Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (Zimmer, Junkie XL, 2016)

     In 2013, Hans Zimmer began scoring a new chapter of superhero films with "Man of Steel".  In that score he was assisted by Junkie XL, and in the sequel, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, JXL "graduated" to a co-composer credit.  Considering that Zimmer has recently stated that he's "done" with superhero films, it's likely that Junkie XL will continue on alone with the "Justice League" films, which should be interesting (though apparently the themes of the characters in these next two films have already been provided by Zimmer).

     In any case, this film functions sometimes as an introductory Batman film, and so most of the score revolves around his new themes (motifs).  Wonder Woman also gets some exciting thematic material in this film as well, and it will be interesting to see if they are developed in the upcoming solo Wonder Woman film.  So, amazingly, this film contains a full complement of at least 20 identifiable themes/motifs, 10 from Man of Steel and 10 new ones (there are a couple additional motivic chord figures which re-occur as well, but 20 is enough for now, I think).

Themes returning from Man of Steel (and described further in that analysis post):

Superman Theme A, B, C ("Flight", plus darker variation)
Clark Theme
Earth Motif
Krypton Harmony
Zod Theme A, B
Lara Theme
Codex theme (used as an ostinato and reused here as a Batman battle theme)

New Themes:

• Batman:
• Batman Motif: 6 beat repeated accent on one note, often percussion only.  Sometimes, when used melodically, the 6 beat motif is repeated on different notes (also used as 5-beat cadence).
• Vigilante Motif: haunting 3 note motif (E'-B-D#').
• Boyhood Tragedy Theme: fateful descending lines/chords in 2-beat notes and in two layers.
• Lex Luthor:
• Lex Theme A: ironic piano and strings motif.
• Lex Theme B: variation of Theme A involving prepared piano, more percussive elements (only used once in The Red Capes Are Coming, but very evocative).
• Lex Theme C: staccato, "gypsy-like" violin theme, probably referring to Lex's mania.
• Wonder Woman:
• Diana Prince Theme: heroic rising figure slightly reminiscent of Danny Elfman's 1989 Batman Motif, developed.
• Wonder Woman Theme/Rhythm: ornamented, wailing version of Diana Prince Theme, featured on electric cello (sounding like guitar) and often paired with a signature drum rhythm (derived from Man of Steel's Mission Rhythm).
• Wonder Woman Motif: rising 2-note signature figure on cello, based on WW theme, somewhat moaning/howling.
• Wonder Woman Ostinato: rapid staccato string-like texture/ostinato, probably digitally created/sped up.

     The listing below is in film sequence order (different from the CD order).  I noted most of the obvious elements of each cue, but the score is totally awash in various "ambient textures" (I must have typed that phrase dozens of times by now!) and I gave up on describing all of these textures after awhile.  Having said that, I did enjoy that aspect of this score, especially when wedded to the screen image.

     This is probably true for most modern action films, but one of the things I lamented about this score's usage in the film itself is that so much of the score's "precision" is buried in the sound editing (ie - overbearing sound effects).  For example, if one goes to the theater and manages to listen to "Fight Night" with noise-cancelling earphones along with the matching scene, one can hear/see that it's amazingly well scored to picture (or the film was edited to score).  Another thing worth mentioning here is that, considering this film has not yet been released on home video, it's highly likely that I may have mixed up/missed a few themes...

Trk	Dur	Title	Film Sequence/Themes
1	3:47	Beautiful Lie	0:00: 2 x 6-beat Batman Motif as slams, with final 13th slam (unused). 0:15: Logos, procession to the Wayne mausoleum: Batman Motif and Vigilante Motif in piano with Batman Motif string pluck pulses. 1:09: Flashbacks (intercut) of Young Bruce and his parents being held up by a gunman: descending Boyhood Tragedy theme on piano with Batman Motif string pulses continuing. 1:55: Young Bruce runs into the cemetery forest and falls into a pit/Flashback: Young Bruce's father is shot: Boyhood Tragedy theme slower 2nd layer enters in strings. 2:39: Flashback: Young Bruce's mother is killed: boy vocal picks up Boyhood Tragedy 2nd layer. 3:10: Flashback: Young Bruce's father whispers his last word, "Martha": Vigilante Motif in distant tones over Batman Motif.
2	4:35	Their War Here	0:00: Young Bruce is surrounded by a swarm of bats and then levitates towards the light with them: Wonder Woman ostinato joined by rising Diana Prince theme over Batman Motif pulses, building with choir and ending in boys voice, ambient textures.  "In the dream, they took me to the light.  A beautiful lie." 1:10: Adult Bruce Wayne races towards his office building in Metropolis during Superman's battle with General Zod: drum rhythm, brass/choir fanfare into Zod theme (developed with and without drums/brass/strings) ending with choir and rising strings. 2:48: Bruce gets out of his car and sees Zod's mothership/gravity weapon: quiet texture, tremolo strings/swell. 3:15: Bruce begins running.  Superman and Zod fly into the Wayne building and it is destroyed, killing Bruce's friend Jack inside: Zod theme  variation on low strings, sad strings/choir, falling string figures, ending with string/choir cadence (based on Boyhood Tragedy slow layer).
14	4:26	Blood Of My Blood	0:00: Lois Lane attempts to interview a shady general in Africa: treated ethnic wind figure, various ominous strings/textures/impact rhythms. 1:32: The photographer ("Jimmy Olsen") is revealed to be CIA and Lois is taken prisoner.  Lex's security forces (led by "KGBeast") begin shooting the general's guards, creating a massacre.  Something in the sky approaches: compound string rhythm (variation of Wonder Woman rhythm), intercut with suspense textures, slams with choir/string rhythm. 3:03: Superman arrives and dispatches the general holding Lois at gunpoint.  At a Senate hearing, an African woman implicates Superman as the cause of the general's dead guards.  Senator Finch holds Superman responsible: ambient textures, Krypton harmony with Superman theme A/choral textures.
15	3:54	Vigilante	0:00: Back in Metropolis, Lois discovers a bullet lodged in her journal.  She takes a bath: low bass throbbing/high strings. 1:01: Gotham police investigate a human trafficker and find signs of the Batman: ambient textures, etc.  1:55: Batman escapes from the police.  The police find the trafficker Bat-branded (Bruce Wayne greets Alfred in the Batcave): ambient "noise" textures with distorted layers and reverbed impacts, building to a 5-beat Batman Motif cadence, then suddenly quiet and building to full Batman Motif.
6	4:03	New Rules	0:00: Alfred questions Batman's branding of his latest prey: high Vigilante Motif on distant trumpet over low Batman Motif in timpani, Vigilante Motif on low strings, etc. "We're criminals, Alfred.  We've always been criminals." 1:12: Clark Kent sees a TV report of the Batman's vigilantism (alt version): high Vigilante Motif on trumpet joined by rising Diana Prince theme in strings and Batman Motif pulses. 2:05: (Unused) slightly louder re-track of T15 (Vigilante, from 1:55: ambient "noise" textures with distorted layers and reverbed impacts, building to a 5-beat Batman Motif cadence, then suddenly quiet and building to full Batman Motif.)
3	3:32	The Red Capes Are Coming	0:00: Lex Luthor gains access to Zod's crashed spaceship: ambient drone to "ironic" Lex theme A on treated piano/strings. 0:57: Lex obtains the body of General Zod.  He proceeds to shave off Zod's fingerprints: Lex theme B on 2 prepared pianos/strings. 1:53: Senator Finch tells Lex that she is not going to help him obtain a Kryptonite meteor: low chromatic rising piano figure/high texture becoming strings, falling piano. 3:08: Lex points out his painting of heavenly angels and devils: Lex theme C as a dancing violin figure.
16	3:28	May I Help You, Mr. Wayne?	0:00: At Lex's party, Diana Prince and Bruce Wayne briefly lock eyes: Wonder Woman motif on electric cello/high Diana Prince theme string tremoli. 0:20: Bruce makes his way to Lex's data warehouse.  Mercy, Lex's assistant, asks him what he's doing: Diana Prince motif in high tremolo strings continue, joined by subtle Wonder Woman electronic ostinato and Diana Prince theme on celli, ambient textures, Batman Motif in timpani. 1:49: While Bruce, Clark and Lex converse, Alfred informs Bruce that the data transfer of Lex's files is complete: ambient textures/strings/brass/synth with hint of Diana Prince theme in high strings, etc. 2:36: Bruce sees that Diana has taken his data copy.  She loses him: Wonder Woman motif, Wonder Woman ostinato and Diana Prince theme in celli, ending in Krypton harmony cadence.
4	4:02	Day Of The Dead	0:00: After Lex's explosion, Clark expresses his feeling of futility to Lois.  He tells Lois that this is not his world and takes off (takes place before "They Were Hunters"): ambient textures, Earth motif, Clark theme on piano. 1:08: Superman rescues a girl from a burning building during a Day of the Dead festival: Krypton harmony, Superman theme A (w guitar gliss), theme B. 1:57: Montage of Superfeats and talking heads discussing how the existence of Superman affects mankind: Superman theme C variation on low strings, joined by subtle col legno strings, becoming a troubled harmony variation.
5	3:59	Must There Be A Superman?	0:00: In a post-apocalyptic dream, Batman surveys a sandy landscape: dissonant choir (Ligeti-like), slams, reverbed impacts. 0:50: Batman enters a truck expecting to find a Kryptonite meteor, but instead finds a trap.  Batman fights soldiers wearing "S" insignia (as well as apparent Apokolips Parademons swarming from the sky), and is overpowered: noise textures/glissandi, pause then more accents/sound design, choirs/rhythmic element with irregular tempo. 2:33: Batman wakes up in chains and is threatened by Superman: ambient sound design, siren-like, Krypton harmony in a very dissonant variation. "She was my world...and you took her from me." 3:31: Back in the "real world", Bruce is visited by the Flash, who gives him a warning from the future: low hum with high oscillating noise/rapid bass pulse. "You have to find us!"
7	4:36	Do You Bleed?	0:00: The Batmobile pursues a truck carrying Lex's Kryptonite meteor: ambient noise textures, Batman Motif drums with strings/choir, simplified Zod drum rhythm intercut with Batman Motif accents. 1:20: Batmobile chase continues: previous elements joined by synth riffs/brass accents/string swells, ominous building action figures, descending Codex ostinato theme in strings. 2:32: Batmobile chase continues: new syncopated rhythm enters, Batman Motif chords with choir, Codex synth/string/choir riffs, ambient textures, Codex figure/Batman Motif. 3:48: Batman's pursuit is halted when Superman appears.  The Batmobile crashes and Superman opens it up like a can of Pringles.  The two heroes have words: Batman Motif with drums/choir, developed, ambient noise textures.
17	2:46	They Were Hunters	0:00: (unused Bruce scene?) enigmatic repeating piano figure. 0:28: Clark tells his father that he misses him: ambient textures, joined by Earth motif, Clark theme on piano. 1:10: Alfred visits Bruce in the Wayne mausoleum and they discuss the Wayne legacy: ambient textures continue joined by Vigilante Motif in distant trumpets with Batman Motif on timpani, foreboding variations with piano/low textures.
8	4:25	Problems Up Here	0:00: Lois is captured by KGBeast and brought to Lex at the top of his building: Lex theme A, with coda figure. 0:48: Lex explains to Superman why he hates him so much: low textures joined by poignant, brief cello figure over slow, low Superman theme A, quiet piano/string accent figure over tremolo strings, rising cello/string figures. 2:53: Lex shows Superman pictures of Martha Kent as his prisoner and tells him that he must kill Batman in 1 hour or his mother will be killed: dark ambient textures with female lullaby figure (from Man of Steel's "Goodbye My Son"), cello (Zod theme B poignant variation) over ethereal choral/string texture. "And now, 'God' bends to MY will.  Mother of God, will you look at the time!"
9	8:31	Black And Blue	0:00: After surviving Batman's first wave of attacks, Superman pushes Batman through a building and drops him on the Bat-signal lamp: ambient textures/strings, subtle Batman Motif rhythmic quote, rising figures. 1:01: Batman hits Superman with a Kryptonite gas grenade.  He begins pummeling Superman: swirling string cluster texture, Batman Motif drum accents with Vigilante Motif in brass, developed with drums and strings. 2:25: The Kryptonite gas wears off and Superman briefly regains the upper hand:  strings/choir harmonies from Superman theme B ending harmonies, synth riffs into Batman/Vigilante Motif, Zod theme, rising string/choir. 3:47: Batman hits him with another gas grenade.  Batman then smashes a kitchen sink on Superman's head: ambient textures with stuttering accents, choir/electronic drums/synth into Batman Motif/choir. 4:46: Eventually he tosses Superman down to the ground floor, and drags Superman to the room with the Kryptonite-tipped spear: falling string figure into ambient textures, joined by Vigilante Motif on trumpet, choir with drum rhythm, ambient textures to Batman Motif choir accents, string rhythm with poignant rising upper melody. 6:34: Batman threatens Superman with the Kryptonite spear: fateful held strings and brass chords/timpani (Superman B ending harmony). 7:10: Superman asks Batman to save his mother.  Bruce flashes back to his parents' murder/funeral/falling into the Batcave.  When Lois tells him about Superman's mother, he stops: strings become Boyhood Tragedy theme in piano and boys voice, then 2nd layer (boys voice) is joined by strings (reprise of Beautiful Lie).
18	4:20	Fight Night	0:00: The Batwing approaches Marthe Kent's location and engages artillery.  Alfred takes control of the Batwing as Batman leaps into the building through a window, one floor below Lex's goons: ambient textures into pounding Zod theme slams/rhythms intercut with soaring strings, Batman Motif cadence, Codex theme low string ostinato developed, Batman Motif accent with choir. 1:06: Gunmen prepare for Batman: ambient screeching noises 1:28: Batman arrives and does his thing: Batman Motif, synth riff/slams/brass, Zod rhythm, developed with Batman Motif rhythm and Codex ostinato, etc. 2:35: (fight scene continues): Vigilante Motif joins in low brass, etc...general organized, rhythmic chaos. 3:24: Gunmen in another room wait for Batman.  Batman comes out of the wall and eventually saves Martha Kent from KGBeast: quiet held textures, brass/drums accents.
10	4:01	Tuesday	0:00: Superman confronts Lex at the Kryptonian scoutship, but Lex presents the birth of the Kryptonian mutation Doomsday: low textures, string cluster gliss, ambient pulses/tremoli, falling electronic tone, low string pulses/tremoli. 1:50: Superman engages Doomsday.  After demolishing Superman's statue, Doomsday heads to Lexcorp Tower.  Diana Prince sees news footage of the attack: brass accents with rising string figure, building string figure, falling brass accent figure with low pulses/string tremoli, brass rhythm, low piano accents, building ambient textures/string accents, ending on low strong tremoli.
11	5:47	Is She With You?	0:00: After Batman lures Doomsday to Gotham, his life is saved by the sudden appearance of Wonder Woman.  Superman appears and gives her the lowdown.  Meanwhile, Lois attempts to retrieve the Kryptonite spear: wailing Wonder Woman theme in electric guitar/electric cello over pounding drums, tremolo violins double drum rhythm and cello develops guitar melody, bass and drums on rhythm only, wailing electric guitar/cello joins rhythm with theme fragment, rising ambient textures. 1:48:  Superman and Wonder Woman engage Doomsday in a massive battle: Wonder Woman theme on electric guitar/cello with drum accents only, noble brass fanfare with subtle guitar melody, developed on urgent rising strings/brass. 2:47: Lois is trapped underwater while trying to retrieve the spear: quieter Wonder Woman rhythm on rising strings/synth/choir. 3:09: Superman and Doomsday have an eyebeam duel, but Superman disengages to save Lois.  He then goes after the spear: Wonder Woman rhythm developed with string ornaments and choir accents, Krypton harmony, Lara theme fragment on aching violins. 4:11: Batman distracts Doomsday: Wonder Woman rhythm returns on drums/rising strings/Vigilante Motif low brass. 4:41: Superman gets the spear but is weakened by its Kryptonite tip.  Wonder Woman chops off Doomsday's hand, but it regenerates with a spear-like bone tusk: ominous "tolling bell" figure over held strings/choir, building.
12	6:24	This Is My World	0:00: Clark tells Lois that he loves her: Clark theme on piano over quiet ambient textures, developed on strings. 1:07: Superman stabs Doomsday with the Kryptonite spear.  Doomsday stabs Superman with his "bone-hand": poignant strings with piano/brass/choir leading to rising fanfare. 1:56: Superman dies from his injuries.  Batman lowers his body to Lois: mournful choral layers with soloist, ambient harmonies. 4:14: Luther gets a haircut in jail, Perry White publishes a newspaper with the headline "SUPERMAN DEAD": strings/synth/piano on Clark theme. 5:03: At Clark's wake in Smallville, Martha Kent gives Lois an engagement ring Clark was going to give her: Clark theme finishes on piano/ambient textures, Krypton harmony joined by rising strings.
13	14:04	Men Are Still Good (The Batman Suite)	0:00: Bruce talks with Diana at Clark's funeral.  He tells her that men are still good, that they can do better: Krypton harmony, low ambient textures, Superman theme B with strings/vocal. 1:10: Bruce hints to Diana that something dire is coming.  Batman appears in Lex's cell.  Luther tells Batman that something is coming: low Batman Motif pulses/ambient textures, reverbed impact noises (reprise of ambient "knightmare" textures from Must There Be a Superman?). 2:36: Batman punches the wall and departs, as Lex rants on: Batman Motif on slam/choir accents, Lex theme C on echoed violins, developed with lower textures. "The bell's already been rung, and they've heard it, out in the dark among the stars.  They know the god is dead." 3:29: At Clark's grave, Lois drops dirt on his coffin.  A few grains mysteriously rise into the air: Earth motif, Clark theme on piano. Batman Suite (unused in film): 4:31: Low textures/gothic string theme (intro to Diana Prince theme). 5:18: Diana Prince theme enters on horns. 5:49: Vigilante Motif joins on trumpets, celli theme resumes. 6:32: String harmony changes (less forbidding), (Vigilante Motif variation). 7:13: Low strings/trumpet, tremolo strings, Batman Motif slams, then in quiet timpani, bass. 8:41: Cello drone joined by Vigilante Motif, Batman Motif in timpani (then piano), joined by Vigilante Motif in celli, bass. 10:18: Slow rising Diana Prince theme in bass, strings, joined by brass. 11:16: High ambient textures with accelerating rhythm, Batman Motif . 11:56: Diana Prince theme enters in brass with staccato string accents (Batman Motif slams continue). 13:03: Rhythmic choir accents join, tutti version of Batman Motif .

     I tend not to write "reviews" on this blog because one man's poison is another man's pleasure, but I have to admit, I really hated this score the very first time I heard it - in fact I couldn't get past the first half dozen tracks and simply moved on to the next CD in my pile.  But after seeing the film and putting in a fair amount of time studying how the score works with the film, I now consider it pretty great.  Doing this also forced me to analyse Man of Steel (which I was not originally planning to do) and I realized that I was wrong about that one too, back in 2013...  As a Zimmer skeptic, I may have reevaluate his Dark Knight trilogy now (which I currently think is a bit boring!).

Links
Hans Zimmer
Junkie XL
Zimmer/JXL Interview (Collider)
Zimmer/JXL Interview (DC Entertainment)
Zimmer/JXL Interview (Consequence of Sound)
Review on Movie Music UK

Mad Max: Fury Road (Junkie XL, 2015)

     This relatively recent score initially comes across as almost wall-to-wall drums and slams (and it's certainly full of that kind of thing), but it also has some excellent thematic and motivic material, as well as some deceptively well-crafted string writing.  Except for the strings and brass, the composer Tom Holkenborg, also known as Junkie XL, played most of the instruments himself on drums, synthesizer and other instruments.  On a few cues the guitar was performed by Nick Zinner from the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. Junkie XL is well-known for producing and remixing several rock bands, but in recent years has been concentrating on film scoring. 

     As mentioned, there are some great musical signatures here, and some of the most obvious ones include the below:

• Immortan Joe motif: 4-note rising scale, ominous and slow
• Furiosa motif: soaring, noble voice derived from full Furiosa theme
• Survive motif: 1 to 3 very low bowed notes, kind of a "Max" fanfare
• Falling Staccato motif: always used to ramp up the action, and usually in violins, or celli

     The soaring Furiosa motif is basically derived from the more complex Furiosa theme, featured in its complete form in strings in the cue "Many Mothers".  Other string-dominated cues (giving a sometimes welcome respite from the 'pounding' material) include "We Are Not Things", "Redemption", and "My Name Is Max".  However, the most immediately-striking aspect of the score is the over-the-top rhythms, and to this end several different kinds of acoustic, ethnic and electronic percussion kits were employed throughout.

     The score was released as a "Regular Edition" and a "Deluxe Edition", with the latter having more than 2 hours of music.  The music from the film is for the most part well-represented by the score releases, but some tracks are edited or mixed slightly differently than how they appear in the final cut.  It's seems that the Deluxe Edition is essentially taken from the actual film score, even though the official track titles on the CD tend to obscure that fact ("extended", "bonus", etc...).  The "Regular Edition" seems to be primarily shortened edits and alternates of the film versions (with a couple of exceptions). 

     At one point director George Miller hinted at a "silent movie" edition of the film, and if that means an isolated score, that would be great.  If anybody has corrections please leave a comment.  In the tables below, the tracks are film versions unless specified otherwise as alternates or unused.  In the Deluxe Edition titles I left off the often-used label "Extended" since that is just misleading, in my opinion.

Deluxe Edition

Trk	Dur	Title	Film Sequence, Music Elements
1	1:40	Survive	(Unused) Opening sequence, Max hears Immortan Joe's men in the distance and flees. Isolated low string accents in pairs or triplets (Survive motif) over cluster drones, rumbling, alarm textures, Survive motif accents.
2	3:29	Escape	0:00: (Unused) Max is dragged back to the Citadel and prepared as a "blood bag": ambient textures with sudden flashes of metallic roars and taiko drum rolls, echoed guitar with scraping texture/rising cluster. 1:17: Max is about to be branded and breaks free.  He tries to escape through a grating but is pulled back down: slam begins low echo rhythm/synth pulses joined by Falling Staccato strings motif/slams/synth pulses. 2:10: Max fights back and runs through a corridor.  Dodging hallucinations, he ends up at the edge of a high cliff wall: low string rhythms, echoed guitar, Falling Staccato in strings, guitar accents, rising string cluster, pause. 2:54: Max tries to leap onto a chain hook but is swarmed by War Boys.  Main Title logo: slams/low string rhythm/Falling Staccato, ending with Survive motif slams.
3	8:58	Immortan’s Citadel	0:00: (unused) Furiosa's Rig is prepared for a trip: low textures/atmospherics, taiko drum rhythm.  1:00: Immortan Joe prepares to address the crowd: rising Immortan Joe motif in low strings, joined by brass/strings. 1:58: (unused) Joe makes a rallying speech.  The crowd awaits the water: held textures, clanking rhythm/ambient textures, swell. 2:55: Joe opens the water gates, and the crowd rushes forward: cello leads rising strings, epic figure with choir (Furiosa thematic material). 3:44: The water valves are shut off: low ominous textures. 4:12: Furiosa begins her supply run: low pulsed rhythm with atmospherics, briefly intercut by brass/string Immortan Joe motif. 5:18: Max is seen hanging in a cage inside the War Boys' compound.  Furiosa gets some distance from the Citadel: low figure, synth pulses. 6:07: Furiosa takes a detour.  Joe's son Rictus samples some "mother's milk", as Joe is informed of Furiosa's rebellion: uptempo metallic groove, fading out and replaced by electronically-treated cello rhythm, rising Immortan Joe figure returns. 7:31: Joe rushes to check on his Wives and opens a vault to find them gone: uptempo drum rhythm with strings, whipping textures, atmospherics.
4	3:40	Blood Bag	0:00: A pursuit party is started and a War Boy, Nux, wants to join the party, despite objections from his partner: rumbling texture leads to fast taiko drum rhythm, soon becoming more subtle and intercut with various rising Immortan Joe motifs and louder rhythmic passages. "If I'm gonna die, I'm gonna die historic on the Fury Road." 2:01: Nux drives out with Max strapped to the Lancer's perch.  Doof is seen doing his guitar thing: rhythm briefly changes, then resumes previous groove, soon adding electric guitar riffs, noise rhythms/grooves.
5	1:26	Buzzards Arrive	0:00: Russian Buzzards sight and pursue Furiosa's convoy: atmospheric textures (with voices) joined by drum rolls/rhythm. 0:54: Furiosa's convoy moves to outrun them.  One support vehicle is disabled in a sand trap: drums become dominant, then ending drum cadence.
6	4:08	Spikey Cars	0:00: Nux and the War Boys (and a lancer-mounted Max) close in on the Buzzards from behind, and attack with grenade spears and harpoons: ambient textures/slams, drum rhythms with added falling timpani riff based on Falling Staccato, drums joined by Falling Staccato motif. 1:09: One of the War Boys is speared, but gets back up and prepares to sacrifice himself: string texture with rising Immortan Joe motif (with added brass). 1:39: The War Boy throws himself on a Buzzard car and explodes.  More War Boy/Buzzard vehicular carnage ensues: drum/slam rhythm resumes and develops, joined by intermittent atmospheric elements and Falling Staccato motif. 3:21: The War Boys destroy the last spikey Buzzard: Survive motif slams, new "Rising Staccato" figure, ending in irregular accents, ambient textures/metal percussion.
7	6:16	Storm Is Coming	0:00: With the Buzzards dispatched, the rest of Immortan Joe's forces pursue the Rig into a sand storm: ambient textures, slow foreboding groove based on low brass/string accents, soon joined by heavy drum rhythm. 1:20: Quieter rhythm surfaces, then big rhythm resumes with string rhythm. 2:06: The Rig enters the storm: fast groove with distorted guitar leading to sirens/rhythmic atmospheric textures. 2:52: Rhythm returns, string rhythm leads back to slower drums/brass groove. 3:38: Max and Nux sight the Rig inside the storm (as well as exploding cars): Furiosa motif in brass, strings, choir. "Oh, what a day!  What a lovely day!" 4:35: Immortan Joe motif, rhythm resumes with add'l fast percussion/strings/brass accents and rising figures. 5:23: Nux attempts to blow up his car, but Furiosa knocks it out of her path: swirling string figure joined by choir/brass.
8	1:43	We Are Not Things	(Unused, probably for a deleted scene of the Wives discussing their next move) Poignant string theme.
9	6:26	Water	0:00: Max approaches the Rig, with Nux attached to his hand: low Survive motif accents, bass pulses. 0:35: Max sees the girls: high textures, low accents. 1:26: Max holds Furiosa and the Wives at gunpoint, and asks for water: soft isolated string accents, hissing texture, dark swells/alarms. 3:07: Furiosa and the Wives fight Max and Nux: drum solo based on syncopated accents (added metallic percussion). 4:54: Max gains the upper hand, and commandeers the Rig: quiet rising textures, low accents, high tones, Survive motif in low accents, etc.
10	6:32	The Rig	(Alternate extended version with add'l material in beginning and middle, film version is on Regular Edition release.) 0:00: Max holds the girls at gunpoint as Furiosa drives the Rig: dissonant held strings, joined by recurring Survive motif on low strings, building with added dissonant string/brass swells. 2:59: Accented rhythm on strings/low brass enter, joined by string clusters, syncopated slams, dissonant brass. 4:04: Max repairs the fuel pod and the Rig gains speed: foreboding rhythm slowly surfaces on bass synth, brass swells joined by foreboding accented rhythm. 5:21: Nux attacks Furiosa but is eventually kicked off the Rig: accents with strident strings/brass, foreboding accented rhythm resumes with Survive motif and low brass sometimes surfacing, etc.
11	2:49	Into the Canyon	0:00: Furiosa drives towards a canyon as the Rock Rider motorcycle gang prepares to receive her.  She tells Max to prepare to run if things go south: atmospheric textures with low pulses and a twangy element, sometimes joined by low strings/brass Survive motif with ambient textures. 1:43: The Rig enters the canyon: ambient textures/low pulses/roaring, "breathy" pulses/twangs.
12	5:52	Brothers In Arms	0:00: Max helps Furiosa escape from the Rock Rider bike gang.  The gang set off explosives blocking Immortan Joe's pursuit: electric guitar-driven rock, slams leading to electronic noise textures, Falling Staccato motif, electronic drums. 1:04: Immortan Joe goes over the canyon blockage with the People Eater and the Bullet Farmer eventually following: drum rhythm eventually joined by bass synth riffs and intercut with slams, guitar noises, various string rhythms, building with noise/synth ornaments. 3:01: Rock Riders jump the Rig and drop explosives.  Furiosa drops the truck scoop to bury the fires.  She and Max take out the bikers together: interlude featuring soaring and rising strings/brass derived from Furiosa theme, drums soon join, . 4:18: Survive motif slams/drums with Falling Staccato motif returns briefly, but then soaring brass figure/string rhythm resumes, joined by drums.
13	3:17	The Chase	0:00: As Immortan Joe pursues the Rig after the Rock Riders are dispatched, Nux promises to kill Furiosa for Immortan Joe, but trips once aboard: atmospheric textures into fast string rhythm and heavy brass pulses, Furiosa motif on brass. 1:10: Theme picked up on strings, into drum rhythm with staccato strings/brass figures. 1:57: The Rig steering wheel is damaged: swirling string figure joins with more slams. 2:27: Angharad falls "under the wheels" and is eventually recovered by Immortan Joe, who pauses the chase: quiet texture, resuming with slow slams and sound effects.
14	1:57	Moving On	(Unused, Nux talks to the red haired Wife, I think) Held tones, pulsing strings, low rumbles, leading to melancholy string figures, ending with electronic textures.
15	12:32	The Bog	(Alternate extended version, film version on Regular Edition release) 0:00: Max drives the Rig at night; it blows a tire: atmospheric noises/pulses, soon joined by echoed bass pulses/strings, murky textures. 1:43: Immortan Joe's forces continue their pursuit.  Max plants road mines which halts them: various heavy metal riffs intercut the bass pulse texture, sometimes with Falling Staccato rhythmic motif in celli, eventually becoming mostly ambient textures with echoey, murky accents/rhythms. 3:55: Angharad eventually dies from her fall, along with her unborn child: held textures, low falling bass figure joined by rising celli. 4:40: The Rig gets stuck in the bog and Max works to free it: the Bullet Farmer pursues, but Furiosa's shot blinds him: synth groove surfaces; slam leads back to bass pulses/swells and rhythmic strings, noise/slam textures, high thin/metallic rhythm (subtle Falling Staccato). 5:37: Slam signals synth/piano rhythms, ambient textures, murky rhythms. string swell into slam, Falling Staccato rhythm strings/echoey bass pulses, howling ambient textures joined by thin percussion element. 7:53: With Nux's help, the Rig begins moving again: big drum/slams rhythm/howling ambient textures, leading to synth groove, slams rhythm, "horn of doom", ominous brass, Falling Staccato rhythm strings/guitar, echoed guitar textures, quiet tremolo strings. 9:45: Slow brass/taiko drum figure with a couple of accents, high texture back into low bass pulse rhythm with ambient textures/brass swells. 11:42: Ethereal ambient texture. "I never thought I'd do something as shine as that!"
16	1:46	Redemption	In a quiet moment in the Rig cabin at daylight, Furiosa tells Max that she's looking for "redemption".  Sad descending theme in low strings, atmospherics, eventually joined by full strings and developed (brief bassoon solo).
17	8:58	Many Mothers	0:00: Furiosa sees a woman on a tower.  She announces her intentions: Furiosa full theme starting in low string figures, then on full strings.   2:26: Recap of first refrain. "I am the daughter of Mary Jo Bassa.  My clan was Swaddle Dog." 3:03: The Mothers meet the Wives: piano interlude, soon joined by strings. 3:50: Furiosa learns the Green Place is now a dead place, and screams in the desert wind: writhing cello into sad accent figures, low synth texture enters with full strings. 5:17: Desolate bassoon solo enters over held textures, joined by pensive and then resigned strings. 7:03: Low drone fades out to feature ethnic reed solo, brief celli figure leads to more held textures/swells.
18	5:18	The Return To Nowhere	0:00: When Furiosa decides to make a journey on the Salt flats, Max pursues her to change her mind: subtle noise textures, building to low string rhythm with violin chords swelling. 1:27: Atmospherics with choir-like synth textures. 2:15: Low pulsing rhythm with SFX, soon joined by melancholy string figures. 4:04: Furiosa agrees to try Max's plan to capture the Citadel: low string rhythm resumes, becoming echoed textures.
19	5:44	Claw Trucks	0:00: Immortan Joe and the the People Eater's forces chase the Rig (heading back to the canyon) and harpoon it: ambient textures and slams kick off rhythmic low strings, joined in beginning by melancholy violin swells, violins join rhythm, rising Immortan Joe motif in brass, brass accents. 1:43: Violins join low strings rhythm, joined by sinister brass fanfares/taiko drum accents, violins figures develop. 3:03: Men on poles begin attacking the Rig: pause, then solo drum pounding. 3:31: Max and his lady friends start taking casualties: quiet atmospheric textures, drums eventually return with rising string clusters. 4:28: Brass Furiosa motif fragment into more drum rhythms/accents/brass fanfares, string clusters, low rhythmic texture with vicious violins surfacing.
20	11:11	Immortan	(Unused except for brief section from 4:00 for when Furiosa gets stabbed, a shorter version is listed as "Immortan's Citadel" on the Regular Edition) 0:00: Low 4-note rising motif (Immortan Joe motif) with textures, cello figure over strings, low brass accents, cello melody, developed and amplified. 2:30: Brass accents lead to strident chords, ending cadence. 3:06: Low strings, soft rising violins, pause. 4:00: Furiosa is stabbed during the final chase back to the Citadel: slam with sweeping string motif., rising Immortan Joe motif with slams, ending in high strings. 4:43: Cello and bass counter figures, joined by strings, rising. 5:50: Heavy/pounding brass-led march based on rising Immortan Joe motif, soon joined by violin rhythm. 6:07: Nasty, heavy brass and low rhythm groove, rising ostinato figure, eventually joined by violin figure, percussion rolls. 7:48: Furiosa motif on brass with swirling violins over heavy rhythm, joined by violin rhythms. 8:43: Sweeping cello figure (Furiosa motif) joined by strings, ending in low buzzing texture.
21	6:49	Chapter Doof	0:00: Max's stolen Interceptor is crushed between the Rig and the People Eater's truck.  Max commandeers the People Eater's truck: noise/slam rhythmic groove with Falling Staccato motif and variants, low bass synth grooves (echoed). 1:00: Max escapes the exploding People Eater's truck and ends up on top of a high pole: Low strings join drum rhythm, brass fanfares (Furiosa motif variation), joined by syncopated accents and rising/falling violins figure, modulating. 2:27: (unused) Syncopated slams with noise textures,  2:46: Rock Riders hear the approaching chase: quieter texture supported by bass pulses. 3:00: Furiosa tries to run Immortan Joe off the road, Joe pulls in front of the Rig: drums/brass return soon joined (briefly) by guitar, Falling Staccato. 3:30: Furiosa gives Nux the wheel and begins crawling up to Joe's truck, Max fights with Doof: rhythm quiets and lush strings surface, becoming low string rhythm, joined by guitar riffing, slam accents. 4:18: (unused) main string/drums rhythm, syncopated beat with guitar riff, calmer territory with bass pulses, accents and muted guitar,  4:55: One of the girls asks Rictus to take her to Immortan Joe's truck, afterwards she helps Furiosa board: guitar riffs return, Falling Staccato in violins, rising brass figure, brief lush strings, slams. 5:32: (unused) Furiosa approaches Joe's cabin, she kills Joe: rhythm groove, rising brass/string figures over developing rhythm, pause into ominous end accent/cadence.
22	2:40	Walhalla Awaits	(Alternate mix/edit) 0:00: The blonde Wife leaves behind one of the dead Mothers, taking her seeds: held textures, eventually joined by strings, rising layers. 1:08: Nux sacrifices himself, wrecking the Rig so the rest can escape: foreboding brass chords leading to Furiosa motif, ending in sinister swells, effects.
23	2:23	My Name Is Max	An injured Furiosa struggles to survive on the way back to Immortan Joe's Citadel.  Max saves her life with a blood transfusion and tells her his name.  Furiosa theme on cello-driven strings, soon picked up by violins (alternate short version of Many Mothers).
24	2:37	Let Them Up	0:00: At the Citadel, Max reveals Immortan Joe's dead body, and the crowd tears it apart: low brass figures over dark synth/strings ending in high strings. 0:39: The platform is lowered for Furiosa and the women, and they rise.  Water is released to the crowd and Max departs: hopeful theme in horns/strings over low taiko rhythm, leading to lush, epic string figures with choir/brass.
25	2:26	Mary Jo Bassa	(Alternate recording of track 23, My Name Is Max) Furiosa theme on cello-driven strings, soon picked up by violins.
26	4:43	Coda	(Unused, original "My Name Is Max"). 0:00: Melancholy strings.   1:38: Recap with higher strings, developing on celli.   3:02: 2nd recap. 4:05: Coda.

 

Regular Release

Trk	Dur	Title	Film Sequence, Music Elements
1	1:30	Survive	(Unused, ending edited) Opening sequence: Max hears Immortan Joe's men in the distance and flees: isolated low string accents in pairs or triplets (Survive motif) over cluster drones, rumbling, alarm textures.
2	2:14	Escape	(Alternate edited version.)  Inside the Citadel, Max tries to escape from Immortan's henchmen, but ends up at the edge of a cliff.   0:00: (Unused) Ambient textures with sudden metallic roars and taiko drum rolls, echoed guitar with scraping texture/rising cluster. 0:47: Max is about to be branded and escapes: Slam begins low echo rhythm/synth pulses joined by Falling Staccato strings motif/slams/synth pulses. 1:43: Max tries to leap onto a chain hook: slams, Falling Staccato, Survive motif slams.
3	8:41	Immortan's Citadel	(Alternate edited version of "Immortan") 0:00: Immortan Joe prepares to address the crowd.  He opens the water gates: low 4-note rising motif (Immortan Joe motif) with textures, cello figure over strings, low brass accents, cello melody, developed and amplified. 2:30: Brass accents lead to strident chords, ending cadence. 3:06: Low strings, soft rising violins, pause into a slam with sweeping string motif (retracked in later battle when Furiosa gets stabbed). 4:06: Rising Immortan Joe motif with slams, ending in high strings. 4:43: Cello and bass counter figures, joined by strings, rising. 5:50: Heavy/pounding brass-led march based on rising Immortan Joe motif, soon joined by violin rhythm. 6:59: Sweeping cello figure (Furiosa motif) joined by strings, ending in low buzzing texture.
4	2:30	Blood Bag	(Alternate version, 1st section edited) 0:00: A pursuit party is started and a War Boy, Nux, wants to join the party, despite objections from his partner: rumbling leads to fast taiko drum rhythm, soon becoming quiet and then sometimes resuming with the 4-note rising Immortan Joe motif. "If I'm gonna die, I'm gonna die historic on the Fury Road." 1:03: Nux drives out with Max strapped to the Lancer's perch: rhythm briefly changes, then resumes previous groove, soon adding electric guitar riffs, noise rhythms/grooves.
5	3:12	Spikey Cars	(Buzzards Arrive and Spikey Cars combined edit) 0:00: Russian Buzzards are sighted stalking Furiosa's convoy: atmospheric textures with some drum rolls. 0:54: Drums become dominant, soon joined by Falling Staccato motif. 1:38: Nux's War Boys attack the Buzzards; one of the War Boys is hit but gets back up and prepares to sacrifice himself: mysterious texture with rising Immortan Joe motif surfacing. 2:05: Big drums resume, Falling Staccato motif. 2:36: Survive motif slams, new "Rising Staccato" figure, ending in irregular accents, ambient textures/metal percussion.
6	5:37	Storm Is Coming	(Alternate edited version.) 0:00: With the Buzzards dispatched, the rest of Immortan Joe's forces pursue the Rig into a storm: slow foreboding groove based on low brass/string accents, soon joined by drum rhythm. 0:47: Quieter rhythm surfaces, then big rhythm resumes with strings. 1:33: The Rig enters the storm: fast groove with distorted guitar leading to sirens/atmospheric textures. 2:20: Drums and brass resume slow groove. 2:41: Max and Nux sight the Rig inside the storm (as well as exploding cars): Furiosa motif in brass, strings, choir. "Oh, what a day!  What a lovely day!" 3:35: Rhythm resumes with add'l percussion/strings/brass figures. 4:20: Nux attempts to blow up his car, but Furiosa knocks it out of the way: swirling string figure joins. 4:50: Max wakes up and brings Nux to the Rig parked nearby: sudden quiet textures and then slow beats/pained textures, explosion.
7	1:38	We Are Not Things	(Unused, probably for a deleted scene of the Wives discussing their next move, same as on Deluxe Edition)  Poignant string theme.
8	3:15	Water	(Alternate edited version.) 0:00: Max holds Furiosa and the Wives at gunpoint, asks for water: soft isolated string accents, hissing texture, dark swells/alarms. 1:20: Furiosa attacks Max: drum solo based on syncopated accents enters (metallic percussion).
9	4:14	The Rig	(Film version) 0:00: Max holds the girls at gunpoint as Furiosa drives the Rig: held strings, low strings Survive motif, building with drum rolls, dissonant drones. 1:00: Accented rhythm on strings/low brass enter, joined by string clusters, syncopated slams, dissonant brass. 2:05: Max repairs the fuel pod and the Rig gains speed: foreboding rhythm surfaces on bass synth, brass swells, figures. 3:21: Nux attacks Furiosa but is eventually kicked off the Rig: accents with strident strings/brass, rhythm resumes with low string motif sometimes surfacing, etc.
10	4:22	Brothers In Arms	(Alternate edited version.) 0:00: Max helps Furiosa escape from the Rock Rider bike gang.  The gang set off explosives blocking Immortan Joe's pursuit: electric guitar-driven rock, slams leading to electronic noise textures, Falling Staccato motif, electronic drums. 0:39: Immortan Joe goes over the canyon blockage with the People Eater and the Bullet Farmer eventually following: drum rhythm intercut with slams, low string rhythms, developing with noise ornaments. 1:37: Rock Riders jump the Rig and drop explosives.  Furiosa drops the scoop to put out the fire.  She and Max take out the bikers together: interlude featuring soaring strings and brass derived from Furiosa theme, rising, drums soon join. 2:48: Darker groove with Falling Staccato motif returns briefly, but then hopeful brass figure/string rhythm resumes.
11	6:58	The Bog	(Film version) 0:00: Max drives the Rig at night, when it blows a tire: atmospheric noises/pulses, soon joined by echoey bass pulses/strings, murky textures. 1:21: Immortan Joe's forces continue their pursuit.  Max plants road mines which halts them: heavy metal rhythms intercut the bass pulse texture, sometimes with Falling Staccato motif in celli. 2:58: Angharad eventually dies from her fall, along with her unborn child: held textures, low falling bass figure vs rising celli. 3:42: The Rig gets stuck in the bog and Max works to free it: the Bullet Farmer pursues, but Furiosa's shot blinds him: synth groove surfaces; slam leads back to bass pulses and rhythmic strings, noise textures, high thin rhythm. 5:14: With Nux's help, the Rig begins moving again: big drum/slams rhythm, leading to synth groove, accents, etc. "I never thought I'd do something as shine as that!"
12	1:46	Redemption	(Same as on Deluxe Edition) In a quiet moment in the Rig cabin at daylight, Furiosa tells Max that she's looking for "redemption". Sad descending theme in low strings, atmospherics, eventually joined by full strings and developed (brief bassoon solo).
13	5:16	Many Mothers	(Alternate edited version.) 0:00: Furiosa sees a woman on a tower.  She announces her intentions: Furiosa full theme starting in low string figures, soon joined by full strings.  Recap at 2:26. "I am the daughter of Mary Jo Bassa.  My clan was Swaddle Dog." 3:03: The Mothers meet the Wives: piano interlude, soon joined by strings. 3:50: Furiosa learns the Green Place is now a dead place, and screams in the desert wind: cello into sad figures, low synth texture enters for ending cadence.
14	5:32	Claw Trucks	(Probably alternate, slightly edited beginning ambient textures.) 0:00: Immortan Joe and the the People Eater's forces chase the Rig (heading back to the canyon) and harpoon it: rhythmic low strings with slam accents, joined in beginning by melancholy violin figure, later with rising Immortan Joe motif in brass. 1:33: Violins join low strings rhythm, sinister brass fanfares/taiko drum accents, violins figures develop. 2:53: Men on poles begin attacking the Rig: pause, then solo drum pounding. 3:21: Max and his lady friends start taking casualties: quiet atmospheric textures, drums eventually return with rising string clusters. 4:18: Brass Furiosa motif into more drum accents/brass fanfares, string clusters, etc...
15	7:05	Chapter Doof	(Alternate edit/mix with Walhalla Awaits at end.) 0:00:  Max's stolen Interceptor is crushed between the Rig and the People Eater's truck.  Max commandeers the People Eater's truck: noise/slam groove with Falling Staccato motif and variants, synth grooves (echoed). 1:00: Max escapes the exploding People Eater's truck and ends up on top of a high pole: Low strings join, brass fanfares (Furiosa motif), syncopated figures, rising/falling violins figure. 2:27: (unused) syncopation with slams and noise textures. 2:46: Rock Riders hear the approaching chase: Quieter texture supported by bass pulses. 3:00: One of the girls asks Rictus to take her to Immortan Joe's truck, afterwards she helps Furiosa board: guitar surfaces briefly with Falling Staccato, rising brass figure.  3:36: (alternate) Furiosa approaches Joe's cabin: rhythm and rising brass/string figure becoming almost lush. 4:29: (alternate, cross-fades immediately into Walhalla Awaits from Deluxe Edition) Furiosa kills Immortan Joe, the blonde Wife leaves behind one of the dead Mothers, taking her seeds: brass accent into held cadence, poignant strings, brass fanfares. 5:49: Nux sacrifices himself, wrecking the Rig so the rest can escape: Furiosa motif in brass, lush strings/choir, ending in dark textures.
16	4:43	My Name Is Max	(Coda from Deluxe Edition) 0:00: Melancholy strings.   1:38: Recap with higher strings, developing on celli.   3:02: 2nd recap. 4:05: Coda.
17	2:37	Let Them Up	(Same as on Deluxe Edition) 0:00: At the Citadel, Max reveals Immortan Joe's dead body, and the crowd tears it apart: low brass figures over dark synth/strings ending in high strings. 0:39: The platform is lowered for Furiosa and the women, and they rise.  Water is released to the crowd and Max departs: hopeful theme in horns/strings over low taiko rhythm, leading to lush, epic string figures with choir/brass.

Links
Score Wiki Entry
Tom Holkenborg aka Junkie XL
Making of Score
Studio Time with Junkie XL

• Episode 3: Mad Max String Theme
• Episode 4: Mad Max Drums
• Episode 5: Mad Max Guitars

iTunes Listing (Deluxe Edition)
Amazon Reviews
Filmtracks Review
FVSR Review
Movie Wave Review