As a fan of Zimmer's more recent music as well as the old stuff, I will agree that "Man of Steel" was a disappointment, for me mainly because of his strange discussions of how the new music would celebrate average, small town Americans. Ummmm... what? I love massive choirs and chugging strings and all but small town America? Really? Heard him try to rationalize it and how he sat down, thought about middle America, thought powerlines, powerlines make him think of electric...hence electric guitars in the epic music. Hence middle America. Ehhh sorry Hans, a bit of a slippery slope. And the lack of romance in the music was a disappointment as well.

Though, honestly, I do enjoy the middle section of the score quite a bit. I disagree one the female vocalist in "Goodbye My Son" and probably consider that the most emotional and beautiful part of the score, a highlight in the midst of mediocrity. And I do like the propulsive and urgent nature of "If You Love These People", and maybe I'm just a sucker, but "Terraforming" is pretty epic. Especially the epic choral closing. Yeah, a bit of a guilty pleasure but I enjoy it.

And I do think there is actually a General Zod theme besides the drumming... the string ostinato that is highlighted on the bonus track of the same name pops up a few times throughout, most notably on "Terraforming" and gets its best performance on "I Will Find Him". Though, not entirely sure you'd count a Zimmer ostinato as a proper theme, but it is there.