10 Soundtracks That Go Hard (Part 1)

Sure, I'll listen to other genres when the mood strikes, but nothing hypes me up or mesmerizes me more then a good television or movie soundtrack. I'll be doing a series of recommendations for those soundtracks that, indeed, go hard. This list won't include any soundtracks from my original TOP 10 SOUNDTRACKS OF ALL TIME list.

Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (Composer: Daniel Pemberton)

For all the attention the original songs, like Sunflower, got after this excellent film's release, not enough was given to Daniel Pemberton's work on its original score. The original tracks play so well into the action scenes that it's impossible not to think that the directors pulled some inspiration from Edgar Wright's Baby Driver. Not only is Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse the best Spiderman movie of all time, but it has the best soundtrack.

The Thin Red Line (Composer: Hans Zimmer)

This is an older Hans Zimmer score that doesn't get enough love. Everyone's always like "OOOOHHHH INTERSTELLAR AND INCEPTION YADA YADA TIME SHOUD HAVE WON BEST ORIGINAL SCORE!" And you'd be right in that regard, but pay your respects to an OG track from the GOAT of movie scores.

Pacific Rim (Ramin Djawadi)

This movie was either the dumbest awesome movie ever made or the most awesome dumb movie ever made. Either way, it is one of my guiltiest pleasures. As I've said before about this movie, it delights my inner 9-year-old. GIANT ROBOTS PUNCHING GIANT MONSTERS IN THE FACE! What better way to watch that play out then some of the most badass "suit up" music ever curtesy of Game of Thrones composer, Ramin Djawadi.

The Witcher (Composer: Sonya Belousova, Giona Ostinelli)

I'll admit, I'm slightly biased because of how much of a fan I am of the Witcher television show, video game series, and book series. The source material is Polish so I'm a huge fan of the use of traditional Polish folk instruments being mixed with hardcore brass. It's very unique and perfect for The Witcher's history.

Man of Steel (Composer: Hans Zimmer)

DC may not be able to touch MARVEL with a 10-foot pole when it comes to...well everything...BUT DC may very well hold the best collection of soundtracks. If you hire Hans Zimmer to score the theme for the most powerful superhero of all time, you're bound to get something that'll hype anyone up.

V for Vendetta (Composer: Dario Marianelli)

This soundtrack is INTENSE. Especially this song, which was played during the emotional climax of the film. Imagine this playing to the superb acting of Hugo Weaving and Natalie Portman. It hits HEAVY. I used to play this when I studied and imagined I was making a groundbreaking discovery, when in reality I just did the bare minimum I needed to pass as always. But WOW did I do the bare minimum in spectacular fashion.

The Hunt (Composer: Steven Price)

Yes, even documentaries can have top tier soundtracks. Hans Zimmer scoring the Blue Planet documentaries is proof of that. I randomly watched this documentary and was simply blown away by its soundtrack. Especially this one above which sent me into a goddamn trance. They played this as you watched a Blue Whale chase krill and honest to god I've never been so mesmerized by krill in my entire life.

Aquaman (Composer: Rupert Gregson-Williams)

Another example of DC having the best superhero soundtracks, our boy Rupert Gregson-Williams doesn't miss yet again. You may be a fan of his past work, such as the soundtrack for the Netflix show, The Crown, but this one just gets me so hype. It's got more of a fun, exciting feel then the usual dark and dreary superhero themes.

The Incredibles (Michael Giacchino)

This is one of those soundtracks that you remember being really good when you heard it in 2005 and then just now realizing it is even better then you remember. The retro feel meshed together a superhero version of the mission impossible theme and gave us the best Pixar theme.

Halo 3: ODST (Martin O'Donnell & Michael Salvatori)

I had to include a video game soundtrack because they don't get enough love. The entire Halo Soundtrack is amazing but ODST's jazz-influenced soundtrack made wandering around a war-torn megacity feel like I was watching Cowboy Bebop, but super depressing. This soundtrack is one of my main study/work playlists.