Hans Zimmer explosive score for Crimson Tide is in the same style as Backdraft and The Rock, i.e. very powerful music with a mixture of synths, orchestra and a heavy percussive sound, but much, much better. While Backdraft and The Rock are very good scores, Crimson Tide rocks! As I have already said the music is very percussive, and both electronic and acoustic percussion are being used generously throughout the score.
Zimmer seems to have a talent for good, lyrical themes, and the ones in Crimson Tide are no exception. Often played by brass they sound the best when played loud, and if you have a subwoofer, or just a decent pair of speakers, this score, with it's heavy bass, will rock your house. Maybe this is the reason so many people, not just film music fans, likes this Zimmer score, as well as Backdraft and The Rock? Because it's so powerful, I mean.
The orchestrations are more to the forceful, brassy way, with heavy trombones, horns and trumpets. If you've heard Backdraft and The Rock you know what I'm talking about. Then you should also know how well Zimmer handles the mans choir. Well, it's in here too, to give the music that extra power. The choir is also used in an a capella arrangement of the psalm "Eternal Father Strongs to Save", that is being used in different parts of the score, especially in the track "Roll Tide", where it given it's best rendition. There's also some soft trumpet solos in some cues, most notably in the beginning of "1SQ".
There are only four tracks on the album, but they're all very long (the longest is almost 24 minutes!). Perhaps it would have been better with shorter, but instead more tracks instead?