MASK

I wasn't sure how many stars to give because it turns out I missed teh fine-print. This is *not* the score as performed by an orchestria. This is, instead, performed on a synthesizer. Personally I dislike it (and I do like some synthesized classices) and just tossed it.

For people who *know* the above fact, I have no idea how to rate this.

Howard Shore's original soundtrack recordings for L.O.T.R. are my favourite music releases. This simply doesn't do them justice. The music appears to have been performed on a keyboard and most of the tracks are in the wrong order with several left out. Most tracks that are included just consist of part of the particular song being repeated; Into The West appears twice- presumably to use up space. The music itself is performed poorly- they make lots of mistakes with the tempo, etc. The singing, while bearable, is also pretty bad. I have a feeling they just wanted to take advantage of the popularity of the scores and make some easy money. Please don't be fooled into thinking you are going to get the soundtrack cheaper. I would strongly reccomend that you get the Complete Recordings boxsets if you really want to experience the true magnificence of these scores.

I picked up these CDs, thinking that it was the orchestral soundtrack to LOTR. Not exactly.

Upon listening to the contents, I noted that the recording sounded distinctly different from the orchestral music of the films. After closer inspection of the package, I see now that it is "performed by Mask."

I have a feeling that "Mask" is basically one person armed with a battery of synthesizers. Listening to the CDs, I have this mental image of Yanni, outfitted in chain mail, giving a one-man keyboard concert from the highest level of Minas Tirith....

Then again, Howard Shore's music is so strong that the CD's are not an entirely disagreeable listening experience. I find myself actually liking them at times, not for the synthesizer timbre, which is sometimes painful, but because they actually sometimes closely evoke the orchestral score.

But really, if you want the LOTR soundtrack, get the orchestral recording, not this!

There should be a lawsuit against the makers of this cd for charging $[...] for "Howard Shore's Lord of the Rings Trilogy". In reality it sounds like a 13 year old made it in his basement with an old mixing board and an i-mac. The songs don't even resemble the real music. Please do yourself a favor and look elsewhere for great Tolkien music.

As an added note. I finally threw these CDs away, rather than donate/sell them, because I didn't want some poor soul at the Goodwill or Half-Price Books to waste time and money with them as I did.

I got tricked too. I was all excited about getting all three and didn't really check into it before I bought. Buyer beware. Wish I had read the reviews! At least it was only 16.00 that I paid.

A GREAT MELODIC METAL ALBUM,power,virtuosity,catchy songs; superb production with some 'hollywood' intros and very good musicians,I JUST LOVE IT,this album is in the top 20(2002) of metalrules.com;buy it

This album is SOLID. It has great straight forward rythm and mid tempo vocals that can get slightly high at fleeting moments. Obviously it has great musicianship and it has a solid list of songs. It sounds like a classic metal album to a point, but has the typical power metal anthem thing going. A must for any power metal or even a classic metal fan, and to anyone who likes bands like Iron Maiden, Iced Earth, and Hammerfall.

Dushan Petrossi's Iron Mask...
this album kicks ass, It's of corse a concept album
from first track to the last I was completely in epic metal heaven, first class vocals by 2 different singers, and Killer guitar riffs and leads by Dushan, highlights are track 7. "Alexander The Great" wow a masterpiece and track 8. This dude is what David Coverdale should be doing instead of "cock rock"