jesper kyd

Game Music

STATE OF DECAY 2 Special Edition Vinyl Pre-Order Available

September 18, 2018 | Brenna Wilkes | Comments Off on STATE OF DECAY 2 Special Edition Vinyl Pre-Order Available Share this

The state of video game soundtrack releases to vinyl continues to go unabated this year, which isn’t surprising given that a recent poll by Materia Collective’s Sebastian Wolff revealed that over 16% of game music enthusiasts prefer to listen to game music on vinyl release. Given that response, finding even more obscure AAA titles such as State of Decay 2 getting special edition vinyl releases isn’t all that surprising.

This November on Black Friday, Sumthing Else Music Works will be releasing the soundtrack to the horror action shooter sequel to 2xLP special edition vinyl format featuring 29 tracks (10 of them previously unreleased) from the game’s original soundtrack by composer Jesper Kyd (Borderlands 1 & 2, Assassin’s Creed 2). Currently you can listen to previews of some of the tracks provided by Sumthing Else (via Dread Central) which highlight pieces from Kyd’s score and invoke his style used in previous darker titles such as Darksiders 2.

The State of Decay 2 Special Edition Vinyl is currently available for pre-order on the Sumthing Else Music Works website for $39.99 and will be released on November 23rd.
Game Music

Jesper Kyd to Score Warhammer: Vermintide II Soundtrack

January 22, 2018 | Brenna Wilkes | Comments Off on Jesper Kyd to Score Warhammer: Vermintide II Soundtrack Share this

Last Fall, it was announced that Borderlands composer Jesper Kyd would be creating the music for the latest installment of the Warhammer 40K expansion game, Vermintide. Now it appears that the game’s music was done well enough that Kyd has been signed on to do the music for the expansion’s sequel as well.

Inspired by Norse mythology, Jesper Kyd’s original score for Vermintide 2 explores ancient tribal music and dark magic fantasy elements as well as evolving the raw acoustic soundscape he developed for the first game. Kyd channels his Scandinavian roots, blending Viking and Norse-inspired vocals, ritualistic percussion styles and new custom-made instruments built specifically for Vermintide 2, to create another unique soundtrack experience.

Warhammer: Vermintide 2 introduces the dark, bloody and twisted Norse tribe ‘Chaos’ as an enemy faction and is headed to PC and consoles in early 2018. You can check out more information about the game and soundtrack on the Vermintide website.
Game Music

Warhammer “Vermintide” OST by Jesper Kyd Due September 26th

September 14, 2017 | Brenna Wilkes | Comments Off on Warhammer “Vermintide” OST by Jesper Kyd Due September 26th Share this

Jesper Kyd is once again becoming a prolific force within the video game music biz. Along with the recent release of Crytek’s Robinson: The Journey vinyl edition of its soundtrack by Black Screen Records, then release of the latest Warhammer End of Times spin-off, Vermintide, is also composed by Kyd and set to be released. The 36-track album compiled by Kyd includes the core game’s original soundtrack, new music from the DLC expansions as well as instrumental songs heard in the game’s local tavern, Red Moon Inn.

It’s a dynamic, raw and violent score that belongs to Vermintide’s dark medieval setting. We wanted the score to sound like it was performed by a Skaven band on acoustic instruments mangled by some mad Skaven scientist in the dark ages. It’s very different from anything I have written in the past. – Jesper Kyd, Composer

“The-Skaven-Come-Out-To-Play” – Jesper Kyd

Developed by independent games studio Fatshark in Sweden, Warhammer: The End Times – Vermintide is a co-operative action first person shooter and melee combat adventure set in the End Times of the iconic Warhammer fantasy universe. Vermintide is available on PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC.

The soundtrack to Vermintide will be available for digital download on September 26th. You can pre-order the soundtrack on iTunes here, or on the Sumthing Else Music website.
Game Music

Jesper Kyd on his Music, Gear, and MU Online

July 21, 2017 | Shawn Sackenheim | Comments Off on Jesper Kyd on his Music, Gear, and MU Online Share this

Webzen has just released the first extensive preview of Jesper Kyd’s soundtrack for their upcoming action MMO, MU Legend. The follow-up to MU Online, one of South Korea’s long standing MMOs, MU Legend has itself been in the works for quite some time. But with a global Beta Test planned for September the marketing machine is spinning up and Webzen has chosen to kick it into gear by focusing on the music.

Along with three new preview tracks Webzen has released a short interview with Kyd that’s more about his composition style and history with game music than it is about MU Legend. From the demoscene to his array of keyboards and equipment from the 60’s, I think I learned more about Kyd in this five minute video than I have in the last five years.

Take a look at the playlist above to see the interview, the new preview tracks, and a couple of teasers I added that highlight some additional battle anthems. There are also two more tracks on JesperKyd.com if you’d like to hear more of the game’s softer side.

With their “first look” focusing almost entirely on Kyd himself we can expect to hear a lot more from MU Online in the months leading up to its Beta Test and then towards its release, whenever that may finally be.
Game Music

Jesper Kyd’s Five Worlds of Plarium Soundtrack Dropping Soon

May 28, 2015 | Brenna Wilkes | Comments Off on Jesper Kyd’s Five Worlds of Plarium Soundtrack Dropping Soon Share this

If you’re not a patron of social or browser-based gaming, then you might not know what Plarium is, but you have at least one reason to do so now. The free online social gaming hotspot features a slew of MMO strategy games to play from your desktop. Not enough? It will now have a soundtrack arranged by long-time game composer, Jesper Kyd (Assassin’s Creed, Borderlands).

Five Worlds of Plarium is an 11-track compilation album released by Sumthings Else Music Works that feature’s Kyd’s distinct musical signature spread across the five games that comprise Plarium’s lineup, which features genres spanning from fantasy to sci-fi MMO’s. Being a master of creating everything from grand theatrical melodies to subtle, refined rhythm, Kyd’s mark can definitely be heard within the music he’s composed for Plarium.

“It’s a really diverse collection reflecting my interest in combining different music styles but they all share a sense of creative fun and adventure. I hope you will enjoy them as much as I did writing them.”

Jesper Kyd

The album drops on June 2nd for iTunes, Amazon and Sumthing Else for around $6.99 for the complete album and can be pre-ordered. You can also follow the album by checking the hashtag #5WorldofPlarium on Twitter.

Five Worlds of Plarium by Jesper Kyd – Sumthing Else Music Works
Featured, Game Music, Reviews

Radio Pandora – Borderlands 2 OST (Review)

October 15, 2012 | Brenna Wilkes | Comments Off on Radio Pandora – Borderlands 2 OST (Review) Share this

Like sci-fi? Like westerns? (No, this won’t become a discussion about Cowboys vs. Aliens – lower your torches) If you said yes to any of that, then chances are you played Borderlands. If you didn’t, get off your duff, go buy it, and play through. Go on, I’ll wait.

No I won’t.

Created in 2009, Borderlands was most commonly known as “Futuristic Spaghetti Western meets first-person shooter meets Diablo” for its aforementioned setting, game style and leveling system. Its soundtrack was placed in the responsible hands of Cris Velasco (Clive Barker’s Jericho, Prototype) along with his recently-established partner in melodic mischief Sascha Dikiciyan, along with the established Danish composer Jesper Kyd (Assassin’s Creed, Unreal Tournament 3) and sound designer Raison Varner. This rag-tag team created an atmospheric musical accompaniment to the underground hit that helped shape the soul of the game.

So yeah, guess who’s back for another romp on Pandora? (more…)
Featured, Game Music, Reviews

The Echoes of Death – Darksiders II OST (Review)

September 18, 2012 | Brenna Wilkes | Comments Off on The Echoes of Death – Darksiders II OST (Review) Share this

The end of the world may have come to pass, but it seems the journey must continue. It’s been over two years since the first Darksiders game told the (ever over-used) tale of the wars of heaven, hell, and the trials of War: Horseman of the Apocalypse. The dark action-adventure game featured an equally dark and ambient soundtrack to illustrate War’s journey in melodic detail.

Now for Darksiders II, we advance further into the story with the arrival of another Horseman – Death – as he continues the hellish tale and the aftermath of Armageddon. As such, the soundtrack gets a equal change-up with the advent of Danish composer Jesper Kyd (Borderlands, Assassin’s Creed) into the series mix.

Does the soundtrack’s sequel succeed the original? Surpass, even? Check under the jump for the details! (more…)