A lot of big things happened behind the scenes at Laced during 2018 including company stuff, new hires, exciting deal-making — and babies! 👼 This flurry of activity will enable a bright future for the label, yet we still managed to put out some fine-looking video game wax over the past 12 months.
We were very happy to continue to put out releases associated with with different shapes and sizes of game: smaller, award-winning productions such as Where The Water Tastes Like Wine and Dead Cells; huge titles like DOOM; and long-running series like RuneScape and Warhammer 40k.
2019 will see Laced release more brilliant video game music on a variety of formats. Keep an eye out for some bloody exciting news via Facebook.com/LacedMusicLtd, our Twitter feed (@Laced_Records). and our Instagram feed (@Lacedrecords).
If you’re new to Laced Records, also check out our 2017 and 2016 release round-ups for a taste of what’s come before.
Where The Water Tastes Like Wine
DELUXE DOUBLE VINYL
Sold out
Developers Dim Bulb Games and Serenity Forge were trying to evoke a sense of wanderlust with their bleak American folk tale about traveling, sharing stories, and surviving manifest destiny — Where the Water Tastes Like Wine, available on Steam (PC/Mac/Linux).
A vital part of the game’s identity comes from its soundtrack, marshalled by composer Ryan Ike (Bandcamp, Spotify, Apple Music), which comprises a hodgepodge of Americana, folk, jazz, country, blues and bluegrass reflecting the sprawling diversity of early 20th Century America. To achieve this blend, and to help him tackle such an ambitious musical project, Ike drew on the talents of numerous singers and instrumentalists from around the USA.
Press play to hear the album from track 1:
This double vinyl features artwork by illustrator Kellan Jett, who helped define the unique look of the game during his time as lead artist on the project.
Related links:
— INTERVIEW: Where the Water Tastes Like Wine composer on soundtracking all the USA
— INTERVIEW: Kellan Jett on illustrating Where The Water Tastes Like Wine
Distributed title: Halo Wars 2
DELUXE DOUBLE VINYL
Released by Sumthing Else
Available now
Action-packed real-time strategy game Halo Wars 2 enjoys a stunning score by Gordy Haab, Brian Trifon, and Brian Lee White (Spotify; Apple Music). This limited release is pressed on double marbled colour vinyl and packaged in a deluxe gatefold sleeve.
DOOM (2016)
Special Limited Edition and 4xLP sold out
2xLP and 2xCD available (very limited US stock)
2016’s DOOM was a masterful reboot of the classic first-person shooter series, featuring ultra-violent — yet strangely balletic — action.
Australian composer Mick Gordon catapulted himself into the gaming zeitgeist with his devastatingly powerful industrial metal-meets-ambient electronica soundtrack, chock full of 9-string guitars and immense chains of sonic special effects (Spotify, Apple Music).
Laced Records teamed up with publisher Bethesda to produce several deluxe physical editions, including the Special Limited Edition (4x red LP, 2x CD, and slipmat); Special Edition (4xLP 180g black vinyl); double red vinyl; and double CD.
Rest of world store: www.lacedrecords.co/collections/doom
US store: www.lacedrecords.com/collections/doom
Related links:
— VIDEO: Mick Gordon gives a talk at GDC about his soundtrack for DOOM
— VIDEO: Mick Gordon interviewed by Danny O’Dwyer for Noclip documentary
— INTERVIEW: Mick Gordon on DOOM via Revolver Magazine
Dead Cells
DELUXE DOUBLE VINYL
Sold out
Having been born from a game jam… then launched as a playable, but still in-development, project on Steam Early Access and GoG… rogue-souls-vania-like-lite action-platformer Dead Cells finally launched in August 2018 on PC, Switch, PS4, Xbox One to rave reviews. The game sees you battle through an ever-changing gothic castle full of secrets, and challenge yourself to improve every time you inevitably die and have to (and want to) start another run.
Making his gaming debut, composer, guitarist, synth- and cat-lover Yoann Laulan hit it out of the park with his moody soundtrack (Spotify; Apple Music; Bandcamp). Pressed to transparent orange and violet double vinyl, the release sports sleeve artwork by the game’s lead artist Thomas ‘Carduus’ Vasseur.
Related links:
— INTERVIEW: Dead Cells composer Yoann Laulan on scoring a rogue-souls-vania
RuneScape: Original Soundtrack Classics
DELUXE DOUBLE VINYL, CD, AND DIGITAL
Available now
In 2017, the RuneScape team decided it was time to crack open the official soundtrack vault and, to start with, put out a selection of albums on physical formats and digital platforms. This includes a set of MIDI favourites entitled Original Soundtrack Classics; as well as the live-recorded album The Orchestral Collection.
Rest of world store: www.lacedrecords.co/collections/runescape
US store: www.lacedrecords.com/collections/runescape
RuneScape: Original Soundtrack Classics features MIDI-generated tracks from Old School RuneScape and early RuneScape 3 including “Harmony”, “Scape Theme”, “Newbie Melody”, and — of course — “Sea Shanty 2”. All the pieces have been expertly mastered for vinyl and digital formats by engineer Joe Caithness.
The cover and gatefold art was created by Volta Creations; the gatefold specifically features Tim and Crunchy, and was inspired by the beloved 2007 game guide.
Related links:
— INTERVIEW: RuneScape music leads on their massively musical operation
— INTERVIEW: Unleashing the old school MIDI music of RuneScape onto… vinyl?
RuneScape: The Orchestral Collection
DELUXE DOUBLE VINYL, CD, AND DIGITAL
Available now
2017 saw the recording of some fresh RuneScape orchestral music at Abbey Road Studios. The mixture of new and rearranged older pieces — all either composed and/or orchestrated by the BAFTA-winning composer James Hannigan — was performed by the Philharmonia Orchestra and the Pinewood Singers. For The Orchestral Collection album, the Abbey Road tracks are complemented by several pieces from a 2012 session with The Slovak National Symphony Orchestra, as well as a few produced by Hannigan himself.
The cover and gatefold was created by Volta Creations (the art director was Maru Ferreira; the artist was Olivier Bisson). The gatefold is a brand new map of Gielinor, whilst the cover is of a World Gate.
RuneScape music on digital platforms
Four albums, including Original Soundtrack Classics, The Orchestral Collection, The Arc, and Menaphos, are available to stream (and buy digitally) on major music platforms including Spotify and Apple Music — here are all the links you’ll need.
Shipped in 2019...
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine
DELUXE DOUBLE VINYL
Available now
Laced Records has teamed up with Games Workshop to bring fans some of the best soundtracks from across the Warhammer 40k video games catalogue.
The epic soundtrack to 2011 shooter Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine was composed by Cris Velasco & Sascha Dikiciyan. (Spotify; Apple Music) This deluxe double vinyl features blue and white discs, as well as four bonus tracks.
Rest of world store: www.lacedrecords.co/collections/warhammer-40-000
US store: www.lacedrecords.com/collections/warhammer-40-000
Related links:
— INTERVIEW: Composers Cris Velasco and Sascha Dikiciyan talk about their soundtrack for Space Marine
Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II
DELUXE TRIPLE VINYL
Available now
Virtual orchestra maestro Doyle W. Donehoo composed the original score for real-time strategy game Dawn of War II, filling it with "huge themes and high drama". This deluxe triple vinyl features 180g mint discs.
Thanks to all our customers and partners for making 2018 another brilliant year for the label. For exciting news about future releases, follow us via Facebook.com/LacedMusicLtd, Twitter (@Laced_Records), and Instagram feed (@Lacedrecords).
Also, be sure to check out our blog Laced With Wax for interviews, features, and listicles all about gaming culture, vinyl, product art, and, of course, game music.
