Last Updated on November 7, 2024 by Angel Melanson
Ishirō Honda’s seminal kaiju classic Godzilla sees its 70th anniversary this year, and Waxwork Records is celebrating by bringing Akira Ifukube’s iconic score to vinyl.
The re-mastered release, for which Waxwork Records worked closely with Toho to deliver, is pressed to colored vinyl, housed in a deluxe gatefold jacket with matte satin coating, an art print, and featuring all-new artwork throughout by Robert Sammelin.
Released in 1954, Godzilla kickstarted Japan’s kaiju craze and went on to become one of the most revered and legendary monster movies of all time. Famously, Ifukube considered his work on Godzilla to be his finest film score, reflecting both the epic nature of the reptilian monster’s size and the mournful representation of Japan’s post-war nuclear fears.
Per Waxwork’s official description:
“The film’s score by Akira Ifukube has become an instantly recognizable piece of film music. Given only the script and a week in which to compose, Ifukube crafted a score that feels as enormous as the kaiju himself. Godzilla’s theme has become a staple of nearly all subsequent Godzilla films and was considered by Ifukube to be the greatest piece of music he had written.
“Using low-pitched brass and string instruments, Ifukube gives the score a massiveness and weight that complement the terror and destruction brought about by the rampaging monster. Ifukube also used a deeply resonant stringed instrument to create Godzilla’s iconic roar, a trick used to create the roar throughout the franchise.”
Ifukbe’s soundtrack also played a big role in last year’s Godzilla Minus One, for which a sequel was just announced today.
To pre-order your copy of the Godzilla vinyl, head over to Waxwork Records official site.
