CD REVIEW - Roma Contro Roma


Roma Contro Roma - War of the Zombies
Music by Roberto Nicolosi
Digitmovies CDDM076 (Italy)
29 Tracks 55:11 mins

The third in their series of albums devoted to the Italian Peplum genre, sees Digitmovies premiere the score, in fine mono sound, by Roberto Nicolosi for 1964's Roma Contro Roma, which sees an evil priest turning dead Roman legionaries into zombies in an attempt to overthrow Rome.
The album starts with Nicolosi's powerful, propulsive, march-like theme, which is followed by an exciting action cue (there are no track titles), giving way to a brass fanfare.
Following these impressive opening tracks, the composer introduces the eerie sound of electronic origan and percussion, an approach which is to dominate many of the subsequent tracks. Occasionally timpani signal something of a dark march, which rises from all the eeriness.
Some dramatic orchestral cues appear late in the score, but largely the eeriness dominates, along with a bittersweet, tragi-romantic theme.
Not the easiest of listening experiences then, but a good, workmanlike genre entry.
As always, the disc is accompanied by a colourful booklet, with plenty of stills and artwork from the film, as well as Claudio Fuiano's introductory notes.