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.
Eerie, tense, percussive soundscape with a relentless spooky melody, dark metalic FX and flute sweeps. Atmospheric with a sense of suspense and imminent danger. Menacing and sinister. 48 hours, The Mentalist, Castle, Alien Invasion, crime drama, horror, Sci-Fi. [Tempo: Slow / 9 BPM]
Eerie, tense, percussive soundscape with a relentless spooky melody, dark metalic FX and flute sweeps. Atmospheric with a sense of suspense and imminent danger. Menacing and sinister. 48 hours, The Mentalist, Castle, Alien Invasion, crime drama, horror, Sci-Fi. [Tempo: Slow / 78 BPM]
Atmospheric Thomas Newman-style trailer music drone that slowly builds up to an action climax with cinematic drums and staccato synthstrings. [Tempo: Slow, Medium / 140 BPM]
Pure suspense with lots of tension and a thumping heartbeat. Think a horrific crime scene, or a deadly chase through a dark forest. Repetitive motifs but constantly building and evolving to enhance the drama and suspense. Synth swells are presented separately to allow for dramatic placement anywhere in the track. Good for crime, suspense, drama, TV, film. [Tempo: Slow, Medium, Fast / 0 BPM]
Featuring orchestra, gritty guitar and drums, this cinematic Western-styled piece could be a character study for a Western hero or antihero. Dramatic and epic, this piece could be useful in scenes depicting the conceiving of or execution of a plan (e.g. bank robbery, capturing an outlaw) or for the archetypical ride into the sunset. [Tempo: Slow, Medium / 92 BPM]
Somber and mysterious. An hypnotic and suspenseful piano with dark and shadowy strings. Great for suspense documentaries or crime scenes depiction. [Tempo: Slow, Fast / 120 BPM]
Energetic percussion/electronic track with impelling synth riffs, huge orchestral drums. Perfect for action films, extreme sports and trailers. [Tempo: Slow, Fast / 120 BPM]
This frightening music bed has apocalyptic overtones and would be well suited for, horror, thriller, or fantasy footgae about paranormal and occult subject matter as well as video-games and trailers. Its suggests something evil lurking, and makes for a nice tension builder that features an intense, climactic riser. [Tempo: Very slow, Slow / 0 BPM]
Frightening dark ambient horror music bed featuring the sounds of sinister spirits knocking, broken piano, and scary choir. TV static and plenty of door smashes for that extra eerieness well suited for horror, thriller, suspense and fantasy footage, as welll as video games. [Tempo: Very slow, Slow / 0 BPM]
This track has an eerie and deranged mood. It has hints of psychosis and insanity and features the main melody played on a detuned toy music box. It would be well suited for footage and video games about horror, suspense, fantasy and paranormal subject matter. [Tempo: Slow / 0 BPM]
This horror underscore has hellish overtones and would be well suited for, horror, thriller, or fantasy footgae about paranormal and occult subject matter as well as video-games and trailers. Its' slow, slithery pace has suggests something evil lurking, and makes for a nice tension builder that features an intense, climactic riser. [Tempo: Very slow, Slow / 0 BPM]
This track has a haunted overtone and pays a subtle homage to the music 'Dexter' in the theme. This cue would work well for film or television, opening credits, paranormal footage and spooky movie trailers. It features detuned piano and haunting choirs that makes a nice ghostly tension builder. [Tempo: Slow, Medium / 70 BPM]
This track is a frightening dark ambient music bed that is well suited for horror, thrillers, suspense, fantasy footage, as welll as video games. It has haunting overtones that make a nice tension builder. [Tempo: Very slow, Slow / 0 BPM]
Electronica, experimental, underscore. Haunting, Techno, Science / electronics. [Tempo: Fast / 144 BPM]
Battle drums / war drums / tribal drums. [Tempo: Slow, Medium / 75 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]
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]
A thrilling, cinematic trailer Sting that is epic and intense. It starts with rising orchestral clusters that begin ecalating into massive, terrifying, dramatic impacts that are designed to have your viewrs on the edge of their seat. This would be excellent for trailers, tv, movies and film, promos, bumpers and video games. [Tempo: Slow, Medium / 0 BPM]
A thrilling cinematic trailer Sting that is epic and intense. It starts with rising orchestral clusters that begin ecalating into massive, terrifying, dramatic impacts that are designed to have your viewrs on the edge of their seat. This would be excellent for trailers, tv, movies and film, promos, bumpers and video games. [Tempo: Very slow, Slow / 100 BPM]
Heavy percussion, accented strings, blasting brass and dark synths give this track a dramatic, futuristic vibe. Intended for epic promos, video games, sports, trailer and dramatic radio cues. Also ideal for turmoil, tension and struggle in reality TV shows like Celebrity Apprentice, The Ultimate Fighter, Survivor, Fear Factor and The Bachelor. [Tempo: Slow, Medium / 135 BPM]
A slow building, pulsating futuristic track in the style of Batman, Tron, Watchmen and Star Trek. Deep percussion and flowing strings make this track dramatic and dark yet inspiring and uplifting. In the style of Steve Jablonsky, Hans Zimmer, John Williams and James Horner. [Tempo: Slow, Medium / 152 BPM]
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]
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]
Pattern based 20th Century minimalist music. Surreal, Rhythmic, Underscore, Tension. [Tempo: Medium, Fast / 132 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]
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]
Synth and orchestra, in the style of modern thrillers like the Bourne movies. The music keeps the suspense going yet doesn't get big or overly busy. Perfect under dialog. Perhaps someone is being followed, without their knowledge. Things are quiet now, but conflict looms ahead. [Tempo: Slow, Medium / 87 BPM]
Suitable for intense psychological dramas, or spy vs spy drama action films. A modern combination of orchestra, percussion, synth and electric guitar. [Tempo: Slow, Medium / 105 BPM]
Modern suspenseful music played by orchestra, synths, and ethnic instruments. Sounds like the opening credits for a spy movie based in the middle east. Driving, pulsating rhythms keep the energy up, while atmospheric sections create a moody, dramatic feel. [Tempo: Medium, Fast / 99 BPM]
A menace lurks in the shadows, slowly creeping towards it's victim. OR: Someone enters a house, to make a gruesome discovery... Full orchestra with synth horror atmospherics. Ends with a big bang! [Tempo: Very slow, Slow / 55 BPM]
The clock is ticking, it's the moment of truth! Great for any scene that needs to convey a sense of urgency, and tension. Orchestra and choir, builds to a big ending. [Tempo: Slow, Medium / 830 BPM]
Suitable for modern thrillers, this track features atmospheric and tense layers, orchestra, drums and synth. The tension mounts, with the drama intensifying towards the climactic ending. [Tempo: Slow, Medium / 84 BPM]
A propulsive track featuring both acoustic and electric guitars, drums and synth. Intense drama simmers just beneath the surface, ready to boil over at any moment. [Tempo: Slow / 80 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]
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]
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]
Dark, eerie, ethereal, spacious, creepy, moody, thoughtful, slightly menacing electronic track with a slow groove & a sense of foreboding. Hypnotic, cool, smooth & haunting. Would suit mystery / crime / documentary / Halloween / horror type projects. [Tempo: Slow / 79 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]
Intense piano and strings are soon joined by heavy urban drums. For setting an ominous, serious mood. [Tempo: Slow, Medium / 84 BPM]
A pulsing synthesizer sets the tone for a dark atmosphere in the beginning. Drums with a hint of bit-crushed distortion build up and then quiet down before a massive drop. The main drop hits with a huge impact of drums and low bass. Layered in electronic melody gives the track a modern and edgy feel, but keeps a serious tone. Resembles "Tron Legacy" soundtrack. [Tempo: Slow, Medium / 70 BPM]
A suspenseful and intense cue which creates an ominous, threatening and foreboding feeling. Distorted guitars, piano and electronic elements all come together to create a tense and apocalyptic sound. [Tempo: Slow, Medium / 120 BPM]
A tension building track great for action and adventure scenes or reality game show programming. Features unique drum rhythms, a harmonic piano ostinato, synth motifs, and string riffs. [Tempo: Medium / 64 BPM]
Starting small with a sense of isolation and tension, the drama gradually intensifies, ending with an epic final note. A modern combination of piano, guitar, synths, percussion and strings. [Tempo: Slow / 90 BPM]
An eerie piece with dark soundscapes and textures. Intense drums and orchestra are utilized in unconventional ways. [Tempo: Very slow, Slow / 0 BPM]
A dramatic tension track that opens with rhythmic and melodic synth lines and builds with light percussion, piano, strings, and brass motifs. Perfect for action and adventure scenes or reality game show programming. [Tempo: Slow, Medium / 128 BPM]
Dramatic and Escalating Cinematic Action track featuring orchestral strings, percussion, synth pads and sound effects. Great for trailers, films in action and drama genres, Police / Investigation TV series and more. [Tempo: Medium / 90 BPM]
Spacious, cinematic, beautiful, ethereal, dramatic & magical music using plucked strings, choir, synth & percussion to create an dreamy, edgy, nervous soundscape with sinister, brooding & haunting overtones. Thoughtful, atmospheric, climactic & sometimes a little scary. Come out from behind the sofa. [Tempo: Slow, Medium / 110 BPM]
A full on dramatic action track, great for big superhero style trailers, or modern powerful sci fi films. Mixing traditional scoring orchestral elements with modern futuristic glitched style synths, this track is perfect for that big budget trailer sound, or for an epic dramatic action film. [Tempo: Slow / 78 BPM]