This CD contains the soundtrack to the book titled “Rage 46 - The Trial of the Gods” by Susan Ville. A CD for the book is quite a new idea. I had not encountered a soundtrack for a book before. I imagine it is challenging, as a book primarily engages the imagination and evokes different images for each reader.
The book describes an encounter. Two people meet in the present, unaware that they need each other and must trust one another, even though both had previously decided never to trust again. Susan, the narrator, wants to forget her cruel memories, and Rage, the main character of the novel, feels different from the people around him; and he perceives a deep fear of himself.
So much for the brief summary of the plot.
Various bands and projects have contributed songs to the soundtrack of the book. It is arranged so that a song was composed for each chapter in the book, which then musically underscores that chapter.
Without knowing the novel, it is naturally somewhat difficult to describe the soundtrack, as the music may reference elements that are missing without the book.
The 16 songs offer a wide spectrum of metal, rock (opera), hip hop, and classical crossover. The music manages to paint images in some songs that evoke apocalyptic themes, dark, dubious beings, but also the human skepticism and distrust that we have towards other people. Fragile ballads that are also found on the CD will appeal to those who enjoy the dark side of power; however, they are very epic in nature and thus somewhat colorless.
Overall, the CD is quite stylistically diverse but also relatively colorless, almost kitschy at times. Fans of smooth metal rock songs and ballads will likely enjoy the soundtrack. I cannot say how the book is. Thus, it is an interesting idea to link the book and the soundtrack together. No more, but also no less.
