BattleCry mosaic feature revealed: "Invincible"
by Allison Robert 
Jan 25th 2010 at 5:00PM
Another portion of the BattleCry mosaic was revealed on Friday, bringing the total completed to 50%. This time, instead of unlocking a piece of art, Blizzard gave us something a little more special -- a 3-minute piece of music titled "Invincible" recalling the leitmotif of the Wrath of the Lich King trailer. Blizzard rather cryptically describes it thusly:
An ode to one who has fallen. Time and events have left it unclear whether the song refers to the former prince of Lordaeron or his beloved steed.
Cryptic or not, this is a beautiful piece of music, and one we're hoping appears in-game soon. Staffers here have guessed that "Invincible" might play either during or after the much-anticipated fight with the Lich King himself, and we're quite likely to see one whopper of a lore moment and cutscene. Fingers crossed, but until then, I'm going to enjoy playing this in Icecrown, and I'd kill to hear a rendition with a full chorus and symphony, perhaps at some social convention said to take place yearly...but surely that's just crazy talk.
Filed under: Blizzard
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Valtor Jan 25th 2010 5:10PM
This makes me miss singing in such grand choral arrangements, beautfiul
oh and the orchestra wasn't to shabby either :P
ChironAE Jan 25th 2010 6:29PM
@Valtor. I get misty every time I listen to it for the same reason. I'd love to see the sheet music. Imagine it on a Moog. Oh my.
Leviathon Jan 25th 2010 5:13PM
'Cryptic or not, this is a beautiful piece of music, and one we're hoping appears in-game soon. '
The CMs already said it will appear during the Arthas fight.
Finnicks Jan 25th 2010 6:03PM
More to the point, I'm willing to bet a sizeable sum of gold that this is the music for the post-encounter cut scene, whereupon ****** ********* will take up the mantle of the Lich King to save the world from the Scourge.
The_Abhorrent Jan 25th 2010 6:04PM
Having heard this music, it's certainly not something that would accompany an epic battle. Assuming that the battle against the Lich King will be such an encounter, it's unlikely to show up during the encounter proper. Though seeing him commune with the ghost of his father during the patch announcement trailer.... well, who knows really. Maybe, even after all the evil acts he's committed, he'll be fighting a desperate fight to simply survive.
As The Tick eloquently put it:
- This is what we call the dénouement. That's French for "when we beat up the supervillain."
However, there is another possibility which also must be addressed. It assumes that the theme takes place after the battle, and it certainly sounds like something that could accompany a noble sacrifice. Exactly like one particular rumour, you could say:
Sounds like someone else assuming the role of the Lich King.
Uther's ghost definitely made a nod towards this in the Halls of Reflection, and the rumours as to whom is going to assume the Frozen Throne is still unknown and hotly debated. Perhaps whomever makes through that fire will need a cold seat to cool off afterwards. And with a slight bit of irony, I just realized one of the prime candidates is literally on fire.
But yes, the theme is fitting for someone making a noble sacrifice.... of sorts.
Shane Jan 25th 2010 5:15PM
@ Leviathon
I agree completely, this was (in my opinion) one of the most beautiful pieces of music I've heard yet.
Wonder if we'll get a nice clip to go with it. I could definately see a clip of the world returning to peace with this music playing.
Brett Jan 25th 2010 5:35PM
I wouldn't hold your breath on that whole returning to peace thing.
"there can be no peace when the world itself is consumed by RAGE!"
Tomatketchup Jan 26th 2010 1:31AM
At least that stupid roaring dragon on the login screen is go-
*Deathwing flies in*
GWOAAAAAAAAAAAH
Andy_C Jan 26th 2010 5:03PM
Tomatketchup you just made my day! I LoLbarfed.
Terrë Jan 25th 2010 5:16PM
Lovely music. I'm intrigued to know what language it is. It sounds like Latin, but I suspect it isn't.
Scunosi Jan 25th 2010 5:46PM
Think I read somewhere a while ago (when someone asked about the original login screen music) that Blizzard uses a sort of Latin-gibberish. So it sounds epic and ancient, but doesn't really mean anything if you translated it out.
Speaking of, I'm definitely hearing "Equinus" a few times. I'm not claiming to be fluent in Latin, but maybe they're trying to point us towards his horse. Which is kind of lame for such a great song. ^^
Tyr Jan 25th 2010 5:57PM
It's meant to be latin, but it really isn't. I can't really distinguish a lot of the words, but some of them approach latin, like equinus -> equus... probably easier to write, the songwriter can just focus on the epic feel and not on the meaning :p
kia Jan 25th 2010 5:23PM
This kind of quality and attention to detail is why I play Blizzard's games. What other game company cares this much?
It's very beautiful.
Kael Jan 25th 2010 5:28PM
Oh man. I really didn't expect it, and this never happens, but that was actually very moving. I got choked up listening to that. It's incredible; I can't wait to listen to it again. That song is the pinnacle of video game music in my book. Wow. Simply astonishing.
Frank Jan 25th 2010 5:52PM
/agreed!
i was surprised to find myself getting choked up, too, which is even more amazing because i have (of course) NO clue what they are singing, or the context for the music. a piece of music worth an epic event for sure. behold the power of music! hats off to all responsible for this one.
Discolando Jan 25th 2010 5:28PM
'Leitmotif' is a word I wish was used more often.
Killchrono Jan 25th 2010 11:45PM
Leitmotifs are my favourite musical convention, especially when used in media like games, movies or shows. You know a song has great power when it becomes synonymous with a character, an emotion or even an entire franchise. Think Darth Vader with the Imperial March, or the main Star Wars theme.
I got shivers hearing the "Arthas, My Son" leitmotif in this song. It convinces me that this'll be the song that plays during the epic finish, perhaps when Arthas takes his dying breath. It's so sad and moving that it's making me wonder whether Arthas feels the last tinge of humanity in his heart as he dies.
Regardless, this song would be an amazing piece to see off one of Warcraft's most influencial characters.
Deathknighty Jan 26th 2010 1:42PM
"An Karanir Thanagor, Mor Ok Angalor. Mor Ok Gorum Palahm Raval" (which according to WoWWiki is the recurring leitmotif in the song) sounds slightly orcish.
Perhaps it is the lament of a lost part of Ner'zhul. And maybe Matthias Lehner is doing the singing, he probably has a nicer voice.
Also, if it weren't for the complete lack of apostrophes, I'd say that also looked a little like the Nerubians' language.
Brett Jan 25th 2010 5:30PM
There were excerpts of this in the 3.3 trailer, when the ghosts appear around Arthas while Terenas is talking to him. Such a heartbreaking and evocative piece of music.
Andrew R. Jan 25th 2010 5:41PM
I still want to know how Blizzard chooses what music to put in the game, where they get the ideas from, when do they write the music and/or decide which music goes where in the game.