The Singularity: Album & Graphic Novel Review
Release Date: 2024
Album Composer: Bear McCreary
Album Publisher: Sparks & Shadows
Novel Writers: Bear McCreary & Mat Groom
Novel Publisher: Image Comics
Bear McCreary is one of my favourite composers, known for his work on TV shows, movies, and video games. My first experience with his music was the wonderful soundtrack of Battlestar Galactica, but he’s also composed for Black Sails, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Defiance, Outlander, and The Rings of Power. On the film side, he has worked on smaller projects like Knights of Badassdom and The Angry Video Game Nerd: The Movie, but has also contributed to larger films such as 10 Cloverfield Lane and Godzilla: King of the Monsters. His video game work began with Dark Void, but his most famous compositions are for the newer God of War games.
McCreary’s style is epic, yet incorporates unusual and unique instruments, giving each piece of music a distinct flavour. He certainly loves to experiment — one Defiance track is made entirely from insect noises, while his ReVolt soundtrack features the sounds of hard drives working. Another standout feature of his work is his use of diegetic music, which refers to music that exists within the universe he’s helping to create.
Much of this experimentation involves vocal songs. This began when McCreary used tracks from his brother’s band, Young Beautiful in a Hurry, as background music in Battlestar Galactica. Bear’s brother, Brendan McCreary, also performed “All Along the Watchtower” early on in the show. Later, with Caprica and Defiance, Bear (along with his wife, Raya Yarbrough, and his brother) began creating original songs, some of which were even sung in fictional languages.
While McCreary’s songs span many genres, rock and metal have been the most prominent, with metal forming the foundation of the Knights of Badassdom soundtrack— both vocal and instrumental. It’s clear that McCreary enjoys experimenting within this genre. The Singularity is his opportunity to fully embrace this, collaborating with a variety of artists to produce a wide array of metal and rock songs. Additionally, McCreary worked alongside Mat Groom and several comic book artists to create a visual novel that complements the album.
Here, I will be writing about each song and the relevant parts of the visual novel.
1. Overture
Album Artist: Bear McCreary
Comic Artist: Helena Masellis
The album opens with a soothing, calming instrumental introduction, gradually building as the orchestra swells and transitions into Incinerator, the first song. There’s a sense of calm and hope that slowly fades away, replaced by creeping dread and fear, culminating in a defiant and powerful ending.
In the comic, we learn about the experiences of the main character, Blue Eyes. They are on their 532nd life (at least, the 532nd one they can remember), and each life ends either with their death or the destructive force of a mysterious red energy tearing their world apart. After each death, they are reborn in the midst of a new life in a different universe. Ultimately, Blue Eyes resolves to fight the golden woman they encounter as the red energy comes to claim yet another world.
2. Incinerator
Album Artist: Bear McCreary feat. Serj Tankian
Comic Artist: Marco Locati
The album bursts out of the gate with a bombastic track featuring a captivating melody. Serj Tankian’s talents shine, particularly in the fast-paced section towards the end, which has a distinct System of a Down energy. This builds into the oddly beautiful moment when he sings, “Be my guest, please, come burn down my garden,” followed by a brief, haunting guitar passage before the explosive finale. Throughout most of the song, aggressive drumming drives the intensity, building up to the powerful chorus. It’s an electrifying track.
As Blue Eyes is reborn into a powerful new form, he begins attacking the mysterious golden figure, expressing his grief over the loved ones lost in his previous lives. However, she proves far too powerful, allowing him to strike until she’s had enough. She then declares that if he seeks a fight, that’s exactly what he will get.
3. Event At The Horizon
Album Artist: Bear McCreary feat. Esjay Jones
Comic Artist: Riccardo Robaldo
While I enjoy metal, I’m not the biggest fan of screaming metal, so the main chorus of “War! Gimme more, gimme more, gimme more!” doesn’t quite align with my tastes. That said, the verses feature some energetic fast-paced moments, along with one slower section. The song exudes a sense of pure chaos, and the instrumental elements are strong. It’s my least favorite track on the album, but I don’t dislike it enough to skip it during subsequent listens.
As promised in the previous chapter, the golden woman attacks immediately. Blue Eyes, now a fighter pilot, launches an assault but watches as his wingmen are blown away before he is killed himself. This figure – known as Yellow Eyes – has declared war, and both the comic and the song vividly capture the chaos and devastation of battle.
4. Redshift
Album Artist: Bear McCreary feat. Brendan McCreary
Comic Artist: Lorenzo Colangeli
Redshift has an infectious energy to it, with Brendan McCreary’s vocals having a frantic pace to it, leaving me wanting a third verse. The song has a perfect, high-energy yet edgy vibe that would suit Shadow the Hedgehog (who has had some great songs made for him already). The music matches the intensity of the vocals, incorporating video game chiptunes for a dynamic and effective touch.
The comic portion is short but impactful, offering a glimpse into the randomness of Blue Eyes’ existence. It shows how some of their lives are fleeting and meaningless, with Blue Eyes appearing in the midst of a crisis and dying almost instantly. It serves as a poignant reminder of the unpredictability of his life cycle.
5. Type III
Album Artist: Bear McCreary feat. Rufus Wainwright
Comic Artist: Rod Reis
Beautiful. So many elements come together to form something wonderous. Rufus Wainwright’s calming voice blends seamlessly with loud percussion, a soft orchestra, and a guitar that gradually intensifies – each component woven together perfectly. The result is a piece of music that feels unique, yet not distracting. It evokes the feeling of an epic, defining moment of realization in a person’s life.
Blue Eyes is reincarnated on a stunning space station composed of multiple rings, where he finally has a chance to speak with Yellow Eyes. The narrative also ties in with the next track on the album, seamlessly connecting the music and story.
6. Blue Eyes
Album Artist: Bear McCreary feat. Lee Pace
Comic Artist: Rod Reis
This is one of the three spoken word tracks in the album. Lee Pace (whom I know best as the Piemaker from Pushing Daisies) delivers an incredible performance, capturing the raw emotion of Blue Eyes’ journey. He lists some of the ways Blue Eyes has died, the sorrow of losing loved ones, and his unwavering determination to find answers. The music is subtle, yet it beautifully complements the emotion in his voice, amplifying the impact of his words.
In the comic, the same dialogue is extended, with Blue Eyes uncovering some clues but gaining even more questions. He begins to realize there’s more to his existence than he ever imagined.
7. Antikythera Mechanism
Album Artist: Bear McCreary feat. Raya Yarbrough
Comic Artist: Simone Ragazzoni
This track explores the search for answers to the universe’s complexity and mystery, filled with a sense of awe and wonder. However, the persistent ticking of a clock serves as a constant reminder that time is running out. The calm, caring vocals create a stark contrast to the ticking, suggesting that, despite the looming pressure, there is still hope.
In this chapter, we begin to uncover more about Blue Eyes’ true nature and learn that the Red is a separate entity from the golden woman. The challenge for Blue Eyes, however, lies in accepting that he is more than he has believed himself to be.
8. The Automaton’s Heart
Album Artist: Bear McCreary feat. Brendan McCreary
Comic Artist: Matias Bergara with Patricio Delpeche
This is an incredibly fun song about a robot who sees a girl walk past his window and falls in love with her, hoping to catch her attention so he can confess his feelings. The music is bursting with energy, filled with robotic sounds, and carries a distinct steampunk vibe. The turn at the end of the song is especially brilliant. It wraps up the narrative in a way that feels like a complete story on its own.
This is another one of Blue Eyes’ futile lives, this time inhabiting the body of an automaton. As he starts to move to ask someone questions, he gets identified as a defective unit and fights to reach someone that he things can give him his answers.
9. Industrial Revolution
Album Artist: Bear McCreary feat. Asdru Sierra
Comic Artist: Stefano Simeone
This track features a distinct Eastern influence, with the Hurdy-Gurdy taking center stage in the chorus, creating a captivating and unique sound. It feels like a powerful call to arms, urging listeners to rise up against their oppressors. Though it’s one of the more subdued tracks overall, it works exceptionally well within the context of the album.
This mirrors the comic, where Blue Eyes is with a group of slaves who have to work dangerous conditions. He inspires them to fight alongside him in an effort to prevent the destruction of each universe.
10. Tartarigami
Album Artist: Bear McCreary feat. Brendan McCreary
Comic Artist: Federico Bertoni
This song captures the feeling of being backed into a corner and realizing you’re ready to fight back. The vocals, combined with the intense throat singing in the background, convey a sense of preparedness that aligns perfectly with the lyrics. The track takes a moment to build, with Brendan’s calm delivery at the start gradually escalating into more aggression as it leads into the chorus.
This is combined with Blue Eyes getting attacked by people in their new universe and discovering the extinct of his powers before deciding to take on the Red, full of confidence.
11. Exiles
Album Artist: Bear McCreary feat. Griogair & Billy Boyd
Comic Artist: Eduardo Ferigato
I absolutely love this track. It’s a metal-rap fusion featuring bagpipes, with vocals by Billy Boyd (aka Pippin from Lord of the Rings). What makes it even more unique is that half of the song is sung in Gàidhlig, or Scottish Gaelic. It may sound bizarre, but it absolutely works, with a fantastic rhythm to the rap and a catchy, powerful chorus. The bagpipes blend surprisingly well with the metal instrumentation, creating a truly memorable sound. The song speaks to the loss of Scottish language and identity at the hands of the English.
The connection between the album and the comic is subtle but significant. This is the first universe where the inhabitants are aware of their impending doom and choose to fight back on their own terms. Instead of letting the world end, they decide to take down the Union mothership, defying their fate.
12. Midnight Sun
Album Artist: Bear McCreary feat. Brendan McCreary
Comic Artist: Helena Masellis
The chant “Midnight Sun, Midnight Sun, Burn bright, Midnight Sun” is repeated throughout the song, creating a sense of acceptance and embracing the inevitable. It reflects a choice to celebrate rather than succumb to sadness. The tune is highly enjoyable, maintaining its energetic momentum from start to finish.
The people in the current universe of the comic have similarly accepted the impending end of the world. They perform a final ritual, chanting the same words as they prepare for what’s to come.
13. Red Eyes
Album Artist: Bear McCreary feat. Ryan Hurst
Comic Artist: John J. Pearson with Lola Bonato
This is another spoken word track, as the red energy manifests itself in the form of Red Eyes. Ryan Hurst delivers a commanding performance, his voice perfectly capturing the menacing power of such a force, all while a dark, intense instrumental track supports him. His calm, almost detached demeanour as he declares his unstoppable nature adds an unsettling depth to the character, a tone that’s reinforced by the visual novel.
14. Last Stop
Album Artist: Bear McCreary feat. Brendan McCreary
Comic Artist: Helena Masellis
This energetic metal track captures the essence of defiance, yet also the uncertainty of how to move forward. It embodies a sense of helpless defiance, with the softer, more introspective main verses gradually building into the fierce, angry declaration of “we will not surrender” in the latter half of each verse.
In the comic, Blue Eyes comes to the realization that vengeance isn’t what matters. The challenge lies in understanding what truly does.
15. Roko’s Basilisk
Album Artist: Bear McCreary feat. Jens Kidman
Comic Artist: Matias Bergara with Patricio Delpeche
This intense metal track features the lead singer of Meshuggah, though it’s not as overwhelming as you might expect. The main verses offer a solid melody that contrasts sharply with the raw aggression of the chorus. The instrumental introduction is particularly striking, evoking a sense of Battlestar Galactica. I never thought extreme metal could be poetic, but this track proves it can be.
Blue Eyes finds himself in another futile universe, one with a captivating sci-fi setting that leaves you wanting to explore more. The life forms in this world are confined to tubes and deemed a threat to the environment, adding a layer of intrigue and tension to the story.
16. First Day Out
Album Artist: Bear McCreary feat. Mega Ran
Comic Artist: Valeria Favoccia
A hip-hop rap track wasn’t something I expected from this album, but defying expectations is a hallmark of Bear McCreary’s style. This song tells the story of someone about to be released from prison, filled with hope – and just a touch of doubt- about turning his life around once he’s free. The instrumentals effectively mirror this journey, capturing the optimism, the underlying worry that things might go wrong, and the eventual acceptance that a new chapter is about to begin.
The comic, though short, is impactful. Blue Eyes, now a prisoner, is taunted as weak, yet in this moment, they come to understand the true extent of their own power.
17. Rage Child
Album Artist: Bear McCreary feat. Brendan McCreary
Comic Artist: Eleonora Carlini
The drums in this song are absolutely fantastic, providing a driving, relentless energy that propels the track forward. The guitar riffs add a rock-inspired edge, giving the song a dynamic blend of intensity and power. Together, they create an atmosphere of awakening, like someone who has been backed into a corner for far too long suddenly realizes they have the strength to break free. It’s a moment of realization and empowerment, where the choice is made to embrace that newfound power, instead of remaining trapped.
In this chapter of the comic, Blue Eyes reaches a critical turning point. After enduring countless cycles of senseless destruction and loss, he finally understands that he has the power to change his fate. No longer willing to passively accept his circumstances, Blue Eyes becomes determined to escape the cycle.
18. Syzygy
Album Artist: Bear McCreary feat. Brendan McCreary
Comic Artist: Riccardo Robaldo
I absolutely love the sound of this song. Its energetic tempo is infectious, making it nearly impossible not to tap your toes along to the beat. At first, I thought “Syzygy” was a made-up word, but it actually refers to the alignment of multiple celestial bodies. Interestingly, as I write this, a stunning planetary syzygy is forming in the skies above. The song itself strikes a perfect balance between upbeat energy and defiant spirit, creating a dynamic and exhilarating vibe.
The comic introduces a fascinating universe, where robots seem to live in harmony, coexisting peacefully with one another. Despite the calm and friendly atmosphere, Blue Eyes remains focused on his own mission. He’s unmoved by the serenity around him, driven by a singular goal that pushes him forward, regardless of the world he finds himself in.
19. Escape From The Machines
Album Artist: Bear McCreary feat. Slash & Joe Satriani
Comic Artist: Federico Bertoni (Part I), Danilo Beyruth (Part II)
This track is entirely instrumental, with the guitars doing all the talking in an epic duel between Slash and Joe Satriani. The interplay between their iconic styles creates an exhilarating musical exchange, supported by powerful drums and additional instruments. It’s a masterful showcase of guitar work, where two musical titans collide to craft something truly special.
In the first part of this chapter, we’re thrust into a high-speed hovercar chase as Blue Eyes desperately tries to escape. However, as the story progresses, he comes to a stark realization: he’s been manipulated into desiring this escape, forced into a path that was never truly his own.
20. Rallying Cry
Album Artist: Bear McCreary feat. Eivør
Comic Artist: Eduardo Ferigato
This Norse-inspired song, performed in Faroese and backed by the haunting sound of a hurdy-gurdy, creates a unique and ancient atmosphere. The music evokes the image of a fleet of ships crossing the seas, driven by a noble purpose to save others. Its rich, atmospheric quality captures both the past and the timelessness of legend.
The Norse theme carries over into the story, where Blue Eyes is persuaded by Viking warriors to join their cause. Just as Blue Eyes is about to accept that there’s nothing he can do to stop the red, a Viking woman delivers a powerful message: you should never accept defeat, no matter the odds.
21. The Last Of The Old Gods
Album Artist: Bear McCreary feat. Sigurjón Kjartansson
Comic Artist: Eduardo Ferigato
Shifting to a different aspect of Norse influence, The Last of the Old Gods serves as the powerful finale to a fantasy epic. The scope of the piece is grand, with striking Icelandic vocals and commanding instrumentals that elevate its intensity. It’s a piece of music full of weight and energy, fitting for a climactic final confrontation.
In the comic, this chapter mirrors the music’s epic scale, with some of the most metal imagery I’ve seen. The battle is as monumental as the music itself, capturing the raw power and intensity of the moment in vivid detail.
22. Leviathan
Album Artist: Bear McCreary feat. Corey Taylor
Comic Artist: Danilo Beyruth
Featuring Corey Taylor from Slipknot, this track delivers a raw, heavy metal sound, amplified by a bombastic blend of drums, guitar, and orchestra. The song moves through dramatic ups and downs in both the instrumentation and vocals, crafting a truly electrifying track that builds to an explosive climax. It’s a bander of a track.
After one final, intense battle, Blue Eyes uncovers the truth they’ve been searching for. Their journey is nearly at its end, and the moment of revelation signals the close of their long struggle.
23. Yellow Eyes
Album Artist: Bear McCreary feat. Danai Gurira
Comic Artist: Danilo Beyruth
The album and comic differ slightly in how they place Yellow Eyes’ speech within the narrative. In the comic, Yellow Eyes appears near the end, delivering a heartfelt speech filled with apologies and outlining the next step, a decision that will determine whether everything or nothing happens. The moment is accompanied by serene, mystical background music that enhances the gravity of the journey, guiding us through this pivotal moment with quiet intensity.
24. The End Of Tomorrow
Album Artist: Bear McCreary feat. Slash & Brendan McCreary
Comic Artist: Simone Ragazzoni
A ten-minute epic that embodies the hopeful possibility of something good emerging from the darkness. The song centers on people coming together in peace as everything comes to an end, with more voices joining in as it progresses, creating a powerful sense of unity. It’s a beautiful piece that maintains a lively, uplifting energy throughout, offering a sense of optimism even in the face of doom.
In this chapter, the remnants of a once-great civilization choose to embrace their final moments together. Rather than succumbing to despair, they focus on the memories they’ve shared and the lasting bonds they’ve forged, finding solace in the joy of one last shared experience.
25. Tears For The Dead Life
Album Artist: Bear McCreary feat. Morgan Some & Buck Dharma
Comic Artist: Danilo Beyruth
The best way I can describe this track is “serene rock”, a song that speaks to renewal and hope. It’s a beautiful piece, enriched by a choir and a deep, resonant sound that swells in the chorus. As the final track, it carries a sense of closure, filled with optimism and promise for what lies ahead.
This is mirrored in the visual novel, where the vibrant colors are contrasted with black, creating a striking visual experience. Brief flashes of unseen lives add an extra layer of mystery, hinting at the untold stories that remain just out of reach.
The First Life
Album Artist: Ramón K Pérez
Throughout the comic, we follow four chapters that explore the first life Blue Eyes remembers, offering a grounded and realistic narrative. The story is rich with emotion, providing a poignant glimpse into the joys and sorrows that even a single life can hold. It’s a clever way to illustrate the mindset that comes with living countless lives, capturing both the beauty and the burden of such an existence.
Verdict
While some tracks took a few listens to fully grow on me, this is an album I’ve found myself returning to regularly since the first time I heard it. Each listen offers a new experience, and it works brilliantly as a cohesive whole. There’s a unique magic that weaves through every track, demonstrating how collaboration can yield truly extraordinary results.
The graphic novel, while leaving me wishing for more focus on certain lives and occasionally leaving me a bit confused, is still a remarkable tale, told with depth and care. The varying art styles effectively capture the essence of different universes, yet they all feel interconnected, with nothing out of place.
Both the album and the graphic novel are exceptional works of art, and I highly recommend experiencing them for yourself.