By Michael A. Pytak 

     Music is an important element of horror films, 
and Italian horror is no exception.  For 
example, Dario Argento's "Suspiria (1977)" works 
visually as well as audibly, thanks to the Italian 
progressive rock band Goblin, a band synonymous 
with various Argento films.  Likewise, Fabio 
Frizzi's music adds the necessary ingredients to 
Lucio Fulci's films, making the audience part of the 
experience.  Frizzi, who has been a longtime 
collaborator with Fulci, delivers another beautiful 
score full of mystery and suspense, complimenting 
the Maestro's classic, "The Gates of Hell."   Beat 
Records of Italy has released the soundtrack on a 
digitally mastered CD.
     Frizzi opens "The Gates of Hell" with a silent 
chorus of strings, building the necessary tension of 
the supernatural which is present throughout the 
film, until the sounds of a wailing guitar kick open 
the doorway to Hell!  In my opinion, this is one of 
Frizzi's best theme songs.          
     The CD features ten tracks from the film, 
although the track listings are in Italian, not 
English.  However, this won't detract the listener.   
Fulci fans will instantly recognize the main themes, 
although unless you have a translator by your side, 
you will probably be scratching your head, 
wondering what the Hell you're listening to.  But 
wait, there's more…
     Beat Records has followed up Frizzi's music 
with Giuliano Sorgini's score for Jorge Grau's 
"Let Sleeping Corpses Lie (1974)." 
     Basically, "The Living Dead at the Manchester 
Morgue (1974)" is, in a sense, Italy's version of 
George A. Romero's "Night of the Living Dead 
(1968)."  Farmers are using experimental 
pesticides to rid the countryside of pests and such, 
causing a bad side effect on the population by 
making the dead come back to life!
     Sorgini's music works brilliantly in the film, 
fusing a funky rhythm with the supernatural 
throughout the soundtrack.  You gotta love that 
crazy beat in the track, 'John Dalton Street,' my 
favorite cut from the film.
     Personally, this is one of the few soundtracks in 
my collection that I listen to often.  Why?  Perhaps 
the shrieks and howls that accompany Sorgini's 
haunting score.  There is something about track 
thirteen that gives me the creeps, but you'll have to 
dig up a copy to find out for yourself!
     There are fifteen tracks from this film, making 
the CD a total of 25 tracks, guaranteed to make 
your skin crawl!  
     Unfortunately, this imported CD is out of print, 
but you can search eBay for a copy...if you dare!