Our selection of royalty-free cinematic music with an emphasis on tension, danger, nerve, and a sense of unease. Sometimes more subtle and sneaky music, other times more overt threatening music and soundtracks for critical situations, this music is made for action thrillers, police operations, stakeouts, spy / undercover agents, dangerous missions, hurricane-chasing and more.
Stalkers, serial killers, crime scenes, murder, twisted plots and Investigation Discovery shows. The chaotic and evil sounding prepared piano and sound design creates evil thoughts of Halloween, ghosts, cults and the supernatural. [Tempo: Very slow, Slow / 120 BPM]
A dark and obscure track with accented strings, huge percussive hits, sound effects and ambient synths. Ideal for dramatic breaking news and reality TV cues such as Dateline NBC and Rock Center. Useful for news investigations, videos involving turmoil, struggle, elimination and the idea of serial killers, crime scenes, murder, twisted plots, Halloween and Investigation Discovery. [Tempo: Slow / 78 BPM]
A reality TV type tension track featuring bells, synths, and percussion. Builds throughout for a sense of forward motion while maintaining intensity. Think of any reality TV series where elimination rounds are involved. [Tempo: Very slow, Slow / 84 BPM]
This piece of electronic music is suitable for any scene of rushing or urgency within a hospital or medical facility. It could also be used for a chase scene within a hospital. Included in this track is the beeping and ticking sound of a typical heart and blood pressure monitor at bedside - which completes the tension felt when listening. [Tempo: Medium / 120 BPM]
A soundtrack that builds from deep anticipation into filtered drums, scattered instrumentation and an uneasy, thrilling sensation of discovery. Top & tailed with twisted, eerie strings giving a climactic feeling of fear & forboding. similar in style to US & Scandanavian TV crime drama scores or science & technology documentaries. [Tempo: Slow, Medium / 100 BPM]
A dark and pensive Sci-fi / futuristic underscore. Cinematic, slowly developing, with a deeply pulsating beat and string section. Uneasy, tense, gloomy. [Tempo: Very slow, Slow / 65 BPM]
Mixing orchestral and hip hop elements, this pensive, tense and nervous underscore is the good track for challenge, mystery, thriller, police, stakeout, international conspiracies, countdown, pressure situations. Also good for things like CSI, NCIS, forensics, investigation, looking for clues. [Tempo: Slow, Medium / 116 BPM]
A dark, rhythmic, orchestral track suitable for conflict, battle, chase or impending action. A methodical rhythm creates a sense of something relentless, malevolent. Builds to a climax towards the end. [Tempo: Slow, Medium, Fast / 163 BPM]
A suspense filled orchestral piece. Its theme varies in transitioned formats from a tens and dramatic feel to a more dynamic one. Its progressive rhythm and heavy percussion on the second part makes it a really good action music, and its melancholic and melodious string section brings back the emotion on its opening part, offering a good transition from one to the other. [Tempo: Slow, Medium, Fast / 130 BPM]
An "oriental'ed" dubstep track. Aggressive and melodic, its oriental touch is given trough a catchy usage of a Duduk and Yall Tambour and its trashy side trough a rough beat and greasy bass synth. A dynamic and surprising progression that would match any sport or urban related footage. [Tempo: Slow, Medium, Fast / 140 BPM]
A tense and dark trailer-style track led by orchestra and synths while featuring electronic drums and driven guitars at points. Epic and powerful, with a clock-like pulse. [Tempo: Medium, Fast / 120 BPM]
A dark, brooding underscore for mystery and tension. Sci-fi / Futuristic; can also be desert / wasteland, abandoned warehouse or other location. Doom laden, cold, desolate. Threatening / uneasy. There is also a "No Drums" version which works well as a dark ambient background track. [Tempo: Slow, Medium / 90 BPM]
A gloomy, doom laden, pensive underscore for action thriller, sci-fi, mystery and horror. Nervous, dark ambient, pulsating rhythms and sneaky / suspicious sounds. Serious / Exotic / Mystical. Can be an ethnic place, or general dark / ominous ambience. Also available in a "No Drums" version which has a more ambient / dark background / ethereal feel. [Tempo: Slow, Medium / 90 BPM]
A dark, gloomy, emotional and sorrowful underscore for sci-fi, thriller, mystery, or action drama. Conflict, unease, with an ethnic / world mystery undertow. Available with or without drums, and with or without a wailing, sorrowful, ethnic solo vocal. Desolate / Tense / Uncertain. [Tempo: Slow, Medium / 90 BPM]
A very dark and disturbing horror / scifi / mystery track, with harsh, metallic pads and percussion counterpositioned against a fragile soprano voice. Can be both Ancient and Futuristic. Tense / Nervous pulse. Action thriller / Undercover / Sci-fi / Mystical. Also available without the drums, which makes it a more Ambient / Dark Underscore type track. [Tempo: Slow, Medium / 100 BPM]
A dark, sneaky, and malevolent sounding underscore for sci-fi, mystery and horror. For the most part dark ambient, but a section with pounding drums that can be edited into place for a more action based bed track. Horrific / Extreme danger / Otherworldly. Also available without the drums and with / without the vocal. [Tempo: Slow, Medium / 90 BPM]
A tense and dark action / sci-fi / thriller underscore. Dark pads and twitchy, ethereal soundscapes, with action thriller style drum / percussion parts. Think horror / mystery / science fiction / dark drama. Can also be for very edgy sports footage. Available with or without the drums. [Tempo: Slow, Medium / 120 BPM]
Dark, tense, underscore with a somewhat Tribal feel. Can be ancient cultures / religions / mystical world history, or Futuristic / Sci-fi / Adventure. Ethereal pads, tribal percussion, mangled synth sounds. Some chanting, war like vocals also join in towards the end. Available with or without the drums, and with or without the vocals. [Tempo: Slow, Medium / 105 BPM]
Dark, Pensive underscore track for Action Thriller / Mystery / Horror / Sci-fi / Adventure. A Tribal / Ancient / Mystical backdrop meets with Ethereal pads and pounding percussion. Awe / Tension / Amazement / Drama. A rich, cinematic, dark sound. Available with or without the drums, and with or without the ethereal vocals. [Tempo: Slow, Medium / 90 BPM]
A dark, sneaky, and malevolent sounding underscore for sci-fi, mystery and horror. For the most part dark ambient, but two sections with pounding drums that can be edited into place for a more action based bed track. Horrific / Extreme danger / Otherworldly. Also available without the drums and with / without the vocal. [Tempo: Slow, Medium / 90 BPM]
Layers of synth, strings, and light, echoey vocals create a ghastly mood of foreboding in this ambient track, which ends suddenly and sharply with a shocking, big hit. [Tempo: Very slow, Slow / 0 BPM]
Sneaky, suspicious, ambient track with a sense of future, sci-fi, space. Could be good for a scene of exploring a dangerous place, abandoned spaceship or warehouse, strange alien planet, etc. [Tempo: Very slow, Slow / 47 BPM]
A broody, dark, cinematic track with a slight military / operation feel. Barely audible lo-fi telecommunications over dark beds of mangled and distorted synth pads and guitars. Undercover operation, military or space / sci-fi material. Sneaky, suspicious and ominous. [Tempo: Slow, Medium / 75 BPM]
A tense, ominous, brooding underscore for action, thriller, sci-fi and more. Pounding percussion, dark pads and sweeps. Urgency / Danger. Also available in a version without the drums, which represents a more sneaky / dark ambient feel. [Tempo: Medium, Fast / 120 BPM]
Ominous and powerful theme music featuring distant trumpet, orchestral trumpet and strings creating an enticing atmosphere. [Tempo: Slow, Medium / 104 BPM]
A dark, pulsing tension piece. Orchestra mingling with electronic loops and huge drums support a possible military/espionage narrative or just as easily, a dark hero's charge into the inevitable. [Tempo: Slow, Medium / 94 BPM]
An energetic orchestral track with driving drums, percussion, and synths, for a thriller, reality show, or action or horror film. [Tempo: Medium, Fast / 138 BPM]
A dark, percussive piece. Low, swelling strings and steady drums lead into an intense pulsing action cue. A hero's theme of determination. [Tempo: Slow, Medium / 97 BPM]
Massive, pounding percussion with the rattle of chains. A mechanical, unnatural sound... all this and a bed of disturbing atmospheric layers makes this one heck of a scary track. Perfect for halloween, haunted houses and horror films. [Tempo: Slow / 119 BPM]
Someone is being followed as they drive towards their destiny, a final showdown. Orchestra with interesting guitar, synth and percussion layers. Perfect for a modern suspenseful film. The music gets big and epic, yet at times is also smaller in scope, intricate and suspenseful. [Tempo: Medium / 98 BPM]
Starts with an ominous repetitive low horn blow, and builds up towards a full orchestral and choir theme. Dark and powerful trailer music, inspired by mind bending, psychological and twisted up sci-fi action thrillers. [Tempo: Slow, Medium / 100 BPM]
A very dark and threatening orchestral soundtrack, featuring repeating waves of foreboding, ominous, menacing swells. Highly dramatic and spine chilling. Apocalypse / Emergency. [Tempo: Slow / 70 BPM]
An orchestral / Cinematic cue with a growing, increasing intensity throughout. Suitable for a scene that starts off suspiciously or tentatively, then activity increases and finally all is revealed. Good for adventure, fantasy, family movies, magic and mischief, exploration and more. [Tempo: Slow, Medium, Fast / 70 BPM]
A dark, rhythmic, and ever intensifying piece of orchestral music, available with or without vocal chanting and howling. This piece has something of the wild about it, something primal. It keeps growing, growing, growing until the climax at about 2:10 and then ends with a haunting afterthought. Aggressive / Menacing / Threatening. [Tempo: Slow / 60 BPM]
This Cinematic / Electronic crossover track opens with a unique string like synth and a strong melodic theme. The first drop is a heavy hitting slow pace theme that builds with the original melody layered with synthesizers and strings, before it builds up with distorted drums, a strong string melody and a pitched-up effect to a big hit at the end. This track will work for movie and video game trailers, scenes of battle or struggle. Dark / Industrial / Cinematic / Apocalyptic. [Tempo: Slow, Fast / 65 BPM]
Strings and relentless edgy drums lead the way, building tension to a contemplative, dreamy middle section. It would be perfect for documentaries, films and advertising. Big ending would be great as a finale to a montage or action scene. The ending could also work well in an elimination scene in a reality show like Survivor or The Amazing Race. [Tempo: Slow / 91 BPM]
Orchestra and percussion accompany bassoon playing a very mysterious, almost seductive melody. Perhaps someone is making a deal with a shadowy character who has a dark and sinister plan. [Tempo: Slow / 67 BPM]
A mysterious, brooding opening soon gives way to an epic, dark track featuring orchestra, drums and choir. Huge climactic ending - great for trailers. [Tempo: Medium, Fast / 95 BPM]
Intense piano and strings are soon joined by heavy urban drums. For setting an ominous, serious mood. [Tempo: Slow, Medium / 84 BPM]
Cinematic Action music track great for crime and investigation programs, news, documentaries, also for films, TV series and action trailers evolving around Police, FBI and CIA. Featuring orchestral strings and woodwinds, synthesizers, keyboards and contemporary drum beat. [Tempo: Slow / 114 BPM]
Energetic percussion opens the track, soon replaced with an epic, heroic melody performed by orchestra and choir. Music grows in intensity. Final section soars with high stings and climaxes with a patriotic, militaristic heroic melody. [Tempo: Medium / 140 BPM]
Orchestra starts small, adding a touch of tension and uncertainty, but soon builds to an inspiring punchy melody. A soaring heroic horn melody comes in after a while, and carries us through to a big ending. [Tempo: Slow, Medium / 75 BPM]
Orchestra, piano, choir and drums suggest a foreboding realization. Ominous and haunting. [Tempo: Slow / 100 BPM]
Rhythmic synths open this tension building track, featuring pulsating bass and string motifs and drum grooves. A great action or thriller track with a mysterious mood. [Tempo: Slow, Medium / 91 BPM]
The tension is high, preparations are place for the heist. All is going to plan but time is running out... will the robbers make it out in time before the authorities arrive? Orchestra, electric guitars, choir and synth. Music gets epic, trailer style with grinding processed guitars. For trailers, promos and action scenes (especially those involving a heist!). [Tempo: Fast / 148 BPM]
A suspenseful introduction with synths, percussion, and piano lends way to a faster paced, exciting, tension building track with the addition of strings, pads, melodic motifs, and driving rhythms. [Tempo: Medium / 91 BPM]
It's night time in a large modern city. An agent attempts to infiltrate a heavily secured hi tech facility. Starts small and gets huge towards the end. Soaring choir and orchestra along with interesting synth layers and drums. For modern suspenseful films and TV, and trailers and promos. [Tempo: Medium / 97 BPM]
Atmospheric horror. For dark, brooding scenes, especially sci fi. [Tempo: Very slow, Slow / 0 BPM]
Dark, busy, menacing and tense orchestral track with electronic effects. Low pitched cellos, big toms, industrial percussion and dramatic strings. [Tempo: Medium, Fast / 140 BPM]
Very dark, sinister and twisted mixture of orchestra and electronics. Big pounding drums, edgy staccato strings, cold synth textures. Action thriller, Spy mission, Undercover operation, etc. [Tempo: Medium, Fast / 128 BPM]