When it comes to Italian horror films, there is no name more synonymous with it then Dario Argento who made films like Opera, The Bird With The Crystal Plumage, Deep Red, Zombi, Demons, and the film that is receiving the remake treatment in Suspiria. The same could also be said for Italian soundtrack kings, the progressive rock wizards known as Goblin who in 1977 were made up of Agostino Marangolo (Drums, Vocals), Massimo Morante (Electric Guitars, Acoustic, bouzouki), Fabio Pignatelli (Fretless Bass, Fretted Bass, Acoustic Guitar, tabla, vocals), and Claudio Simonetti (Mellotron, Elka organ, Logan violin, Celesta, Fender Rhodes electric piano, grand piano, Moog synthesizers). To keep up with the theme of Halloween on the blog, we chose the band’s soundtrack to Suspiria that they released on June 15, 1977. Suspiria was a very successful film in it’s time and the soundtrack to the film flourished as well, but right now I do not have any numbers as far as how successful the soundtrack really was.
1. Suspiria-The title track opens up with some amazing sounds of the Mellotron, but then it switches in tone and the pace picks up as the rock side of the song comes alive with the brilliance of Simonetti and his keyboard playing. 5/5
2. Witch– The track starts off with a more tribal feel because of the drums, but it has that ominous feel to it especially with the weird chanting. You can definitely tell during the track all the suspenseful moments with the changes in tones. 5/5
3. Opening To The Sighs– an intro track which is 34 seconds in length 4/5
4. Sighs-I love how the track starts with people sighing with some screeches thrown in there as well before we get this instrumental and I believe this is where we get instruments like the bouzouki in it and some of the various organ sounds. It has a very hypnotic element to it as well like we are presented with a witch. 5/5
5. Markos– It opens with some keys and a very unique bass sound that sounds like it’s being manipulated through a synthesizer. 4.5/5
6. Black Forest-a more straightforward prog rock track that sounds like something that Pink Floyd would conjure up and it features Antonio Marangolo playing the sax on the track. 5/5
7. Blind Concert-The track begin with some ringing of bells before it goes into a little bit of a funk kind of rhythm complete with some unique sounds from Simonetti. 4.5/5
8. Death Valzer– The last track off the album is one of those old time classical piano tracks that is Simonetti flexing his musical muscles. 4/5
My Final Thoughts– As far as Horror soundtracks are concerned this is one of the best of the best and you could understand why Dario hung on to them. My favorite from Claudio Simonetti is still the work he did on the soundtrack to Opera, but this ranks right up there for me as far as Goblin is concerned. My favorite tracks are Suspiria, Black Forest, and Sighs. I don’t really have a least favorite track, but if I was to pick one it would be Death Valzer. I am giving the album 4.6 stars out of five for a final grade.
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