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" "Brightwood" "Homeward Bound" Which one did we like best? Listener notes from George and Minimalistw...
Nov 10, 2021•53 min
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. “Take the Lead ” from AdventureQuest 3D, "Diagon Alley" from Harry Potter Wizards Unite, and "Track 7" fr...
Oct 27, 2021•52 min
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" "Samarkand" "Festival Event" "Alexandria/Egypt Field Delta" "Jupiter Temple" Which one did we like best? Liste...
Oct 13, 2021•48 min
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) "Desert of Fire" from Aion "Burning Steppes" from World of Warcraft "Sleeping Volcano" from Ragnarok Online...
Sep 29, 2021•56 min
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" from RIFT) Our favorite MMORPG soundtrack discoveries over the past 100 episodes Syp: Club Penguin Steff:...
Sep 01, 2021•1 hr 29 min
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 notes Intro (feat. "Vanilla Tavern," "Deepwater," and "Hunter's Refuge" ) "Kul'Tiran Taverns" "Dive Ba...
Aug 13, 2021•55 min
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 Footfalls" "Bustle of the Capital" "Unity" "The Sanctuary of Zi'Tah" Which one did we like best? List...
Jul 28, 2021•55 min
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 Crown" from Monarch "Krakunta" from Lime Odyssey "Royal District" from Project Copernium "The Castle o...
Jul 14, 2021•52 min
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 Countryside" "Eltibule" "Delving for Forgotten Secrets" "Rakshasa City" "Anagoge Magical Island" "The ...
Jun 30, 2021•45 min
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 Valheim) "Interdica High Mountain" from Aion "Wind-Washed Mountains" from Genshin Impact "The Vista from...
Jun 16, 2021•53 min
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" ) "Heliosphere" "Outlier" "The Lost Traveler" "Asimov" "The Journey" "World of Wonders" "Escape Velocity" Which on...
Jun 02, 2021•53 min
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 MapleStory 2 "The Black Hand" from Conan Exiles "Scent of Memories" from Aion "Roobrick and Balzare...
May 19, 2021•54 min
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" ) "Sidhe Finnachaid" "Merlin" "Tears of Memory" "Avalon Theme" "Bangor" "An Old Story From Grandma" "Belita...
May 05, 2021•57 min
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 EverQuest, "Main Theme" from Asheron's Call, and "Idiotic Ghost" from Lineage) "The Streets of Furcadia" fro...
Apr 21, 2021•51 min
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," and "Dusk in Mondstadt" ) "Beats of Water Drops" "Spring in Clouds" "Bustling Afternoon of Mondst...
Mar 31, 2021•49 min
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 Wizard101, and "Jawaii Town" from Ragnarok Online 2) "Enraptured" from Final Fantasy XIV "Uralia" from Glitch...
Mar 17, 2021•58 min
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 Mischief," and "Revendreth Decadence" ) "Through the Roof of the World" "Oribos the Eternal City" "On...
Mar 03, 2021•58 min
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 be gross, people. Episode 186 show notes Intro (feat. "Freeport Sewers" from EverQuest II, "Marsh of...
Feb 17, 2021•54 min
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 surprises in store for the adventurous listener! Episode 186 show notes Intro (feat. "The Fog of Dawnl...
Feb 03, 2021•49 min
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 locked position, because this episode's about to take off! Episode 185 show notes Intro (feat. “Boundles...
Jan 20, 2021•48 min
Nexon's late, doomed MapleStory 2 gets a resurrection of sorts, as the Battle Bards salvage the soundtrack and deliver it, shining and sparkly, to you. It's a surprisingly good score with lots of interesting themes, and as such, Steff, Syl, and Syp are excited to talk about it. So rest in peace, MapleStory 2, we think you left behind a delightful musical legacy. Episode 184 show notes Intro (feat. "Rune Blader Cave," "Black Star," and "Ice Age Field" ) "Knight Theme" "Perion Field 1" "Tria" "Dre...
Dec 30, 2020•51 min
This episode is your ticket to the greatest amusement park experience known to gamers! With cotton candy and ride tickets in hand, the Battle Bards rush into the gates of their favorite theme parks -- and theme parks WITHIN theme park MMOs! So what do amusement parks sound like in online roleplaying games? Find out in this fantastic spectacle of an episode! Episode 183 show notes Intro (feat. "Shopping Arcade 1" from MapleStory 2, "Nar Shadda" from SWTOR, and "Dream Carnival" from Hello Kitty On...
Dec 16, 2020•49 min
What does the apocalypse sound like? That's the burning question, so to speak, that the Battle Bards are investigating this week as they dive into the soundtrack to Last Oasis. Michał Korniewicz's unique score is a haunting experience that must be heard to be believed. But at the end of it all, will it be enough to endure? Episode 182 show notes Intro (feat. "Seven Pieces of the Moon," "Before the Reckoning," and "Against All Odds" ) "Beast from Beneath" "Growth" "Woodpunk" "The Old Ways" "The F...
Dec 02, 2020•51 min
Stuck at home? Denied a vacation this year? The Battle Bards are here to help! In seven songs, the cross-continental crew travel all around the world with one pick per continent. Can MMORPGs take us on across the globe with their music alone? Indeed they can! Episode 181 show notes Intro (feat. "American Sea" from Uncharted Waters Online, "Mission Mayan 1" from Pirates of the Burning Sea, and "Four Corners" from A Tale in the Desert) Australia: "Untamed Outback" from Elsword Online North America...
Nov 18, 2020•51 min
While Moonlight Blade is not yet a known quantity over here in the west, its soundtrack has gone before it and landed right into the laps of Steff, Syl, and Syp -- otherwise known as the Battle Bards! In this contentious episode, the three dance, flow, and fly through this big and distinct score. Episode 180 show notes Intro (feat. "Time," "Thunder," and "Jiuhua Battle Music" ) "Main Theme" "Character Creation" "Game Anniversary Theme - Day" "Jinghu Day" "Cloud" "Saddle" "Rain" Which one did we ...
Nov 04, 2020•49 min
Shiver me timbers -- the Battle Bards are coming aboard and demanding that all capable musicians appear on the poop deck and blast out a few shanties and jigs for their pleasure! In today's episode, this motley crew examines the pirate themes that sail across many-a-MMO. Will they find rich booty -- or only a few pieces o' eight? Find out! Episode 179 show notes Intro (feat. "Salty Sailor" from World of Warcraft, "The Adventure Begins" from Tales of Pirates, "The Redmoon Marauders" from WildStar...
Oct 21, 2020•49 min
Washington D.C. has fallen to the plague, curiously well-armed agents are everywhere, and intriguing music floats. The Division 2 features a tense and action-packed synth score that distinguishes itself among online games -- and is worth an investigation by the Battle Bards. Suit up, because today we're going to the musical dark zone! Episode 178 show notes Intro (feat. "The Beginning is the End," "Rocket Science," and "Ballroom" ) "Prologue 2" "Steps" "Saint" "Dock Wrecks" "Keates" "Hyena Hunt"...
Sep 30, 2020•47 min
As the weather howls and gusts around us, the Battle Bards stand in the middle of it all with their heads lifted up, listening to the music that rides on the breeze. In this episode, Syl, Steff, and Syp examine wind-themed tracks from MMORPGs. Will they find all of the wind's colors? Probably not, but nobody ever mistook these three for artistic geniuses! Episode 177 show notes Intro (feat. "Calm Breeze" from Elsword Online, "Silken Wind Through a Bamboo Forest" from Age of Conan, and "The Wind ...
Sep 16, 2020•55 min
In 2018, RuneScape put out an official orchestral album to highlight some of the best of its remastered and re-recorded soundtrack. From delicate tunes to epic themes, the album shows just how far the game has come since its early MIDI days. The Battle Bards dive into this triumphant score and pull out some vindication for RuneScape at last! Episode 176 show notes (show page, direct download) Intro (feat. "Sunrise," "Newbie Melody," and "Waterfall II" ) "Harmony" "A Hero's Return" "The Town" "Au...
Sep 02, 2020•53 min
Having perfected their musical time machine, the Battle Bards leap back to the past to enjoy the soundscapes of dinosaurs and other prehistoric denizens. What does the MMO soundtrack for savage wildlands and dinotopias sound like? Tune into today's episode and find out! Episode 175 show notes Intro (feat. "Zandalari Allied Race" from World of Warcraft, "The Valley of the Hidden Dinosaur" from Star Stable, and "Journey to the Prehistoric" from Club Penguin) "Savage" from Durango Wildlands "Traces...
Aug 19, 2020•53 min
