DISCLAIMER: I did write the liner notes for the album, and was provided with review copies by Spacelab9 after the album was released. In light of this, I will attempt to be as unbiased as possible with my review.
Splatterhouse (neon purple vinyl edition, 2023) from Spacelab9
original Spacelab9 preorder page
It's been a long time since I wrote an album review, and I've never written a vinyl record review before. I've never been someone you'd call an audiophile, so if you're expecting a review talking about the sound quality or what gram of vinyl this is and how it compares to other vinyl releases, you've come to the wrong place. But if you're a Splatterhouse fan that wants to know if this worth adding to your collection, bear with me.
I only opened one of my copies for this review, the Neon Purple edition. The first thing that struck me upon receiving my review copies was the glossy finish highlighting some of the elements on the album jacket, like the Splatterhouse logo. The artwork by Shagrat looks even better in person than it does in the preview pictures. On the back of the jacket is the tracklisting and a picture from the ending of the game. The sticker on the plastic wrap is a nice nod to the Turbografx-16 box cover.
The album jacket is a gatefold display that uses the artwork from the original arcade flyer, which looks beautiful up close. The record itself is in a black sleeve, and in a pocket on the back side of the jacket are the liner notes that I wrote. As advertised on the sticker, the record itself is a vivid neon purple. The "Mouldering Mansion" purple/black haze and "Pustulent" green/purple variants were exclusive to those that preordered from Spacelab9.
The big question, of course, is how does it sound? Crystal clear! Even on my daughter's mini Victrola record player, I didn't notice any issues. I went through the entirety of the record, and I was extraordinarily impressed. I'm sure it would have sounded even better through a sound system with decent speakers, like I used to own in my early twenties, but I'll take what I can get.
Judge for yourself (forty-five second preview)
My review copies came with a couple of nice bonuses: this double-sided Halloween decoration, and this slipmat featuring the album cover artwork. These were both Spacelab9 presale exclusives, and are unfortunately now out of stock.
I was very impressed with the package overall. Even if you're not a vinyl collector, this is worth having in your Splatterhouse collection. Spacelab9 gave the original soundtrack the treatment it deserved, and I'm happy to have played a small part in making it happen.
Where to order:
Amazon (US)
Amazon (Canada)
Amazon (UK)
Light In The Attic (featuring an exclusive clear vinyl variant)
Best Buy
Barnes & Noble
FYE
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