V/A The Way Of Darkness – A Tribute To John Carpenter (Album – Rustblade Records)
Genre/Influences: Cinematographic, Ambient-Electro.
Format: Digital, CD.
Background/Info: Rustblade Records pays tribute to John Carpenter, the legendary film director and composer. “Christine”, “Halloween” and “The Thing” are just some films from his impressive career as film director and composer. Ten artists contributed to this compilation.
Artists: Claudio Simonetti, Leather Strip, Simulacrum Lab, Mythical Vigilante, Ketvector, Code Elektro, Motion Kapture, Keith McCoy.
Content: Some tunes became as popular as the movies and that’s perfectly transposed in the edits by the artists featured at this compilation. Most tracks hold on to the original tune and atmosphere of the composition while some extra –and more personal, elements can be heard on top. This is a modern Soundtrack for horror music.
+ + + : I like the concept and the idea to see varied artists creating their sonic interpretation of legendary tunes like “Christine”, “Halloween”, “Assault On Precinct 13”, “1997 Escape From new York”, “The Thing” ao. Danish project Code Elektro did a great job on “Assault On Precinct 13”. I especially like the deep bass line running through the song. Another attention grabber is the opening song by Claudio Simonetti reinterpreting “Halloween”. Leather Strip put some extra bombast in “Matthew Ghost Story” while Ketvector’s “Laurie’s Theme” is another noticeable cut.
– – – : This compilation is more for the Carpenter fans and lovers of soundtrack music.
Conclusion: This is a cool homage to one of the true Masters of Horror music/movies.
Best bands: Code Elektro, Leather Strip, Ketvector, Claudio Simonetti.
Rate: 7.
Label: www.rustblade.com / www.facebook.com/rustbladerecords
About Rustblade
Rustblade is an Italian label founded in 2004. Its first releases were the albums “Burnow!” by Detune-X and “Revulsive” by Bahntier. Discogs lists more than 350 releases in its catalogue, ranging from industrial and power electronics to soundtrack reissues by Ennio Morricone, Claudio Simonetti and Angelo Badalamenti. Side-Line has covered several of them, including the 2020 Black Sabbath Rarities & Demos vinyl and the 2023 Ketvector album Emergent Properties.
“The Way Of Darkness (A Tribute To John Carpenter)” was released on 25 June 2021 as a CD digipack limited to 300 copies, with limited vinyl editions issued the same year. Justin Bennett mastered the compilation. Discogs lists ten tracks: “Halloween” and “1997 Escape From New York” by Claudio Simonetti, “Matthew Ghost Story” by Leather Strip, “Christine” by Simulakrum Lab, “Night” by Mythical Vigilante, “Laurie’s Theme” by Ketvector, “Assault On Precinct 13” by Code Elektro, “The Fog” by Motion Kapture, “Chariots Of Pumpkins” by Keith McCoy and “The Thing” by Tibia, an artist the review above does not list.
In October 2021 the label repackaged the tribute in a limited Halloween steel box of 33 copies with orange marbled vinyl and silkscreen posters. The compilation is the release reviewed here.
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