4e Battle Music! My Dilemma.

[Lord Mhoram]

I've found that if you want to set any sort of D&D mood, avoid music with lyrics in English (or any language you speak). I know some people will disagree with me, but I find it breaks the mood.

Yeah. I can see that. I actually have a mix of non english metal for just such occasions (Alabarda - Spanish, Rammstein - German, Loudness - Japanese, Satan Jokers - French).


I tend towards the power metal myself - Rhapsody, Stratovarious, Dragonforce, some Ayeron. If the dungeon is creepy I tend towards Gothmetal "Beauty and the Beast Bands" - Ellis, Leaves Eyes, After Forever, Stream of Passion.

I'll go the soundtrack route too - Basil Poludurus stuff works well (Conan, Robocop, Hunt for Red October), Some Williams (but his stuff is a little too familiar), a few LotR pieces, Pirates, Just about anything from John Barry (The Black Hole has some amazing pieces - and Ave Satani from The Omen is good for demonic fight introduction). The right Classical pieces - Holst's Mars from the Planets is a good tension builder, Copeland's Fanfare for the Common Man after a really rough battle, March to the Scaffold, In the Hall of the Mountain King, DAnse Macabre, Toccata and Fugue in D-Minor.

 

[Victoly]

Sadly, when you know what Rhapsody are saying it becomes too funny to use.

 

[Primal]

Hmm... good point, it makes sense that they might be a source of good muzacks. But how, may I ask, can I get my hands on such exotic fare?

Your local library probably has at least some of those on CD.

 

[Lord Mhoram]

Sadly, when you know what Rhapsody are saying it becomes too funny to use.

There is that. And playing the solo piece "Ancient Forest of Elves" when the party hits the elven forest is always good for a laugh.

 

[CleverNickName]

"Stuck in the Middle With You," from the Reservoir Dogs soundtrack.

 

[spinmd]

Here is a list of the music I use when I DM, most of the stuff I got off of iTunes. Also, Dragon issue #355 (May 2007) had a good article on music in D&D. They built their lists on iTunes as iMixes (click iMixes under the "More in Music" header, and search for iDragon)

 

[Ginnel]

Furious angels by Rob Dougan is quite good
I have a bit of massive attack on every now and then it has some good tunes, Nin has a wide variety of music you can draw upon.

I have to agree with an opinion which was expressed earlier though, the one that music without lyrics you can understand helps with atmosphere a lot.

but I still think Last of the Mohicans theme tune is a must

 

[RobJN]

The Video Game battle themes can work, although they may fall into "to familiar" territory (along with much of John Williams' music. Alas, no Imeperial March!)

As has been said, the various Final Fantasy themes are good (especially if you can find fully orchestrated versions); also, Chrono Cross has some great themes in it.

Star Fox Assault has an orchestrated soundtrack. Just about any theme there works for battle. Another video game soundtrack, this one from across the other pond: Kameo: Elements of Power.

Everybody's gotten to all the movie themes I'd recommend, so I'll toss in a few more "Japanese influence" pieces, from anime:

Escaflowne and Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex, both by Yoko Kanno. One's orchestral, the other more modern. All good.

Some of the music from Noir or .hack//SIGN works great to get the heartrate up. Other themes by Yuki Kajiura: the "Storm and Fire" theme from the Tsubasa Reservior Chronicles, or the "Awakening" themes from Mai-HIME

The original Read or Die soundtrack has some great themes. The composer, Taku Iwasaki, also did the music for the Ruroni Kenshin movies and Witch Hunter Robin. For a more celtic rock/orchestral take on your battle theme, try "Flame" from the WHR soundtrack

For a more techno turn, if you can find it, "Nagato vs. Asakura" from (of all places) The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya blends that wound up tension that techno seems to do so well with some really nice cello.

From an anime series, but written by (gasp!) an American composer, check out "Blood +" ("Blood Plus"); particularly, Saya's Battle Theme.

Last of the Mohicans should come bundled with every DMG.

 

[That One Guy]

Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex

This. I've seen times where music from this series fits amazingly well into my games (as per usual, take my music statements with salt).

And I'm now going to make an uber-D&D pandora list.

Mwa ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!!!!

*Ahem* D&D Battles and then click the Play Now at the top left. You may need a (free) account, but I'm not 100% sure. I gave it, like... 4 seeds a year ago and thumbs upped/downed a few songs during our sessions. But now I added a bunch of the suggestions in this thread.

 

[Fallen Seraph]

Hmm... This is more a random thought, but... Many people have commented on not having music in English.

Well that reminded me of something, I have "opening themes", "campaign themes" and "closing themes".

So a opening theme be what plays when were setting up that session, campaign theme be something that is played periodically after key moments, and closing themes are played when we are done playing for the day.

Many of those songs have lyrics in English, since it is about certain themes and moods. Wondering if anyone else does this?