By Chuck Pee
Aptly named record label We Release Whatever The Fuck We Want is releasing another version of the ZOMBI 3 soundtrack, this time on a limited cassette run that’s shipping on the 11th of December. It’s an amazing soundtrack for an awful, awful movie.
This is what you need to know: in Italy, George Romero’s DAWN OF THE DEAD was named ZOMBI and there’s a bunch of unofficial sequels that start with Lucio Fulci’s ZOMBI 2 (also known as ZOMBIE FLESH EATERS). Needless to say there’s some ups and downs in this series; ZOMBIE 2 is regarded as a B-movie masterpiece (it has a shark vs. zombie scene done with a real shark), while ZOMBI 3 to 5 are somewhat appalling.
This specific ZOMBI is way more fun than it should be. Fulci started directing but had a stroke and the end result was directed by Bruno Mattei and Claudio Fragasso, the writing is done by all three and, well, let’s say it’s uneven at most. Yet, if you’re in the mood for a silly zombie movie, you can’t much better than this shlock.
Stefano Mainetti’s soundtrack is really good however. Depending on the version you grab a hold of, you can hear a mix of instrumental cues with some really cheesy (yet fun) rock songs, or hear a full side of cues, then a full side of songs. There used to be a CD version that was relatively easy to find, even if it was an Italian import.
To be fair, while the rock songs are reminiscent of the shiny coked up studio sound prevalent in the ‘80s, the instrumental cues are the main reason you should own this release in whatever version you can find. They are full of synths and drum pads and though the recurring theme is not a classic like that in THE BOOGEYMAN or THE EXORCIST, it’s pretty close and damn well recognizable. Think of Mainetti as an heir to the Claudio Simonetti throne.
We Release Whatever The Fuck We Want has three versions of it already: red vinyl, green vinyl (which includes skits from the radio DJ in the movie), and now this limited run cassette. It’s supposed to be sold out on their own website, but it’ll be available in specialized stores such as Two Headed Dog Records, Transmission Records (in the UK), and the like. So do try to get it as it’s a fun little release worth owning on cassette.
