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.
An intense and imposing orchestral cinematic score with a classic movie soundtrack style. Mystery and tension soon gives way to all-out dramatic action, with urgency, chaos and turmoil, with blaring horns, pounding orchestral drums and rapid, turbulent woodwinds. The final section of the track features a more heroic conclusion. This track is great if you're going for the sound of the golden age of action and drama movies. [Tempo: Medium, Fast / 95 BPM]
- 01 Percussion
- 02 Double Bass
- 03 Intro Strings
- 04 Intro Cello Tremolo
- 05 Intro Strings Spiccato
- 06 Main Brass
- 07 Back Horns
- 08 Left Trumpet
- 09 Right Trumpet
- 10 Staccato Trumpet
- 11 Woodwinds
- 12 Woodwind Solo
- 13 Synth
- 14 End Piano
- 15 End Bass Horn
- 16 End Right Brass
- 17 End Staccato Horn Left
- 18 End Trumpet Staccato
- 19 End Strings
A doom-laden and magic-infused epic cinematic track. The mystical and magical opening part soon gives way to a dark, pounding, methodical and determined, marching beat with big orchestral brass stabs. Foreboding and tense, this is a great 'going to battle' track, suitable for fantasy, adventure, action, war, invasion and power. Music not unlike what you will find in cinematic trailers for big and epic fantasy movies. [Tempo: Slow, Medium / 165 BPM]
An edgy and tense action track. Pounding percussion and staccato strings provide the forward-driving energy, and occasional blaring horns and an ethnic lute join in from time to time to provide additional drama and a bit of ethnic mystery to the intense action music. Suitable for tension, action, urgent operations, etc. (Stem files available.) [Tempo: Fast / 125 BPM]
Deep and brooding strings establish a mysterious atmosphere before climaxing and evolving into a powerful, confident theme statement. Rich strings and horns make for an epic feel. (Stem files available.) [Tempo: Very slow, Slow / 72 BPM]
An unsettling track. Oboe and prepared piano weave their way through dark foghorn stabs and unearthly choral textures. (Stem files available.) [Tempo: Slow, Medium / 100 BPM]
Dark and pulsating, mystery or thriller underscore. Ominous, suspicious, with pulse bass alternating with bass guitar, and echoey percussion. Great tension track for use with police investigation, spy thriller, criminals / crime in progress, break-in, stake-out, clandestine mission, etc. (Stem files available.) [Tempo: Slow, Medium / 76 BPM]
A pulsating tension track, combining electronic and orchestral elements. Serious, suspenseful, tension building and with a feeling of awe. The intensity increases throughout the track. Something big is approaching, as this cinematic music moves toward a strong conclusion. (Stem files available.) [Tempo: Medium / 0 BPM]
Action-packed orchestral chase scene with traditional Arabic musical influences. Harmonic minor scale. Featuring dramatic strings and drums, with the occasional sting of the dulcimer. Perfect for a fight, race, or epic battle scene. [Tempo: Medium, Fast / 118 BPM]
A suspenseful, tense theme. Orchestral hybrid that features a simple haunting cello solo. The piece grows over time and incorporates an ethereal piano and high whispered strings. Fitting for a modern suspense thriller or horror movie. [Tempo: Very slow, Slow / 70 BPM]
Neo-classical music for film, videos, cinematic storytelling and other media. Uneasy / Urgent / Danger building. Orchestra with piano, a timeless classic movie sound. Great for film noir, mysteries, jealousy, crime drama etc. [Tempo: Medium, Fast / 132 BPM]
Powerful and intense, this track is perfect for a ritualistic scene. Strings accompanied by hissing chanting chaotic choirs. (Stem files available.) [Tempo: Slow, Medium, Fast / 90 BPM]
Brooding and ominous, this dark tension & horror track grows from a quiet drone and builds to an intense atonal conclusion. (Stem files available.) [Tempo: Slow, Medium, Fast, Very fast / 0 BPM]
Dark and ominously hybrid tension music with electronica elements, pulsating rhythm, deep, impactful taiko percussion, and ambient pads. Suitable for suspenseful film scenes, thriller documentaries, and crime investigation podcasts. (Stem files available.) [Tempo: Slow, Medium / 100 BPM]
A gritty, tense and constantly building track with a sudden halt to push towards the next boundary in the middle of this cinematic soundtrack. Suitable for dramatic, edgy and dark story-telling. A raw, dark and intense orchestral soundtrack. (Stem files available.) [Tempo: Fast / 160 BPM]
Orchestral action piece with huge brass and drums implying suspense and building tension. Think espionage-laden chase. [Tempo: Slow, Fast / 90 BPM]
An atmospheric dramatic track that begins with light piano and synths and expands with the addition of strings, electric guitar, and heavy drums. [Tempo: Slow, Medium / 64 BPM]
Tense orchestral piece. Pulsing drums and strings, abrasive brass and drums, haunting textures and an overall suspenseful pursuit. [Tempo: Medium, Fast / 98 BPM]
A mysterious cloud of sounds made up of guitar effects and synths creates a sense of subtle uneasiness. About halfway in, the action intensifies with big drums ushering in a sense of urgency. The music later dissolves to the same sense of mystery it started with. [Tempo: Slow, Medium / 95 BPM]
This track starts with a strong sense of mystery and tension, like there’s a real danger lurking. Huge action drums come in later, bringing the track to a huge conclusion. [Tempo: Very slow, Slow / 112 BPM]
Ominous and tense. Orchestra, drums and haunting textures build suspense throughout. [Tempo: Medium / 156 BPM]
Edgy rocky, heavy ambient industrial. Sort of ambient electronic at the beginning. Kicks off towards the end of track with a build up. [Tempo: Very slow, Slow / 105 BPM]
Electric track with drone type of sound. Dark / Sci-fi etc. [Tempo: Medium / 120 BPM]
An dark, electronic / orchestral crossover track with drama. Slow string runs that are backed by legato strings along with the low cello. Emotional strings build up to the first big hit that features a massive distorted synthesizer and mega brass drone hits. The main drop is heavy with distorted drums and high pitched strings. The track keeps building with a big riser to a massive final hit. Suitable for trailers, sci-fi, war / scenes of battle, conflict, escape, rescue mission etc. [Tempo: Slow, Medium / 75 BPM]
A dangerous and overwhelming piece of background music. Powerful and intense. Will work with danger, fear and dark scenes. Good for film, drama, entertainment. [Tempo: Slow, Medium, Fast / 125 BPM]
Soundtrack for battle scenes or impending battles. Big, epic and dominating strings, brass and cymbals collide to create the atmosphere for war. Adventurous, courageous, crusading music. [Tempo: Medium / 120 BPM]
Beginning with a dark and eerie bass drone filled with suspense and intrigue and accompanied by old west style guitar licks, this down-tempo trip hop trickle evolves into a full scale torrent of aggressive, slamming rock guitar driven mayhem. Ideal for gaming - especially cut scenes - but also great for use in extreme sports and advertising. The tension rises... this can only end one way! [Tempo: Very slow, Slow / 58 BPM]
Intense drama themed piece that uses driving percussion and urgent strings to full effect. It relentlessly builds to a dramatic conclusion.
[Tempo: Medium, Fast / 130 BPM]Percussion only track / Battle drums. Tracks with Drums only are useful for action sequences, fight scenes, war and battles, macho sports and exertion, powerful imagery, dramatic trailers and more. Also available as seamlessly looping Drum loops / Percussion loops. [Tempo: Medium / 70 BPM]
Percussion only track / Battle drums. Tracks with Drums only are useful for action sequences, fight scenes, war and battles, macho sports and exertion, powerful imagery, dramatic trailers and more. Also available as seamlessly looping Drum loops / Percussion loops. [Tempo: Slow, Medium / 97 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]
Thrilling chase feel, orchestral with electronic elements and guitars. Powerful, dark, busy, fast, tense and cold with a slight industrial edge. [Tempo: Fast / 132 BPM]
A darkly epic and menacing atmosphere built by low pitched cellos, distorted, mechanical drum beats, stabbing brass and spacious electronics. Conflict, chase, thriller, sci-fi. [Tempo: Fast / 150 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]
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 red sun rises on a desolate, war torn city in the middle east. A soldier looks out over the smoke clouds and wonders if the end justifies the means. Epic in scope, yet full of space, would be perfect for travel documentaries requiring a moody atmosphere. Also great for understated, brooding trailers and promos. Orchestra, ethnic instruments (duduk), large percussion and atmospheric pads. [Tempo: Slow, Medium / 83 BPM]
Dark ambient, Horror underscore. Mysterious / Suspicious / Ominous. [Tempo: Very slow, Slow / 80 BPM]
Dark ambient, Horror underscore. Mysterious / Creepy / Echoey / Haunting [Tempo: Very slow, Slow / 80 BPM]
Dark pulse. Evil / Malevolent. Sneaky / Suspicious. Horror / Gothic underscore. [Tempo: Slow, Medium / 90 BPM]
Dark ambient, Horror underscore. Dizzy / Sickly / Uneasy. Rhythmic pulse. [Tempo: Very slow, Slow / 65 BPM]
Dark ambient, Horror underscore. Mysterious / Suspicious / Ominous / Sickly. Dark sound design. [Tempo: Very slow, Slow / 75 BPM]
Dark and disturbing, horror underscore. Dark sound design with twitchy musical elements. Sickly / Confused / In disarray. [Tempo: Slow, Medium / 90 BPM]
This is a very emotional cinematic composition. Peaceful and slightly melancholic beginning building up to the very dramatic and sensational middle part with a very epic powerful orchestra and grand piano passages, and then going back to the first part. [Tempo: Very slow, Slow, Medium / 85 BPM]
A dark and powerful Action / Suspense / Thriller soundtrack that changes between "suspicion" and "battle" sequences. Alternating between suspense / pensive tones and all-out action music with powerful, urgent percussion and orchestra. Can be edited to fit the timing of your production. Use for spy thriller, military operation, action game / film etc. [Tempo: Slow, Fast, Very fast / 80 BPM]
A mysterious suspense music track, with piano and strings and a more rhythmical second part. [Tempo: Very slow, Slow / 100 BPM]
Dark American drama music with strings, guitars and drums with a menacing and foreboding mood. [Tempo: Very slow, Slow / 125 BPM]
A somewhat dark and mystical, edgy, cinematic trailer type track. Fluttering and deliberately "broken", this track has the sense of something uneasy, unstable, simmering just beneath the surface. Think demon worship, the occult. The track changes from mystical / foreboding passages to more aggressive, staccato, percussive parts, with sudden stops and starts that can be used as edit points. [Tempo: Slow, Medium / 84 BPM]
A tense atmosphere with lots of percussion, space and crescendo with synths and drones [Tempo: Slow, Medium / 90 BPM]
Tense beginning with a sense of preparations close to a big event, like a sports game, battle or major test. Orchestra and drums start out with a punchy, energetic melody. About halfway through the rhythmic energy dissipates and a heroic melody soars. [Tempo: Slow, Medium / 85 BPM]