The soundtrack is a vital part of a film that sets the mood, creates anticipation, and in the world of Horror, accelerates fear. Seen explicitly with John Carpenter’s 1978 score to his film Halloween, other shining examples would have to include the haunting, reverberant notes of Goblin’s 1977 soundtrack for Dario Argento’s Suspiria.
Speaking of Italy’s Progressive Rock band Goblin, between 1975’s Profondo Rosso (Deep Red) and 1989’s The Church, their music was a significant part of a long list of Horror films. Factors no one can deny, for many Suspiria was their introduction to Goblin, while the American audience may have first learned of them through George A Romero’s Dawn of the Dead. Whatever the case might be, Goblin’s music continues to resonate through cinema history, and keeping it alive is founding Goblin Keyboardist Claudio Simonetti. Simonetti, one of the original composers in the band, has been extremely active in recent decades performing live and recording with his own band Daemonia (also known as Claudio Simonetti’s Goblin). Not to be confused with other incantations of Goblin, which currently include Goblin Legacy (featuring former Goblin Keyboardist Maurizio Guarini) and Goblin Rebirth (which includes former Goblin Bassist Fabio Pignatelli), Simonetti’s Goblin has arguably been the most active.
A lot to keep track of, Simonetti’s Goblin in recent years has treated fans to spectacular concert experiences which include live performances of the entire film score of Deep Red in 2019, Suspiria in 2022, and Demons in 2023, before a limited run touring for Dawn of the Dead in 2024. Just some of the very enticing aspects of Simonetti’s work, coinciding with his band’s latest US Tour (ongoing now through to December 14th), there is also a new physical compilation available called Fear: The Ultimate Anthology.
Released on October 25, 2024, through Italian’s soundtrack specialty label Rustblade Records, the new anthology is available either as a limited edition deluxe 2-CD set or a beautiful Limited Gatefold Double LP set with inserts in either blue marble or transparent red vinyl. All great choices, the set consists of nineteen tracks that cover essentially every main title from Goblin soundtracks (including Demons, Phenomena, Tenebre, Suspiria, Dawn of the Dead, and Deep Red), there are also some cool extras such as 2015’s “Mater Lacrimarum” with Cradle of Filth’s Dani Filth on vocals, plus renditions of “Halloween” as well as Mike Oldfield “Tubular Bells” which everyone remembers from 1973’s The Exorcist.
Covering so much more, it is important to mention that the recordings are not the originals featuring in each film’s soundtrack, but newer renditions recorded by Simonetti with Guitarist Daniele Amador, Bassist Cecilia Nappo, and Drummer Federico Maragoni. More Hard Rock driven, the arrangements true to the original vision, but in a unique amplified fashion. Something that should be common knowledge at this point in time, no one should assume anything, and it is best to raise this attention.
Overall, there are many physical and digital releases of Goblin’s music floating around out there, but Fear: The Ultimate Anthology gives you the highlights in one neat package. With this in mind, it would behoove collectors to try and get their hands on one of the vinyl presses, because the transparent red is limited to only 666 copies and the blue marble only 149 copies. A great Christmas present in any physical format for yourself or the Goblin fan in your life, Cryptic Rock gives Fear: The Ultimate Anthology 4.5 out of 5 stars.
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