Varese Sarabande's two newest limited edition CD Club titles will set score lovers afire, in more ways than one.

First up, the label finishes their expansions of John Powell's beloved scores to the animated How to Train Your Dragon trilogy. Based on the children's books of the same name, the DreamWorks-produced series told the story of a misfit Viking named Hiccup (voiced by Jay Baruchel) who learns to lead the island of Berk - like his father before him - with the help of a dragon named Toothless. The series earned acclaim for its visuals as well as the evolving natures of characters (both human and dragon) as the series progressed over a decade of films. (Universal Pictures is prepping a live-action remake for a 2025 release, the same year a Berk-themed land will open at the studio's new Orlando theme park, Epic Universe.)

Once again, Powell builds upon his themes for the series with a large, orchestral sound and the ongoing partnership with Icelandic singer Jónsi. Tim Grieving writes new liner notes for this release, including commentary from series writer/director Dean DeBlois. As with previous expansions of the HTTYD scores, this set coincides with the release of the full, printed film score from Omni Music Publishing.

Varese's next release brings a fire of a different kind, offering Danny Elfman's score to 2008's Hellboy II: The Golden Army. The second film based on Mike Mignola's Dark Horse comic antihero, Hellboy II brings back Ron Perlman under tremendous makeup as the titular demon with a stone fist, who works as a paranormal investigator alongside a cast of similarly enhanced characters (Selma Blair as the pyrokinetic Liz Sherman, Doug Jones as the psychic fish man Abe Sapien). Both original Hellboy films were co-written and directed by genre fan Guillermo del Toro; for The Golden Army, del Toro crafted the story alongside Mignola himself, about an exiled elven prince who seeks to start a war of magical creatures and humans. Elfman's score, taking over from composer Marco Beltrami, is his only collaboration with del Toro - a master of off-kilter fantasy not unlike Elfman's longtime creative partner Tim Burton. Here, it's expanded to two discs, with new liner notes by Daniel Schweiger.

Both scores are available to order now; it's worth noting for European soundtrack fans that with these releases, Varese is reactivating a local online store - creating less headaches for those who wish to avoid import fees. Check them both out at the links below.

John Powell, How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack - The Deluxe Edition) (Varese Sarabande, 2024 - original film released 2019)

Disc 1: Film score

1. Rescue Mission - Busy Busy Berk
2. Marry Her - Grimmel's Terms
3. Legend Has It
4. Mysterious Creature
5. Toothless in Love
6. Dart Trap
7. Grimmel Visit - First Fight
8. Town Hall Speech - Exodus
9. Setting Up Camp
10. Valka's Warning
11. Forbidden Courtship
12. Toothless Flies Alone
13. Near Miss Valka
14. Romance in the Clouds
15. New Berk Feast
16. Ambush - Cage Fight
17. Stronger Together
18. New Island
19. Into the Hole
20. The Hidden World *
21. With Love Comes Loss

Disc 2: Film score (1-6) and bonus tracks (7-12)

1. Grimmel's Surprise
2. The Hiccup I Know - Armada Battle
3. Ultimate Sacrifice - Freedom
4. Viking Wedding - Boat Epilogue
5. Together from Afar **
6. The Hidden World Suite
7. Busy Busy Berk
8. Legend Has It
9. Forbidden Courtship
10. Toothless Flies Alone
11. Romance in the Clouds
12. Viking Wedding

Portions previously released as Backlot Music BLM-760, 2019
* co-written by Jónsi ** written and performed by Jónsi; produced by Emile Haynie and Jónsi

Danny Elfman, Hellboy II: The Golden Army (Original Motion Picture Score - The Deluxe Edition) (Varese Sarabande VSD-00735, 2024 - original film released 2008)

Disc 1

1. Introduction (from Hellboy II)
2. Hellboy II - Main Theme
3. Enter Mr. Wink
4. Auction House
5. Hallway Cruise
6. Intro Big Red *
7. Domestic Fight *
8. Where Fairies Dwell (Original Version) **
9. Red's OK *
10. Royal Family *
11. A Big Decision *
12. Manning Ridicule/Father and Son
13. Mein Herring
14. Teleplasty
15. Intimidated?/Secret Agent Suite *
16. Entering Troll Market/Marketplace Suite
17. Troll Market Source *
18. Troll Market Source (Alternate) *
19. Princess and Abe *
20. Search and Interrogation *
21. Reading Each Other *

Disc 2

1. Market Fight/Ground Wink
2. Little Informants/The Bean Suite *
3. Birth of a God *
4. Elemental Flight 1 & 2 *
5. The Last Elemental
6. Big Decision
7. A Link *
8. Fuck - Used *
9. He's Here *
10. Spear (Film Version) **
11. The Dilemma
12. Recollection *
13. They're Off *
14. Doorway - Pts. 1-3
15. A Choice
16. Decision Made Pt. 1 & Pt. 2 Suite *
17. Army Chamber/Kill Them (Film Version)
18. Finale (from Hellboy II) (Film Version)

Portions previously released as Varese Sarabande 302 066 910-2, 2008
* previously unreleased ** extended cue