Are you obsessed with John Carpenter's iconic music for the Halloween series? Do you thrill to the unforgettable stabs of the Psycho score, or the pounding synth of Goblin's soundtrack to Suspiria? Do you find yourself being pulled into the hair-raising modern scores for the likes of Get Out, Hereditary, and It Follows?
You're not alone.
Blood on Black Wax is a defining horror soundtrack volume that spotlights iconic franchises such as A Nightmare on Elm Street, Friday the 13th, Jaws, The Exorcist, Child’s Play, and George A. Romero's 'living dead' films, highlighting both the music and the amazing, often rare artwork that graces the record sleeves. It also tells the stories behind the soundtrack, from the mouths of the musicians who made them, including John Carpenter, Fabio Frizzi, Christopher Young, Harry Manfredini, Charles Bernstein, Pino Donaggio, John Harrison, and more.
Aaron Lupton and Jeff Szpirglas, both of Rue Morgue magazine, have curated Blood on Black Wax to reflect their own passion for the darkest slabs of soundtrack music. Their journey into the fascinating history of horror movie scores contains reviews, release details, and the wild stories about the making of both iconic classics and the strange outliers of the genre – everything from the orchestral sounds of Hammer and Universal horror, to the truly experimental albums for The Texas Chainsaw Massacre and Eraserhead, to the outlandish punk and metal songs of '80s soundtrack albums like The Return of the Living Dead and Shocker.
Go back to your favourite horror films one more time, through the jaw-dropping, spine-tingling music that helped solidify their place in cinematic history!
About the Authors
Aaron Lupton has been writing for Rue Morgue since 2001 and is currently in the role of Music Editor, discussing horror-themed music and artists. An avid fan and collector of horror movie soundtracks, his attic functions as an ever growing library of music on vinyl, as well as the recording home of From My Parents Basement podcast, which he hosts with Eric Gaudet and Gary Pullin.
Jeff Szpirglas has been rabidly listening to film soundtracks since picking up an audio cassette of Return of the Jedi back in 1983. Over the years, he has contributed to Film Score Monthly and now regularly writes for Rue Morgue magazine. He is also the author of over 20 books for young readers, ranging from horror novels to nonfiction tomes.
Mick Garris (foreword) is a filmmaker, screenwriter, and producer whose projects include Hocus Pocus, Tales from the Crypt, The Stand, Freddy's Nightmares, and Amazing Stories.
Christopher Young (afterword) is a composer whose projects include Hellraiser, Drag Me to Hell, Pet Sematary, The Exorcism of Emily Rose, Ghost Rider, and Spider-Man 3.
Industry Reviews
Holiday Gift Guide Mentions: Fangoria, Under the Radar, Ultimate Classic Rock.
"Horror nut? Vinyl fiend? You've come to the right place. We're obsessed with Blood On Black Wax: Horror Soundtracks On Vinyl, a lovingly crafted book that catalogues some of the greatest horror soundtracks of all time." - NME
"Blood On Black Wax takes a deep dive into the history of horror movie soundtracks and the cool AF artwork that cloaks them." - Alternative Press
"What a fantastic book! This thick tome, in full glorious color, is beautiful." - Blumhouse's Shock Waves podcast
"Blood on Black Wax is a passionate tribute to movie soundtracks and vinyl, giving a voice to the composers who deserve to be celebrated and amplified just as loudly as their memorable music." - Slash Film
"For those who possess any love whatsoever for soundtracks from the dark side of cinema, it is difficult to fully relay how comprehensive and essential Blood on Black Wax truly is." - Decibel
"A refreshing read and a fun addition to your coffee table." - Screen Anarchy
"Horror buffs, meet music nerds. Blood on Black Wax is both accessible and fascinating - not just for the record nerd or the horror fan, but for anyone who watched Hereditary and found themselves thinking about the music afterwards." - The Outline
"Screams aren't the only horror movie sounds which frighten us - nothing can amp up the fear as much as the right soundtrack. And nobody knows that better than Aaron Lupton and Jeff Szpirglas, co-authors of Black Wax: Horror Soundtracks on Vinyl, which gives the backstories behind those terrifying tunes." - Shudder
"A beautiful looking object that is also super insightful, engrossing, and a must for any self-respecting soundtrack fan." - Spencer Hickman / Mondo
"For the first time, an entire book dedicated solely to the rarest and wildest soundtracks and scores from every corner of the horror pantheon." - Invisible Oranges
"Blood on Black Wax is a horror music fan's dream book." - Vehlinggo
