Battle Bards

Never heard of Aura Kingdom? The Battle Bards hope that after an hour of attention, you might add a new title to your video game music library. This fantasy MMO has an exuberant score that nonetheless inspires vicious bickering and passionate speeches by the co-hosts. It's the 80th episode, and the Battle Bards are still going strong! Episode 80 show notes  Intro (feat. "Step by Step" and "Wise Ta...

Ready to battle it out more than usual? The Battle Bards are cranking up the combat tunes from MMORPGs today, inviting all sorts of violence and slap-happy tempos into the show. So strap on your sword, sling a shield on your back, and get ready to leap into the fray with a wide assortment of excellent -- and even unusual -- music tracks! Episode 79 show notes  Intro (feat. "Planes of Power Battle...

Before World of Warcraft, there was EverQuest -- the king of the MMOs and the pioneer of true 3D graphics in virtual worlds. Today the Battle Bards pay homage to this classic game, going back to 1999 to see how the music (in its various formats) hold up. If you were waiting for an episode where Steff spends most of the time screeching in agony, this is it! Follow Battle Bards on iTunes Follow Batt...

Steff has decreed the return of spirit of adventure — and so it shall be! In the second part of this theme, the Battle Bards explore adventurous and inspirational MMO tunes. Are we out of ideas or overflowing with incredible tracks? It's definitely the latter, so grab your hiking stick and join us as we venture out into the great yonder! Follow Battle Bards on iTunes Follow Battle Bards on Stitche...

"It's high time that we talk about the Heart of Thorns expansion for Guild Wars 2!" Syl says, and we couldn't agree more. The Battle Bards assemble to look at the first expansion for this fantasy MMO — and the evolution of the game's soundtrack from the Jeremy Soule era. The verdict? Unanimous love for this incredible score! Follow Battle Bards on iTunes Follow Battle Bards on Stitcher Follow Batt...

Get out on the dance floor and boogie down with the Battle Bards! Today the bards look for -- believe it or not -- electronic dance music in MMO soundtracks. Yes, it exists, and yes, it's all over the map. So strap in for a tub-thumping, rave-inducing episode that does skew to the goofy and surreal at times. Follow Battle Bards on iTunes Follow Battle Bards on Stitcher Follow Battle Bards on Playe...

This eastern sandbox import has many people playing and talking about it, but are they listening to Black Desert Online? The Battle Bards are, naturally, and in this conversation-packed episode, they charge through this fantasy soundtrack to glean the best and discard the rest! Follow Battle Bards on iTunes Follow Battle Bards on Stitcher Follow Battle Bards on Player. FM Episode 74 show notes Int...

By popular demand -- which you should read as "Syl's imperial fiat" -- the Battle Bards are returning to the fertile musical landscape of spooky and magical tunes. From undead taverns to fairy courts, the bards explore all manner of sparkly, moody themes. So turn the lights down low, brew your favorite beverage, and enjoy! Follow Battle Bards on iTunes Follow Battle Bards on Stitcher Follow Battle...

Can you believe it -- it's the third anniversary of Battle Bards already! Three years ago, Steff, Syp, and Syl joined forces to create the world's first, best, and only MMORPG music podcast. It's been an incredible ride, and for the show's birthday the Bards have invited our listeners to contribute more of their favorite tracks for a listeners request show! It's a plus-sized show, so enjoy - and t...

Let's get this out of the way up front: No, Ragnarok Online 2 isn't the type of game that you'd think would have a terrific soundtrack, and yes, it totally has a terrific soundtrack. On this episode, the Battle Bards skip through renowned Japanese composer Yoko Kanno's score, picking out their favorite tracks from this fantasy MMO. Will they convince you that this is a hidden gem? Listen and see!...

While loud and brash music might be what often grabs our attention, the astute soundhound will keep an ear out for beautiful low-key pieces that weave through MMORPGs. Today the Battle Bards crew dials it back to look at tracks that exude ambience in all of its forms. From Final Fantasy XIV to Chronicles of Spellborn, interesting and noteworthy ambient tracks were unearthed, dissected, and returne...

Today, the Battle Bards are back for a special update and podcast episode! First things first, for all those of you who frequent twitter and would like to receive regular updates on our shows as well as MMO music in general, you can now follow us via our official twitter feed @battlebardscast . Don't hesitate to contact us there or leave feedback or suggestions on twitter in the future - we love t...

The Battle Bards are taking an airship back to Eorzea to cover the soundtrack to the first expansion to Final Fantasy XIV, Heavensward. How does the expansion's score stack up to the original? How does it connect to Final Fantasies of the past? And will Syl spoil the plot for Syp? So many questions... so many mini-rants. It's a great show! Follow Battle Bards on iTunes Follow Battle Bards on Stitc...

When an MMO player gets cozy in his or her in-game home, the sound is as essential to the ambiance as the decor. Not every game creates special music for player housing, but enough do that it's attracted the Battle Bards to take a closer look at the topic. Housing music and collectible tracks? It's starting to pick up momentum in MMOs, and Battle Bards is on the forefront of the revolution! Follow...

Before they were podcasters, the Battle Bards trained in sacred monestaries deep in the Chinese mountains, where they learned martial arts and life without wifi. As they tackle the Age of Wushu soundtrack this week, memories flood back of their life as kung fu artists who drifted from town to town, setting right what once was wrong. Follow Battle Bards on iTunes Follow Battle Bards on Stitcher Fol...

What is this madness? The Battle Bards are taking a daring field trip out of the boundaries of MMO soundtracks to look at some music from MOBAs. Can these battle arenas hold a candle to the sublime scores of their kissing cousins? They can indeed, as this episode proves! Follow Battle Bards on iTunes Follow Battle Bards on Stitcher Follow Battle Bards on Player. FM Episode 66 show notes Intro (fea...

Welcome to the musical apocalypse! In this week's episode, the Battle Bards get their Mad Max on with a trip to the premiere post-apocalyptic MMO, Fallen Earth. It's a combination of western, action, and... "other." What does the wasteland sound like? Find out in this episode! Follow Battle Bards on iTunes Follow Battle Bards on Stitcher Follow Battle Bards on Player. FM Episode 65 show notes Intr...

While not every MMO has specific musical cues for its factions and races, many do, and today on Battle Bards the crew shares some of their favorites from over the years! Additionally, the co-hosts will share their favorite races and why Final Fantasy XI is the creepiest MMO everr! Follow Battle Bards on iTunes Follow Battle Bards on Stitcher Follow Battle Bards on Player. FM Episode 64 show notes...

With a new World of Warcraft expansion on the horizon, the Battle Bards turn their attention to Warlords of Draenor to see how it stacks up to the rest of the series. The answer? For at least one of the bards, it's the best WoW soundtrack ever . Crank up the volume and get your Orc on, for it's time to go on the musical warpath! Follow Battle Bards on iTunes Follow Battle Bards on Stitcher Follow...

Right after the main theme of an MMO, typically the first piece of in-game score you'll hear is a lengthy character creation piece. Today the Battle Bards reroll characters to hear these tunes all over again and decide which of them kept them on those screens a few more minutes than they strictly needed to. Follow Battle Bards on iTunes Follow Battle Bards on Stitcher Follow Battle Bards on Player...

Catapulting themselves into the far future, the Battle Bards survey the post-apocalyptic scene in Firefall and find it... groovy. This week we take a look at Red 5's MMO shooter and its electronic soundtrack to see if there's a future worth hoping for in here or one that has lost all musical taste. Which will it be? You'll have to listen to find out! Follow Battle Bards on iTunes Follow Battle Bar...

For our whopping 60th episode , we explore the endless journey of MMOs! So wait, what is this theme really about? According to Syl, "it is all about the rich, multi-faceted, multi-part tracks that tell a story, come with transitions or surprises and have a certain length to allow for that to happen." Tall order? Sure, but the Battle Bards have never shirked a musical challenge! Follow Battle Bards...

Haven't played The Crew? You're not alone! Haven't listened to The Crew's soundtrack? Shame on you! Today the Battle Bards take on this driving MMO's score to see if it causes them to put their pedals to the metal... or their heads to their pillows. Also we got another speakpipe challenge for our regular listeners at the end of this episode - be the first to claim the prize! Follow Battle Bards on...

Today, the Battle Bards are bringing the beat! It's a whole show about percussion-heavy MMO soundtracks, with far more variety than you would have thought possible. So turn your volume up to 11 and get ready to air drum your heart out! Follow Battle Bards on iTunes Follow Battle Bards on Stitcher Follow Battle Bards on Player. FM Episode 58 show notes Intro (featuring  “Snowjade Palace”  from Blad...

Syl finally realizes a long-held dream to cover Blade & Soul on Battle Bards. Truly, this is the highlight of her life, the apex of her existence, and the sunshine beams through her kitchen window. It's pretty groovy for the rest of the bards, too, as the threesome enjoy this Asian soundtrack and vie for their favorite picks. Follow Battle Bards on iTunes Follow Battle Bards on Stitcher Follow Bat...