March 2013 link
June 2013 link
October 2013 link
June 2014 link
” The eight studio album under the Two Steps from Hell banner to be made public by project composers NP and TB the aptly named “Battlecry” offers 26 new movie trailer , war documentary and death defying gymnastic routine-ready of expertly crafted, epically resented audio melodrama. As per usual most of the tracks are instrumental but guest vocalist Merethe Soltvedt and Felicia Farerre lend their voices to a pair of songs.” – Excerpt from their website.
Listing
1.None Shall Live
2.Stormkeeper
3.Victory
4. Wolf King
5. Rise Above
6. Spellcaster
7.Never Back Down
8.Red Tower
9.Cannon In D Minor
10.Blackout
11.Stronger Faster Braver
12.Battleborne
13.Last of the Light
14.Ultraground
15.Release Me
16.Freedom Ship
17.Amaria
18.Flight of the Silverbird
19.Outpost
20.Unforgiven
21.Across the Blood Water
22.No Honor In Blood
23.Sariel
24.Star Sky
25.Battleborne – Instrumental
26.Star Sky – Instrumental
…and I am in love with it…. a masterpiece, an amazing collection of dramatic, epic, and emotional tracks beautifully composed. If you love big orchestras and you are in for a big treat here. Thomas Bergersen brings love and beauty with his music. He is a musical genius and one of the best composers at this time as he shows again with this new album.
I have to admit that I listened a lot to the 30 seconds you get on Amazon on each track, before it was released officially. Already then I fell in love with some tracks straight away and could hardly wait for the release day!
The album is like a musical journey full of love and excitement. Every single track a stunning piece of music in its own way. A mix of calm, epicness, musical beauty and full of love. The orchestra is amazing and I can only imagine it was a real joy to perform for this album, singing in the choir and playing in the orchestra.
Thomas’ follow up album to “Illusions” – “Sun” took him almost 4 years to complete and features his best, most heartfelt, virtuosic and powerful music to date. It features a giant orchestra ( over 200 musicians contributed) choir, Bulgarian choir, famous world class instrumentalists and a wide range of styles, emotions and colours. Recorded around the world, with contributing artists form all over the world including Bulgaria, Romania, Norway, USA, Brazil, Mexico, Germany and Italy. “Sun” is without doubt Thomas Bergersen’s finest work to date , and the natural continiuation of “Illusions”. The Orchestra, world famous “Capellen Orchestra” was recorded in Czech Republic and conducted by Maestro Petr Pololanik. Using dynamic overdubbing (shuffling players around between each take) we achieved an absolutely massive string orchestra sound (168 payers in total, with 20 all stars first chair violinists), and a humongous brass ensemble sets the tone if the album. Tracks such as Final Frontier feature 18 French Horns in unison!
This is what is says on the Two Steps from Hell web site, and I totally agree with it.
Track Listing
The album starts off with a short, slow and calm track ‘Before time’ very melodic with a great cello followed by the first real dramatic track ‘Creation of Earth’. ‘Sun’ already known to us before, it was on the you tube channel featuring Thomas’s girlfriend Cassandra, a romantic track with much orchestral beauty. ‘Cry’ one of my very favourites is melodic and I so love the full orchestra in this piece, I cannot get enough of it. ‘Our Destiny’ another dramatic track, amazing piano piece at the beginning, the choir, the fast and furious strings gives it this classical feeling like a piece of Beethoven, very monumental and then it goes to pure epicness, an amazing piece to combine both types, ending in pure classical delight. ‘NewLife’ brings a calm, soft, emotional side to life, a musical gem whereas ‘Final Frontier’ is again an epic track . It features in the Trailer of the film “Interstellar” Sci-Fi Movie. ‘Starchild’ is epic and fast and I could imagine it being music for a trailer again as you can imagine stories going along wiht it, it let’s your imagination run wild. ‘Colours of Love’ – the title reminds me of ‘The Magic of Love’ ( from the album Archangel) which is pure musical love. The ‘Colours of love’ is the longest track of the album with 6.29 minutes and again you can feel the love and happiness. It is a very happy and cheerful track which could go on for even longer for me. ‘Cassandra’ was dedicated to Thomas’s girlfriend, composed and shared some time ago it is a beautiful love song. With ‘Always mine’ the love story continues, a melodic, happy and loving track, a great one to walk to as it gives you a real swing into your steps. ‘Dragonland’ and ‘Fearless’ are real epic tracks again great trailer music for me. ‘Empire of Angels’ starts slowly building up to the bigger orchestra with beautiful violin highlights then ending quietly again. ‘Two hearts’ an emotional track with chimes, a beautiful voice and violins, full of love. The album ends with ‘In Paradisum’ a slow and calm track with choir (more like his ‘Hymn to life’). For me it could be the background for a meditation session.
Some tracks give you goosebumps, some make you smile, some make you sing or hum to them, some inspire, they make you happy, they make you feel the love and they let you gasp because of their musical awesomeness.
They certainly will be on my journeys along with his other albums whilst driving, walking and relaxing.
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Their official you tube channel
Two Steps from Hell Website
Thomas Bergersen Website
The album can be bought here:
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/sun/id914202953
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Sun-Thomas-Bergersen/dp/B00MXBIPQK
CDbaby: http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/thomasbergersen2
has released its fifth public album with the appropriate title
It is a miracle what beautiful music they produce!
“Miracles is the counterpart to our epic releases, focusing primarily on our emotional, beautiful and tender songs.”
– 2 Steps from Hell quote
A beautiful, soft and gentle mix of known and new tracks; beautifully crafted melodies, romantic with amazing voices like Merethe Soltvedt . It is a more dreamy, emotional album a step away from the blasting epic trailer music with amazing orchestral arrangements. Some invite for romantic evenings, some are ideal for meditating. Definitely another musical gem from Thomas Bergersen – Two steps from Hell.
Thank you Thomas you never disappoint your fans!
You have excelled again in music making!
Eyes closing, I love you forever, Science and Lost in Las Vegas are from the album ‘Illumina’. Lux Aeterna, Sungazer, Eria, Colour the Sky,Forever in my dreams and Northern Pastures are from ‘Dreams and Imagination’ which were not released to the public. There are also tracks from other albums which you can see below. All are composed by Thomas Bergersen.
It also features “Heart” which was composed for the victims of the Earthquake in Japan 2011, all proceeds went to the Red Cross.
The great track ‘Lost in Las Vegas’ was written some years ago. Thomas was a DJ before he got into orchestral music. Back then he produced a lot of trance music.
My favourite track is Compass, no Forever in my Dreams, no Sun Gazer, no Eria, no….. well I can’t decide…. They are all amazing.
Here is the listing of Miracles:
1. Miracles – later released in Amaria
2. Eria – from Dreams & Imaginations
3. Compass – later released in Amaria
4. Sun Gazer – from Dreams & Imaginations
5. Eyes closing – Illumina
6. Fountain of Life – from Nemesis
7. Stay – later released in Amaria
8 Men of honour – from Two steps from Heaven
9. My freedom – from Nero
10. Perfect Love – from Dreams & Imaginations
11. Lux Aeterna – from Dreams & Imaginations
12. I love you forever – Illumina
13. Colour the sky – from Dreams & Imaginations
14. Forever in my Dreams – from Dreams & Imaginations
15. Breath of Cold Air – from Volume One
16. Heart – from Two steps from Heaven
17. Wind Queen – from Volume One
18. Northern Pastures – from Dreams & Imaginations
19. Science – Illumina
20. Lost in Las Vegas – Illumina
21. Compass Bonus track with vocals
Tracks 4, 5, 9, 10,and 17 are new versions
taken from Two steps of Hell’s facebook
Some are on their You tube channel to listen to.
Little taster here with Eria
You can download Miracles from
Download Miracles:
iTunes: http://tiny.cc/bh3tgx
Amazon: http://tiny.cc/4ytxgx
Google play: http://goo.gl/K0p4EG
CDbaby: http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/twostepsfromhell18
You all know how much I love them, so here another wonderful track called
“Undying Love”
You know that I am a huge fan of Two Steps from Hell. They rock! I so love their music!
Their first concert was on 14th June 2013 in California in the Disney Hall as I informed you in a previous post.
I was sad I couldn’t go, but hoped that it will be a success so they might do more.
…..and it was……. I gathered all the information about their concert, as I am so excited.
At rehearsal, with Thomas Bergersen, Nick Phoenix and Merethe Solvedt:
Thomas Bergersen says:
Wow!! What a night! And what an AUDIENCE! You were amazing!!! We were blown away by the response, and absolutely honored to perform for all of you. Thanks soooo much to all of our fans for coming! Now the question is not if we will do another one, but when and where…
Merethe Solvedt says:
It was SUCH an honor being part of this concert. The audience blew us away over and over!! Thank you!
♥ ♥ ♥
Here another reaction – taken from facebook site!
Last night I saw two “clients” that originally started out as internet friends, and became actual friends put on a concert at a little place called Disney Hall. It was humbling seeing two truly talented people be backed by millennia of talent on stage, and in turn seeing them humbled by the response from their fans who flew from around the world to see them. I was also at once proud for them, proud to know them, and proud to work with them. There probably were less than 10 of us that started out as the core group of orchestral sample/Midi-mockupers over a decade or so ago. To see so many grow into such amazing places, and still feel as much a part of it as ever, was healing. Two steps from hell, has enough heat to burn away the darkest clouds. Thanks Thomas Bergersen and Nick Phoenix for a great show, and being such great friends!
TWO LEGENDS
P.S.: The concert was AMAZING. Goosebumps all over, and to see the entire Trailer Music community come together like that cannot be described in words. — with Thomas Bergersen and Jo Blankenburg at The Walt Disney Concert Hall, Los Angeles.
And last but not least a great article already from the concert to read!
A taster here :
As you know my favourite group is
The news is that they are giving their first concert, Worldpremiere…. hurray….. fantastic…..epic…. their first concert ever. Isn’t that absolutely fantastic! I am so excited!
but….. it is in America, so I can’t go….. I am still excited 🙂
Tickets are for sale already here.
There is hope for another one in Europe… or even maybe London, I won’t give up hope.
I can’t wait to read the reviews. This is so exciting!
I wish them a totally sold out house and a fantastic atmosphere at the concert.
If this is a success there might be more concerts.
A little taster of their music for my friends:
Casablanca a brilliant track!
I was listening to Skyworld, the new album from Two Steps from Hell all last week, I love it and I decided to write a review for my music friends and probably others will enjoy reading and listening too. I have been waiting patiently for the album to come out to buy here in the UK, and the wait was well worth it, it does not disappoint. It is a mind-blowing album, in each track you can hear the passion of the 2 composers. This time there are not only orchestral epic tracks but also vocal tracks unusual for the duo. More individuality certainly , this actually makes the album even more outstanding for me. The duo goes from strength to strength.
Below is a full listing of all 22 tracks, 11 of which Thomas Bergersen composed, the other 11 are compositions from Nick Phoenix. 21 tracks are brand new, only one track “Dark Ages” is from an older album “Nemesis” which was not for the public though.
Each of the two have their own style, still all 22 tracks are worth mentioning as great compositions. It is a fantastic album and every single track has it’s own individuality and beauty. It includes totally epic tracks with full orchestras and choir as we know them from Two Steps from Hell, slower emotional tracks and vocal tracks. There is certainly something for everybody to enjoy. This music makes me very happy and I can dream and be in a different world.
It is good to hear Thomas’s and Nick’s voice in some tracks, also Thomas is playing the violin, electric violin and guitar in other tracks. This makes this album extra special to me. Both are so very gifted and talented composers.
It is fantastic to hear beautiful virtuoso Tina Guo again, playing her amazing cello in “Titan Dream” , “Big sky” , “Back to earth” and “The end is the beginning”.
Also we can hear the voice of well known Merethe Soltvedt in “All the kings horses”, “For the Win” and “Breathe”.
“All is hell that ends well” from Thomas is a brilliant track full of trailermusic traits, until the ending where it goes over to dubstep. I am not a dubstep fan and I do not therefore like the ending. This is though my personal opinion.
“El Dorado” is more Epic Dorado a great epic song in the typical style of Thomas, powerful full orchestra, great tune, simply fantastic in this category belongs “Skyworld” too.
“For the Win”, “Blizzard”, “Breathe”, “Queen of Crows”, Realm of Power”, “Winterspell” – Oh, it is hard to find a favourite.
“Sun & moon” is a slower wonderful, heartwarming, romantic song. The lyrics are as usual a made up language and can mean anything you want, surely it is to do with love!
“Back to Earth” with Nick singing, a powerful slow, soft song. The other slower tracks are “Blackheart”, “Breathe” “Ocean Kingdom” and “Sun & Moon”.
“All the kings horses” is really very similar to pure classical music, with its’ busy strings reminding me of Vivaldi’ s fast violins in the Four Seasons.
1. All is hell that ends well
2. Titan dream
3. Skyworld
4. El Dorado
5. The end is the beginning
6. All the kings horses
7. Realm of power
8. Winterspell
9. Blackheart
10. Juggernauut
11. Dark Ages
12. Our last hope
13. Icarus
14. For the win
15. Sun & Moon
16. Big Sky
17. Starfleet
18. Queen of Crows
19. Blizzard
20. Breathe
21. Back to the Earth
22. Ocean kingdom
It is available to buy on i-tunes and Amazon.
All in all a fantastic epic album – a must have for all Two Steps from Hell fans. Thank you to Thomas and Nick and all who were involved in making this album for us, the public and your biggest fans.
Finally today I could buy the new album SKYWORLD from Two Steps from Hell.
I have so far listened to it on you tube and there is one more song I totally love and is one of my favourites.
It is a beautiful romantic song called “Sun & Moon”. The female vocalist is Carina Istre and the male vocalist is no other than my favourite composer himself Thomas Bergersen. The words are a made up language, as in some of his other songs.
So close your eyes and let the music flow through you.
A feast for your ears.
