blood pumping music

[dre1]

I'm looking for the best shoot 'em up tracks that really get your blood pumping while playing, like “Battle Garegga” Boss Theme 1, the “Thunder Force 4” theme, or the theme from “Musha.”

What else is out there?

[Sumez]

Stage 1 from Ibara (Show Time)
Stage 2 from Out Zone (Pump Them With Bullets)
Final boss from Futari (Cry! Scream!!)

[Jonpachi]

DODONPACHI STAGE 1

*in Beavis & Butthead voice*

DUN-DUN-DUN DUN-DUN-DUN-DU-NU-NU-NA DUN-DUN-DUN-DUN-RAAAAW!

[bobhasashotgun]

Thunder Cross II - "Heavy Metal Bomber"
LORDS OF THUNDER - "Wildon"
...and of course

[Lemnear]

NMK 雷龍・サンダードラゴン・THUNDER DRAGON - Original
Devil Engine OST - Iron Attack (STAGE 1)
R+R Stage 1

[lastemperorjubei]

RAGING DEICIDE (Atomic Remix)

ESP RA.DE. PSI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LT6joP_DhQ0

After a grueling stage 5 the boss phases begin.


Raiden V has some bangers, this is one
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F_49BQ_Bx3U


Sisters Royale final boss

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5up9evn2-Fw

[CStarFlare]

Eschatos - Silver Lining
Eschatos - Extermination

[To Far Away Times]

Mushihimesama - Stage 3

Mushihimesama Futari - Stage 5

Gate of Thunder - Stage 6

Espgaluda - Stage 4

Touhou 11 - Stage 6 Boss

Touhou 07 - Stage 6 Boss (Second phase)

[Herr Schatten]

Thunder Force V - The Justice Ray Part 2 (Final Boss)

[AGermanArtist]

Poison of Snake

[CIT]

Doesn't get any more blood-pumping than Raiden Fighters Jet, imo.

The regular stage music is already like most other games' final boss theme.

Simulation Level 05/15

[PerishedFraud ឵឵]

In a similar vein, Termination 4 U

[Whiskers]

Garegga’s aerial bosses theme and Hellsinker’s segment 4 boss theme. I like the thump-thump.

World Yamataizer is also pretty sick.

[Loom1es]

I really like the remixed orchestral soundtrack for Mahou Daisakusen on ps4.
https://youtu.be/kilLgB3QMpE?si=uwZmhJLqPOtM5S1P

Skim the surface stage 2 music for Batsugun is also a favouite.
https://youtu.be/V7hSG7cpfjk?si=agywH4_YgwRk3GDa

[BIL]

NMK 雷龍・サンダードラゴン・THUNDER DRAGON - Original

Always glad to see TD1 love ^__^

Thunder Cross II - "Heavy Metal Bomber"

Utter fire! Seriously underrated OST in Konami STG canon, from the king of consistency (and artful/brazen lifts ), Mikio "Metal Yuhki" Saitoh. At The Front is outstandingly lyrical, too. Guy busts out masterful work in any condition... even when there's no way in hell you'll hang around long enough to hear the full thing! (cf Wild Fang's final battle eulogy - let it get going, it's fuckin ace )

Doesn't get any more blood-pumping than Raiden Fighters Jet, imo.

The regular stage music is already like most other games' final boss theme.

Simulation Level 05/15

Came to post exactly this track. What a scene it soundtracks, too... audaciously teabagging those dome turrets for medal-spewing *BAKOOOOOOW* godsplosions, sniper bullets whizzing past all the while.

In a similar vein, Termination 4 U

Hell yes, ofc my esteemed Dick Stock colleague know what's up (｀w´メ)

---

Some picks that unfailingly get me PUMPED UP YALL

BOSS TYPE II / NEGATIVE from Image Fight. Monstrously heavy and imposing, apropos fuckoff massive metal juggernauts looking to crush your rookie ass like a coke can.

CRUEL KILLERS from Dogosoken. After the pensive opening BGM, a liberating but appropriately martial blast of ROCKIN for Ikari II's methodical-yet-rampant onslaught gunner.

CRY OUT ENEMY from Pulstar. Particularly for the immense gravity of its intro - unforgettably set to the first boss telekinetically cannibalising the room to manifest its body, Akira-style.

DESTINY from Viper Phase 1. Galloping heroism with a shade of pathos. Cut from Sato-san's inimitably melancholic Raiden II OST, being too unashamedly adrenal for the brief. VP1's classic space opera makes scintillating use - Do your best you have ever done.

DOG FIGHT II from Raiga. Middle chapter of Yuhki's Super Star Force / Raiga / Thunder Cross II Dog Fight trilogy, appropriately roiling and furied. Metal Yuhki is the man. But just like any good trilogy, you may say "the fuck is happenin!" going in blind!

Interlude: ~Teh Storied History of DOGFIGHT~

Excerpt from DOGFIGHT Senki (■｀w´■)

Dog Fight from Super Star Force [Air Battle]
Dog Fight II from Raiga [Stage 5]
Dog Fight III from Thunder Cross 2 [Stage 4]

Vividly fiery triptych, the very image of indomitable shooting valour. Loving the cataclysmic intensity and struggle of Raiga's Part II; an archetypal middle chapter, opposite Part III's cathartic release. Part I seems a popular song in the Japanese VGM community; found lots of arrangements both professional and amateur. Particularly liked this one, by Gopi. Super Star Force is a gap in my FC STG knowledge; I seem to recall writing it off as a Gamp no Nazo-style curio. Probably time to give both another look.

DEVIDED BY ZERO from Shippu Mahou Daisakusen. A sneering prowess that insists upon itself, giant metal balls crushing all who contest; maths nerds BTFO by ranking STG+Eroge Tag Champs, Sakimoto & Iwata! BATWIDERR ver. typo is canon. And its reprise will own your motherfuckin face off too

EVASION from Radiant Silvergun. Few can marshal orchestral grandeur to the bracing immediacy of coinops like Hitoshi Sakimoto. The searing heart of a doomed but ferociously hard-fought battle to survive, even its victor left a husk.

FIRE TRIPPER from Salamander 2. Strong contender for shooting's #1 "WTF?!" unused BGM! A masterpiece of good STG vibes, tuneful and catchy yet arrestingly headstrong. Especially electrifying when paired to good footage, like that Gradius V superplay DVD trailer.

GREAT BATTLESHIP from Thunder Cross. Late 80s Konami had some seriously balls-out ravenous heavy metal going on - and this is some of their fiercest, lurking in a mostly tunefully cheerful set ala Gradius II & III. Bestially hammering at the door from start to end. The daemonically keening lead is especially killer over those jackhammer chords!

HEAVY WIND from Genshi-Tou 1930s. Motorheadesque double bass fury, as relentless as the skyline ripping past in the Pteranodon dogfight it soundtracks.

IN THE RAIN from Thunder Dragon. HIDE-KAZ's masterpiece of his trademark austere post-punk anger. A calculatedly reedy lead, impelled by some of the most convincingly desperate intensity ever wrought from FM synth. Worth investigating his Black Heart too, as well as his co-produced Rapid Hero, if you dig this woundedly fiery garage-bred sound.

NU ERA OF TECHNOLOGY from Shock Troopers. In perhaps the ultimate feelgood topdown run/gunner, this is a jolt of junglist bloodlust... the insatiable death-drone, the hallucinatory chanting, and that shredding dnb make me scroll the screen and enter pointblank most rashly.

OUT OF THE BLUE FROM THE HYPERSPACE JUMP from XEXEX. Between the thundering drums, the booming Fairlights, and the cheerfully unhinged melodies, it's Konami's trademark late 80s / early 90s STG exuberance at its most liberatingly unhinged.

THE ROLLING WORMS, PARTS I & II from X-Multiply. Insatiably rising horror. Masahiko Ishida's signature steely pulse, marshalled to spiralling baroque madness. Super cool dude, with an authentic rockstar's nous for RIDDIM!

RUINED AREA from Verytex. Sakimoto & Iwata, a killer duo in eroge and STG alike. This one's expertly-shaded rapidfire joie de vivre is irresistible. Also unstoppable is the urge to link its close sibling from Metal Orange EX! If you dig one, you'll want to blast the other loud too.

STURDY WINGS from Trigon. Goodnaturedly nails-hard and soaring, ala golden age Konami. Deathless fiery arcade valour epitomised.

TSUBAZERIAI from Akai Katana. "Handguard clash." Head-on violence in name and nature; a calculatedly brutal contest to drive the enemy back and land a murderous judgment. The highlight are those pounding drums, particularly when they remorselessly crash back in as the leads flame out.

TSUGARU (MD ver) from Kyuukyoku Tiger. TOA-BUSHI and GAMUSHARA epitomised. The port really completes the iron-jawed militance with its stomping kick drum and balls-hard guitar tone. Same driver used in Battle Mania Daiginjou, another MD metal classic.

Operation 4 BGM from Soldier Blade. Amongst STG canon's sunnier, melodic, indomitably upbeat side, this is revving at redline. Cheerfully bloodening.

Stage 4 BGM from Crying: Aseimei Sensou. Utter chest-clutching nightmare! With a tight-fought stage to match. Your blood will pump, or your blood will freeze!

[GGA_HAN]

came here to post Thunder Cross II's Heavy Metal Bomber, but I see it's been mentioned already - great pick!

Would also like to submit Thunder Force III's Venus Fire.

Gradius III's (SFC/SNES) track Sand Storm is another favorite of mine.

Lots of other great tracks I need to listen to now...thanks everyone for the recommendations!

[KAI]

Akashicverse Stage 5 - the guys behind this game always wanted to get their music into rhythm games, they had no luck so they made a shmup full of action synchronized bgm instead

Bullet Soul TLB - the arranged version if this track on the 2022 switch port must be Kamikura's best work on a shmup (Fierce Fighting Ver.2022), its not on yt sadly

Mecha Ritz Steel Rondo TLB

Karous TLB

Dragon Saber round 6 (dragon spirit arrange) - Hosoe the GOAT!

Doesn't get any more blood-pumping than Raiden Fighters Jet, imo.

Spoiler

so true

Simulation Level 35 50 from RAIDEN FIGHTERS JET remixed by K.H.d.n.

[locoBro1196]

I still think Espgaluda's Stage 3 theme is absolute peak CAVE.

Even the OST composer SOU1 mentioned this is his favorite theme. I don't really understand why it isn't mentioned more often, but I think this theme really encompasses the best of electronic music style from the early 2000s. I still play the game from time to time just to be able to get to that stage, it's right in the middle of the journey so it comes at the perfect moment, not too early and not too late.

Aside from that one, I was very pleasantly surprised by Gunvein's OST, many of the themes (special mention to Stage 4's, talk about BLOOD PUMPING) wouldn't be out of place in a club that plays dark industrial music. I really like the game but the OST alone elevates it to the point where IMHO it's NGDEVs best release.

[R79]

About 5 minutes into Batsugun

[Turrican4]

Söldner-X 2: Final Prototype Level 2 music!
Entering The Complex
https://youtu.be/B6ECPP6pSUA?t=617&is=1c9xKDYOCZKOEU5S


Project-X: Light Years Level 8 Subboss!
Crimson Worm
https://youtu.be/hzvUi4O9HxE?t=2547&is=E-ToH2bG51kWLmzG


Söldner-X Himmelsstürmer Level 3 music!
Hyper Space Assault
https://youtu.be/BF_lMdy13vI?t=1359&is=h68VQy_D8M4g-Q2A

[dre1]

Whats the name of the ost from the first 30 seconds in this Shmup Video on Youtube?

https://youtu.be/kA4ZiQmQclQ?is=dJs_uXxFIq8TZOFc

[KAI]

Thats the stage 1 track from ZANAC×ZANAC by Kou Hayashi.
k.h.d.n. rules, go check their work if you want more bangers.

[xEbb1993x]

Almost any shmup with Manabu Namiki doing the music is gonna be a certified banger. Here are some examples.

Zed Blade: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=P ... HiiGXlZWtf
Battle Garegga: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=P ... A65E1F8E36
DoDonPachi SaiDaiOuJou: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=P ... tjqoDmnymB

[ChurchOfSolipsism]

Doesn't get any more blood-pumping than Raiden Fighters Jet, imo.

The regular stage music is already like most other games' final boss theme.

Simulation Level 05/15

Now that you mention it, I think that's one of the things I wasn't a fan of; after all, where do you go from there? Also, I don't appreciate being pushed close to a heart attack every time I play a shootn game.