E1M5's Suspense: A Question for MIDI Composers

[Ofisil]

What is the one MIDI tune that you associate with Doom? Is it the classic ‘At Doom’s Gate?’ The mappers’ horror, ‘Running from Evil?’ The moody ‘Imps Song?’ The even moodier ‘Dark Halls?’ The evil funkiness of ‘Into Sandy’s City’ or the Alice in Chain-ness of ‘Bye Bye American pie? An intermission or title theme?

 

Well, for me it’s definitely E1M5’s Suspense. Although I enjoy the mid-‘80s thrash/heavy metal side of Doom, it’s the subtle horror atmosphere that’s hidden underneath the - pleasantly - corny, b-movie vibe of our favorite game that I love the most, and this track carries within it all the dread and menace of a tale dealing with demon invaders who have killed/converted everyone but the protagonist.

 

As a MIDI composer, I love messing around with DOOM OST(s), remixing its tunes, creating work that’s heavily inspired by it, or downright “copying” them… but I’ve never touched ‘Suspense.’ It has that special magic that stops me from laying a finger on its minimalistic perfection. I’ve tried and tried, and never achieved creating my own “Suspence.”

 

My question is this: have any of you who like to write music (mainly MIDI) ever created sth that pays homage to it, is similar, or inspired from it? Have you created a cover? A remix? Anything ‘Suspense-sounding?’ I’d like to hear your thoughts, and listen to your stuff.

Edited March 25, 2021 by Ofisil

[Bobby :D]

I made this one MIDI that was inspired by Sign of Evil, which is the best Doom song IMO. There's something so awfully awesome about that simple 2 chord vamp, so I applied a little J A Z Z and made it a modal composition. I know, modal MIDIs, how cool. But man it sounds awesome!

[Ofisil]

I consider Sign of Evil to be Suspense's less pretty cousing lol - but it's still pretty, and, like Suspense, simple yet awesome.

[Bobby :D]

1 minute ago, Ofisil said:

I consider Sign of Evil to be Suspense's less pretty cousing lol - but it's still pretty, and, like Suspense, simple yet awesome.

How dare you call Sign of Evil less pretty. I'll have your head for that!

[Devalaous]

For me its TNT's Wormhole, Intermission, and Last Call themes.

Doom's E1 has a lot of memorable themes, like Toxin Refinery's theme and Sign of Evil, but if you mention Doom music, i'll prettym uch always get TNT's music in my head first. I know its not Bobby Prince's music, but shut up, its an official product and counts :p

[Pechudin]

I like the E2M6's theme. It has an air of desperation, it's unfriendly. And it fits the map sooooo well. It was pretty much the reason I used it in my first ever released map.

[Ofisil]

It's one of the things I miss in the 2016+ instalments. Fantastic OSTs but they lack that moody aspect of classic Doom. At least DOOM 2016 had an excellent Suspense "remix" (tiny as it was), and DOOM Eternal had an awesome Icon of Sin title screen.

[Varis Alpha]

Dark Halls is the track that immediately springs to mind when i think of music in Doom. hearing it makes me think of playing the shareware way back as a kid, running around E1M3 trying to make sense of all the secrets hidden within. i was pretty giddy when i heard it appear in Eternal.

[Ofisil]

6 hours ago, Viscra Maelstrom said:

Dark Halls is the track that immediately springs to mind when i think of music in Doom. hearing it makes me think of playing the shareware way back as a kid, running around E1M3 trying to make sense of all the secrets hidden within. i was pretty giddy when i heard it appear in Eternal.

 

Probably my second favourite atmospheric Doom tune - this one I've remixed (It's part of my DOOM Damnation OST in case anyone wants to hear it)