George Shaw's Legendary Warriors is the soundtrack to a film that hasn't been made, except in the artist's imagination. Oddly enough, the epic scope and sweeping arrangements of Shaw's compositions unreel motion pictures in the mind; each track represents thousands of moving frames, painting vivid scenes of bravery, loss, adventure, violence, and even romance.

Shaw utilizes Asian instruments to create an emotionally charged and intensely physical look at heroism and sacrifice in the ancient days of the Far East. In the title cut, taiko drums pound the speakers into submission, speeding up as the track reaches its breathtaking climax. Shaw is channeling the relentless energy from the martial-arts movies that he grew up on. But it isn't all about action. "Seeking a Master" is sweetened by Xiaodan Zheng's teary-eyed cello, offering a moment of peaceful reflection until the slamming percussion kicks the air. Amy Tatum's dizi helps calm the frenzied pace of "Meditation."

Like parts of a film, Shaw's compositions constantly shift in tone, evolving from a whisper to a scream. "Unlocking Ancient Secrets" opens with lush, melancholic strings that eventually bow to an army of tribal drumming; the same can be said of "Self Discipline" with its mournful intro that is suddenly interrupted by layers of pounding percussion. Shaw is trying to tell a story here, one without words and pictures. However, anyone familiar with the genre that Shaw is absorbing his influences from can easily interpret the plot, and no subtitles are needed.