Review:

on 2011-07-07 Michael_Morrison Said:

Artist: Ben Kopec  Intricate Unit Studios
Album: Epic Orchestral & Cinematic Rock for Film Trailers
Label: Intricate Unit Studios
Website: http://www.benkopec.com
Genre: Film and TV Music; Hard Rock; Progressive; Symphonic Metal
Sounds Like: Savatage, TSO, Procul Harum; King Crimson; ELP; Focus; Soft Machine; Queensryche
Technical Grade: 7/10
Production/Musicianship Grade: 8/10
Commercial Value: 5/10
Overall Talent Level: 8/10
Songwriting Skills: 9/10
Performance Skills: ---
Best Songs:
Strengths: Composition, Execution, Arrangements, Songwriting
Weaknesses: Marketability to the General Public

CD REVIEW:

Ben Kopec has a significant web presence. His website is clear, concise, and easy to navigate. Hes put out several CDs of music for TV, Film, Advertising, Sports shows, Movies and Video Games. Epic Orchestral & Cinematic Rock for Film Trailers is short, about 20 minutes in length. Hes sold music to several Reality TV shows, Soap Operas, and Sports shows. Kopec is located in Los Angeles, California.
This CD is grand in scope. It starts and ends with grand orchestral splendor. Any progressive rock fan and symphonic metal fan will enjoy this CD even though it is clearly NOT marketed to these fans. It is clearly marketed to Movie and TV executives for use in programming thus limiting its general marketability.

Track 1 (Birth Right), Track 7 (Ancient Mystic), Track 8 (Page of Wisdom), and Track 9 (Epic Cataclysm) all have the feel of bombastic and classical inspired rock. In each of these compositions, Kopec uses a choir to give an other-worldly and ethereal feel to the music. Its as if he brings quite a bit of angst to the music. I can see these compositions used in Catholic Angst and End-of-the-World type films like End of Days, Stigmata, 2012, Deep Impact, Devils Advocate and Armageddon. Track 2 (Mass Wreckage), Track 4 (Risk Warning), and Track 5 (Killing Machine) all have a very definite Sci-Fi feel. The arrangements are superb and the use of stings and heavy-metal like guitar riffs is kind of like Beethoven jamming with the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. I can definitely see these pieces used in films like Star Trek, Terminator, Imposter, and Minority Report. Track 6 (Between the Gods) is my favorite track on the CD. Its explosive and visceral. It makes you want to bang your head to the rhythm. Track 10 (The Great Adventure) is just that. Its grand in scale and evokes the spirit of adventure. It is almost inspirational. I can see this piece used in movies of the Political Thriller and Action-Adventure type like The Jason Bourne series of films.

The entire CD is dynamic and heart-pumping.
There are a few things about this CD that bother me. One, its narrow in scope. By that I mean Kopec is writing and performing for a very narrow audience. That audience is TV and Movie executives involved in the music side of the business. Two, each piece is only two minutes or less in length. Just as I was really getting into some of these tracks, they abruptly end. These two negatives didnt stop me from enjoying the CD. I only wish that he, Kopec, would expand on each composition.

Each piece is well-crafted and well thought out. The arrangements and production is very good. I think Kopec is an excellent composer and would definitely buy a CD of his works were they grander in scope and orchestration  meaning extended length of each composition. He could give the Trans-Siberian Orchestra a serious run for the money. I wish him well in his endeavors selling this to TV and Movie studios.

Ron Frustaglia
Rating: 8/10