Ominous music, by how it feels

Ominous music hits a specific emotional register. This collection spans 8 songs we've measured for energy, dynamics and texture — so you can find the exact feeling you want.

The character of Ominous

Across the 8 Ominous songs we've measured, intensity averages 56/100 — more charged than the typical song we measure (46/100).

They run from My Friend of Misery (the calmest here, 42) to Premature Burial (the most charged, 65), with layered textures most common and a mix of the expected and the surprising. It spans 1970–2011.

The widest dynamic swing belongs to Hells Bells.