Fall of the Gods music notes

I have used quite a number of music tracks in the campaign. The tracklist used has changed almost completely from the released 1.02 version, or whichever number it was, so I think I should explain again on every track.

Title track is now O Fortuna by Carl Orff, from the Carmina Burana album. A couple of months ago I heard Carmina Burana live on an occasion, and I was immediately hooked. Bought a CD that same evening. :-) O Fortuna is the opening/closing track of this splendid album, and it really matches the spirit of the campaign, being solemn and glorious. The old title track by Aria was jettisoned because no one except me, Rommel and BroodKiller would understand the lyrics anyways, and the instrumental version of that song is used as a title track in the Hammerhead Project, by Rommel's request.

Track © by Carl Orff (1934)

For the briefing, I used The Battle of Tyr - a short instrumental tune from Black Sabbath's album Tyr (1990). Recently I've grown very fond of Black Sabbath's music, especially its twin concept albums Headless Cross and Tyr. Also, most of the Black Sabbath albums have a short instrumental track, or even two, that can be used... elsewhere. The Battle of Tyr was also picked because the album Tyr is a concept research on various myths and legends (so I think), and the trio of tracks The Battle of Tyr - Odin's Court - Valhalla is an excursion into the Norse mythology that lies at the basement of FotG.

Track © by Tony Iommi / Tony Martin / Cozy Powell (1990)

First in-mission tune is called Antichrist, by the famous russian metal band Aria. The music is gloomy and solemn, the lyrics just rule beyond belief and clearly stand up to Black Sabbath's Headless Cross album. :-) Besides, the lyrics aren't some satanistic crap, but they tell of the struggle between good and evil, and even though the instrumental version is used in FotG, that was yet another reason to pick this tune. To make the matters even worse better, this version of Antichrist is enhanced by a symphonic orchestra. It's great, and it's one of my favourite music pieces of all time.

Track © by Vitaly Dubinin / Vladimir Holstinin (1991)

For the second in-mission track, I chose the middle instrumental part of the well-known tune called Child in Time by Deep Purple, from the live album Come Hell or High Water (1993). Great tune, one of the highest points in the band's history and one of the music masterpieces of all the time.

Track © by Blackmore / Gillan / Glover / Lord / Paice (1969, 1970, 1993), based on a tune called "Bombay Calling" by the band It's a Beautiful Day.

The third track is Without You, also by Aria, from its very early years. It's a more mellow and slow piece, in its proper form it's a typical ballad with a more "rocky" chorus. In its instrumental version, vocal line was replaced by a piano. A good break after the speed of Child in Time , and a good break before the tension of Antichrist.

Track © by Valery Kipelov / Andrey Bolshakov (1986)

No campaigns have victories only, so for a defeat tune, I chose the 30 seconds cut from the ending of Iron Maiden's Mother Russia song. It was a first Iron Maiden song that I heard years ago, and I immediately liked it - I still do, by the way. It's slow and sad, perfect for a defeat music. Hopefully, you won't hear it very often, though.

Track © by Steve Harris and whoever else (1990)

And ultimately, for the victory tune, a Manowar tune was chosen. It's a short (just 30 seconds) instrumental with choir called Valhalla, from their latest offering, Warriors of the World. Supposedly, it is a hymn of the Gods, with Valkyries singing. Not like the majority Manowar's brutal, meatgrinder songs. :-) Overall it's cheerful, like one would expect from any victory tune. The old victory tune, a cut from Aria's Deception went to my Vagrants campaign, where it was originally used as well.

Track © by Manowar, don't know exactly who wrote it (2002)

I also planned a Radio Free Zerg replacement, but unfortunately, it would require the player to be Zerg in all missions, which I deemed a little too much of a sacrifice for the sake of one tune. :-) Besides, I should take space into consideration, as I'm still on dialup, like many people out there, so expanding music uncontrollably is not an option.