I was wondering about what music would be best suited to a deathwatch campaign. Something like the main theme of the computer game Wh40K: Chaos Gate, the Imperial March of the Empire Strikes Back, or Carmina Burana seem to fit the bill so far, but that's a bit short for a campaign playlist.

Which music pieces have you tried playing, or do you think would fit there?

Galdred said:

Immediate Music's trailerhead album (checkout the lacrimosa track). Gregorian chants work well also for when the action slows down. Beyond that you can youtube for further inspiration. Just search for epic music. You'll find stuff from artists such as Two Steps From Hell, X-Ray Dog, Beyond Music, PostHaste Music, Veigar, UBM Music, etc.

Alex

The Dawn Of War II soundtrack is pretty good, and so is the Halo soundtracks.

Gears of War 1 & 2 soundtracks are also highly useful, as is the Immediate Music stuff (as mentioned before).

Personally, I'd stay away from rock, metal, industrial, or other 'modern' music, because quite simply, I don't think Slayer or NIN have any place in this kind of game setting, but that's just me.

Have you guys considered sound effects as well? Lately I've been browsing a site called FreeSound ( http://www.freesound.org/ ). It's a sort of open source database of sound effects. I've been compiling a list of atmospherics, like wind and such, and factory and other effects for the Extraction mission. If you don't mind taking the time, there's tons of really useful stuff on there.

Whilst Slayer and NIN may not foot the bill, I can assure you that Iron Maiden will. I'd play that at my wedding!!!

A recent addition to my CD library, the "Tron: Legacy" soundtrack is quite good for the 40k setting. It's all music clouds, not full pieces anyway. There are two or three "tension" type tracks, some two-three "training montage" pieces and some "epic panorama" types as well. Such a shame they're all so short and not developed beyond the lead idea.

Von Todkopf said:

Position Music - Vol.4

Conan Soundtrack

Alex

Oh, yes, that one is legendary, is it not? Serving generation after generation of role-players, hail they from a sci-fi or a fantasy setting. Pure, unadulterated gold, that one.

Definitely second the Conan soundtrack, and would even possibly suggest the Dune soundtrack.

On a tangential note, and slightly out of sync, but what about the Band of Brothers soundtrack? A little leftfield maybe, but nothing else sums up what the killteam are about?

Yes, Dune works for my 40k as well. Good suggestion.

Von Todkopf said:

Try Mozart's Requiem.

Alex

You could try some

I want to buy the Ultramarines Soundtrack when it comes out. That was a real highlight of the movie.

Alex

I have a friend who's a professional studio mixer, he mixed up a few tracks for my Dark Heresy and Deathwatch games, using Lustmord, Dawn of War soundtrack, ambient sounds (rain, gunfire, etc.), Total War soundtrack. Here are the links:

http://www.filefactory.com/file/b4g03d1/n/Mon_keigh_Gothic.mp3

http://www.filefactory.com/file/b4g0394/n/Dark_Heresy_xeno_m1x6_.mp3

I'll root around so I can find a couple more tracks he mixed for me.

Also I use the following soundtracks:

Hunt of Red October

Starship Troopers

Orthodox Monastery Choir (Sergiev Posad album, but any will do)

A couple of Gregorian chants compilations

Best of Red Army Choir compilations

Dawn of War 1 and 2 soundtracks

Anything by Lustmord and Aphex Twins for dark ambience

Laibach

Ace Combat 5 soundtrack

Traitor General soundtrack

Warhammer 40k Chaos Gate soundtrack

Medieval: Total War 2 soundtrack

Gladiator

Kingdom of Heaven

13th Warrior

And various single tracks I can't recall now.

Conan is a great soundtrack to have, not sure about for 40K though to be honest. 40K needs to have a dark, gritty feel to it. (Basil is a great situational composer, also did Quigley Down Under as well.)

I will admit that I found I had the Pirates of the Caribbean soundtrack and there are some good ones on there, but also not really dark enough.

AK suggested one of my current fav's, Two Steps from Hell . There are several of their songs on You Tube to listen to before getting the CD/Download.

Lucrosium Malice said:

If you like them, check out James Dooley/Position Music. In general I find the Amazon/Youtube combination very helpful in finding out what kind of music you like, what fits and what related artists sound like.

Here, try Ira Deorum:

positionmusic.com/album.php

Alex

Coincidently, I this track just started on my play list.

I am a HUGE fand of NIghtwish especially as W40k themed music (operatic/rock), but their

But if you like more classical than metal,

what about 'requiem for a dream' or 'rammstein' they are just my personal opinions, might sound gay to you

mjbarrett said:

Because music can sound homosexual... I think you meant "rubbish".

I'd suggest some Nightwish, Abney Park, several songs from the Angel (of Buffy fame) soundtrack, same goes for some of the Battlestar Galactica soundtrack, Dethklok, Disturbed, Evanescence, H.I.M, Lunatica, Mortiis, Rammstein, Sirenia, VAST and Within Temptation. Those are the songs on my playlist when I decide to play music during my sessions.

If you prefer cinematic music during games, like I do, check out the 2010 A-Team movie soundtrack - lots of dramatic kicks and heavy military-style percussion. I also added some stuff like the recent GI Joe movie, and (might sound weird) the most latest version of the Texas Chainsaw Massacre movie. Seriously, put that soundtrack on and picture your kill-team searching the halls of a Necron city - creepy, man! Very creepy!

ak-73 said:

Very cool!

A lot to listen to, but I really like Kronos, and Lux Eternal so far.

Our last 40k sessions have been completely accompanied with the music of Amon Tobin – quite perfect sounds for 40k.

I found that the score from "The Wolfman" by Danny Elfman is one of the best recent additions to my gaming music. It includes certain leitmotifs, but is a significant departure from Elfman's signature style, and ventures much more into the realm of Gothic horror music. It is more than a little reminiscent of the score to "Bram Stoker's Dracula", but more consistent throughout. Highly recommended for all sci-fi/fantasy games.

MILLANDSON said:

No, Mill, he meant "happy." But Requiem for a Dream is an awesome suggestion.

Time for some more contributions, which may have been mentioned already in this thread. If you've got it, the OSTs for Dawn of War II and Dead Space work pretty well. My Dark Heresy GM has some album with all of the songs inspired by H.P. Lovecraft's Cthulhu Mythos. I'll ask him what the band and album were at game tonight and post later. It was pretty fun background for or " Innsmouth " inspired mission at one point. Some of the stuff from the Inception Soundtrack or even the TRON Legacy stuff. It really depends on where you're looking to take people with the music.

-=Brother Praetus=-

One I'm surprised hasn't been mentioned yet for combat scenes is Bolt Thrower's "Realm of Chaos" album. A classic, with art by Games Workshop, and all of it 40K themed.