Jukebox Heroes: Halloween tunes
Darkness falls across the land. The midnight hour is close at hand. Creatures crawl in search of blood to terrorize your neighbourhood. And whosoever shall be found without the soul for getting down must stand and face the hounds of hell. ~ Thriller
Is it thriller night already? It's just about, actually, and that means that we need to get a little freaky and a lot creepy in today's edition of Jukebox Heroes. Let's put aside our jaunty ballads and epic fanfares for music of the crypt. Let's dance with skeletons and play pin-the-wart-on-the-witch as these tunes fill our ears.
My advice? Turn it up. If you keep the monsters rocking out, then they'll be too preoccupied to eat you.
1. RuneScape: Missing, Presumed Death medley
The new music for this year's Halloween event kicks off with a pretty strong action riff, although it eventually transitions into a relaxing and somewhat eerie tune. The end section has that grandiose tone that makes me think of a showdown with a vampire in his castle.
2. World of Warcraft: Karazhan Opera House
I'm of an opinion that the harpsichord is an inherently creepy instrument, and I think this track proves my point. It's the choice of instrument that gives the opera house theme a haunted bent. It's cheery in a mad way, like what the ghosts of Scooby Doo might listen to while they're waiting for Shaggy to run around the corner.
3. Guild Wars 2: Halloween theme
There's so much to love about this track that I don't know where to start. I guess the beginning is a good place to do so, what with the Charlie Brown piano riff. But that's quickly overshadowed by a high-flying violin, a nutty xylophone, enthusiastic percussion, and so much more. It's about as upbeat as a Halloween tune can get while retaining the spirit of the holiday. I also like how you can hear an echo of the game's theme here and there. Great stuff.
4. Pirate101: Cool Ranch Haunted Tavern
Well, here's the music to your nightmares! It's that honkytonk off-key piano music slowed down and dipped underwater to end up being the last song you'll ever hear before the zombie cowboy lassos you into his waiting arms. Brrr!
5. Wizard101: Spooky Theme
Even in so-called "kiddy" MMOs, there can be a measure of spooky that would be right at home in a more mature setting. This track feels like a mash-up of several different traditional Halloween styles, but through it all it has a little bit of a menace to it that belies its colorful setting.
6. Rappelz: Halloween Theme
The beginning of this tune sounds for all the world like what you'd hear in a circus of the damned. It's actually a very pretty track overall, even with the ghouls and goblins swaying to its beat. I've been a little bit smitten by this theme ever since hearing it, and I'm glad to finally have the opportunity to share it with you all.
MMOs aren't just about looks; they also have great soundtracks that often go unnoticed. Heroes don't stand for that! Every Tuesday, Jukebox Heroes will check out a game's soundtrack and feature the best tunes to share and discuss. Your DJ for the hour is Justin Olivetti, and the request line is open!
