Fans of Syfys massively successful reboot of classic sci-fi series Battlestar Galactica were excited but understandably skeptical when the network announced that its upcoming Caprica would be set 50 years prior to the events of BSG.

The involvement of longtime "Battlestar" composer Bear McCreary, however, certainly has helped legitimize it in the eyes of fans. With the recent soundtrack release of the two-hour television movie that will launch the series, McCreary establishes right from the outset that Caprica will not simply mimic the music of its sister series.

Taking place largely in Caprica City, the series centers on two rival families, the Adamas and the Graystones, and the winding road that will lead humanity into its final war for survival. Yet, despite the obvious connection between the story of Caprica and the ensuing war already dramatized on BSG, McCreary wisely takes an inverse approach to the music, reflecting the same dramatic irony that builds tension on the series. Because the characters - unlike the audience - remain in the dark about the repercussions their actions will have on the fate of the world, the series plays more like a suspense thriller than science-fiction.

The events of Caprica develop into an impending doomsday, and accordingly, the soundtracks tone is less action-oriented than the themes of "Battlestar" and more focused on a dark, reflective sense of foreboding. Virtually every track features a poignant combination of tragedy and menace, signaling that the apocalypse is just around the corner.

As the series introduces new characters, so does its soundtrack present fresh themes to accompany them. Tracks like Amanda Graystone and Lacey and Zoe-A deliver some sharp new sounds to the Battlestar" universe, allowing McCreary to expand his musical sandbox. Caprica features more piano and brass than BSG did, eschewing the rollicking bombast of percussion that Battlestar so often relied on to keep audiences engaged. This contributes a softer, more introspective sound to Caprica.

Though McCreary spends much of the soundtrack trying to establish the series as its own entity, tracks such as The Adama Name introduce inklings of some key melodies of Battlestar, though in a far different context than previously heard. In this way, McCreary bridges the auditory gap between the two series, gently reassuring listeners that he hasnt forgotten what destiny has in store for the residents of Caprica City.

After just a single listen, BSG fans may think McCreary has forsaken his roots to turn Caprica into something its not. But, upon reflection, theyll likely realize that - though its narratives are inevitably intertwined - Caprica brings to life a world totally unlike that of BSG, a world which will in time be ravaged and torn by humanitys own thirst for power.

Caprica simply allows further exploration of how it all went down, and in doing so, gives McCreary plenty of room to continue to stretch and develop his knack for transporting viewers to another universe through his music.