Track Listing
Gun Barrel Matera Message From an Old Friend Hello, my name is Billie Eilish and I am an old friend of yours. I was expecting something different when I saw you here in Matera. What I found instead was a square escape with someone being here not what I expected. What have you done? Shouldn’t we get to know each other first? Cuba has already left for MI6 and it’s good to have you back. Lovely to see you again home. Norway has also come back to us and they are gearing up for their next attack. Gearing up for their next attack is something that we will have to take care of soon. The factory is where we are going to meet our end, but there is still time for us to survive. There is no time to die – Billie Eilish
Hans Zimmer has been responsible for composing some of the most memorable film soundtracks of our generation. From Gladiator and Interstellar through to Inception and The Lion King, it seems only fitting then to bring Zimmer in to compose Daniel Craig’s swansong as 007. And boy does he do a good job with this one! Zimmer’s music is dark, suspenseful, and full of energy, making his work perfect for a movie like this.
Zimmer’s work with The Lion King’s remake and Bond’s history are present right from the get-go on Zimmer’s latest album. The opening track, “Gun Barrel,” uses those brass instruments perfectly to modernize the conventional Bond theme. This also works nicely to lead into one of the album’s best tracks, “Message From an Old Friend.”
This high-octane, exhilarating track is the third longest on the album but easily an orchestral stand-out. Zimmer injects a sense of urgency to the chase sequence that this track accompanies in the movie. There are beautifully placed deep breath moments, especially around the 4 minute mark as the instruments are slowly stripped out, before eventually bringing everything back to give a nod toward that Gun Barrel sting.
The opening track of Square Escape is a fast-paced, adrenaline-pumping ride that quickly establishes the tone of the album. The drums are strong and provide a foundation for the rest of the music. This track is important in bridging the gap between the more somber moments that follow and the excitement and energy that precedes them.
The opening track on the album, “Cuba Chase,” is a unique and ingenious mix of Cuban music with the familiar theme for Bond. Zimmer manages to blend the two together seamlessly, and it works perfectly. However, it took some doing to get it right - especially given that there are numerous brass instruments playing at once.
The album’s title track is a song about a man who is chasing after a dream, and the themes of tension and anxiety are seen throughout the album.
The album has a few elements that are unique to it, such as the minor key tones and low rumbling bass drums. Additionally, the brass instruments are very noticeable and add to the overall sound.
The album eventually builds to the emotionally charged “Finale Ascent” which does a great job capturing the emotion felt at the end of the movie during its climax. The use of pianos as the dominant instrument is a clever one too, and most certainly deliberate too. Not only does it help to bring everything back down from the brass-dominated soundtrack, it also serves as a stepping stone for Billie Eilish’s “No Time To Die”.
This is the main theme to No Time To Die and as far as theme songs go, this one’s a decent addition to the Bond universe. While Chris Cornell’s “You Know My Name” remains this reviewer’s favourite, Eilish delivers a decent track with some goosebump-inducing high points with her hanging on different notes, showcasing her vocal range and rounding everything out beautifully.
No Time To Die is a film that may not be the best of the year, but its soundtrack is certainly one of the best. Hans Zimmer has done an excellent job with this one, delivering some adrenaline-soaked action pieces, somber, heartfelt moments and plenty of nods to his previous compositional pieces too. No Time To Die’s soundtrack is a brilliant piece of work and well worth a listen, regardless of if you’ve watched the film or not.
