Hollywood Records release the original score for Alien: Romulus by composer Benjamin Wallfisch. The soundtrack is also available to pre-order on vinyl, courtesy of Mutant and will include 6 bonus tracks. While scavenging the deep ends of a derelict space station, a group of young space colonizers come face to face with the most terrifying life form in the universe...

The score for Alien: Romulus stands on the shoulders of what has gone before, whilst also managing to deliver a new and original sound. There's the occasional homage to the previous work of James Horner and Jerry Goldsmith - most notably 'XX121' which "borrows" the theme from Alien, but this is far from a score of heavily revisited themes. It's original and deserves to be treated as such.

Discussing the score, composer Benjamin Wallfisch says: "It was an honour to work with Fede Álvarez [director] and my love for the original films made it a joy to contribute to this iconic franchise. By immersing myself in the musical legacy of [James] Horner and [Jerry] Goldsmith, the aim was to embody the tone of what came before while creating fresh elements through a fusion of electronics and traditional orchestral textures. The score is a reflection of the film's complex characters and the eerie, tension-filled atmosphere of deep space, blending new techniques with the timeless sound of the Alien universe."

The music, like the film, is first and foremost steeped in the horror genre. But whilst there are atmospheric elements, this is not an album full of dull background music with the occasional jump scare.

'Elevator Shaft Attack' had many beats that reminded me of John Williams' score for Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom. And 'The Offspring' is probably the best example of Wallfisch's use of electronically altered strings. It's eerie, yet beautifully hypnotic.

This is a horror score that you'll get caught up in. It's engaging, atmospheric and, most interestingly, it's incredibly suspenseful.

8

Darren Rea