Suicide Squad is now in its third week of release. The summer’s most controversial anti-hero film has broken box office records and divided audiences across the globe. David Ayer’s shot at the DCEU is a wild ride of action, suspense and drama and the music of the film perfectly sets the tone of this crazy, violent thrill ride. The movie may be filled to the brim with pop music from the likes of Skrillex, Eminem and Creedence Clearwater Revival, but the original score by composer Steven Price benefits the tone of the film better than any needle drop ever could. Here are our favorite picks from the new album.
Task Force X
I couldn’t be happier that this track opens the album. It sets the tone perfectly, first giving us a taste of the movie’s emotional core on strings. Then, it turns into a riff-heavy pounder, evoking Tom Morello’s work on the Pacific Rim soundtrack. Fans and critics have described Suicide Squad as a much more heroic film than Batman v Superman, and Steven Price’s work here supports that argument. This is the sound of bad people saving the world. It’s a much better piece of music than the movie it was composed for. [Travis Newton]
Arkham Asylum
This track hints at a much more cohesive backstory for Harley Quinn that may have been cut from for time. It’s beautiful musical storytelling, with flow and Elfman-esque choral work. It does more to tell us about Harley and her strange romance with Joker than the film’s whirlwind first act ever could. There’s a sweet sadness and whimsy in this track that contrasts sharply with the film’s tone. [Travis Newton]
Brother Our Time Has Come
The music that plays during most of the scenes involving Enchantress ebbs and flows in a very dark and brooding manner. The tone of this track sets the stage for most of what we hear during the film anytime the Squad goes up against the film’s big bad. There are a lot of similarities here to the work of Graeme Revell, Eric Serra and definitely Danny Elfman. It’s a solid villain theme that evokes the emotional struggle of the character as well as her relationship with Rick Flag. [Andrew Hawkins]
A Killer App
This is one of the many tracks that utilize elements of Task Force X and the cues that play during scenes involving Amanda Waller and Deadshot. The crackling noises that open the composition inspire a sense of unease until the familiar strings and synths come in and set the tone for more conflict and distrust inside the team. Also, this track includes the music that plays when Slipknot becomes an example for the rest of the Squad which is easily one of the most abrupt and shocking moments in the film. [Andrew Hawkins]
You Die We Die
This action cue holds off on the good stuff for the first two minutes and 40 seconds, but when the bigger thematic work kicks in, it’s a total blast. So much of today’s action music is too reliant on drums, real and electronic, to create momentum. Here, Price makes a point of having melody and strong chord progressions as the driving force of his music for action. [Travis Newton]
Harley and Joker
That sadness at Harley’s center shows up again in this track, but now it’s even more tainted with Joker’s sinister presence. The Elfman guns are out here too, with big choral stuff and heroic horns. There’s a hint of storybook quality to his track as well — think Edward Scissorhands. It’s great work, and I won’t hesitate to call it my favorite track on the album. [Travis Newton]
The Squad
The Squad is a track that really digs into the backgrounds of each character. It covers the troubled past of Deadshot, Harley Quinn, Diablo and Rick Flag and helps set the mood for what the Suicide Squad has to do to overcome their conflict and save the world. It’s heroic and lamenting in parts and then the whole movement swells into a rock and roll crescendo before ending on a more serious note. [Andrew Hawkins]
Are We Friends or Are We Foes
Here’s the culmination of it all, where every one of Price’s influences comes together. This track has those Tom Morello riffs, that big Elfman sound, big rock drums, and that uniquely Suicide Squad attitude. If you have to listen to one track on the album, this is a great sampling of what Price brought to the table. [Travis Newton]
I thought I’d Killed You
The main overarching story of Suicide Squad ends with this music. Steven Price takes all of the main themes of the characters that are not action driven and melds them into a somber yet triumphant piece that contains elements of the whole score. The female vocals mixed with the horns, piano and strings all mix together to end the film on a fitting note after the final battle has ended. [Andrew Hawkins]
Introducing Diablo and Croc
This is a bonus track that should have been right up there with the Harley and Joker and Deadshot themes. Killer Croc wasn’t nearly featured enough in the film, but his theme music is absolutely one of the best parts of the score. From the deep monster growls that open the track to the guitar and violin movements for Diablo, this is great music for two characters that nearly stole the show. [Andrew Hawkins]
Suicide Squad (Original Motion Picture Score) by Steven Price is available now for digital download at iTunes and Amazon.
