Evil Theme Music!

[Blueiji]

I'm running a very gygaxian, underground, filled-with-undead, trap heavy sort of adventure for my weekly D&D group, pretty much classic D&D stuff (think Tomb of Horrors).

I want to employ some thematic music during some of the more important parts of the adventure, but I'm not familiar with a lot of good, lyric-less music that fits this sort of classic D&D feel.

So, does anyone have any favorite theme songs or musical pieces that would serve as good ambiance during a D&D adventure? Specifically, it should be sort of evil, or dark sounding, in order to supplement the horror of the monsters and villains as well as the eerie feeling of the dungeon.

Thanks! :thog:

[BowStreetRunner]

My recommendation would be to start by thinking of a couple of movies that have the sort of music you are looking for. Use Google to see if you can pull up the names of the songs in their sound-track. Then go to Pandora Radio and build a station starting with those songs. Pandora will start playing similar songs and you can just make note of those that fit what you are looking for.

[juicycaboose]

I've found that the lotr soundtrack has a song for just about every scenario in your standard campaign, something from the mines of moria would probably fit for this, something like drums in the deep or journey in the dark

[Wavelab]

Well the skyrim soundtrack always works :smalltongue:

If you want a main boss theme you could try some classical pieces like Toccata and Fugue in D Minor (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IVJD3dL4diY).

[Black_Zawisza]

The Shadow Temple from Zelda: Ocarina of Time scared the **** out me as a kid, in no small part due to its theme. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9vwYmQIQsZo

The Forest Temple was pretty freaky, too. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hmsZyC0UXUU

[Xerinous]

This (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gdmcXhXUJjs) should work pretty well. I've always found the Ruins of Alph a little unnerving due to the music.

Also, look into Two Steps From Hell. Some great boss themes, like He Who Brings The Night (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W4v-BV2OJsI&feature=g-vrec).

[HunterColt22]

Night on Bald Mountain is always a good call for something evil, and it is Disney approved! Kudos to little children being scared crapless by a mouse with a wizards cap. The reavers theme from firefly is equally dreading, along with a few from FMA that really stick out. Also for a boss encounter type feel, look for a song called IDOLA have the immortal feather, its from Phantasy Star Online Episode 1 & 2.

[AlanBruce]

I find the Saint Seiya OST to have some of the very best tunes out there for situational scenarios. Take this one, for example. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bbEWyc1_-FA) I used it in a battle against a murderous nymph bard. Worked out pretty well.

[Uhtred]

My horror campaign mix is a few tracks from Van Helsing, a few tracks from Brothers Grimm.

[Goldfly]

I've found that some of the tracks from Puella Magi Madoka Magica can fit well for more intense moments in an adventure- Nux Walpurgis (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XN426dP4WGw), for example, is good for a BBEG fight. I'd also like to second the Skyrim OST, and add both Morrowind and Oblivion to the list.

[Agent 451]

I always thought that music for the Turanic Raiders from the original Homeworld would work nicely for villains, especially for more of an intrigue or chase based encounter. Hell, Homeworld music in general could be used for a ton of different encounter types.

[kardar233]

Tristram Village (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q2evIg-aYw8). Accept no substitutes.

[Dictum Mortuum]

I've used the Mist and Raven soundtracks many times. They contain some tracks with eerie and spooky music.

[Snowbluff]

The Dark Souls soundtrack has some subtle, creepy tracks. Demon's Souls has quite a few (Fool's Idol comes to mind).

[Duke of Urrel]

I would heartily second HunterColt22's recommendation for Night on Bald Mountain (Modest Mussorgsky).

I would also recommend "Mars, Bringer of War," from Gustav Holst's symphonic poem The Planets.

For ominous chanting, you can't beat Carl Orff's "O Fortuna" from Carmina Burana.

[Deathkeeper]

Mussorgsky has a couple of pieces that would do nicely, actually, although Night will always be the most recognized.

Although most of the other villain themes I can think of off the top of my head are severely lacking in the "subtle" department, so I can't quite help there. :smallbiggrin:

[Kyberwulf]

midnight syndicate

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g_KSL-HPcas&feature=BFa&list=PLC28BB042CA2A0B47

They have alot of good music.

[Hikarizu]

Yami Guild (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UdlEokVS_xM) Fairy Tail OST
Someone before me mentioned Night on Bald Mountain, so I will just provide a link (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nYSbxRiUgOo)
Mako Reactor (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gvMt8ID3boY), Shinra Corporation (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eXM5lzeeWz8) FFVII OST. Or maybe the OCRemix versions Shinra Corporation (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w7xdRiOFUFo)
If the party get wiped out: Chaos Victory Fanfare (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=10RoWVAaDf0&feature=channel&list=UL)
That is for now. The castlevania series has some good soundtrack.

[Blue1005]

Anything Pop music sends shrills down my spine. Put in some beiber and see how fast people get sick and find it eerie :smallsmile:


And to be more real, how about a haloween cd, those cheesy .99 cent ones at walmart should be good.