven 1:35
- 24 Fireflies 1:02
- 25 Across Continents 1:49
- 26 Return to Base 2:32
- 27 Captain Universe 1:53
- 28 Protector of the Skies 1:54
- 29 Battle at Sea 1:59
- 30 Chronicles of a Hero 3:29
- 31 Adventures of Enchantment 4:28
Disc 3
- 1 Breath of Cold Air 4:28
- 2 Life of a Legend 1:40
- 3 Secrets in Blood 2:11
- 4 Secrets in Blood (orchestral) 2:13
- 5 Prophecies 1:10
- 6 Prophecies (orchestral) 1:11
- 7 Season of Fate 1:42
- 8 Undying Faith 3:44
- 9 Straw Man 1:07
- 10 Guns and Oil 4:20
- 11 Trafficking 2:32
- 12 Trafficking (orchestral) 2:33
- 13 Eternal Conflict 1:15
- 14 Eternal Conflict 2 1:18
- 15 Eternal Conflict (orchestral) 1:15
- 16 Vast Conspiracy 1:39
- 17 Wind Queen 2:22
- 18 Child's Play 1:46
- 19 Department of Deception 1:30
- 20 Path Less Travelled 1:47
- 21 Path Less Travelled (orchestral) 1:47
- 22 The Truth Unravels 2:00
- 23 Serbian Suns 1:57
- 24 Famous Year 2:06
- 25 Lost in Asia 1:31
- 26 Heavenly Lights 1:49
- 27 Aftershock 1:39
- 28 Aftershock (orchestral) 1:40
- 29 Playing With Fire 1:25
- 30 Black Flowers 2:00
- 31 Black Flowers (orchestral) 2:01
- 32 Dire Crisis 2:07
- 33 Eternal Love 2:17
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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