• Light/Dark
  • Ever wanted an RSS feed of all your favorite gaming news sites? Go check out our new Gaming Headlines feed! Read more about it here.

Metal/Rock Music - the hidden musical gems in video games

Shinobido Heart

Shinobido Heart

Member
Dec 23, 2017
8,092
Hopefully this thread is alright to post.

For the past two and a half decades, I have only listened to metal/rock music found in video games. Mostly melodic or instrumental rock with little to no vocals.

I'm not sure why, but I find metal/rock music in video games much more satisfying to listen to compared to what I hear on the local rock station, or places like Pandora.

There are some really talented musicians in the gaming industry and I'm hoping this thread serves as a collection of some great musical gems that are either well known or hidden within some not-so-well known video games.

A thread for people who just want to rock out and create the most awesome playlist ever imagined and perhaps look more into the games that feature this kind of music.

Below is a list of a few music tracks that I personally listen to, to get you started:

Guilty Gear X2 - Still in the Dark https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HPA3Y-acjb0
Guilty Gear X2 - Awe of She https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Quh1gkOFE7A
Guilty Gear X2 - Feel A Fear https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g8PIGepDni8

Guilty Gear 2 Overture - The Mask Does Not Laugh https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=El83rUpCaSg&list=PLRCWcYuqfcLyjsgjJqWUH5P8mwP2H-snR&index=5
Guilty Gear 2 Overture - The Re-Coming https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iFxIG6B_45A&list=PLRCWcYuqfcLyjsgjJqWUH5P8mwP2H-snR&index=9
Guilty Gear 2 Overture - Diva https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQIPLfLmUuE&list=PLRCWcYuqfcLyjsgjJqWUH5P8mwP2H-snR&index=12

Guilty Gear Isuka - Drunkard Does Make Wise Remarks https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a0g9J8X1OEE&list=PLDB40CEA78AE2AE68&index=4
Guilty Gear Isuka - Riches In Me https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wttzU4Sq-pI&list=PLDB40CEA78AE2AE68&index=5
Guilty Gear Isuka - The Irony of Chaste https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4bl_jm0tQPk&list=PLDB40CEA78AE2AE68&index=8

Guilty Gear Korean OST - The Great Empress https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GGG7sDPt520&list=PLAFBE8559FFD63153
Guilty Gear Korean OST - Pillars of the Underworld https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iY6D_BmNrs8&list=PLAFBE8559FFD63153&index=3
Guilty Gear Korean OST - Child of the Wind https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0gQigjRN_4&list=PLAFBE8559FFD63153&index=9

Guilty Gear Xrd - The Tuner https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KtXIQYu2-WE&index=9&list=PLiajsPes3_mAyOg1DXjlXAMih9t4EXjyz
Guilty Gear Xrd - Wanna Be Crazy https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mAGahFiulEE&list=PLDqiz2GbRCF8nUXwtaTycLLbDjIw98eYw&index=4
Guilty Gear Xrd - Six Black Heavens Guns https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQckc6N5Na8

Dynasty Warriors 8 - Capricious Wind https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DImfrqeiy-0
Dynasty Warriors 8 - The Mountain https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GVlLI3vmdMQ
Dynasty Warriors 8 - Heavnly Strike https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yk0HIllkcE8

Y's I&II Chronicles - Palace of Destruction https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5AnUa6A5Brw&index=9&list=PL044D7ABC2B744027
Y's I&II Chronicles - Tower of the Shadow of Death https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1EunxobcaHY&list=PL044D7ABC2B744027&index=11
Y's I&II Chronicles - Ruins of Moondora https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FhFSwGb6a9M&list=PL1dCbHpwCOBSG_Y2MonS8YWyiFWXitxV6&index=18

Y's Falcom vs JDK Band - Crossing Rage! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eInTbRWs-ak&list=PL1dCbHpwCOBSG_Y2MonS8YWyiFWXitxV6&index=19
Y's Falcom vs JDK Band - Legend of the Five Great Dragons https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sMGJ0tQE1Qo

Hard Corps: Uprising - Ruins Theme https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z8LdHuNlILo&list=PL67F7300956A4955D&index=5
Hard Corps: Uprising - Capital Library https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IayimbTSQx0&list=PL67F7300956A4955D&index=8
Hard Corps: Uprising - Capital Railway https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JAMxSBygsgg&list=PL67F7300956A4955D&index=9

Castlevania: Harmony of Despair - Ruined Castle Corridor https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Brh1biuL2VU&list=PL6akIKaXBeU13K3VchpskubPdYvenLQ6y&index=29
Castlevania: Harmony of Despair - Ebony Wings https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tUJucjMRFyg&list=PL6akIKaXBeU13K3VchpskubPdYvenLQ6y&index=10
Castlevania: Harmony of Despair - Go! Getsu Fuma https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OvzvFPoy4IM&list=PL6akIKaXBeU13K3VchpskubPdYvenLQ6y&index=14


I hope you all enjoy listening to these tracks as much as I have and please share your own music/playlists. If possible, please consider supporting the official soundtracks and show them that we love stuff like this. :)

If there are any issues, please let me know!
 
chrisypoo

chrisypoo

Member
Oct 27, 2017
3,457
There's definitely a lot of great metal in video games, but I find it odd that you absolutely refuse to listen to metal outside of game composers. I mean, you know those composers were influenced by metal bands right?

Anyway, if you like video game metal, then please do yourself a favor and check out the bands that made video game metal what it is one day when you have the time, like Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Guns n Roses, Anthrax, Megadeth, Slayer, Dream Theater, Motorhead, Iced Earth, Demons and Wizards, Blind Guardian, etc. I literally chose that particular list of bands based solely on the types of video game songs you like and how they're similar, and/ or influenced those composers, and/or the bands are influenced by video game music a bit.

Oh, and so I'm not completely off topic: Megaman X 1-3 may have been chip tunes, but the shit was metal as hell man. Check em out if you haven't heard them before, they're pretty heavy.
 
OP
OP
Shinobido Heart

Shinobido Heart

Member
Dec 23, 2017
8,092
chrisypoo said:
There's definitely a lot of great metal in video games, but I find it odd that you absolutely refuse to listen to metal outside of game composers. I mean, you know those composers were influenced by metal bands right?

Anyway, if you like video game metal, then please do yourself a favor and check out the bands that made video game metal what it is one day when you have the time, like Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Guns n Roses, Anthrax, Megadeth, Slayer, Dream Theater, Motorhead, Iced Earth, Demons and Wizards, Blind Guardian, etc. I literally chose that particular list of bands based solely on the types of video game songs you like and how they're similar, and/ or influenced those composers, and/or the bands are influenced by video game music a bit.

Oh, and so I'm not completely off topic: Megaman X 1-3 may have been chip tunes, but the shit was metal as hell man. Check em out if you haven't heard them before, they're pretty heavy.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...

You make a good point, I will definitely check out those bands! :)
 
chrisypoo

chrisypoo

Member
Oct 27, 2017
3,457
Shinobido Heart said:
You make a good point, I will definitely check out those bands! :)
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...
Hey good on ya bro, always good to expand your mind.

Oh, and Powerglove, they're a metal band that pretty much exclusively covers video game music, (no lyrics), and their covers are generally fantastic bar a few rare songs that don't click with me. In general though, I highly recommend them.
 
Bill Rizer

Bill Rizer

Banned
Apr 28, 2018
55
Check out F-Zero X Guitar Arrangement album and Street Fighter II Alph-Lyla, two absolute masterpieces.
 
Junior Asparagus

Junior Asparagus

Member
Nov 27, 2017
1,287
I always liked the Killer Instinct theme. I think the KI2/Gold variation is my favorite.



I also remember the F-Zero games having some good tracks.
 
Tizoc

Tizoc

Member
Oct 25, 2017
23,792
Oman
On mobile atm but op, you need to go look up
Winds of Thunder, the most metal shootem up to ever grace the pc engine platform
 
Cordy

Cordy

Member
Oct 25, 2017
15,303
chrisypoo said:
Oh, and so I'm not completely off topic: Megaman X 1-3 may have been chip tunes, but the shit was metal as hell man. Check em out if you haven't heard them before, they're pretty heavy.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...
I was just about to mention this. MMX1-3 was so metal, just hearing people do metal versions on Youtube sounds too good to be true.
 
CandySTX

CandySTX

Member
Mar 17, 2018
1,628
Scotland


Feels like the musical equivalent of the Resident Evil 1 voice acting. It's like, Ian Gillan can sing, but for some reason they just let him do whatever he wanted with the weird JRPG lyrics.

And it's all the more amazing for it.
 
chrisypoo

chrisypoo

Member
Oct 27, 2017
3,457
Cordy said:
I was just about to mention this. MMX1-3 was so metal, just hearing people do metal versions on Youtube sounds too good to be true.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...
Truth bro, the shit is so heavy it'll widen your shoulders. I randomly replay 1 through 4 fairly regularly and I'm head banging on the regular lol. My wife thinks my daughter and I are crazy while we run a wild ass mosh pit in the living room :P.

EDIT: Fuck it, we posting examples now, let's go!


 
Last edited:
Kapryov

Kapryov

Member
Oct 27, 2017
10,118
Australia
You had all these Guilty Gear mentions, but no Suck a Sage?

Suck a Sage was the reason I started playing GGXX, and it's peak fighting speed metal. There's 3 distinct versions of it too.


Anyway, this is my jam, thanks for making this thread. Here's the song that made me want to pick up the guitar in the first place. Getting Muddy from Sega Rally (Saturn version).


That solo at the 2 minute mark, and everything that follows, is some of the most hype music I've ever heard. Even now, 20+ years later.

In a similar era, here's Occam's Razor from Fighting Vipers



How many songs can I embed again? I have heaps.

There's also the official guitar arrangement of the Dragon's Dogma battle theme


By the way, OP, you don't have to listen to bands like Judas Priest or Dream Theater if you don't want to. Sometimes you just don't want vocals or lyrics, and there are heaps of instrumental rock/metal bands you'd probably feel right at home with. Look up smaller bands Into Orbit or Consider the Source. The pool is deep, jump in.
 
chrisypoo

chrisypoo

Member
Oct 27, 2017
3,457





Alrighty then, I think I've done my part here. Might post some more tomorrow if I remember, but I hope these tracks tickle your pickle OP.
 
Grizzel Greedigut

Grizzel Greedigut

Banned
Oct 27, 2017
2,433
Illinois
Almost any of classic 8 bit games have been metal-ized into music. There's so many bands out there that do this, hmu, I have an extensive library and can help you find all the vgm bands
 
Grizzel Greedigut

Grizzel Greedigut

Banned
Oct 27, 2017
2,433
Illinois
Years ago I was playing the black sabbath channel on pandora, and after awhile some video game bands would pop up. Who knows why, but I would make a note of them and follow them, and all the related bands. So after almost a decade of checking out such bands I'm almost a expert. I love them and am happy to share
 
chrisypoo

chrisypoo

Member
Oct 27, 2017
3,457
Grizzel Greedigut said:
Years ago I was playing the black sabbath channel on pandora, and after awhile some video game bands would pop up. Who knows why, but I would make a note of them and follow them, and all the related bands. So after almost a decade of checking out such bands I'm almost a expert. I love them and am happy to share
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...
As you can tell from above, I likes me some vidja game music, and I likes me some metal. I wouldn't mind you dropping a few suggestions in my inbox at some point, always looking to check out more game metal. Thanks!
 
Piccoro

Piccoro

Member
Nov 20, 2017
7,092
Shinobido Heart said:
Hopefully this thread is alright to post.

For the past two and a half decades, I have only listened to metal/rock music found in video games. Mostly melodic or instrumental rock with little to no vocals.

I'm not sure why, but I find metal/rock music in video games much more satisfying to listen to compared to what I hear on the local rock station, or places like Pandora.

There are some really talented musicians in the gaming industry and I'm hoping this thread serves as a collection of some great musical gems that are either well known or hidden within some not-so-well known video games.

A thread for people who just want to rock out and create the most awesome playlist ever imagined and perhaps look more into the games that feature this kind of music.

Below is a list of a few music tracks that I personally listen to, to get you started:

Guilty Gear X2 - Still in the Dark https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HPA3Y-acjb0
Guilty Gear X2 - Awe of She https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Quh1gkOFE7A
Guilty Gear X2 - Feel A Fear https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g8PIGepDni8

Guilty Gear 2 Overture - The Mask Does Not Laugh https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=El83rUpCaSg&list=PLRCWcYuqfcLyjsgjJqWUH5P8mwP2H-snR&index=5
Guilty Gear 2 Overture - The Re-Coming https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iFxIG6B_45A&list=PLRCWcYuqfcLyjsgjJqWUH5P8mwP2H-snR&index=9
Guilty Gear 2 Overture - Diva https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQIPLfLmUuE&list=PLRCWcYuqfcLyjsgjJqWUH5P8mwP2H-snR&index=12

Guilty Gear Isuka - Drunkard Does Make Wise Remarks https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a0g9J8X1OEE&list=PLDB40CEA78AE2AE68&index=4
Guilty Gear Isuka - Riches In Me https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wttzU4Sq-pI&list=PLDB40CEA78AE2AE68&index=5
Guilty Gear Isuka - The Irony of Chaste https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4bl_jm0tQPk&list=PLDB40CEA78AE2AE68&index=8

Guilty Gear Korean OST - The Great Empress https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GGG7sDPt520&list=PLAFBE8559FFD63153
Guilty Gear Korean OST - Pillars of the Underworld https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iY6D_BmNrs8&list=PLAFBE8559FFD63153&index=3
Guilty Gear Korean OST - Child of the Wind https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0gQigjRN_4&list=PLAFBE8559FFD63153&index=9

Guilty Gear Xrd - The Tuner https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KtXIQYu2-WE&index=9&list=PLiajsPes3_mAyOg1DXjlXAMih9t4EXjyz
Guilty Gear Xrd - Wanna Be Crazy https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mAGahFiulEE&list=PLDqiz2GbRCF8nUXwtaTycLLbDjIw98eYw&index=4
Guilty Gear Xrd - Six Black Heavens Guns https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQckc6N5Na8

Dynasty Warriors 8 - Capricious Wind https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DImfrqeiy-0
Dynasty Warriors 8 - The Mountain https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GVlLI3vmdMQ
Dynasty Warriors 8 - Heavnly Strike https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yk0HIllkcE8

Y's I&II Chronicles - Palace of Destruction https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5AnUa6A5Brw&index=9&list=PL044D7ABC2B744027
Y's I&II Chronicles - Tower of the Shadow of Death https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1EunxobcaHY&list=PL044D7ABC2B744027&index=11
Y's I&II Chronicles - Ruins of Moondora https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FhFSwGb6a9M&list=PL1dCbHpwCOBSG_Y2MonS8YWyiFWXitxV6&index=18

Y's Falcom vs JDK Band - Crossing Rage! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eInTbRWs-ak&list=PL1dCbHpwCOBSG_Y2MonS8YWyiFWXitxV6&index=19
Y's Falcom vs JDK Band - Legend of the Five Great Dragons https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sMGJ0tQE1Qo

Hard Corps: Uprising - Ruins Theme https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z8LdHuNlILo&list=PL67F7300956A4955D&index=5
Hard Corps: Uprising - Capital Library https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IayimbTSQx0&list=PL67F7300956A4955D&index=8
Hard Corps: Uprising - Capital Railway https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JAMxSBygsgg&list=PL67F7300956A4955D&index=9

Castlevania: Harmony of Despair - Ruined Castle Corridor https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Brh1biuL2VU&list=PL6akIKaXBeU13K3VchpskubPdYvenLQ6y&index=29
Castlevania: Harmony of Despair - Ebony Wings https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tUJucjMRFyg&list=PL6akIKaXBeU13K3VchpskubPdYvenLQ6y&index=10
Castlevania: Harmony of Despair - Go! Getsu Fuma https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OvzvFPoy4IM&list=PL6akIKaXBeU13K3VchpskubPdYvenLQ6y&index=14


I hope you all enjoy listening to these tracks as much as I have and please share your own music/playlists. If possible, please consider supporting the official soundtracks and show them that we love stuff like this. :)

If there are any issues, please let me know!
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...
OP, please listen to the soundtrack of the shooter Lords of Thunder.
 
Grizzel Greedigut

Grizzel Greedigut

Banned
Oct 27, 2017
2,433
Illinois
chrisypoo said:
As you can tell from above, I likes me some vidja game music, and I likes me some metal. I wouldn't mind you dropping a few suggestions in my inbox at some point, always looking to check out more game metal. Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...

Check out, I have no idea if these bands are even around,

The Advantage
Minibosses
Daniel Tidwell
Descendants of Erdrick
Entertainment System
Metroid Metal
Random Encounter
The One Ups
Arm Cannon
Vomitron

Should get you down the rabbit hole

Good luck!
 
Chaosblade

Chaosblade

Resettlement Advisor
Member
Oct 25, 2017
6,588
CandySTX said:


Feels like the musical equivalent of the Resident Evil 1 voice acting. It's like, Ian Gillan can sing, but for some reason they just let him do whatever he wanted with the weird JRPG lyrics.

And it's all the more amazing for it.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...


My favorite thing about the song is that it legit sounds like a Deep Purple song. I don't think Gillan nailed the vocals but everything else is absolutely perfect.
 
anexanhume

anexanhume

Member
Oct 25, 2017
12,912
Maryland
chrisypoo said:
There's definitely a lot of great metal in video games, but I find it odd that you absolutely refuse to listen to metal outside of game composers. I mean, you know those composers were influenced by metal bands right?

Anyway, if you like video game metal, then please do yourself a favor and check out the bands that made video game metal what it is one day when you have the time, like Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Guns n Roses, Anthrax, Megadeth, Slayer, Dream Theater, Motorhead, Iced Earth, Demons and Wizards, Blind Guardian, etc. I literally chose that particular list of bands based solely on the types of video game songs you like and how they're similar, and/ or influenced those composers, and/or the bands are influenced by video game music a bit.

Oh, and so I'm not completely off topic: Megaman X 1-3 may have been chip tunes, but the shit was metal as hell man. Check em out if you haven't heard them before, they're pretty heavy.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...

Yeah. There's plenty of good instrumental out there too if you don't want vocals.

Animals with Leaders, Night Verses, Polyphia are some of my more recent faves. Of course there are the staples like Vai, Yngwie, Satriani, Stump, etc.

Junior Asparagus said:
I always liked the Killer Instinct theme. I think the KI2/Gold variation is my favorite.



I also remember the F-Zero games having some good tracks.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...


My man.
 
Augemitbutter

Augemitbutter

Member
Oct 25, 2017
2,290
Older OSTs are full of metal, many in chiptune. I'm a big fan as well, used to order CDs once every month.

try these



 
Morrigan

Morrigan

Spear of the Metal Church
Member
Oct 24, 2017
34,293
For something other than just wailing guitars, check out the Slain: Back from Hell OST. 90's-sounding instrumental doom/death/gothic metal composed by an ex-Celtic Frost member:
 
Petruccis Biceps

Petruccis Biceps

Member
Oct 27, 2017
4,527
This is why I love composers such as Nobuo Uematsu and Sakuraba, they have very prog rock/metal influences and you can tell with the way they score the games. Its one of the things that newer FF soundtracks lack imo.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.