Battle Bards

When they're not saving the world from bad tunes, the Battle Bards stuff themselves into spandex and try out for sixth-tier superhero teams. Because saving the world is en vogue, don't you know? In today's episode, the crew takes a tour through the music of superhero MMORPGs past, present, and future! Episode 209 show notes (show page, direct download) Intro (feat.  "Freedom Court" from City of He...

Mighty Vikings and meek bards come together to sing the praises of the soundtrack to 2021's smash hit Valheim! Syl does her best to sell us all on the game (and, perhaps occasionally, its soundtrack) as the threesome hack, slash, and plunder the score to see what spoils might be taken back to the homeland. Episode 208 show notes Intro (feat. "Moder v2," "Mountain," and "Yagluth" ) "Menu Theme" "En...

Have you ever gotten so mad that you literally saw red? Better yet, have you ever heard the color red when you've listened to an MMO's soundtrack? In this episode, the Battle Bards explore the diversity that exists within this singular blood hue. What does red sound like? Find out in this hour! Episode 207 show notes  Intro (feat. "Red Broth" from Warframe, "Red Menace" from Stargate Worlds, and "...

It's been a long, long time since the Battle Bards have ventured down to the surface of Nexus -- at least, as a full episode. Now, it's time to warp back to WildStar! But after having featured this amazing soundtrack so often on the show, are there any good picks left... or just the dregs from a former civilization? Episode 206 show notes Intro (feat. "Main Theme," "A Tropical Getaway," and "Sea o...

They might not be the most naturally romantic crew at heart, but the Battle Bards have been known to get, er, swoony when love is professed and crushes confessed. In the spirit of love and romance, Steff, Syl, and Syp explore romantic themes in MMORPG soundtracks to see if they can figure out what the heart really wants! Episode 205 show notes (show page, direct download) Intro (feat. "Lana, the A...

The MMORPG smash hit of 2021 is now a soundtrack of far-off lands, dangerous vistas, and bewildering secrets. To navigate this New World, the Battle Bards have disembarked onto the shores of this score to see what wonders they can pillage. Episode 204 show notes Intro (feat. "A New World," "Discovery," and "Heart of Corruption" ) "Embark" "Cutlass Keys" "Everfall"  "Sunset Ballad" "Monarch Bluffs"...

For this week's episode, the Battle Bards turn their attention to an oft-neglected realm of MMO music -- that of mobile titles. Will Steff walk into a pole while playing Pokemon Go? Will Syl instantly recognize an old musical favorite? Will Syp use the word "cacophony" at least once this hour? You'll have to listen to find out! Episode 203 show notes (show page, direct download) Intro (feat.  "Tak...

Piggybacking on a historical lifeline, Silkroad Online has enjoyed a long run in the MMORPG market. But how is its music? To find this out, the Battle Bards begin a long trek through desert and rainforest to discover the truth of Silkroad's soundtrack. Episode 202 show notes Intro (feat. "Karakorum," "Roc Battle," and  "Donwhang Cave" ) "Jangan Town" "Togui Village" "Constantinople Town" "Samarkan...

Have you stood in the fire? Did you start the fire? Are you on fire at this very moment? Then stop, drop, and roll your way to this episode of the Battle Bards, where the crew put out the flames of music tracks from fire zones, volcanoes, and the like! Episode 201 show notes  Intro (feat. "Firelight" from TERA, "Molten Core Battle" from World of Warcraft, and "Flow Like Fire" from Warframe) "Deser...

Can you believe it? The Battle Bards have hit 200 amazing episodes! Join Steff, Syl, and Syp as they take a victory lap around the field of MMO music, sharing their personal soundtrack discoveries and listeners' favorite tracks. It's a Battle Bards Bicentennial! Episode 200 show notes  Intro Reminiscing about the history of Battle Bards  (feat.  "Fields of the Shire from LOTRO and  "Tempest Bay" ...

At the start and end of a long day of adventurin', the Battle Bards love to kick back with a frosty mug of (ginger) ale or a stein of (root) beer at their favorite taverns. And what watering holes have better music than World of Warcraft, which actually released a full album of it? In today's show, Steff, Syl, and Syp share some more great music from the social hubs of Azeroth. Episode 199 show no...

Return with us to the lands of Vana'diel, as the Battle Bards dip into the ocean of Final Fantasy XI expansion music. While Syl might be chiding Syp over his inappropriate attire, at least these amazing tunes can overcome all hostility! Episode 198 show notes Intro (feat. "Where It All Begins," "Vana'diel March #4," and "Echoes of a Zephyr" ) "Kazham" "Breaking Ground" "The Cosmic Wheel" "Autumn F...

Bow to your king and queens of MMO music royalty, for the Battle Bards have donned the crown, taking up the majestic scepter, and issued a proclamation that all sorts of royal music must be heard through the land!  Episode 197 show notes  Intro (feat. "Behold Tarantia!" from Age of Conan,  "The Royal Bodyguard" from Blade and Soul, and "Illusion Castle Radiant Hall" from Cabal Online) "To Wear the...

This time around, the Battle Bards cruise into the indie MMO known as "Project Gorgon" to see what musical landscape is being concocted in this usual realm. From dark dungeon crawls to dusty deserts, it's a trip around a world of fantasy, mystery, and deliberate old school musical cues! Episode 196 show notes Intro (feat. "Fae Forest," "SunVale," and "The Spider Crypt" ) "Overture Theme" "Quiet Co...

Attempting to summit the very best of MMO music, the Battle Bards head up, up, up into the mountains with this episode! What musical motifs do the ranges hold in online games? The crew of Steff, Syl, and Syp are going to try to find out -- if the yeti doesn't eat them first! Episode 195 show notes Intro (feat. "Berg" from Drakensang Online,  "Snowhorn"  from Runes of Magic, and "Mountains" from Va...

No Man's Sky is a Cinderella story, a turnaround from a project that failed on its promises to exceeding them. But what about its soundtrack? In this episode, the Battle Bards examine this "experimental" score and grapple with how it fits with space exploration theme. Episode 194 show notes  Intro (feat. "I've Seen Things," "Blueprint for a Slow Machine," and "Escaping the Dark Side" ) "Heliospher...

Strike up a drum, flourish a flute, and howl to the moon -- it's time to get funky with some tribal jams! In this episode of the Battle Bards, the intrepid crew enjoy a wide range of chanty, drummy, and peppy tracks from MMORPGs. Episode 193 show notes Intro (feat. "Tribal Downtime" from Elsword Online, "Exotic Marketplace" from Lineage 2, and "Hunting" from Lord of the Rings Online) "Perion" from...

Is Mabonogi a muppet, a Welsh adventure, or a Korean MMORPG? It's certainly an odd title, but its music is worthy of the Battle Bards' time. This week, the trio sails through the soundtrack to this anime fantasy sandbox -- and gives proper attention, respect, and love to the country of Wales. Episode 192 show notes Intro (feat. "Main Theme (Piano)," "Afternoon Tea," and "Prince of Denmark" ) "Sidh...

Today's episode of the Battle Bards was phoned in -- phoned in with 2800-baud modems from the 1990s, that is! Steff, Syl, and Syp return to the early era of graphical MMOs to see what video game music existed in that time. From the bleeps to the bombastic, this show digs deep into the past to see what is waiting to be uncovered... Episode 191 show notes Intro (feat. "Toxxulia Forest" from EverQues...

It was the FOMO title of last fall, and now Genshin Impact is in your ears! On this episode of the Battle Bards, Syp, Steff, and the Other One explore the varied and delightfully cheerful soundtrack to this online RPG. Unless you have headphones made of live kittens, it'll be the most adorable thing you'll listen to all day! Episode 190 show notes Intro (feat. "Make Haste, Partner," "Liyue Defense...

Is that a chill creeping down your spine? Did your ears just perk up at the hint of fae music in the trees? Is Tinkerbell blasting you with a cannon full of musical confetti? Then you must be in a good place to listen to some more spooky and magical music from MMORPGs with the Battle Bards! Episode 189 show notes Intro (feat. "Emerald Labyrinth" from FFXIV,  "Wizard City Tower Golem"  from Wizard1...

While the Battle Bards tend to agree that World of Warcraft: Shadowlands isn't as strong of an expansion soundtrack compared to the last few, it's still WoW, and it still has some gems worth uncovering. Join Syl, Steff, and Syp as they journey into the afterlife and see what the freshly dead listen to in their eternities! Episode 188 show notes  Intro (feat. "Bastion Kyrian," "Ardenweald Nocturne...

Oh yeah, this is destined to be our most-downloaded show ever, because the Battle Bards are bringing the THRILLS of sewer systems and the EXCITEMENT of swamps right to your eardrums! Decaying organic matter and waste disposal are always fun times in the music department! Syp, Steff, and Syl comb through their MMO soundtrack archives to see what intriguing specimens they could pull out. It's gonna...

While Lineage II is one of the absolute favorite soundtracks of the Battle Bards, the first game in this series has been shamefully overlooked on the show. No longer! In today's episode, Syl, Steff, and Syp dig into this rather lovely and expressive score for an MMO that's been around longer than some of their listeners have been alive. From the sappy to the sublime, Lineage has more than a few su...

Flying has always been both beloved and controversial in MMORPGs, but no matter what your stance on it, at least you can agree that when you slip the surly bonds of earth, you need an amazing soundtrack for that moment. Thankfully, captain Steff, co-pilot Syl, and navigator Syp are here to point out some of the best flying-themed tunes found in online games. So raise your tray tables to their lock...