Darkest Dungeon OST - Crimson Court "Bloodletting" (2017) HQ Official 

Brilliant soundtrack. This piece in particular is my favorite, it's hauntingly beautiful and brings the entire atmosphere of The Court together. Darkest Dungeon is one of the few games that I purchased the soundtrack for, it goes beyond just a game and falls into the category of art with it's fantastic graphics, atmosphere, voice talent, and especially music. Great work, Mr. Chatwood. I hope to see more in the future!

Depicting vampires as mosquitos instead of bats is so fucking GENIUS. Gives a fresh take on a tired trope and makes them surprisingly creepier.

Mosquitoes the true symbol of vampirism unlike the stereotypical bat

"Littering gold. Trinkets and baubles. Paid for in blood" No shit Ancestor, I literally just gave a vial of blood to a dude for this

I love the fact that they went the extra mile and printed out labels with blood drops for their wine bottles. Shows real commitment to the whole "we like drinking blood" thing.

"A Hideous Mutation! Unnatural, and abhorrent."

Love how the background instruments are reminiscent of buzzing flies. Stuff like this and Final Combat's heartbeat-like drum rhythm show without question that you're in a class far above the average video game track

this song perfectly fits the dual nature of the courtyard: nobility with an undertone of utter savagery.

INTERIOR CROCODILE ALLIGATOR

*massive laughs in the background everytime your party take a hit*

This soundtrack is perfect for the courtyard. Sounds like the maddening whine of insects, yet somehow more refined, more powerful and gives the ominous feeling of being hunted by murderers.

Theme of Crocodilian party-wipes.

Wow. 100,000 plays already. Thanks for listening.

Everyone talks about Wayne June and his voice, but Stuart's atmospheric musicianship really makes it all come together. Without a great soundtrack backing up Wayne's baritone voice, this game wouldn't have been so successful. Almost all of Stuart's tracks give me chills as they meander to their crescendo.

This one is really different than all the other Battle OST, this one sounds like theres something REALLY wrong about to happen and you can't stop it. AMAZING

The "ding" sound the Crocodilian makes as it winds up the attack that's going to put my Occultist on death's door haunts my sleep.

Most (though not all) enemies in the courtyard have an attack called "The thirst." If this hits, there's a chance your character will be infected with the Crimson Curse, a unique disease similar to vampirism that is nigh-impossible to cure. Being infected with it works like a normal disease, so it's based on disease resistance. Being infected with the Crimson Curse removes all other diseases, and you cannot get any other diseases on a cursed hero. That being said, if a character with it goes too long without drinking "The Blood", they will die without a deathblow check. The curse will be cured for all infected heroes once a courtyard boss is defeated, and there is a boss that appears only when you have too many cursed heroes in your party that may drop a cure. In addition, once all courtyard bosses are defeated, the sanitarium develops a method to cure it like a normal disease.

A lot of turn-based games I play I play with the sound on low and music off while I listen to a podcast. Darkest Dungeon is one of the few games in which I just can't do that. Your music is phenomenal and fits the game perfectly.

You've Fucked Yourself: The Theme

Love how these "noble vampires" are eldritch, mosquito horrors!

I love how your soundtracks get more intense and horrifying as time goes on. I beg you, never stop making music.

It has a strange elegance compared to the other tracks in the game, which definitely fits the Court's theme very well Excellent work as always

They made the violins sound like flies buzzing on purpose.

Your music is essential part of the game and its atmosphere. Great work Stuart!

If vampires were invented by H.P. Lovecraft.

Bees: Pollinate plants and produce honey Spiders: Eat bad insects Flies and Roaches: Eat filth and keep the place (Relatively) clean Mosquitos:

One dislike :( Did someone hit a wrong button or did another composer come and visit...haha.

I love how Stuart keeps staying active in the comment section :)

44 people couldn't defeat the Crocodilian.

What a master piece. So glad to see you come back for for DD 2. Music, narration, sound design and animation blended so well together in the first one. You can do it again!

*APEX PREDATOR*

Stuart you _really_ have outdone yourself with this one. Captures the feeling so well. I hope you continue to get more work with games and other media!

According to these comments, one might say this track is a real "crowd pleaser"... Captures the vibe of those bloodsuckers really well!

I love how this song encapsulates the entire feel of the Court: the insect-like buzzing whine of the wings in the violins, the elements of grandeur and nobility and high society within the Court, and the foreboding danger of the monsters underneath that thirst for your blood.

Hi Stuart, I normally just leave a like instead of commenting, but when I heard this piece, I really wanted to mention just how much I enjoy your work for Darkest Dungeon. I'm blown away with how well your music captures the atmosphere of the game's different areas, especially in the Crimson Court. The violins imitating the sound of mosquitos was a stroke of genius. Darkest Dungeon is a game with a lot of great elements, you've got the art, the narration, the tense gameplay, but your music really pulls it all together for me. In a lot of ways it's the soul of the game. I couldn't help pick up the soundtrack in the bundle on steam, looking forward to hearing more of your work in the future. Keep it up!

That singer that rolls in after the initial part feels like a fleeting hope that this conflict may be resolved swiftly. Then the drums hit you with reality. This is a lasting nightmare. One we must see through to the end.

Awesome and terrifying at the same time. Very nice job, Stuart.

I know everybody's said it already, but managing to work the mosquito-like droning into this while keeping it a delight to listen to really demonstrates a lot of skill.

Horror movies have never scared me. That wasn't a boast or anything. It's just, when I close my eyes and listen to this and my imagination wanders, I can truly experience fear. It's exhilarating, I must say. Chills raking up and down my spine. I kind of like it.

Even the citizens of the hamlet can hear their echoing screams, coming from that bloodsoaked swamp. They're crying out, seeking that sweet liquor made from corrupted flesh. They have been freed from the trapping of their mortality, only to be locked away within their very own perverted minds, crazed by the taste of that tempting fluid. What little humanity they had left is now long gone. They have become a part... of the Darkest Dungeon

I don't even play Darkest Dungeon (My male-friend does and he is a big nerd) He introduced me to this soundtrack since he knows I like Game OSTs and when I heard this, I have to admit *it's amazing* O.O

I will be posting this music and the two other new cues on my website stuartchatwood dot com for you to download for FREE! If you bought the soundtrack on STEAM or via KICKSTARTER, you should be receiving an email from RED HOOK to download the three new cues. If you bought the soundtrack on Amazon or iTunes then head over to my website tomorrow to download for FREE!

The vague leitmotifs of the previous dungeons with its own flavor of nobility and horror really make this song shine.

Just from listening I can sense the threat and eerie of the courtyard. It really sets the mood. Amazingly done.

Love it, just as good as my favorite "Town in Chaos".

This soundtrack is by far one of the best I've ever heard for a video game. The perfect dose of epicness in a global atmosphere of terror and horror. The never-stopping violins as the mosquitoes and the bugs never stop harassing you. The low but still quite perceivable vocals translating the nobelty through this mass of monstruosity. Damn.. As soon as I heard it for the first time, I stopped everything to search it on RU-vid. Wonderful job Stuart !

*Lvl 5 dungeon run going great* Mosquito Boi's: Allow us to introduce ourselves"

"The Countess arrived! Anomalous in aspect and bent on exacting terrible revenge from beyond of bounds of the decency!"

As soon as the track started I got chills. The strings sound so much like insect wings

I love how you can hear the mosquitoes buzzing about represented by those high strings! Superb use of music to convey imagery.

Darkest dungeon 2 really really needs a region like this

*adds to blood donation playlist*

There's a reason why you're one of my favorite composers, Stuart! I grew up with your soundtracks for Prince of Persia, and I'm beyond happy to listen one of your works again. I wish you did soundtracks for more video games; they make for excellent background music while writing! Keep up the good work!

Dear sweet merciful Christ I can’t get enough of how MENACING the violins get over the course of this track. The crescendo is the aural equivalent of witnessing a swarm of dog sized mosquitoes shanking a man to death with nought but relentless buzzing smothering his screams. Awesome.

I really like how this track uses strings to simulate mosquito whines and using percussion rhythms to mimic heart rate. Its a very clever battle track.

This is even better than Town in Chaos. The tension and the fear really come out, all while the drums keep the epic going and the pace high

Mosquitoes play this as their hype song before they swarm my bedroom at night. 10/10 would never sleep again.

I love how the cello makes for the rhythm just as much as the percussion (if not even more so) by striking only one note for almost the entirety of the piece. It's really creative, and I'm really impressed! Stuart, you are indeed a talented dude

Howdy, Mr. Chatwood! Remember me? I’m the guy who’s running a campaign using the Hamlet as a setting, with some creative liberties, of course. Anyway, since you evidently showed some interest, and I feel like talking about it, I’m writing this comment. Before we talk about the story, though, we have to talk about the characters. Player number 1 is playing a wizard named Gage Alric. Specifically, Abjuration, or in non tabletop words, he’s playing a defensive wizard. His backstory is that he got trained by a Lich, Amortis, who sent him to the Hamlet to take care of something. Player number 2 is playing a rogue named Genevieve Gardener. Her older brother, Jack, was a serial killer in a town called Westhaven. Due to her learning about this, she got roped into Jack’s schemes, before killing him years later. She came to the Hamlet ideally seeking redemption, but she knows it was actually to have a place to die. The party’s NPC friend is named Styx, a soul inside of a rock, inside of a suit of armor. He’s a cleric, and part of an old religious organization called The Order of the Flame. This brings us to the last session that happened, in which the Party embarked to kill the Baron. After befriending a Wizened Shrew and fighting through the Courtyard, they came face to face with the Baron. Given the stat block I was using, this fight ended up being actually threatening, especially considering there was nowhere to hide. Regardless of this, the party had brought the Baron and his game’s participants to dire straits, which had given the Baron the ability to use *The Thirst.* Given the fact that the Baron was at 7 hp, I decided to have him use it. So, I roll to attack Genevieve. 19 to hit. “Okay”, I thought, thinking this wouldn’t do all that much. So, I roll for damage, and I roll max on the die. So, Genevieve takes 14 points of damage, which reduced her to 0 hp. With this occurring, Gage evaluated the situation, and makes... well, those of you who play tabletop games, you know what spell you take at level 5. Gage tells the Baron, “Given your status, I doubt much has been given to you recently. I, however, shall grant you this small mercy. *Burn.*” Gage casts Fireball, the Baron fails his dexterity save, and he takes like 30 points of fire damage. This kills him, burning away nothing but the tongue in the Baron’s chest. I would elaborate further, but I’m tired of writing. Anyway, this is a great piece, keep at it Mr. Chatwood.

2:45 Masterpiece income

I'm listening to this while I go hunt for alien nests in factorio. The size and unsettlingness of the... things... spawned from those nests just so happens to make the music fit.

I have to say, the premise for the Courtyard's horrors went far different than what I expected, but I can't say the same for the music. I *_KNEW_* it was gonna be a fantastic tune that'd make my hair stand on end from sheer adrenaline and cortisol, eager but fearful of the vampires I'd be tasked with doing battle against. Excellent as always, Stuart my man, massive cheers once again!~♪

*RED,**YELLOW.BLUE.**...KEYS MAN!* *FEEL THE PAIN OF HOPELENESS*

+Stuart Chatwood This theme basically feels like the theme Florida will be after Hurricane Irma; Nothing but swamp and the decaying ruins of civilization

All the reminiscent sound of violins buzzing in the background give such a frightening feeling to the overall piece... the crescendos increasing the tension... Phew... You truly did something amazing !

That beggining....absolutely terror and panic in that....

Well, it's time to throw in some vampires into my D&D sessions. Great tune!

It's..... perfect

the absolute mad man... He already created master pieces in the vanilla darkest dungeon, but with this? holy shit he created his magnum opus... his legacy.

ever notice how vampires never close their mouths when they eat? I mean imagine if you saw someone with chicken soup running down their face like this.

One of the most beautifully haunting themes ever composed, such a brilliant piece of work. It does make me wish, however, that this were the actual boss theme of the Countess herself, not just the basic theme of the Courtyard area. Especially the transition halfway through, adding those drums, makes it almost too perfect for her fight, changing from phase one to phase two, showcasing what a frenzied beast she becomes.

If I had to describe the Crimson Court DLC in three words, it would be "mosquito vampire bourgeoisie"

Your tracks a so memerabale I can remember most of the beats and motifs even after I stopped playing including all the hit sounds and other parts of DD

I think Red Hook and the Darkest Dungeon is really lucky with you sir. This piece is as good as the Town in Chaos soundtrack. High quality!

Most games I just kinda tune out the music, but with your work good sir I can’t help but move to the good work done here, GOODNESS I can’t get over how great this is AH!!!!!

Really Waited...LOL thanks. What a creepy but thrilling ost

It just makes me happy seeing the video game industry grow, knowing that we have such talented people on board. Video games are the ultimate art as they are all of them combined.

You are a God, I can't think of a better soundtrack-aesthetics combo in a game.

DD is one of the best games I've played in the last few years (spent like 200+ hours playing it) and the music is just amazing! Mournweald and cove encounters are my personal favorites :) And this one makes me feel like "just a bit further and you will finally get rid of that annoying curse". Great job!

I was looking for this yesterday, but couldn't find it. Glad to see that it is finally uploaded

Chatwood, you made another masterpiece here. never have i been so pumped for fights than i have in the courtyard JUST because of this music.

Really hoping this returns in some form for darkest dungeon 2, similar for what you did with the warrens track

I allways come back to this soundtrack. Truly amazing, love those mosquito violins.

Darkest Dungeon has some of the best music of all video games. This track is particularly exceptional.

We are born of the blood, made men by the blood, undone by the blood

A swarm of mosquitoes is more terrifying than a swarm of bats. Change my mind

So haunting, yet so beautiful. It's like every cursed soul at the Crimson Court is singing their oratory - a very cruel one at that. Such a masterpiece❤ Thank you so much for creating an amazing piece of music❤

"The corpulent braggart could never eat his fill... Let him dine on sharpened steel tonight."

Stuart Chatwood you are at the moment one of my favourite composers...you haunted my days back then with the Dahaka music from Prince of Persia and you still deliver. My Dnd and rpg nights are filled with your music. It inspires me trully.Don't know what connections you have but your music and fantasy must be spread to the gaming industry or somewhere else cause we need more.Congratulations!Cheers!

To quote the ancestor "masterfully executed", keep up the good work mr chatwood :)

This is fantastic! I can't wait to get into the Crimson Court myself and get destroyed by the new vampiric-looking horrors that await while listening to a theme that sounds like an unstoppable certain doom! Absolutely love it, awesome work! :)

This is amazing. I'd say this is right up alongside the Brigand Incursion and the Siren boss battle as the best music in the game.

I love the instrumentation. The more traditional strings instead of the percussive instruments in a lot of the other battle tracks give this one a feeling of both the arrogant opulence of the court and the perversity behind its downfall

If I didn't know this was from a video game, I'd have sworn this came straight out of a Vampire Hunter D film. Well done, sir, well done.

This is one of the most overwhelming and powerful battle themes I've ever heard in a game. Fantastic job!

Want to know how to beat a crocodilian with relative ease? Leper or Hellion in first position. Flagellant in second position. Jester in third position. Vestal in fourth position. Use whatever build you want from there as long as you are already a competent player in this game, but always make sure to have health and stress healing available and to bleed that crocodilian to death!

This is a wonderful piece of music. The violins are perfect, but even all the things in the background are. I especially love the vocals.

A brilliant confluence of skill and purpose!

I want to let you know, that All of this music at one point or another is going to be used at my Tabletop Games. Brilliant work to be sure.

3:06