Customer Reviews

The House On Sorority Row (1983 Film) / The Alchemist (1985 Film)

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is a tremendous representation of Richard Band's talents. Despite being two low-budget horror films, Band creates lush, beautiful themes which he uses to great affect.

The first score represented on this CD, "The House on Sorority Row," is much like Band's other works of the horror genre. He creates eerie, dissonant horror cues and pulse-pounding action to accompany the two lush main themes.

The second score, "The Alchemist" is worthy of five stars. The two main themes are very beautiful, one of them even heartbreaking at times, and the two themes are used unsparingly throughout the score, creating what sounds more like drama than horror.

All in all, if you're a fan of film music, you should pick this CD up if find you it. It's well worth it.

As mentioned, it is a very spooky sounding orchestral album. Purely instrumental and very effective in creating a horror-flick tone about it. I normally listen to black metal, which contains a great deal of orchestral (often sythesized) input so I quite liked this album, or what i heard of it. If you are looking for something that is soft yet strong in its own way, have a listen to this. If you like it or even want something heavier, try 'Therion' (the band), their latest album being 'Vovin'.

I must say that while watching A&Es Biography, "Lizzie Borden: A Woman Accused" I was hypnotized by the mystery and perhaps even more so by the appropriateness of the score for the biographical documentary of this infamous citizen of the city of Fall River. His beautifully crafted music seemed absolutely written, taylored for her life story. I was compelled to find the source of the music and indeed, I found it on the internet. It's beautiful! I dare say, Richard Band is the composer which could plead the case that music which provokes our natural sense of fear can be a desirous study, even an inspired choice for listening for an evening of contemplation and music appreciation.

M. Silvia, 8 April, 2000

I must say that while watching A&Es Biography, "Lizzie Borden: A Woman Accused" I was hypnotized by the mystery and perhaps even more so by the appropriateness of the score for the biographical documentary of this, our most infamous citizen of the city of Fall River. His beautifully crafted music written for a low budget horror film, seemed absolutely written, taylored really, for her life story. I was compelled to find the source of the music and indeed, I found it on the internet. It's beautiful! I dare say, Richard Band is the composer which could plead the case that music which provokes our natural sense of fear can be a desirous study, even an inspired choice for listening for a evening of contemplation and music appreciation.

M. Silvia, 8 April, 2000