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Mystic Muse
07-16-2009, 07:46 PM
the reason being I'm going to use a haunted house dungeon in my D&D campaign next year. I want my players to feel sufficiently creeped out. preferably more like background music than something with words.

Berserk Monk
07-16-2009, 07:50 PM
Use the haunted house level background music from Super Mario Bros on the SNES. Not that scary, but the music's right for the mood.

Mystic Muse
07-16-2009, 08:16 PM
sorry. not quite creepy enough. I'm looking for super freak out creepy. it'd also be preferable if it wasn't something everybody's heard a ton. I mean what kid with video games grew up without mario? okay maybe a lot of them did but you get my point.

Serpentine
07-16-2009, 08:26 PM
Not quite what you're looking for - more ambient music, right? - but there's "Boris the Spider", by... someone famous, like the Who or something. I also heard a really creepy version of Itsy-Bitsy Spider, in which the spider makes it to a baby's crib and bites the baby, but I've only heard it once.

Another suggestion, it's not music but I have a horror sound effects record I've borrowed from my (Thespian) father. Have a look in CD and party or theatre shops, and op-shops for CDs and records (you can also get devices to put records onto CDs or into MP3 form).

Berserk Monk
07-16-2009, 09:05 PM
How about Lux Aeterna?

aethernox
07-16-2009, 09:23 PM
Try to find some Lustmord. It works perfectly.

Faceist
07-16-2009, 09:32 PM
Lots of villain music fits the bill. Like so (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WdFspwBUNL8).

Serpentine
07-16-2009, 09:32 PM
Oh, try film soundtracks, too.

Berserk Monk
07-16-2009, 09:35 PM
You could also just go on to youtube and search creepy music.

warty goblin
07-16-2009, 10:33 PM
Try the soundtrack to S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl, conveniently available for free right here (http://www.fileplanet.com/176937/download/STALKER:-Shadow-of-Chernobyl---Soundtrack).

Seriously, if some of the stuff on this doesn't satisfy your need for 'ambient fear' I'm really not sure what will. Some of the stuff towards the end isn't as scary, but there's plenty there that is.

SurlySeraph
07-16-2009, 11:08 PM
Tori Amos's cover of Raining Blood (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0GxhfmyZX0c).

Munsi
07-16-2009, 11:12 PM
the Tindersticks did some creepy atmospheric stuff, if you want to look them up.

JonestheSpy
07-17-2009, 12:52 AM
Oh, try film soundtracks, too.

The Eurythmics' soundtrack for 1984 has some incredibly creepy music in it.

Satyr
07-17-2009, 01:54 AM
The golden rule of chosing background music for an RPG is, to never use aqnything with vocals. Vocals distract, especially when your players understand the language. There is enough creepy music which is instrumental only. It's not even that hard to find.

There is Bohren and the Club of Gore (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5_1-zwBsvjw). I think they were a Metal band once, but decided to make something different. There are several albums of this, but the band has one little drawback - the music is almost always a bit slow and therefore not that useable for action scenes.

Similar, even though perhaps a little bit more intense is Lustmord (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JdAg_bNoBGQ). Bohren is more about Melancholy and the feel of Loss, Lustmord is scarrier and more about threat. But again, there are few fast action tracks included.

Then there is Nox Arcana (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zMqU4vtSHfc&feature=related), which also makes Ambiente Music, but it is a lot more conventional (and therefore not that interesting, if you ask me). On the other hand, there are some faster pieces as well.

What works well is using a computer and playing two tracks at the same time - the more obvious musical track and something like Lustmord in addition. The second track is often not recognized consciously. But you can see the people squirm.

Whoracle
07-17-2009, 02:16 AM
Thief: Deadly Shadows - The Cradle OST (http://downloads.ttlg.com/download.aspx?id=1619) and pretty much the entire Thief:DS OST (scroll down) (http://www.thief-thecircle.com/media/music/).

UnChosenOne
07-17-2009, 05:05 AM
Here (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xuyeva9FGno&feature=related) litel example from Cradle background music/sounds.

Drascin
07-17-2009, 05:51 AM
Well, not "extremely" creepy by any means, but Beyond Good&Evil's Don't Fear the Reaper is excellent for foreboding, "oh-man-there-has-to-be-a-monster-here" moments.

Link (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YtZGWA9HkwU)

SDF
07-17-2009, 06:05 AM
Some tracks I use for WoD games I run are;
In the House In a Heartbeat (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KSYYEDXaGo0) - From the 28 Days/Weeks soundtrack
Bela Lugosi's Dead (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mriBc6NjUhg&feature=related) - Bauhaus
Most Godspeed You! Black Emperor such as Moya (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rsf2LoLk3SA) and The Dead Flag Blues (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-aLjup934Rk&feature=related) (Post-Rock as a genre can be good for this)
The Silent Hill 2 and 3 soundtracks are great as well. THIS (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v1k0jlta4jc) is your sheer terror music right here.

Obrysii
07-17-2009, 06:34 AM
Riots (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQ65A8AKedI) from the Slumdog Millionaire soundtrack is pretty haunting / creepy if you ask me - ideal for the background music when the villain makes his or her appearance.

I'll Carry You (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eGbsTmIWWM8) by Halou is pretty creepy, too, if you ask me.

Edge
07-17-2009, 06:53 AM
These three songs from The Witcher OST might be of some use:

The Lesser of Two Evils (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EfU147-WSx0&feature=PlayList&p=814581FA1A40948D&index=8)

An Ominous Place (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s0I4d9ooz8w&feature=PlayList&p=814581FA1A40948D&index=16)

Dead City (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-jnOgVNGDE&feature=PlayList&p=814581FA1A40948D&index=24)

Bouregard
07-17-2009, 08:55 AM
Thief: Deadly Shadows - The Cradle OST (http://downloads.ttlg.com/download.aspx?id=1619) and pretty much the entire Thief:DS OST (scroll down) (http://www.thief-thecircle.com/media/music/).

Much more creepy if you play the level. Without those background noises its not that creepy. Thought was the first game I stoped playing in the middle of the night...

Fostire
07-17-2009, 08:59 AM
The music from the forest temple on ocarina of time (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=322V5rD6ko4) always scared me.

valadil
07-17-2009, 09:04 AM
Try Sephiroth. No, not the FF7 villain music.

Telonius
07-17-2009, 09:28 AM
Very short, but "Black Chamber" by Blind Guardian is pretty good.

If you have access to some mixing equipment, rip a bunch of instrumental parts off of Pink Floyd's "The Wall." "Hey You" in particular has a bunch of really creepy parts, but what I'd look for is all of the "between-the-songs" weirdness.

Llama231
07-17-2009, 10:01 AM
You can NOT beat the sheer creepiness of this tune. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_qXnJnFGZ4Y) Ever.

Excession
07-18-2009, 06:43 AM
Try some Black Boned Angel (http://www.myspace.com/blackbonedangelnz). It worked for a session I played.

LesterLester
07-18-2009, 09:45 AM
Vampire: the Masquerade Bloodlines Soundtrack "Crypts".
Just imagine a deserted necropolis. Dust, faceless, decayed statues, whispering in the air...It really gives me the creeps:smallfrown:

Great song, but it might be more adequate for deserted temples, epic ruins or a necropolis than for a spooky house. Care to expand on the description of the adventure?



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-jXf6B08q0A

bladedSmoke
07-18-2009, 10:13 AM
If this doesn't give you an extreme case of the chills, nothing - and I mean nothing - will. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e2xxizpHuoo)

Pauwel
07-18-2009, 11:45 AM
If you want something truly creepy on a completely different level than conventional ambient music, try Threnody for the Victims of Hiroshima (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FfBVYhyXU8o).

Linkavitch
07-18-2009, 11:49 AM
Try to find Toccata in D Minor by J.S. Bach. Preferably played by a master on a pipe organ.

Mystic Muse
07-18-2009, 12:01 PM
If this doesn't give you an extreme case of the chills, nothing - and I mean nothing - will. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e2xxizpHuoo)

it's creepy but it's not quite what I'm looking for. it sounds like it has a little rock and roll in it which doesn't work for creepy background music.

bladedSmoke
07-18-2009, 12:24 PM
it's creepy but it's not quite what I'm looking for. it sounds like it has a little rock and roll in it which doesn't work for creepy background music.

Um. Rock and roll? :smallconfused: Can't say I hear any in there.

But fair enough if it's not what you're looking for. It's probably more "menacing" than "creepy," as such, on reflection.

Fri
07-18-2009, 12:41 PM
what about xtreme ghostbuster' (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aIzQNwiUBcI)s ending song. It always creep me out as a kid. You might need to edit it though, because it's really short

Raistlin1040
07-18-2009, 06:24 PM
Midnight Syndicate was made for this. Like, I think their purpose in life is to make creepy instrumental music. My personal favorite, Gristly Reminder (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JCtgTpxgwjc&feature=related), but I'm sure they have stuff better suited to your purposes as well.

Hell, can't get more D&D than D&D (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dungeons_%26_Dragons_(album)).

Jack Squat
07-18-2009, 06:29 PM
Would Tubular Bells (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bYmIKcP7Nbc&feature=related) work?

Also, for some reason, The live version (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sSRJvq4Wd48) seems less creepy and more sci-fi.

Mystic Muse
07-18-2009, 08:46 PM
Um. Rock and roll? :smallconfused: Can't say I hear any in there.

But fair enough if it's not what you're looking for. It's probably more "menacing" than "creepy," as such, on reflection.

sorry. bad phrasing. I really should have just said the music sort of picks up too much. I'm looking for something a little bit more ambient. and you're right, it's more menacing than creepy.

also, completely off topic but awesome account name.

to everybody else. you've all given good suggestions. I'm thinking of making more than one haunted type place so I can use most of them.:smallbiggrin:

an ancient necropolis sounds like a VERY good idea and will work very well in this campaign.

Jalor
07-18-2009, 09:03 PM
This track (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ibpppFJr0I&feature=related) off the Portal soundtrack works, as do most of the related videos. I also love the Joker's theme (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gAB-dQ7XyA0) from TDK. It's probably more menacing than creepy, though.

Faulty
07-18-2009, 09:04 PM
Leviathan's A Silhouette in Splinters. Sample (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6WCWrE_lQK8).

Mystic Muse
07-18-2009, 09:09 PM
Leviathan's A Silhouette in Splinters. Sample (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6WCWrE_lQK8).

I only have one thing to say to this song.



AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


this will work very well.

Jalor
07-18-2009, 09:09 PM
See, now you broke him.

Paragon Badger
07-18-2009, 09:14 PM
the reason being I'm going to use a haunted house dungeon in my D&D campaign next year. I want my players to feel sufficiently creeped out. preferably more like background music than something with words.

The Silent Hill soundtrack.

Effin' air raid sirens. :smallannoyed:

Edit: The games, I'm not sure about the movie.

Faulty
07-18-2009, 10:41 PM
See, now you broke him.

Leviathan has that effect on people. Seriously, not only is the guy's music creepy, but look at the his album covers:

http://www.metal-archives.com/images/1/8/8/3/188328.jpg

http://shop.relapse.com/dbimages/sleeves/20633LP_216.jpg

http://www.metal-archives.com/images/2/1/0/3/21030.jpg

http://www.metal-archives.com/images/7/7/9/6/77962.jpg

http://www.metal-archives.com/images/1/0/6/8/106808_106809.jpg

Achilles
07-18-2009, 11:41 PM
Hamburger Lady by Throbbing Gristle (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lPrTUC7BDn4)

It's creepy in itself, but read the lyrics along with it and you will never sleep again.

bladedSmoke
07-19-2009, 06:12 AM
sorry. bad phrasing. I really should have just said the music sort of picks up too much. I'm looking for something a little bit more ambient. and you're right, it's more menacing than creepy.

also, completely off topic but awesome account name.

Why thank you. :smallsmile: And yes, I see what you mean.

BlueWizard
07-19-2009, 09:00 AM
Anything by Danny Elfman.

Jalor
07-19-2009, 09:04 AM
Hamburger Lady by Throbbing Gristle (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lPrTUC7BDn4)

It's creepy in itself, but read the lyrics along with it and you will never sleep again.

Seconded. Actually, there's a lot of Throbbing Gristle that would work. I highly recommend them for regular listening as well.

Mystic Muse
07-19-2009, 09:52 AM
turqoise............cheese...........bicycle...... .....pizza.........orange.........cards.........wh irligig...............death........DEATH!

Faulty
07-19-2009, 01:00 PM
Hamburger Lady by Throbbing Gristle (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lPrTUC7BDn4)

It's creepy in itself, but read the lyrics along with it and you will never sleep again.

I think this is based on an actual occurance. It's based on a piece of letter art that sounds real, but isn't.

Decoy Lockbox
07-19-2009, 09:26 PM
Leviathan has that effect on people. Seriously, not only is the guy's music creepy, but look at the his album covers:

http://www.metal-archives.com/images/1/8/8/3/188328.jpg

http://shop.relapse.com/dbimages/sleeves/20633LP_216.jpg

http://www.metal-archives.com/images/2/1/0/3/21030.jpg

http://www.metal-archives.com/images/7/7/9/6/77962.jpg

http://www.metal-archives.com/images/1/0/6/8/106808_106809.jpg

After viewing enough metal album covers, you kinda start to get jaded. But i gotta say, that "10th sub level of sucide" has an album cover that is positively nightmarish. But I prefer "tentacles of whoror" over it, in terms of music. Leviathan is one of my favorite BM bands, and they are especially great for night time driving; well, at least the kind of night time driving where you enjoy freaking yourself out.

Faulty
07-19-2009, 10:08 PM
Man, most BM bands just have black and white pictures of churches and forests and crap. Leviathan's recent art is at least creative, and a lot of it I really do find pretty freaky. Leviathan really is brilliant, Wrest's music is one of the few raw Black Metal band type things I don't just think are good Black Metal, but good music if you catch my meaning. Have you heard the demos?

valadil
07-19-2009, 10:27 PM
Anything by Danny Elfman.

Any film score by Danny Elfman. His other stuff is creepy in entirely different ways. Behold: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jItz-uNjoZA

Faulty
07-19-2009, 10:32 PM
Any film score by Danny Elfman. His other stuff is creepy in entirely different ways. Behold: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jItz-uNjoZA

I totally guessed it before I clicked the link. I freaking love that song. New Wave is great music.

Achilles
07-20-2009, 01:17 PM
I think this is based on an actual occurance. It's based on a piece of letter art that sounds real, but isn't.

Really? That kinda makes me sad that it isn't real.... well, not too sad because no one should have to go through that. Throbbing Gristle wins the creepy music award to me. Heck, just Genesis P-Orridge, or whatever he/she calles him/herself these days, wins the creepy award.

Fayd
07-20-2009, 01:39 PM
Listen to some of the dungeon/cave/temple themes from www.zreomusic.com

Some of them are creepy. It's legend of Zelda...so not everything is. Look for the Shadow Temple, from the Ocarina of Time, and the cave or dungeon from A Link to the Past...it might be what you're looking for.

EDIT: Here's a direct link to the Shadow Temple. This might just work.

http://zreo.perix.co.uk/05_Ocarina_of_Time/67_Shadow_Temple.mp3