Games Gazette #145 (UK)

Haverghast Mansion is an old Victorian building that stands solitary on a small hill surrounded by dense undergrowth and tall dark trees. As the moon creeps up behind it and eerie purple light is emitted through the front door and windows. Is it a trick of the light taking its colour from the deep heather growth and purple flowered shrubbery, or is it an unnatural essence, a haunting presence living in the deserted, bell-towered expanse of brick, mortar, and who knows what else?

Midnight Syndicate are already renown for their brilliant suspense-filled background music that has taken role-playing to new heights (and even higher screams) and it's no wonder they are scripting the music for a new horror movie.

The 13th Hour is music created for use as an atmosphere setter in Call of Cthulhu role-playing and has been approved for use by Chaosium. This doesn't mean you can't play it for any other game - though obviously it has a Gothic Horror background - or just put it in your CD player for come instrumental music while you work.

All of the tracks are original recordings and are mostly written by Edward Douglas and Gavin Goszka. There is a faint resemblance to Tubular Bells (used in The Exorcist movie) and a lot of the music, althrough original, does sound (as it SHOULD and as it is intended) like the incidental background to every great horror movie you have ever seen - only now you can put a title and artist to it. Also featured throughout (voices and effects) are Lily Lane and Greg Ballato (of the band Lazy Lane), David Jacobs, and (introducing) Mary Kate Douglas.

The definitive CD to chill out to - it will chill your blood, tingle your spine and give you a bad case of the willies. This is what the Old and Deep Ones hum to when they drink in the Arkham Arms on a Saturday night.

Chris Bayliss - Games Gazette (UK)