I must admit I’ve been feeling a bit sleepy this morning, but having heard this exciting Tomb Raider news I can safely say “I feel stronger now!”

Composer Peter Connelly has announced that he will be producing a special Tomb Raider album comprising of tracks from The Last Revelation, Chronicles, and The Angel of Darkness. The ambitious project – titled The Dark Angel – has been in development for the last two years, and has been orchestrated (forgive me) by a group of dedicated Lara Croft fans who want Connelly’s music to be presented in the highest possible quality.

And who can blame them. Peter Connelly’s scores are amongst the best pieces of video game music I’ve ever heard, so it’s great to hear that they are going to receive the recognition they deserve. Although the new album will not be a direct copy of the original music – as it has been tweaked to make the most of the latest techniques – the original compositions will also be available on the album, properly remastered in order to deliver an optimum listening experience.

Furthermore, today’s announcement marks the start of a countdown, which fans can follow on the official Dark Angel website. This is because the Tomb Raider album is going to be funded by a special crowd-funding Kickstarter campaign which is due to launch on the 1st October. And like all good Kickstarters, this one will offer pledge rewards for those who throw their dollar bills into the ring, although quite what these rewards will be remains to be seen. According to the official website, “backers of the Kickstarter campaign will have the chance to obtain rare and sought-after Tomb Raider merchandise and exclusive memorabilia.” So fingers crossed for exclusive music from The Lost Dominion.

There’s no word on a release date as yet, although as 2019 marks Peter Connelly’s 20th anniversary of his Tomb Raider debut, it would make sense for the album to make an appearance in the celebratory year. I suppose it all depends on the speed of the crowdfunder, but the campaign has already received the blessing of Square Enix Europe and Crystal Dynamics, so with a bit of high profile support, it could be financed in no time.

Once the money’s in place, Connelly will take to the prestigious Air Lyndhurst Studios in London, a state-of-the-art facility that promises to cater amply for the complex needs of the recording. He’ll be joined by orchestrator and musician Dr Richard Niles, as well as orchestra contractor Isobel Griffiths, audio technician and musician / composer Martin Iveson, with many more names to be announced.

You can keep up with the progress of The Dark Angel Tomb Raider album via Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Who’s excited??