The Dark Universe vinyl record is back in stock for the opening of Universal Epic Universe. The record features the world’s score, composed by Danny Elfman.
Dark Universe Vinyl Record – $45
The record’s slipcase features art of Frankenstein’s Monster, The Bride of Frankenstein, The Mummy, The Wolfman, Gil-Man a.k.a. the Creature from the Black Lagoon, Dracula, and Victoria Frankenstein. The gatefold (not pictured) has expanded art, including the world’s portal, while the record has an electric blue, purple, and black splatter design.
Though the monsters’ appearances reflect their classic designs, they were all updated for Dark Universe, which follows a new storyline. Victoria is an original character, the descendant of Henry Frankenstein and the star of the ride Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment.
The back of the slipcase has a message from Danny Elfman, the track list, and credits.
THE MUSIC OF THE MONSTERS
A decade or so ago when we released the 25th anniversary box set for the Music of the Films of Tim Burton, it contained a book with many interviews. In that book, director Guillermo Del Toro described me quite accurately as “a monster kid” from the generation, much like Del Toro and Burton themselves, that quite literally grew up on monsters. They were my life. I eagerly awaited the release of the magazine Famous Monsters of Filmland each month and cherished every page as if it were sacred text. And since I spent every weekend of my childhood at the neighborhood movie theater which played more or less every monster film made, I had plenty of fuel to keep that infatuation going.
Years later when I became a film composer, I frequently turned to those movies for musical inspiration. The classic Bride of Frankenstein was definitely my favorite, but movies like The Wolfman, The Creature from the Black Lagoon, The Thing From Another World and the many sci-fi films I grew up on were right up there as well.
When I got the call from Universal to work on the music to their new Dark Universe I was, to say the least, more than up for it.
It was such a treat working on this project. Not only did I get to work with a great bunch of enthusiastic creative people, but I got to travel back to my own childhood and revisit my original inspirations. And while the attractions are all unique and original, they use characters that I have loved my whole life, such as the Universal Film Legends: Frankenstein, Dracula, The Wolfman and The Mummy, who show up at different times throughout the park experience. I felt both honored and energized to have been chosen for this wonderful project. I hope you, the listener, feel that I did it justice.
Danny Elfman
Here is the complete track list.
Side A
Runtime: 19:18
- 1. Dark Universe Fanfare
- 2. Monsterreffen
- 3. Open the Doors!
- 4. Victoria’s Monster
- 5. Experimental Trials
- 6. Pretorius Scientific Oddities
- 7. Henry’s Legacy
- 8. Frankenstein’s Manor
Side B
Runtime: 21:30
- 1. Monsters Unchained
- 2. The Burning Blade
- 3. The Curse of the Werewolf
- 4. Enter the Guild of Mystics
- 5. Darkmoor by Night
- 6. Das Stakehaus
- 7. Nothing Stays Buried in Darkmoor
- 8. Darkmoor By Day
The record is in high demand. It was already released during previews but sold out. On opening day, there was a long line for the restocked record, which is sold at the Monsters Unchained gift shop, The Manor Storehouse.
The music is featured throughout the world, including in the village of Darkmoor, the gift shops, the dining venues Das Stakehaus and The Burning Blade Tavern, Monsters Unchained, and Curse of the Werewolf.
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