If there’s one thing we can’t get enough of here at IHN its obscure Italian soundtracks. So you can imagine that we practically squealed with delight upon seeing the following in our inbox:
Originally released in 1969, Giada Tarantini’s “The Devil Smiles Back” is a fondly, albeit hazily, remembered cult classic, blending sex, violence, vampires & experimental imagery into a style some fans have dubbed “priestsploitation”.
The film is just as often praised for its incredible music as it is for its uniquely pulp style. Composed by Massimo e Massimo collaborator Giacomo Salvi, the soundtrack marked the debut of the legendary session band I GRIZ, who quickly gained a reputation for their signature blend of psychedelic fuzz & heavy soul.
Though the full soundtrack was lost during a studio flood in 1971, two recordings survived in the form of a private-press 45 made for the promotion of the film. Long considered a “holy grail” for psych & giallo enthusiasts alike, they’re now getting their long-awaited digital re-release exclusively through SUPERSPECTRUM.
So rejoice all you Italian cinema devotees and freaks, for Superspectrum Music Library (also responsible for putting out Massimo e Massimo’s self-titled EP) will keep bestowing you with gifts like these in the upcoming months and years.
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