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 dramatic and epic orchestral / cinematic piece featuring actual live orchestra performance in combination with samples, and a live performed soprano vocal combined with choir. Dark, ominous and foreboding, this track is high on tension and will work well with epic / struggle / battle scenes and trailers. [Tempo: Medium / 102 BPM]
An intense electronic action track. with massive drums, synth sounds and drones, an action-packed thrill-ride track perfect for emphasizing your next movie project. [Tempo: Medium, Fast / 120 BPM]
A gritty, semi-industrial Hybrid action music track, with a dark, violent edge and a rough, doom laden feel. Hard, edgy, danger, tension music. [Tempo: Medium / 90 BPM]
A dark, cinematic music track filled with ambience and mystical drone sounds, which slowly evolve into a massive epic track . It is a combination of machine sounds, synths and classical orchestra, featuring symphonic choir at the end of the music track. [Tempo: Slow, Medium / 120 BPM]
A grand, ever growing and increasing, orchestral / cinematic track. Epic and stirring, this track has various "edit points" and is useful for Fantasy, Adventure / Action, Science Fiction, epic encounters and more. [Tempo: Slow, Medium, Fast / 110 BPM]
A dark, brooding piece. It starts with a low synthy bass. The melody is subtle, but grows with each iteration. It builds as it repeats itself. The last section adds a subtle rhythmic element, insinuating a growing nervousness. Perfect for a documentary or horror film/tv show. (Stem files available.) [Tempo: Very slow, Slow / 80 BPM]
Menacing, ominous underscore track for dark, futuristic scene or opening sequence in sci-fi or horror film/game. Mix of electronic and orchestral elements, occasional fragments of unintelligible radio messages with static. [Tempo: Medium / 75 BPM]
Battle drums / marching percussion. A combination of orchestral percussion and ethnic / tribal drums. Suitable for battle, fight, chase, conflict, etc. [Tempo: Slow, Fast / 120 BPM]
Inspired by 80's sci-fi and horror films revived today by Stranger Things. Ominous blend of synthesizers and orchestral tones, with a repetitive tense motif. Cinematic, Thriller, Suspense, Terror, Sci-Fi, Retro. [Tempo: Slow / 84 BPM]
A music track in a Cinematic Action genre: energy, anticipation, escalation and breakdowns, and lots of evolving sounds. This piece is featuring many Synthesizers, drum beats and percussion instruments. Will work in films, trailers and videos that involve Spy Action, New Technologies, Computers and Hacking, Chase scenes, CIA investigations, Crime News etc. [Tempo: Medium, Fast / 118 BPM]
A bone chilling, minimal score of sound design and heavily effected, droning instruments perfect for horror, crime and mystery. Very tense, serious and dark. [Tempo: Very slow, Slow / 100 BPM]
A classic dashing romantic track in the style of Max Steiner and MGM films that will work for scenes of adventure and romance with a hint of danger. [Tempo: Slow, Medium / 60 BPM]
Heavy bass drums and a string bass set the tone for this dark and menacing track. The familiar refrain then plays, but is made expressive and almost violent as it is played on several string basses and cellos. Screeching dark, electronically chattery. Nightmarish. [Tempo: Medium, Fast / 120 BPM]
A combination of ethnic instruments and modern cinematic orchestra and synth layers, this track is perfect for livening any project with an Eastern setting. [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]
An epic, electronic hybrid trailer track. The track starts off fairly quiet with muted distance synth hits and rhythmic synth elements. The main drop is absolutely huge with a brick wall synth bass that cuts through everything in it's path, layered in with an epic melody. This track will work well with video game trailers, sci-fi and movie trailers, as well as other cinematic / epic / sci-fi type projects. Also for extreme danger / dangerous situations, rescue missions, military operations and more. Could even be for edgy sports footage. [Tempo: Slow, Medium / 100 BPM]
An epic and rousing track for sci-fi, adventure, epic scenes. Features actual live performed orchestral instruments in combination with samples. Strong, valiant feel, with a methodical, slow march rhythm. Amazement / Glory. Good for science fiction. Big orchestral sound with choir. [Tempo: Slow / 90 BPM]
Electronica infused orchestral music. Synth low pulse drives the music with anticipation, joined by low drones and epic percussion. Orchestra comes in and takes the piece to the next level. Good for war preparation, rendezvous scenes, crime investigation and more. Cinematic, Action, War, Crime, Police. [Tempo: Medium / 85 BPM]
An understated, darkly pensive, semi-orchestral, cinematic soundtrack with a sense of mystery, danger and ancient cultures. Great as a background for adventure, ethnic/world footage, mysterious worlds, dangerous journeys. [Tempo: Very slow / 0 BPM]
An epic music track with a dark atmosphere and uprising mood. The track opens with a dark analog synth, layered with moody piano notes and effects. Cinematic strings and taiko drums help build tension to the main reveal. The main part of the track explodes with huge distorted drums, a call to action melody and epic string section. Suitable as music for video game and movie trailers, action scenes, scenes of battle or hero struggle. [Tempo: Slow, Medium / 155 BPM]
Many moods captured in an epic underscore. Begins with dark march and action-oriented outbursts, with interludes of tragic reflection and heroic themes. Second half is a furious action / march, always with a menacing and dark undertone. Good for medieval battle, attack of the evil empire, blood-soaked battleground. This track was recorded with a real live philharmonic orchestra. [Tempo: Very slow, Slow, Medium / 0 BPM]
Hard-hitting, dark, edgy, raw, intense, epic trailer track with a tribal, primal feel. Monster on the loose. Horde of invaders. Terrible beasts. Overpowering force. Horror action. [Tempo: Medium, Fast / 120 BPM]
Low, massive, propulsive bass. Ominous, spatial percussion instruments. Evokes a sense of unease, tension, and threat. Ideal for projects related to tension, crime, and drama. [Tempo: Fast / 150 BPM]
Aggressive and dark music track made with epic hits, risers, synths and more. Will suit as music for sci-fi projects, post apocalyptic and dark footage, trailers and teasers that need a punchy, gritty, in-your-face sound design. [Tempo: Medium / 120 BPM]
Dark ambient synth pulse, made for tension, mystery and suspense. Besides the main track, this piece comes in many different seamless loops which can be used in combination with each other to 'build' the soundtrack needed for a scene, in a modular way. Simply place the different loops on the timeline, in a way that matches your on-screen action, or blend, combine, crop and join the loop pieces to create your own 'version' of the track. [Tempo: Slow, Medium / 100 BPM]
A busy, whimsical and mischievous orchestral cue. Playful, but a bit naughty or evil. Good energy level. A fun, filmscore, orchestral romp! Inspired by Tim Burton / Danny Elfman. [Tempo: Medium, Fast / 161 BPM]
A dark and dramatic, cinematic trailer or action / tension score. Doom-laden / Foreboding / Serious / Tense. (Stem files available.) [Tempo: Medium / 90 BPM]
In the style of the desert scenes of "Breaking Bad", an ominous, foreboding soundscape of tension and textures. Nice for scenes of suspense and drama. [Tempo: Slow / 77 BPM]
A dark, cold and damp TV or film underscore cue. Pensive, unnerving and unsettling, this piece is suitable for a scene in a crime mystery, horror flick or perhaps a criminal documentary featuring evil or the occult, gruesome discoveries in forensics. Soundscapes. [Tempo: Slow, Medium / 85 BPM]
A tense and pensive music track with a serious, dark and determined feel. Can be a dark superhero or a macho / strong figure with an edge. Combines electronic and orchestral sounds. This track has several peaks and valleys, giving you great opportunities as music for editing it to fit the events/cues in your own production. [Tempo: Slow / 100 BPM]
A dark, threatening and at times violent royalty free music track for horror, mystery and suspense. The track features a staccato, nervous rhythm of dark hits. The middle of the track sees the tension build up to some "drama hits" (which can be cut out and used in isolation), before going into a final third with a slow hip-hop like rhythm, to give the track a spy / thriller edge. [Tempo: Slow, Medium / 107 BPM]
Dark and foreboding sound design elements building with percussion and threatening strings. Violent and edgy. Epic / Trailer / Tension Music. [Tempo: Very slow, Fast, Very fast / 126 BPM]
This 80's-drenched, but also futuristic track is inspired by synth-heavy, 80's sci-fi action and mystery movies. Its arpeggiated bass and fluid synths invoke slightly shifting moods as the track progresses. There's a feeling of danger and adventure, perfect for road driving or flying type programming, crime in progress / criminal enterprise, emotive dramas, and flyovers. Outrun / Sparse / 80's Sci-fi. [Tempo: Medium / 131 BPM]
Huge stabs give way to twisted maniacal anguish and haunted voices. Tragic theme introduces a grim march propelled by determination and grit. The theme is presented at the end in a burst of triumph and heroism. Good for epic battle, fight to the finish, dark action. [Tempo: Very slow, Slow, Medium, Fast / 0 BPM]
Dark, moody and edgy underscore track with an industrial sound, starting with drones, pads and synths, then drums enter and the track continues to grow in energy, eventually finishing with crazy and deranged sounding synths. Perfect for anything unsettling or gritty, dark etc. [Tempo: Medium, Fast / 120 BPM]
A strange and unsettling semi-orchestral film underscore. Nervous and uncertain, swirling and clangy. Suitable for a very tense and pensive moment in a dark drama, horror, crime thriller or documentary. Carries a sense of hidden evil or a disturbing truth. [Tempo: Slow, Medium / 120 BPM]
A weird and quirky track with ambient and tribal/ethnic influences. Slight jungle / tribe feel, mixed with cutting-edge, minimalistic urban and mechanical, even futuristic styles. A slapped bass groove, various textural and experimental sounds and swirley pads. [Tempo: Medium / 97 BPM]
A fast, dramatic and powerful blockbuster music track featuring an aggressive string section, large brass ensemble and loud, epic mixed choir. Very epic and awe inspiring music. [Tempo: Medium, Fast / 80 BPM]
A foreboding and tension-building music track combining Cinematic and Electronic elements, using a blend of synths and symphonic sounds combined. Suitable for mystery and dramatic scenes. Awe / Amazement / Mystery / Drama / Darkness Music. [Tempo: Slow, Medium / 80 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 / 137 BPM]
Cinematic retro synth wave; this track was created using only two vintage hardware synthesizers; a Moog Minimoog model D and a Prophet 5. Strangely futuristic and vintage at the same time. Ambient / Eerie / Synthetic / Retro / Mystery. [Tempo: Slow / 80 BPM]
A dark, doom laden, aggressive and gritty, semi-electronic / semi-orchestral music track. The first and last thirds are relentless and violent with an industrial, edgy, futuristic sound. The middle third has a more ethnic / world feel. Future / Action / Dystopian Music. [Tempo: Fast / 120 BPM]
A modern trailer music track, starting out as a suspense piece, and then evolving into big, epic track featuring large percussion ensemble. Epic / Powerful / Brooding music. [Tempo: Slow, Medium / 95 BPM]
Minimal piano leads into an ominous, dark, heroic orchestral music theme. Tension / Dystopia / Edgy music. [Tempo: Slow, Fast / 150 BPM]
Dark and ominous percussion, anxious, ritualistic, tribal, fear, malevolence. For more in this style, please see the genre Ambient: Dark/Sinister [Tempo: Slow / 104 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]
Tense and pulsating orchestral atmosphere growing in intensity to big finish. Evolving / Majestic / Soaring music track. [Tempo: Medium / 224 BPM]
An orchestral cinematic mystery background track. Classic movie soundtrack / film score sound, with piano and orchestral elements create an eerie, suspicious, investigative feel. This rather dark and foreboding background music will go well with drama, mystery, crime, detective investigation, solving riddles, finding clues, or just following a developing story of intrigue and enigma. [Tempo: Slow / 78 BPM]
A dramatic, semi-orchestral and cinematic track filled with rousing emotions, building tension. A sense of witnessing history in the making, amazement and heroism. (Stem files available.) [Tempo: Slow, Medium / 90 BPM]
Atmospheric and spacey trailer music track, with a powerful melody and emotional build up, Epic hits, retro synths and orchestral elements create an uplifting heroic feel. Dramatic, dark, gritty and futuristic music. [Tempo: Slow / 75 BPM]
