Setting A Tone
When I sit down to make plans for an upcoming fantasy RPG campaign, I like to listen to music filled with the same themes.
The Sword is the first band I noticed that really leaned into fantasy themes. Their first album, Age of Winters, released nearly 20 years ago, and they have a lot of songs in their catalog that evoke goddesses, swords, and monsters. Barael's Blade and "Freya" are two of my favorites.
A more recent discovery is Dungeon Weed. They have a significantly different sound than The Sword, but the lyrics are even more explicitly RPG inspired, often name-dropping elements familiar to most D&D players. They only have two albums (with a third on the way), and I love everything produced so far. Picking just one song to recommend isn't easy, but "Gelatinous Vault of Doom" has a special place in my heart due to the thematic connection to one of our games.
The latest addition to this playlist is a band with a sound very similar to The Sword that leans even more into the fantasy theme. Castle Rat (what a perfect name!) is fronted by someone wearing a literal chainmail bikini, but don't let that convince you they aren't serious about making great music. Their latest music video is for a song called "Wolf I" (followed up by "Wolf II" on their album The Bestiary).
When it comes time to play this theoretical RPG campaign that listening to these bands has helped build, I turn to a slightly different vibe. Most of my RPG playing is done online these days, so I can listen to whatever I want without disturbing any of the other players. Songs with lyrics my brain can follow sometimes distract me, so I put on something else.
My favorite fantasy-vibes music is from Heilung, a project that is as much about the presentation as the music. Their drumming and chanting (and outfits) are the perfect accompaniment to a fantasy RPG. "Anoana" is one of my favorite songs from their latest album. And a band that is inching closer to Heilung's playtime in my gaming soundtrack is Wardruna. They have been around for quite a while, but came to prominence with their connection to the Vikings show on the History channel. One of my favorite tracks from them is "Lufjaberg."
That covers all of my favorite music related to fantasy RPGs. Maybe next time I'll let you listen to the scifi music that blares in the speakers of my mecha cockpit!