EORÐESLAJYR is a name probably new to our readers, but one to familiarize yourself with. This Irish duo just completely reimagined the score to the classic horror film Haxan from 1922, which is easily one of the most frightening releases of the year. Nab it off their Bandcamp page.
While you’re doing so, the band provided a list of films they wish they’d written the score for – a bunch of must-see classics from many genres and countries. Check it out below:
1. Akira (1988)
One of our favorite soundtracks ever. I doubt we could do anything to improve it but the visuals are so awesome it would be fun to try. The Indonesian gamelan influence would have to stay and we’d probably do even more buddhist chanting. What’s amazing about the music here is how they combine a synth driven future Neo Tokyo feel with older, more traditional elements of Asian music. The fact that Geinoh Yamashirogumi didn’t go on to do more soundtracks is such a shame. I think now they mainly operate as an amateur live gamelan performance group, it is our dream to collaborate with them one day.
2. Suspiria (1977)
Another one that couldn’t possibly be done better and definitely the gold standard for occult horror soundtracks. Suspiria is an astoundingly vibrant and disturbing film about a coven of witches masking as a ballet school; and Goblin’s panic-inducing soundscape of drums, mandolin, synthesiser and whispered vocals serves as the perfect accompaniment. The opening scene with the taxi cab driving through the pounding rain is perhaps the most foreboding pairing of sound and image in 70s horror.
3. Conan the Barbarian (1982)
What is best in life? I’m a big Arnie fan and really into the whole vibe of Conan. The soundtrack is great but I think we could redo it way darker and emphasize Conan’s Nietzschean philosophy and isolation from society. A lot of the film is quite slow moving with great cinematography. We’d probably use lots of huge washing textures, guttural vocals and barbarian inspired percussion and hope that Crom accepts our offering.
4. Hausu (1977)
Amazing Japanese film with one of the strangest soundtracks ever for a haunted house movie. The music is really upbeat, happy and childlike. Totally in contrast to some of the ultra-violent/comical scenes. If we were gonna redo this I think we’d have to keep the original light hearted tone for the music but occasionally take it much darker and unsettling. Unlike the original we would also steer well clear of any possible jazz funk influences. Possible source of inspiration would be ‘Suspended Animation’ by Fantomas.
5. xXx (2002)
There’s no better way to get inspired to write some sick nu-metal material than watching Vin Diesel snowboard down an exploding avalanche while trying to infiltrate a Russian Anarchist gang. I think for this we would have to drop tune all our guitars to A and to listen to nothing but Rammstein and Static X for a month. Movies like this and Mission Impossible did a lot to validate heavy music as something that could be popular. We’d need to bring some serious riffs and possibly have several rap breakdowns and get someone on turntable duty at all times. Xander Cage deserves nothing less.
6. Godzilla (1954)
This movie was made for an experimental reinterpretation. It was before the days of modern sound design so the whole movie is basically just dialogue and music. The original soundtrack is awesome but the terrible lizard is crying out for some harsh, pulsing drones and gigantic sounding guitar feedback. Think Sunn O))) meets Yamantaka Eye impersonating a dinosaur. But also there needs to be some softness, you need to empathize with Godzilla towards the end. He’s not evil, just from another time.
