It didn't take long for die-hard fans to crack the teaser riddle Laced Records posted on social media yesterday. Now, it's official: the soundtrack to Gears of War: E-Day is getting the wax treatment. Pre-orders are officially open for the deluxe double LP, priced at £36 (around €44) and slated to ship in Q2 2027.
Released last month alongside the game, E-Day's score sees American composer Adam Lastiwka having an absolute blast shredding on down-tuned guitars without compromising the franchise's decades-long sonic identity. To be fair, the in-game audio mix doesn't always give the music the spotlight it deserves—I barely registered it while sawing through swarms of Locusts. Spinning the OST standalone, however, is a whole different beast.
Regardless, this remains an easy recommendation for collectors, especially given that Gears 1, 2, 3, Judgment, and Gears 5 have all received the vinyl treatment over the years. You can still grab select entries directly from Laced's Gears collection.
The Coalition and Laced Records are making a desperate last stand to bring the emotive score of Gears of War: E-Day to vinyl, with the Exclusive Edition featuring translucent red discs.
Music tracks have been remastered for vinyl and pressed to heavyweight discs, with the tracklist thoughtfully sequenced by composer Adam Lastiwka. The outer sleeve boasts artwork by renowned illustrator Luke Preece, a regular collaborator on the Gears of War series, as well as with bands including Metallica, Black Sabbath, and many more.
Lastiwka’s Gears of War: E-Day score emphasises the human struggle of Bravo Squad and the people of Sera, exploring the idea of preserving something beautiful while everything around you is being destroyed. The composer balances thrilling action with forlorn, reflective moments, and the scraping and snarling sounds of subterranean aggressors.
Harkening back to the original Gears of War, snatches of unusual instrumental sounds emerge from the gloom, drenched in delay and reverb. Regular visits to The Home Depot became an integral part of the recording process for Lastiwka, as violent performances on custom and heavily modified instruments often ended in their destruction after a single take.
Gears of War: E-Day is also the heaviest Gears soundtrack yet, with a specific focus on percussion and fusing orchestral elements with modern metal production techniques. Renowned drummer Luke Holland is behind the ferocious drum hits in “Command and Control”.
-- Laced Records
This latest announcement keeps Laced Records riding high on what might be its most packed lineup yet. Over the past few months alone, the label has launched pre-orders for BALL x PIT, Borderlands 4, and Blasphemous II.
