Paying tribute to the master can be a daunting task. The question of whether to stay as close to the source material as possible or do something that is both a spiritual companion to the original and yet uniquely its own can be quite an uphill battle. Rustblade Records’ The Way of Darkness, for the most part, opts for the latter, providing fans new and old of John Carpenter’s film score work something they recognize, but also an experience that feels like a fresh breath of air.
From the opening track, Goblin’s Claudio Simonetti’s take on the theme for Halloween, you know that this record will not be your typical tribute. Trading in the simplicity of Carpenter’s original, Simonetti puts his drum heavy, electric guitar rendition right in your face, feeling closer to something you’d hear in a prog rock performance than The Shape lurking and stalking. The moment Leæther Strip’s take of The Fog’s “Matthew Ghost Story” begins, the overall vibe of the record hits you, letting you know that this is a tribute album that screams DRUMS. Taking what’s easily one of Carpenter’s best cues and making it even more ominous and updated, “Matthew Ghost Story” establishes itself as the standout track. It builds and builds until what you’re experiencing is a perfect stew of drums, synth,s and some epic string arrangements, slowly escalating until you could swear The Fog is outside YOUR window.
The very second Simulakrum Lab begins their version of “Christine,” the record takes a detour into synthwave greatness. They puta hitting beat and infectious synths front and center, giving the JC theme a fresh perspective that feels like a true tribute. Mythical Vigilante’s update of “Night” from JC’s Lost Themes is one of the rare examples of a tribute feeling a bit too similar to the source material. To be honest, this isn’t necessarily a drawback, as the original is a wonderful track, so to say that it sounds close isn’t bad. But in an album in which tracks are supposed to be their own thing, it ends up feeling too close to what came before. “Laurie’s Theme,” by Ketvector, adds a touch of foreboding percussion to a track that was already terrifying. In doing so, this version lodges itself under your skin and scares the hell out of you. Motion Kapture does an excellent job of giving the theme from The Fog a synth-heavy update. A deep bass provides a skeletal frame as the main riff pans between left and right, making for one hell of a track and further solidifying this record as a must own.
Updated takes on the theme from Assault on Precinct 13 and Halloween III’s “Chariots of Pumpkins” make for some fun listening and Simonetti’s “1997 Fuga da New York” adds another round of prog rock gold. Like Ketvector and Leæther Strip’s tracks, Tibia’s reimagining of “The Thing” is one hell of an experience, taking what we loved about the original track and making it BURST out of your record player and into your ribcage.
Doing a great tribute album is difficult, yes. That said, The Way of Darkness is an excellent example of how you not only pay homage to a master, but also make a record that should be displayed in every fan’s collection.
About the Author: Harper Smith is a film composer and journalist from California. When not writing about films and the music found within them, they release instrumental music as RainyDaysForGhosts and their debut book, Faith, Doubt, and Existential Horror (an analytical look at William Peter Blatty’s Faith trilogy) is hitting shelves next year via Bear Manor Publishing.