Theme music for my BBEG

[FabulousFizban]

just what it says, I need some epic music to play whenever my party is in the vicinity of the BBEG. I want to get a Pavlovian terror response going from these guys. The BBEG is a graveknight antipaladin. I've been trying to find a good instrumental on youtube but nothing really jumps out at me.

Can you guys help me find the perfect song?

[The Oni]

Are we looking for LOOK AT ME BEING SCARY music

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fZPiRpXpoJg

or I AM ACTIVELY TRYING TO KILL YOU music?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L5NurUkRObc

[TandemChelipeds]

Berserk has some good villain music.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ew3--XVFioU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7IwRkFyUu60

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OO-QCjpXdfo


EDIT: Especially the third one. You may have to watch the first episode of Berserk to get why, but to this day, every time I hear that clanking noise, I think "OSHI-".

[BWR]

You can always go with the classics.
In general you can find great music from Star Wars, and not all of it as recognizable as the last bit.
Revan's Theme, Most of the music from Republic Commando is very unique and appropriate, especially if your players aren't familiar with the game. Gra'tua Cuun, for instance.

[Werekat]

The Black Moon Chronicles OST seems suitable to your purposes, particularly track 10 (Wismerhill). But I'd use it in its entirety if I had a campaign that revolved around an anti-paladin.

[DigoDragon]

For villains that telegraph their presence as illusions or messages to the party, I liked using Rezo's theme from the anime The Slayers.

For villains that liked to show up in person and were strong enough that the party wasn't much of a threat yet, I prefered Exdeath's theme from the game Final Fantasy V (between the two I like the little violin ee! ee! ee! opening to the latter. Reminds me of Psycho).

[Frozen_Feet]

Ghost for the proper satanic feel.

[Forrestfire]

I am a fan of this one for bad guys that want ominous chanting or the like. Tsubasa has some really good music.

[Red Fel]

I happen to enjoy older classics, myself. Consider, for example, Camille Saint-Saens' diabolically brilliant Danse Macabre. Depending on your mood, there are a million and one variations, each more sinister than the last. It's really perfect for an undead or undead-themed BBEG, and the sinister tones only escalate as the song progresses.

Here it is on accordion. And on the organ. And violin and piano. And pretty much everybody.

EDIT: I can't believe I forgot one of the greatest demonic villain anthems ever conceived. It's so delicious, so dark, so intense, and best of all, so recognizable. Your players will know it by the first few chords, even if they can't name it - that opening resonance of violin strings is enough to tell any player, no matter how jaded or seasoned, "Oh crap, oh crap, oh crap."

[Mutazoia]

just what it says, I need some epic music to play whenever my party is in the vicinity of the BBEG. I want to get a Pavlovian terror response going from these guys. The BBEG is a graveknight antipaladin. I've been trying to find a good instrumental on youtube but nothing really jumps out at me.

Can you guys help me find the perfect song?

I guess what kind of BBEG you've got going.... But I can send you a few choice picks

Pick #1

Pick #2

Pick #3

Pick #4

[NikitaDarkstar]

May I suggest some Two Steps From Hell (/Thomas Bergersen)?

Invincible
Black Blade
Or perhaps Starvation ?

Really there's plenty of good, epic music to pick from since they make movie scores.

[Wraith]

Anything by Erdenstern will probably work.

Anything off'f the Into The Dark album in general, and The Ritual and Evil Overlord are particularly foreboding, though there are gems sprinkled throughout the discography that a villain would be proud to use as his leitmotif.

[Somensjev]

do you want creepy or awesome?

[Mastikator]

Night on a bare mountain might work, sinister yet awesome.

[Actana]

Can't go wrong with some Dark Souls.

Gravelord Nito's theme.
Manus, Father of the Abyss's theme.
Black Dragon Kalameet's theme.
Four Kings' Theme.

All are more or less heavy, oppressive and dark pieces.

[Sith_Happens]

For sinister and/or creepy villains.

For stylish villains.

For villains whose appearance means that ****'s about to get serious.

For villains that make you say "Oh no, not him."

For villains to whom the only sane response is "RUN."

For villains whose ****ing guts you just want to rip out and stuff down their ****ing throat. Repeatedly.
(Okay, that might just be me projecting based on the character who canonically uses that theme, but I assure you that any player who recognizes it will have the exact same response. Otherwise, file it under "For villains who know how to make an entrance.")

For villains that you may or may not like, but can't help but respect.

For villains that fit all of the above categories (except maybe that last one).

[jidasfire]

This is one of my favorites for chilling villainous atmosphere: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JMhSWEu6r6c

[Da Beast]

I've wanted to use this for a sympathetic villain for a while now. Someone who the PCs liked or even trusted at what point and hasn't necessarily become evil, but circumstance has thrown them against each other in one final, desperate struggle.

[Hunter Noventa]

This is pretty music that says to me 'You are about to be utterly screwed.'

[Erth16]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qbMPHa-ncZk That says to me a stalkerish but playful villain, like a predator.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QBnEqcrbjIY This is more personal, my group hears this and they know some crazy fight is about to go down.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vpkh4JW9hW4
Tragic villain.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8dHMVmhBogk
For the more silly, joking-ish villain, such as Tobi pre reveal.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OaqeawuY0r0
For the conceited, All-About-Me type of villain, I mean just look at that title.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TuU-Se7GFnI
Grand sociopath hero villain.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3exZfL6LbY
Omnicidal Maniac.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LMOk4Znm0QY If your villain is a train.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_F5459jCtuM
If your villain is on a train.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zJ_2NTthBnU
If your villain is a train conductor.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ioQLlX2ELbg
If your villain made railroads the trains drive over.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fZFDbgnjmyk
If your villain sells train tickets.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UTLqnME57vo
If your villain invented trains.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sMlFCwOjIMQ
A villain who put someone else on a train.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NmlXXPVxQ3Q
And for a villain who is a trainspotter.

[FabulousFizban]

Are we looking for LOOK AT ME BEING SCARY music

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fZPiRpXpoJg

or I AM ACTIVELY TRYING TO KILL YOU music?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L5NurUkRObc

I'm looking for chilling dread music. Music that makes the players go, "He's here, I'm scared witless, we should leave." Part of that is training them to be scared, ideally I'd like exactly what you did - one song for dread, one song for battle. Something intimidating in either case.

Also, all of these are really good. I have some tough choices ahead of me. Thank you guys. As always, you are awesome

EDIT: I should probably provide a smidge of detail about the character: while he has a tragic past (fallen hero of a fallen kingdom), he is in no way sympathetic. He has a paladin's honor, but beyond that, he means to kill a ****load of people, and for very little reason. He is ruthless, cunning, and unyielding. Any further questions you may have I will answer on the morrow.

EDIT 2: Seriously guys, these are awesome. Now instead of one standout, I have too many. I think i will bookmark this as my go to music page for future sessions/games

[Braininthejar2]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NArFIVt9t1Y

[Slipperychicken]

I'm looking for chilling dread music. Music that makes the players go, "He's here, I'm scared witless, we should leave." Part of that is training them to be scared, ideally I'd like exactly what you did - one song for dread, one song for battle. Something intimidating in either case.

In which case, you might like this one.

The first part of this one is awesome. Until you get used to how the harmony works, it's amazing for horror.

[NikitaDarkstar]

This is a bit of the beaten path on the suggestions but perhaps Corvus Corax - Hymnus Cantica could fit? It's a song that in my opinion fits rather well with a noble character or one who sees himself as such. It doesn't inspire a sense of dread as much as it does a sense of pride and "nobility" (it's been a long day so that may not be the word I'm looking for) and at least for me, conjures images of knights and paladins. Simply put, someone a bit more refined, and very much in control. Bonus points for it being somewhat less modern. :p


Nummus is a bit more traditional in it's darkness, but sadly I can't find a clip with better sound quality right now, they're around, just not on youtube.

[TeChameleon]

If you want the 'shock and awe' effect, might I humbly suggest Dies Irae, of Verdi's Requiem Mass? The name translates as 'Day of Wrath', and is a tone poem that is intended to be describing the world ending in fire and blood. If you crank the volume, then unobtrusively turn this on, I will be sorely disappointed if at least one of your players doesn't nearly fall off their chairs

[DCraw]

I'm looking for chilling dread music. Music that makes the players go, "He's here, I'm scared witless, we should leave." Part of that is training them to be scared, ideally I'd like exactly what you did - one song for dread, one song for battle. Something intimidating in either case.

Also, all of these are really good. I have some tough choices ahead of me. Thank you guys. As always, you are awesome

EDIT: I should probably provide a smidge of detail about the character: while he has a tragic past (fallen hero of a fallen kingdom), he is in no way sympathetic. He has a paladin's honor, but beyond that, he means to kill a ****load of people, and for very little reason. He is ruthless, cunning, and unyielding. Any further questions you may have I will answer on the morrow.

EDIT 2: Seriously guys, these are awesome. Now instead of one standout, I have too many. I think i will bookmark this as my go to music page for future sessions/games

Well, if you don't mind a piece with quite a wide emotional range, Mars, the first movement from the Planets Suite by Holst would suit a martial BBEG quite well. It starts off quiet and ominous, but quickly escalates. You'd have to pick your vamp points carefully though, as the contrast between the ending and repeating the beginning would be quite jarring.

Venus also follows on quite well once they manage to bring the BBEG down. Just make sure to include the conclusion to Mars first (preferably just after you announce that he falls).

If it reminds you of Star Wars, that's because Williams drew heavily on the Planets Suite when he was writing the score.