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.
A Percussion Only track, with big pounding drums in various more and less intense patterns. Useful as music for sound design, film scoring, games and more. [Tempo: Slow, Medium / 80 BPM]
Disturbing, distorted, uneasy and malevolent. Highly suitable for scifi, game, thriller or action film. String lines nervous and staccato, dissonant string stabs with busy percussion. [Tempo: Very slow, Slow, Medium / 112 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 spooky scene is evoked with orchestra and an optional piano track. Creepy and evolving, suitable for dark, evil passages. [Tempo: Very slow, Slow / 0 BPM]
A dark and intense orchestral action track. Edgy and staccato, with a dark mystery and urgent, tension and dramatic fight, battle mood. A great track for a fantasy fight, action adventure, stressed situation, escape or survival themes. Somewhat tribal / primal sound. This track is available with or without the Koto instrument which, if included, gives the track a Japanese / Oriental twist. (Stem files available.) [Tempo: Fast / 87 BPM]
Suspense soaked riff rocker which uses simple berimbau lines, clean atmospheric guitars and great big dirty guitars. Great repeated build and release. The last time has a soaring lead guitar solo. In parts, slightly reminiscent of Failure and even Nirvana. [Tempo: Medium, Fast / 92 BPM]
Classic horror flick type material, with mystical chords and stabbing rhythms. Hypnotic feel. The creepy crawlies are out to get you! [Tempo: Slow / 84 BPM]
Inspired by 1980's sci-fi and horror films revived today by things that are strange. An ominous blend of synthesizers and orchestral tones, with a repetitive tense motif. Cinematic / Thriller / Retro Music. [Tempo: Slow, Medium / 86 BPM]
These dark horror cues can be classed either as "music cues" or "sound effects", as in reality they function as both. They are all recorded with a large, live symphony orchestra with the same quality as any soundtrack from big budget movies. The effects are easy to loop and edit, and can be tailored to fit any cue, as they can be used from virtually any point. Consider them a construction kit to score horror, mystery and dark drama. Recorded, mastered, and delivered to you in pristine 24-bit audio. Also look for YS Horror Cues 21-40 and YS Horror Cues 41-60. [Tempo: Very slow, Slow, Medium / 0 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]
A dark, pulsating and suspenseful track featuring dramatic strings, brass, percussion. A feeling of urgency, tension and dangerous situation. Brooding / Tense / Uneasy / Apprehensive. [Tempo: Medium, Fast / 140 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]
For sinister characters with murder on their minds or other scenes of darkness and danger this track fits the bill. Features percussion, harp, piano and various sfx. Perfect for TV dramas such as Dexter, Criminal Minds, CSI etc. [Tempo: Slow / 90 BPM]
The Third Reich is to Hitler what the Imperial March was for Darth Vader. It begins with a simple staccato violin pattern and flute melody until the call of horns introduces the ground-shattering beat, synonymous to the force of military tanks. When you thought things were rough, an epic finale kicks in. [Tempo: Slow, Medium / 60 BPM]
Dark ambient, Horror underscore. Mysterious / Suspicious / Ominous. [Tempo: Very slow, Slow / 80 BPM]
Exotic, futuristic and atmospheric track made with various synths, percussion and erhu. Mystical and Eerie, with a sense of ancient history meets distant future. [Tempo: Slow / 90 BPM]
Dark ambient, Horror underscore. Dizzy / Sickly / Uneasy. Rhythmic pulse. [Tempo: Very slow, Slow / 65 BPM]
A twisted, dark and discordant waltz opens this dynamic epic track of courage and determination that also shows a sad and tragic emotional side. Voices create a medieval undertone. The track finishes with dark orchestral stabs and hangs on a barely resolved violin phrase. Good for dark battle, epic defeat. [Tempo: Slow, Medium, Fast / 0 BPM]
Very dark, pulsating music track, with a touch of dystopia and futuristic, warlike atmosphere. Slowing rising, building... [Tempo: Slow, Medium / 95 BPM]
Dark sinister & brooding soundscape that will have you locking all your doors & windows! Synth fx, horror percussion fx and ominous choir drones combine to make haunting, tense music suitable for horror / hallowen / ghost / thriller type projects. Don't look behind you!... [Tempo: Slow, Medium / 74 BPM]
A dynamic and evolving orchestral track. Full of twists and turns - darkness and danger turns to light and enchantment. [Tempo: Medium / 120 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]
A dark, swirling combination of piano, pulsating strings, electric guitar and synth. [Tempo: Slow, Medium / 111 BPM]
Orchestra and drums pound out an aggressive theme perfect for a super villain, or a tense scene in a film or TV show. Could work well for sports action: down but not out, making the final push against adversaries. Or also a street battle brewing in a dark and sinister city late at night.Choir blasts in the last section to add an epic swell right before the music abruptly ends, in the style of film trailers. [Tempo: Medium / 97 BPM]
An edgy, dark and dramatic, Cinematic orchestral track with full orchestra, choir and marching drums. Staccato, relentless, powerful, determined. This track was made with an actual live orchestra recording combined with use of samples. [Tempo: Slow, Medium / 80 BPM]
Typical news broadcast type music with synthetic and orchestral elements blended into a pulsating, serious sounding music bed. Great music for Latest News / Breaking News type productions. (Stem files available.) [Tempo: Medium / 116 BPM]
Mystery / Intrigue / Suspicion. Subtle rhythm loop with gloomy electric piano and uneasy strings. Perhaps analysis, clues, mystery, or a story taking a dark turn… [Tempo: Slow / 86 BPM]
A dark, mysterious track with an unusual instrumention of a jazz group. Classic, old school Horror type cue. The Zodiac Killer would probably listen to this as he stalked his next victim. [Tempo: Slow / 110 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]
Dark and subtly dramatic underscore for film, tv, game or any visual media. Foreboding, serious, perhaps political or law thriller, undercover or dangerous mission. Pensive, mysterious piano notes, nervous strings, brass crescendi and an understated rhythmic pulse. [Tempo: Medium / 89 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 subtlely dark, stealthy and mysterious track that is also smooth and flowing. A versatile atmospheric background template. Foreboding / Fiction / Unknown. [Tempo: Slow / 80 BPM]
Action, dramatic and epic track made with percussion, orchestra and more. Great for creating tension and a dramatic atmosphere in your project. [Tempo: Medium, Fast / 70 BPM]
A dark, foreboding, gloomy, orchestral cinematic / soundtrack piece. A sense of slow forward movment or progress. [Tempo: Very slow, Slow / 120 BPM]
A wide, brooding cinematic soundscape featuring spacey pads, a rhythmic topline and deep, distant drum fills. Evoking images of distant horizons, infinite space or world changing natural events. Suggests documentary style programming covering ecology, science & technology, future cataclysmic events and large scale discoveries. [Tempo: Medium / 123 BPM]
Battle drums. Pounding percussion. A combination of orchestral percussion and ethnic / tribal drums. Suitable for battle, fight, chase, brawls and action scenes. [Tempo: Slow, Medium, Fast / 68 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]Driving and energetic orchestral/electronic track. Broody suspense building mood music for chase scenes and action sequences and high intensity situations. Suitable for film, TV and DVD documentary. CSI Miami, NCIS and Criminal Mind type music. Instrumental, Action Music, Action Thriller Electronic. [Tempo: Slow, Fast / 85 BPM]
A dark, stressed battle or conflict track. Pulsating, big ethnic percussion, darkly twisted orchestral textures, vocal chants. Danger, tense situation. Rock guitar enters the mix at about 02:40. [Tempo: Medium / 87 BPM]
A big, epic music track featuring symphonic orchestra with large percussiona and brass ensemble, and mixed choir. Powerful, big and intense trailer mood. Futuristic / Apocalypse / Super Hero Music. [Tempo: Slow / 80 BPM]
A dramatic and imposing orchestral cinematic track, with a strong sense of the occult and dark magic. Great for the occult, black arts, sorcery, voodoo, devil worship and classic horror content. Dark Fantasy / Malevolent / Disturbing / Foreboding. [Tempo: Slow, Medium / 87 BPM]
Mystery, intrigue and magic in this deep, tense / pensive fantasy underscore. Creepy, sneaky, underlying tension. Good for adventure, exploring, lurking danger. Use in fantasy games, sci-fi / horror film, mystery and suspense. Full orchestra; available with or without choir. [Tempo: Very slow, Slow / 100 BPM]
A Percussion Only track, with marching snares, military march. Occasional big drum strikes. Useful as music for scenes of war, war preparation, battle preparations, etc. [Tempo: Slow, Medium / 100 BPM]
Semi-orchestral, semi-industrial and powerful thriller soundtrack. Dark string and brass textures, a pulsating beat that oozes just under the surface. Serious, international conflict, war or battleground, covert mission, etc. [Tempo: Slow / 50 BPM]
Up-tempo and exciting pop-rock / indie-rock music. Fresh, youthful and positive, with a good energy level. Good as music for sport, lifestyle, excitement, good news, etc. [Tempo: Fast / 135 BPM]
A stormful classical strings composition, suitable for dramatic period drama, book trailers, film trailers, serious drama and more. Passionate and tense, with staccato and legato strings, inspired by Beethoven, Vivaldi and Mozart. (Stem files available.) [Tempo: Medium, Fast / 116 BPM]
Dark and cinematic cue with a reflective beginning and builds to a tense and emotional climax. Starting with simple piano before strings and horns slowly creep in. Great for movies and documentaries. [Tempo: Slow, Medium / 120 BPM]
Pensive and mysterious, rhythmic film/drama underscore. Science, technology, investigation, perhaps forensics or chemistry. Finding solutions, interpreting clues, maybe building up to something. [Tempo: Medium / 80 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]
Pulsating, monotonous bass. Occasional repetitive piano melody. Minimal percussion, building sound effects. Evokes a sense of menace, mystery, uncertainty and tension. Suitable for dramatic films, spies and undercover agents, criminals / crime in progress and stakeout operations. [Tempo: Slow, Medium / 77 BPM]