Royalty-Free Music

Feels: Suspenseful

Decisions

A vocal chorus blends with subtle percussion and panning synth effects that rattles the bones. The choir rises in volume almost imperceptibly before dissolving, leaving a sense of drama and consequence. Perfect for the background music to build suspense and intrigue. Loopable. 035 Driving, Intense, Suspenseful 2010

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Rising

Heavy on the percussion, this piece is dominated by the rising strings in the second minute, which quickly give way to an ethereal alto chorus. The accompaniment rises together before dissipating. Loopable. Grooving, Intense, Suspenseful 2010

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The House of Leaves

A simple harp refrain plays a child’s melody, but is torn apart by discordant screeching noises, thumps, growls, and mechanical noises. 037 Dark, Eerie, Intense, Suspenseful, Unnerving 2010

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Gagool

A very nice piece with repeated themes... not sure what one should expect, given the instrumentation of this piece - but it probably won't disappoint. 035 Dark, Eerie, Mysterious, Suspenseful, Unnerving 2008

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Faceoff

Starts thin, and pulsing, ends giant and brass-filled. Driving, Eerie, Epic, Intense, Mysterious, Suspenseful 2008

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Interloper

Multi-part cue that builds as it accelerates. 044 Action, Dark, Eerie, Epic, Intense, Mysterious, Suspenseful, Unnerving 2008

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Smoking Gun

Gritty Western feel with a touch of suspense. Dark, Intense, Mysterious, Suspenseful 2007

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Sneaky

Ascending and descending chromatic scales gives this piece an air of mischief; perfectly suited for a cartoon. It has moments of tenuous fluidity, rapid motion, and a touch of suspense, making it perfect for the classic scene where the hero is sneaking past the sleeping giant. 034 Bouncy, Humorous, Suspenseful 2010

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Unanswered Questions

The solid beat and dark melody reverberate, giving the simplicity of this single-instrument piece the feeling of mounting tension and unease. Useful for a documentary showing pain, poverty, or imprisonment. 044 Grooving, Suspenseful 2010

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In The West

The percussion and strings start off bright, but deceive you as they turn to a powerful minor key. The string bass plays a prominent role, interacting with and leading the treble to the sudden conclusion. 042 Suspenseful 2010

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Failing Defense

This piece begins immediately with horn blasts, strings, and a bone-jangling xylophone. After the brief intro the horns play a melody, then the horns drop away away except tribal drums and staccato string bursts. The music returns in a big way, suggestive of a tense battle, as the instruments compete against each other, until the rapid discordant end. 033 Action, Aggressive, Intense, Suspenseful 2010

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Old Road

This music is the introduction to your characters entering a Middle Eastern village for the first time. The tribal drumming is all hustle and bustle, while the melody is winding, forceful, and unfamiliar. 046 Driving, Suspenseful 2010

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Redletter

High-pitched strings play above a low drone, while fuzzy noises and cymbal rolls flow throughout. The high strings crescendo and quickly cut out as if a knife sliced their throats. A somber melody plays in the final minute, and the noises crescendo and come at you from every angle, symbolic of an attack and a gruesome finale. 037 Dark, Eerie, Intense, Suspenseful, Unnerving 2010

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Ibn Al-Noor

Evocative of the Arab world, the music begins stoically; the melody accentuated by simple percussive sounds. Within the first minute, the strings hypnotize with their sinuous melody, the tribal drumming awakening the senses. In the third minute the piece changes to a heavy, dangerous string and tribal drumming that builds until all of the instruments come together in a fitful way, until the abrupt ending. 046 Action, Eerie, Suspenseful 2010

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Mistake the Getaway

The chase begins with horn blasts, and the kit plays a solid beat while the bass strings are a pulsing drone below the horn melody. The piece grows more tense and emotional, the strings taking the lead and rise into a flowing intensity. Danger returns in full force as the music crescendos and return for one final push. 033 Action, Driving, Epic, Intense, Suspenseful 2010

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Nerves

The first two minutes contain many changes and shifts in tone - all intense. The final minute is a collection of all that came before, ending in a pulse-quickening finale. This is music for an action film, or a scene that begins with tremulous anxiety and ends in a big way. 033 Action, Dark, Eerie, Epic, Intense, Suspenseful 2010

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Devastation and Revenge

A low hum sets a dark and mysterious mood, but at 0:49 the orchestral strings, horns, and pounding drums begin, perfect as the background to the hero’s dilemma or impending battle scene. At 2:01 the music reaches a climax and builds into discordant, terrifying suspense. The ending, at 2:35, features a lone guitar and mournful vocals, depicting a great sadness and loss. 006 Eerie, Epic, Intense, Mystical, Somber, Suspenseful 2010

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Chee Zee Jungle

Where is this jungle? I have no idea. Videogameland, I suspect. Driving, Grooving, Humorous, Suspenseful 2010

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Chee Zee Cave

Loping dissonant loopable atmospheric. Dark, Humorous, Intense, Suspenseful 2010

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Also Sprach Zarathustra

Richard Strauss' famous piece from 1883. This is just the first few measures - made in about a day. There is more work to be done, but it pretty ok right now. Enjoy! Epic, Intense, Suspenseful, Uplifting 2010

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Tenebrous Brothers Carnival - Mermaid

Is she a mer-maid, or is she an illusion! Her enchanting voice will entice, and she is 100% alive! Keep your wits about you, gentlemen - you don't want to be dragged to an unfortunate end. Very heavy on bass. Eerie, Intense, Mysterious, Mystical, Relaxed, Suspenseful, Unnerving 2010

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Umbrella Pants

If naming tracks is so easy, you try it! Possibly sneaking, possibly comedic dialog, possibly comedic dialog while sneaking... 1,001 uses for your film! Humorous, Suspenseful 2009

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Dances and Dames

Off-center feeling film noir-like piece with a continually changing time signature. "Something is amiss on the streets. My job is to figure that out." 041 Grooving, Mysterious, Suspenseful 2009

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Awkward Meeting

Simple piano theme drives this, but it sometimes buried under unnerving textures. 7/4 time, rubato. 038 Dark, Eerie, Intense, Mysterious, Mystical, Suspenseful, Unnerving 2009

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To the Ends

Horns used in the background. Main melodies carried by clarinet and strings. Starts off bright, ends darker. 043 Bright, Dark, Mysterious, Suspenseful 2009

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Basement Floor

A heavy synth slap bass and processed percussion drive this suspenseful piece. The consistent groove is complemented by a chorus for several more dramatic moments. Heavy Phasing, delay and reverb. 018 Dark, Grooving, Suspenseful, Unnerving 2009

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At Launch

An epic orchestral work featuring heavy brass and strings. This piece takes the listener on a spirited journey through military might and hopeful adventure. 042 Epic, Intense, Suspenseful, Uplifting 2009

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Snowdrop

A somber solo piano improvisation featuring a repeated melodic tone with arpeggiated shifting chords in the bass. Ends slightly uplifting. Reminiscent of Chopin's Raindrop Prelude. Dark, Eerie, Relaxed, Suspenseful 2009

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Spider Eyes

Spider Eyes is an eerie soundscape created with distant high strings, dissonant non-percussive piano textures, and alternately tuned bells. This piece features much sustain and space. 021 Dark, Eerie, Mysterious, Suspenseful, Unnerving 2009

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Gustav Sting

A grooving sting featuring percussion and low staccato strings. Action, Driving, Grooving, Intense, Suspenseful 2009

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Texture for Violincello and Pianoforte No. 2

An interesting jumble of cello and some piano fused together to create an eerie and intense piece the likes of which no one has ever heard of...until now. Eerie, Intense, Suspenseful, Unnerving 2008

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News of Sorrow

African-influenced short piece with continuous accelerando. 036 Dark, Intense, Somber, Suspenseful 2008

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Serpentine Trek

Something winding its way somewhere. 040 Dark, Eerie, Epic, Intense, Suspenseful 2008

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Long Note Three

A very long dark note. Use under dialog, or to kill site noise. 037 Dark, Mysterious, Somber, Suspenseful 2008

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Long Note Two

Heavy effects on an arhythmic piano, and very deep bass. 037 Dark, Eerie, Mysterious, Suspenseful, Unnerving 2008

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Long note One

Just a very long pad for use under dialog. 037 Dark, Intense, Suspenseful, Unnerving 2008

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The Chamber

Delicate start with a lush ending. 006 Dark, Eerie, Epic, Mystical, Suspenseful, Unnerving 2008

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Grave Blow

We're dealing with a dark tragedy here... sounds like something needs to be done! 006 Dark, Epic, Suspenseful, Unnerving 2008

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Asian Drums

A semi-chaotic mix of drums with nice reverb. 010 Dark, Eerie, Suspenseful, Unnerving 2008

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Night Break

Edgy-sounding synths with several pulsing band-pass sweeps. 037 Dark, Eerie, Suspenseful, Unnerving 2007

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Western Streets

An all percussion tension-sustaining piece... More chaotic than symmetric, but enough repeated themes to keep it cohesive. Dark, Suspenseful, Unnerving 2007

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Feral Chase

Someone's running from something... or to somewhere... High energy, but reserved. 033 Action, Driving, Suspenseful, Dark, Epic 2007

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Attack of the Mole Men

Written as an introduction to a play, this has the feel of a 1950's monster movie. 042 Dark, Suspenseful, Epic 2006

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Overriding Concern

Slow fade in with source recordings from a carnival, leading to a clean sharp synth and round synth. Tubular bells and glock add interest later. 018 Driving, Action, Unnerving, Dark, Mysterious, Suspenseful 2006

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Zombie Hoodoo

Simple piano line with dark atmospherics in the background. It says "Zombie", but it is useful for any number of creepy motifs. (This piece is related to Zombie Chase). 042 Unnerving, Eerie, Mystical, Mysterious, Suspenseful 2006

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Zombie Chase

Aggressive, but smooth action sequence; earthy and powerful, using the same piano theme as Zombie Hoodoo. 033 Driving, Action, Unnerving, Dark, Mysterious, Suspenseful 2006

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Land of Phantoms

More a creepy orchestral percussive soundscape than a piece of music with melody and harmony. That thing you can't identify is a gong being played abnormally. 035 Unnerving, Eerie, Suspenseful 2006

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Power Restored

Turbulent low brass and snare countered by high winds. High energy. 039 Dark, Epic, Action, Suspenseful 2006

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Quiet Panic

Quiet tremolo strings that build slightly to an anti-climax. 038 Suspenseful, Mysterious 2006

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Sneak 'n Get Caught

Low strings / glass harmonica. Wind/String/Percussion diminished chord build with crescendo and sting on the end. (written for Darker Projects' Falcon Banner Episode 4) 035 Dark, Mysterious, Epic, Suspenseful 2006

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Enigma

Written as a theme for a podcast, this was requested as "upbeat with an air of mystery". So that's what it is. 041 Driving, Action, Intense, Suspenseful 2006

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Seven Off

Lots of strings, a couple of winds carry the interest offset by a glockenspiel. 7-4 time. Slow and unnerving. 036 Unnerving, Eerie, Mystical, Mysterious, Suspenseful, Somber 2005

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Impending Boom

That sort of tension music for when people are trying to diffuse a bomb. Has other uses as well. Sixteenth notes beginning to end. 044 Driving, Epic, Intense, Mysterious, Suspenseful 2005

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Unease

Background horror music. Solo midrange piano. 038 Dark, Intense, Suspenseful 2005

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Anxiety

Background horror music. Electronic. 038 Dark, Intense, Suspenseful 2005

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Mystery!

Theme song for a 1940's style radio show. Organs, brass, and bells with effects to increase the "age". Run time is closer to one minute without the record scratches. , Mysterious, Suspenseful 2004

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