While the television adaptation of 12 Monkeys hasn’t turned too many heads, it has consistently provided an entertaining sci-fi adventure. Season 1 saw Trevor Rabin and Paul Linford do an extremely engaging score, Linford continued the second season. It wasn’t till Season 3 that we saw a bit of a composer change, Bryce Jacobs scored 2 episodes with some additional help from Stephen Barton, but starting with episode 3 Barton took over for the rest of season.

Stephen Barton has made a name for himself by consistently telling amazing stories through his music. I discovered him through his work with Harry Gregson-Williams, but as his solo career grew it was evident that his capabilities as a storyteller weren't being masked by Harry’s music. 12 Monkeys: Season 3 is a wonderful journey that is fueled by melody and bold textures to create an intense and exciting ride.

Season 3 of 12 Monkeys is a dive into a world full of propulsive music that instantly grabs you. The score’s arc across the season is amazing and it’s represented very well in this album. The initial atmosphere is what draws you into the narrative, but as you move along you’ll see just how well the music is telling a story. Electronic textures and strings make up the main soundscape of the score, but it’s how they’re implemented that makes such an impact. The thematic and melodic material is nothing too complex, and it’s in that perfect simplicity that beautiful moments of emotion are born from. The score is surprisingly emotional and full of character, and that’s what makes it memorable in the end. You can have all the style you want to make the score stand out, but if there’s no substance underneath then it feels hollow. Thankfully the score never feels hollow or empty. There’s just so much personality that makes the music feel unique to the world of the show, and it puts Barton’s musical stylings on full display. By the time we come to the end, we truly feel like the season’s arc has come to its conclusion.

12 Monkeys: Season 3’s score is incredibly rich and engaging. Barton infuses so much energy, intensity and emotion into it but balances it with expertise. The music has such a unique voice that you are instantly absorbed into the world of the narrative. By keeping the thematic and melodic structures simple, the emotions resonate much more deeply. This is an extremely entertaining ride with some real heart woven through it. Hopefully there won’t be any composer changes for the 4th and final season so that Barton can jump in where he left off.