Fallout 3 by Inon Zur
Fallout 3 pressed on “Capital Wasteland” (Clear w/ Black Smoke) vinyl by SPACELAB9
“Tunnel Snakes rule!”
New World, New Order
Emerge from Vault 101 and into the Capital Wasteland this week with Fallout 3 by Inon Zur. Pressed on “Capital Wasteland” (Clear w/ Black Smoke) vinyl by SPACELAB9, the soundtrack to Bethesda’s hit 2008 reboot is here to carry you off into the emaciated landscapes of tomorrow. Grab that Pip-Boy and Power Armor because it’s time to see if war really never changes.
Behemoth
Inon Zur is an Emmy award-winning composer and musician based out of Los Angeles, California. As an industry veteran, Mr. Zur has scored many of gaming's most revered franchises including Dragon Age, Prince of Persia, Company of Heroes, Syberia, and the Fallout series just to name a few. From fantastical sci-fi settings to dystopian futures, the thread that ties all of these universes together is Mr. Zur’s boisterous and emotional scores. Being one of the most impactful soundtracks in the series, Fallout 3 holds a special place in many people’s hearts, and that’s why I think the music on this album is among the best work Inon has ever composed.
No Way Out But Through
The sun-scorched earth of the irradiated wasteland stretches out before your stylus. Submerged deep within the cracks of this dilapidated landscape of grooves lies an atomic symphony that will send you whirling into the dusty unknown. Like a war machine, the percussion on this album drives forward the orchestrations into this frantic yet concise march of melodies that opens up into an onslaught of horns that will leave you drowning in a sea of radioactive hums. Bubbling to the surface of his harrowing score is a gentle playground of melancholy jazz-infused brass that will exonerate you of all the drab and macabre music that surrounds you for the majority of this record. As an excellent reprieve to the phobic score that emulates from these meticulous grooves what Inon has achieved here is simple orchestral genius in its purest form. Fallout 3 is without a doubt one of the best soundtracks to ever grace the series, and this vinyl release is the personification of that perfection!
Wandering the Wastes
You know how they say war never changes, well, the same can’t be said for vinyl because if SPACELAB9 has proven anything, it sure as hell can change! As a repress to the original 2015 release, this “10th Anniversary Ultimate Edition” goes a long way in making up for the missteps that were taken with that original pressing -- making this the definitive Fallout 3 soundtrack experience. Originally released in 2015, the S.P.E.C.I.A.L. Edition pressed on 2,500 "Vault Suit Blue" vinyl was charming yet highly flawed. From the glaring omission of the L inside the replica S.P.E.C.I.A.L. book the LPs were housed in, to the sporadically duplicated and inaccurate track listing pressed into the grooves themselves, what remained was a unique collector's item that was still fun to listen to. This is why I believe this new edition from SPACELAB9 is a welcomed reprise to this long sold-out box set. Superior in almost every way, this new edition feels like a true showcase of SPACELAB9’s love for the work that they do as a label. From its redesigned packaging down to the all-important remaster, what has been achieved here is a true compliment to Inon Zur and Bethesda's incredible game.
Megaton
Pressed across 3 LPs is the original score to Fallout 3 fully remastered and revitalized from its original incarnation, and I must say the work that Anders Peterson put into the music here is paramount in making this release superb. In comparison to the original 2015 release, the music presented here is just better sonically, apart from experiencing the music in-game, it makes this, the definitive way to listen to Inon Zur’s score.
I Don’t Want To Set The World on Fire
The artwork for this release is as astounding as ever when it comes to SPACELAB9’s Fallout vinyl releases, and the booklet-style packaging makes this yet another looker. Featuring iconic advertisements from the in-game universe, the artwork collected from the Bethesda art team goes a long way in making this a release you’ll want to pour over for hours while it spins on your table. As an amazing coffee-table-esque presentation I must say this box set is one that I will proudly display on my shelf for quite a while. The included 7” S.P.E.C.I.A.L. booklet was a wonderful touch, and it definitely helps that L is included this time around. I also really love the included sticker sheet as well, you can definitely tell a lot went into making this the “Ultimate Edition” of the Fallout 3 vinyl releases.
Into Each Life Some Rain Must Fall
Included in this edition is a mind-blowing 4th LP featuring iconic jazz-age tracks from the wildly popular in-game Galaxy News Radio station. This extra LP is the cherry on top of this Nuka-Cola dream that in my opinion pushes this release into bonafide must-have territory. While these songs can be found on various jazz collections, albums, or singles at your local record store bin, it’s the presentation and care that went into the packaging for this collection that makes it all worth it. The die-cut jacket and artwork are brilliant in every sense of the word and carry all the charm and flavor of the Fallout universe that simply feels amazing to hold in your hands. Like an atomic bomb of nostalgia, this LP will give you a smile from ear to ear as it plays. I know that I couldn’t help but spin this thing over and over during my listening sessions for this review, and I know you’ll love it too!
I want to give a huge thanks to Michael and the rest of the team over at SPACELAB9 for sending me a review copy of this album! Your support of what I do means the world to me!
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"God Bless the Enclave! God Bless America!"
Where to buy?
This album is still readily available to buy from SPACELAB9 and Bethesda directly. While the edition pictured in this review is sold out, you can still acquire the New York Comic Con exclusive variant on Pip-Boy (Clear Green w/ Black Splatter) vinyl, and the Clear with Blue & Yellow Splatter vinyl from Bethesda. This is the definitive Fallout 3 vinyl release and considering we had to wait so long between the previous box set and this one, I’d highly recommend you pick this one up if you are a fan of the music here!