Erudite reviews from dedicated Tomb Raider music fan: Dexter

Tomb Raider music fan Dexter Void has written thorough reviews on the music to Tomb Raider (1996) through Anniversary (2007). The Tumblr author claims to have little musical knowledge, and instead takes a fresh instinctual stance to explain their passion for the music of Tomb Raider:

"...this will remain the classic it always has done. It is so pure in its approach and naivety. Little did the creators know what they would unleash upon the undiscerning world. This, in turn is the definitive Tomb Raider experience. The music certainly lends itself to propelling it to that level of superiority." - Dexter Void, on Nathan McCree's original Tomb Raider

Dexter has included personalised and reordered track names for each title's base material reviewed. Articles for Tomb Raider: Underworld & Tomb Raider (2013) have yet to be published, but read each full review currently available at the links below:

Tomb Raider | Tomb Raider II | Tomb Raider III (Nathan McCree)
The Last Revelation | Chronicles | The Angel of Darkness (Peter Connelly)
Legend | Anniversary (Troels Folmann)

Musical dissertation by Pieter Smal analyses "Unifying elements in the Tomb Raider Trilogy game soundtracks"

Composer Pieter Smal today publishes his academic music dissertation. The highly detailed work focuses on the "Unifying Elements in the Tomb Raider Trilogy game soundtracks"; examining the music of Legend, Anniversary and Underworld composed by Colin O'Malley & Troels Folmann.

"The Tomb Raider game trilogy was developed between 2006 and 2008 by the gaming company Crystal Dynamics. It consists of three games: Tomb Raider: Legend, Tomb Raider: Anniversary and Tomb Raider: Underworld. Crystal Dynamics hired Troels Folmann to compose the soundtracks for Legend and Anniversary. He remained as music supervisor for Underworld while the bulk of the soundtrack was composed by Colin O'Malley.

The aim of this study is to examine the use of unifying elements in the Tomb Raider Trilogy game soundtracks. These elements may unite the soundtracks in particular or the trilogy as a collective.

Perhaps the most unifying element is the Tomb Raider motif. This figure is heard sequentially and appears as thematic transformations in Underworld. Other themes heard are the main themes for Legend and Underworld." - Pieter Smal

The dissertation was completed for Smal's Bachelor of Music at the University of Pretoria in South Africa. A copy of the dissertation may be read by Academia.edu users, or by contacting Pieter Smal. All of the appended tracks can be streamed via our Community Developed Discography.

New author introduction: Liszt

Hello.

My name is Pieter Smal (aka Liszt). I am a pianist and composer studying at the University of Pretoria (South Africa). In September 2010 I decided to start an analysis of the soundtracks to Tomb Raider: Legend, Anniversary and Underworld. One year later and I am far from finished.

With the help of various interviews with Troels Folmann and Colin O'Malley, I am analyzing the use of motifs, themes, theme transformations (especially in Underworld) and unifying elements in orchestration, rhythm and other stylistic elements.

In due time I shall blog more about relevant information, and hopefully share the finished product with you online. Feel free to contact me or ask a few questions in the comments section below.

Update: Smal's work ultimately assembled into a scholarly dissertation, published in 2013.