Sony Music Classical, out now

Michael Giacchino’s score for the final part of the Planet of the Apes prequel trilogy is an epic and rousing composition, thematically miles away from his other summer blockbusters.

In our review for Giacchino’s Spider-Man: Homecoming score, we praised it for being jolly and jaunty. War for the Planet of the Apes proves just how chameleonic the composer is, being a far more sombre and affecting piece. Sadly we don’t get the tribal version of Alfred Newman’s 20th Century Fox Fanfare, with the album instead launching with the near 11-minute Apes Past is Prologue, detailing the discovery of and attack on the apes’ camp. It’s not an easy listen, with low guttural hums, growling percussion and choral wailing.

Exodus Wounds (yes, Giacchino is back to his puntastic best – Don’t Luca Now, Planet of the Escapes) gives us the purest version of what we’ll call Caesar’s Revenge Theme, a heartbreaking, simple piano phrase that grows in stature on repetition and then swells up to full orchestra. It’s powerful and at the same time has an innate sadness about it.

The Posse Polonaise introduces another simple piano-led theme that develops into a grand, brassy travelling anthem of John Barry proportions. It then gains action cue embellishments in The Bad Ape Bagatelle as our protagonists pursue Steve Zahn’s cheeky chimp.

Don’t Luca Now is a refrain of The Posse Polonaise while Kobe Dependent is one of the rare times where the composer references his Dawn of the Planet of the Apes work. The Ecstasy of the Bold is a great, rousing drum and strings live with the violins getting frenetic. Or just skip to the 9-minute End Credits which reprises the key themes and movements.

Verdict: Optimistic and tender, big and brassy, military and tribal – Michael Giacchino crams a lot into of themes and love into this ape-ic score. 9/10

Nick Joy