Goblin is an Italian progressive rock band formed in Rome in 1972, best known as Dario Argento's go-to film composers. Suspiria (1977) is one of the greatest horror scores ever recorded, with Profondo Rosso (1975) and Dawn of the Dead (1978) close behind — all synth dread and prog muscle. Explore Goblin vinyl, CDs, and reissues at Wax Trax Records.
Goblin formed in Rome, Italy in 1972 (originally called Cherry Five). They became the signature musical collaborators for Italian horror filmmaker Dario Argento, beginning with their landmark score for Profondo Rosso (Deep Red, 1975). Their score for Argento's Suspiria (1977) is widely regarded as one of the most important horror film scores ever recorded. They also scored George A. Romero's Dawn of the Dead (1978). The band has experienced multiple lineup changes and reunifications across the subsequent decades, with various splinter projects including Daemonia (Simonetti's project) and Goblin Rebirth performing the catalog. Massimo Morante died in May 2022.
Goblin's sound combines progressive rock, horror score, electronic, and Italian progressive rock with extensive use of vintage synthesizers, distorted guitar work, and atmospheric tension-building arrangements. Their work has been widely cited as a defining influence on contemporary horror film scoring and synth-based horror music aesthetics.
Original Cinevox pressings of the Goblin catalog are foundational items in horror score and Italian progressive rock collecting. Multiple reissue programs through AMS, Death Waltz Recording Company, Waxwork Records, and Mondo have made the catalog widely accessible with extensive color variant editions.
Listeners new to Goblin typically start with Suspiria (1977) or Profondo Rosso (1975).
