Music

The Sounds of Nightmares 2 by Kevin Hartnell - cover art

The Sounds of Nightmares 2: Original Music for Campfire Radio Theater

The Sounds Of Nightmares 2: Music Composed For Campfire Radio Theater

Kevin Hartnell presents “The Sounds of Nightmares 2,” featuring 38 tracks of original music composed for the horror anthology podcast Campfire Radio Theater. This release captures the expanding sonic palette of the series, moving from atmospheric dread to high-octane terror.

This collection features scores from four distinct tales: “Woods Ferry,” “Rites of Autumn,” “Abduction At Willow Woods,” and “Ravenous.” My connection with Campfire Radio Theater has been one of the most fulfilling experiences of my career. My love for audio drama began as early as my interest in music, so contributing to this art form feels like coming home.

Please consider supporting the show by listening to the full episodes where these tracks appeared at Campfire Radio Theater.

Quick navigation

The Sounds of Nightmares 2: what this volume covers

This volume represents a deeper collaboration with the show’s creator, John Scott Ballentine. In addition to composing the score, I took on full production duties for the episode “Ravenous,” which offered a unique opportunity to shape the sound design alongside the music. Whether it’s the Halloween nostalgia of “Rites of Autumn” or the sci-fi intensity of “Abduction at Willow Woods,” each score in this set was built to enhance the specific tension of the script.

Below, you can play the episodes directly on the page. If you prefer to jump straight to listening to the scores, use the Spotify and Bandcamp embeds at the bottom. Bandcamp is also the best option if you want to support the work directly.

Woods Ferry

Weekend explorers on a quest for antique treasures stumble upon a lost town at the end of a long dirt road and soon uncover the unspeakable truth behind the decades past evacuation of Woods Ferry.

Rites of Autumn

A young boy spends an autumn afternoon with his grandpa who passes on a few very unique Halloween traditions.

Abduction at Willow Woods

Two old friends unearth lost secrets from their youth when they revisit the wooded site of an otherworldly encounter. (A 3D binaural audio experience! Headphones/Earbuds recommended!)

Ravenous

Investigating the disappearance of a colleague, BBC journalist Albert Titus lands the scoop of a lifetime in the Scottish coastal village of Redmayne as he unravels a terrifying mystery perhaps tied to a sinister cannibal clan of legend.

Listen to the Scores

If you prefer uninterrupted listening, use the full-album players below. Spotify is convenient for streaming and playlists. Bandcamp is ideal if you want high-quality playback and direct support. If you are sharing the release, linking to this page is also useful because it keeps the episode scores and album players in one place.

Stream & Download
Recommendations

#AudioDrama #Horror #Soundtrack #Score #CampfireRadioTheater #KevinHartnell

Death Will Flee by wytCHord - cover art by Nate Burns

wytCHord – Death Will Flee: Debut Doom Metal Album

Death Will Flee by wytCHord - cover art by Nate Burns

wytCHord: Death Will Flee

Released on Halloween 2016, “Death Will Flee” (Catalog R237-013) is the debut full-length album from wytCHord.

Loaded with heavy riffs and powerful vocals, the album features Vince Green (THAL) delivering a performance often compared to the offspring of Neil Fallon and Glenn Danzig. Green is joined by guitarist David Jones (Black Mountain Creeper) and drummer Kevin Hartnell (Ironleaf, THAL) to create crushing, fuzz-laden grooves.

Fans of Black Sabbath, Clutch, Kyuss, and Queens of the Stone Age will find much to embrace in this “sludgy, funerary” collection of songs.

Project Personnel

wytCHord is:

  • Vince Green: Vocals, Rhythm Guitar, Lyrics
  • David Jones: Lead Guitar
  • Kevin Hartnell: Drums, Guitars, Keys, Mixing

Credits:

  • Artwork: Nate Burns
  • Production: Kevin Hartnell

Critical Reception

Metal Nexus:
“…riff-driven slab of somber doom, dense grooves with rhythmic enchantments, and detonating drum play.”

Chairthrower Reviews:
“Its malefic albeit stylish cover art withstanding, Ohio’s Wytchord is a fairly nascent doom act gratifyingly alternating between sludgy, funerary guitar riffs backed by a plump, menacing rhythm section which sounds like it’s rising from six feet under… With ‘Death Will Flee’, Wytchord has stoutly carved its niche among its peers – no easy feat when it comes to doom metal.”

Fan Reactions:

  • “Masterfully crafted, this album finds a well earned spot among the first four Black Sabbath albums.” – brofistnate
  • “Packed to the absolute brim with crushing doom tinged riffs… a dark, superbly crafted slab of rock and roll.” – Jacob Andrew
  • “Brilliant Doom/Stoner with tonnes of originality!” – OWNED BY 2 CHIHUAHUAS

Lyrics: “The Queen They Left To Die”

She begs her wretched God from a cage of her own design,
He rises from the orchard filled with trees of wasted lives,
The time has come to feast on every soldier,
Bloody skies.
When the rebels came to conquer,
She’s the Queen they left to die.

She took the crown with her beauty and grace,
Then she ruled with ruthless hate.

They move through every village,
The stench of blood underneath her nails.
This Queen and her wretched God,
Come forth encased in serpent scales.
She’ll draw her blade and catch the sun before he hides his face.
And in the morning, before dawn,
The corpses take her place.

She took the crown with her beauty and grace,
Then she ruled with ruthless hate.

Stream & Download

#wytCHord #DeathWillFlee #DoomMetal #StonerRock #HeavyMetal #KevinHartnell #VinceGreen #NateBurns #OverlookHotelRecords

CC BY-SA 4.0 by Kevin Hartnell - cover art aged

Kevin Hartnell-“CC BY-SA 4.0” Creative Commons Music on FMA

CC BY-SA 4.0 by Kevin Hartnell - cover art

Kevin Hartnell: CC BY-SA 4.0

(Instrumental Collection / Creative Commons)

Released on August 6, 2016, “CC BY-SA 4.0” is a collection of 21 instrumental tracks released under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International license.

Over the years, I amassed a number of tracks that didn’t seem to fit specific projects once they were completed. Rather than leave them parked on a hard drive, I decided to turn them loose on the Free Music Archive (FMA). The response has been overwhelming: the album currently boasts over 135,600 plays and 22,400 downloads.

Why Creative Commons?

For those unfamiliar, this license allows creators (podcasters, filmmakers, game devs) to use the music for free, provided they give appropriate credit.

A Note on Licensing: While these tracks are officially tagged as CC BY-SA 4.0, I understand that the ‘ShareAlike’ requirement can be a barrier for some projects (like game development).

I explicitly waive the ShareAlike clause for this collection. If you wish to use this music but cannot release your own project under a Creative Commons license, you have my permission to treat this release as CC BY (Attribution Only). My priority is simply that the music is available to those who need it.

Notably, the track “Podcast Theme” lived up to its title, having been adopted by numerous podcasts around the world as their intro music.

Tracklist

  1. Rogue Planet
  2. Razor Strap
  3. Tree of Tears
  4. Reflections
  5. A Journey
  6. Across the Sky
  7. Cells
  8. Disruptor
  9. Podcast Theme
  10. Rolling Seasong
  11. Earth and Stone
  12. Circles of Black and Red
  13. Dark Wave
  14. Silver and Cold
  15. The 13th Nocturne
  16. Climbing Pulse
  17. The Crypt
  18. Interlude #13
  19. The Dream Sequence
  20. Transitional 1
  21. Transitional 2

All songs written and recorded by Kevin D. Hartnell.

Download for Free

If you are looking for music to use in audio dramas, podcasts, films, YouTube videos, games, or commercials, this collection is a resource for you.

#KevinHartnell #CreativeCommons #FreeMusicArchive #FMA #InstrumentalMusic #PodsafeAudio #Soundtrack #OverlookHotelRecords

Kraken Mare animated art

Kraken Mare: The Score – Original Soundtrack by Kevin Hartnell

Kraken Mare: The Score

On November 10th, Matthew McLean from YAP Audio Production and the Audio Drama Production Podcast contacted me needing someone to score his latest audio drama. I gladly accepted the offer and began working on music for his excellent science fiction/horror story “Kraken Mare.”

When I began working on scoring the story, the first thing that struck me was the fantastic soundscapes Matthew had created. On top of that, quality acting and writing truly inspired me! It was a pleasure to create music to help illuminate the production.

The Story

Nine years ago the Wells-Dyson satellite picked up images of what appears to be some sort of wreckage on the floor of Titan’s biggest hydrocarbon ocean – Kraken Mare. The discovery prompted eccentric billionaire Jennifer Barrie to fast-track an expedition to the mysterious moon of Saturn.

The three British astronauts who have just arrived in Titan’s orbit have only one job – find out what’s lying under Kraken Mare. And potentially answer one of humanity’s biggest questions: Are we alone in the universe?

Listen to the Audio Drama

You can listen to the full production of “Kraken Mare” below. This production was created by YAP Audio Production, the makers of the hit audio drama series A Scottish Podcast.

Stream the Score

The original score was released via Overlook Hotel Records (Catalog R237-015).

Credits:

  • Story & Production: Matthew McLean (YAP Audio Production)
  • Original Score: Kevin Hartnell
  • Artwork: Kessi Riliniki

Cast:

  • Jamison: Robert Cudmore
  • Butler: Caitlin Sneddon
  • McGovern: Jim Balfour
  • Barry: Fiona Thraille
  • News Reporter: Owen McCuen

#KrakenMare #AudioDrama #SciFiHorror #Soundtrack #Score #KevinHartnell #MatthewMcLean #YAPAudio #FictionPodcast

The Sounds of Nightmares by Kevin Hartnell - Cover Art

The Sounds of Nightmares: Music Composed For Campfire Radio Theater

The Sounds of Nightmares by Kevin Hartnell - Cover Art

The Sounds of Nightmares: Music Composed For Campfire Radio Theater

Kevin Hartnell presents “The Sounds of Nightmares,” the very first collection of original music composed for the horror anthology podcast Campfire Radio Theater. This volume compiles over 40 tracks from the series’ earliest hits, establishing the sonic identity of the show.

This collection features scores from four classic tales: “Ghosts of Flannan Lighthouse,” “Night Delivery,” “Whispers From Hell,” and the Jack the Ripper thriller “RIP.” It features a diverse range of styles, from the synthesized dread of the 1980s to the fog-drenched atmosphere of Victorian London.

Please consider supporting the show by listening to the full episodes where these tracks appeared at Campfire Radio Theater.

Quick navigation

The Sounds of Nightmares: what this volume covers

As the debut volume in the series, this release captures the early evolution of the Campfire Radio Theater sound. The music shifts rapidly between genres to match the anthology format—one moment delivering cold, maritime drones, and the next, driving synthwave pulses or gothic orchestral stabs. The priority was always to serve the story, whether that meant terrifying silence or bombastic horror.

Below, you can play the episodes directly on the page. If you prefer to jump straight to listening to the scores, use the Spotify and Bandcamp embeds at the bottom. Bandcamp is also the best option if you want to support the work directly.

Ghosts of Flannan Lighthouse

A chilling mystery unfolds in 1900 off the Scottish coast as Joseph Moore arrives at the Flannan Island Lighthouse to find it cold and abandoned… its keepers vanished. Will a blood-stained journal reveal a clue to their dark fate or resurrect an ancient long-dead curse?

Night Delivery

A rookie late night radio DJ is entangled in the web of a beguiling young beauty in red and devilish reverse rock lyrics as a dark wave of violence sweeps 1980s Atlanta.

Rip

Newlyweds on the final eve of their honeymoon are haunted by the ghosts of old Whitechapel as a mysterious pub patron breathes terrifying new life into the bloody terror that gripped the streets of Victorian London.

Whispers From Hell

Harmless pranks turn dark as a young woman fears a voyeuristic predator may be stalking her from the shadows of peaceful suburbia where a dreadful secret lies in the cemetery next door.

Listen to the Scores

If you prefer uninterrupted listening, use the full-album players below. Spotify is convenient for streaming and playlists. Bandcamp is ideal if you want high-quality playback and direct support. If you are sharing the release, linking to this page is also useful because it keeps the episode scores and album players in one place.

Stream & Download
Recommendations

#AudioDrama #Horror #Soundtrack #Score #CampfireRadioTheater #KevinHartnell

Deanna in space

Trinity & Triage Release New Track: “Tilting”

Tilting by Trinity & Triage - cover art

Trinity & Triage Release New Track: “Tilting”

Trinity & Triage have released a new track today called “Tilting.”

A melancholy ballad blending elements of psychedelic, folk, and progressive rock, the track strips away percussion entirely to rely on atmospheric textures and songwriting. This sound perfectly encapsulates the various changes going on in the lives of the band members.

In particular, Ralph Feetham recently survived a severe fire in his home that damaged the second floor. Fortunately, everyone is fine. The same cannot be said about some of the guitars. Ralph is busy trying to get things back in order and we wish him and his family all the best during the turmoil created by this horrific life event.

There are quite a few songs started by the prolific Mr. Feetham waiting for work to be done. It’s a matter of time (and lots of money) at this point.

About Trinity & Triage

Born from the songwriting of Ralph Feetham, then later joined by Deanna Quijada and Kevin Hartnell, Trinity & Triage began working on their first demo together (“Scorn”) back in 2011. The project encapsulates a blend of progressive, psychedelic, indie, folk, world, and retro rock sounds.

Trinity & Triage is:
Deanna Quijada · Vocals
Ralph Feetham · Guitars
Kevin Hartnell · Synths

Free Stickers

Have a listen to “Tilting” below. There are also free Trinity & Triage stickers available. If you would like one, send me a message with an address to ship it to. Thanks for listening. We greatly appreciate it!

Stream & Download
The Antoni Tashev Project logo animated

The Antoni Tashev Project: 6 Tracks of Guitar Magic

The Antoni Tashev Project cover art

The Antoni Tashev Project: 6 Tracks of Guitar Magic

Overlook Hotel Records is proud to announce the release of catalog item R237-011: The Antoni Tashev Project. This release represents a significant milestone for the label and the artist.

When I first started working on The Antoni Tashev Project, Antoni was just sixteen, yet he played with a maturity way beyond his years. He began playing guitar at a very young age, and his dedication is audible in every track. Studying classical guitar, folkloric/traditional music, and 70s rock truly inspired this incredibly talented guitarist to create his very own brand of music.

I am honored to be a part of this album, contributing drums, percussion, and keys, and I hope you will enjoy the music as much as I have.

About The Antoni Tashev Project

You will hear some unique guitar work accented by wild bends, vibrato, and a strong ear for melody and harmony. Don’t let the fact that it is a collection of instrumental songs convince you that it’s a guitar solo-riddled shredfest. In fact, quite the contrary.

Antoni focuses on melody and the interplay of the instrumentation. When I was his age, I was playing in a cover band and completely clueless without having written anything worth listening to, so hearing what he has accomplished already shows me just how much time I have wasted. It also inspires me to work harder and to keep hammering away at creating music because I love it.

Antoni told me how he was inspired by legendary guitarists like Peter Green and Jimmy Page. While you may hear hints of these artists in his work, he is a complete original.

Stream the Album

Please give the album a listen below. You can stream via Spotify or download it for at Bandcamp.

Official Tracklist & Credits

The album features six tracks of original composition, totaling over 35 minutes of music.

Tracklist:

  1. Nightfall In Atlantis (05:50)
  2. Morbid Existence (05:25)
  3. Star (06:02)
  4. Rebirth In Hollow (06:12)
  5. Babylon On Fire (06:39)
  6. Servant and the Master (06:11)

Album Credits:
All songs were written by Antoni Tashev. The album was produced and arranged by Kevin Hartnell and Antoni Tashev.

  • Antoni Tashev: Electric and acoustic guitars, Tambura
  • Kevin Hartnell: Drums, percussion, keys, bass guitar (track 5)
  • Rob Glass: Bass guitar (tracks 1-4, 6)

Mixed by Kevin Hartnell and mastered by Hector the Rat at the Overlook Hotel. Artwork and design by Hector the Rat for Overlook Hotel Records.

©2015 Antoni Tashev. All rights reserved.

Travel By Whale by Trinity & Triage - cover art

Trinity & Triage Return with New Single “Travel By Whale”

Travel By Whale by Trinity & Triage - cover art

Trinity & Triage Release New Track: “Travel By Whale”

Overlook Hotel Records is pleased to share “Travel By Whale,” the first new track to be released by Trinity & Triage since their debut self-titled album in 2014.

The band has widely been labeled as a “progressive folk” trio, but has also been embraced by the Prog Rock community, popping up around the web on various blogs, forums, and music sites.

Studio Updates & New Material

The Overlook Hotel Records studio remains to be rebuilt, so progress on the new album has been slow. The good news is that things should pick up quickly this summer. Another positive note is that quite a bit of new material was already recorded and is in various stages of development.

In the interim, Deanna continues painting and working on various art projects, Ralph has recorded a large number of tracks as potential candidates for future Trinity & Triage songs, and I have been taking care of a baby boy who is now eight months old. I also have a studio to build this summer.

Having said all that, please have a listen to the new song.

Cheers!
Kevin Hartnell
Overlook Hotel Records

Credits

Trinity & Triage is:

  • Deanna Quijada: Vocals
  • Ralph Feetham: Guitars, Bass, Synths
  • Kevin Hartnell: Drums, Bass, Synths

Stream & Watch

Dronefly EP cover art

Dronefly EP: Debut Dream Pop Release on Overlook Hotel Records

Dronefly EP cover art

Dronefly EP Released on Overlook Hotel Records

Overlook Hotel Records is proud to announce the release of the self-titled debut EP from Dronefly.

Overlook Hotel Records has released the very first EP from dream pop/shoegaze/indie rock trio Dronefly! The 4-track EP features subtle and sublime guitar textures with vocals ranging from delicate to majestic to create a highly dynamic listening experience.

The project features the collaborative talents of Mike Chambers (Guitars, Bass, Keyboards), Deanna Quijada (Vocals, Lyrics), and myself, Kevin Hartnell (Drums, Percussion, Synths). Together, we have aimed to create a soundscape that fans of 4AD, FatCat, Slumberland Records, and highly melodic atmospheric music will find right at home in their music collections.

Early Reviews & Reception

We are thrilled to see the EP already garnering positive attention from music blogs.

Eric from NoObject writes:
“SPACE. Not outer space. Not the space bar. But SPACE. It’s the space between chords, between drum hits and between vocal lines that makes “Closer” an incredible opener. A soft harmonic ringing carries me from section to section. Playing to the strengths of shoegaze as a genre, the track gives off a smooth weighted feeling… Dronefly is a very polished EP. There’s no sharp corners or excessive noise. But its exactly this neatness that makes me want more…”

Samantha from TheEqualGround says:
“All four of the songs on Dronefly’s album evoke a different vibe but they all so brilliantly coexist. This, to me, is a sure sign of a band that has potential.”

Stream the Dronefly EP

The EP is available now for free streaming or download.

Spotify:

Bandcamp:

Tracklist & Credits

Tracklist:

  1. Closer (04:18)
  2. Doldrums (03:18)
  3. Joysticks (03:42)
  4. Forever Light (04:43)

Album Credits:
All songs written by Dronefly. Produced by Kevin Hartnell and Dronefly.

  • Mike Chambers: Guitars, Bass, Keyboards
  • Deanna Quijada: Vocals, Lyrics
  • Kevin Hartnell: Drums, Percussion, Mellotron, Synths, Guitars, Bass

Mixed by Kevin Hartnell and mastered by Hector the Rat at the Overlook Hotel. Artwork and design by Hector the Rat for Overlook Hotel Records.

Lyrics: “Closer”

On planet where I / First encountered your kind
Where fingers beam and ripples burn / For a whisper of sky
Contemplating your eyes / Could you transmit to my world?
Distant beam of cooling light

I’ll bring you closer / I’ll bring you closer
I’ll bring you close / Close / Close

On the planet where I / First encountered your sigh
The sweetest aria / Was I calling your name
As you floated in space / Unaware of my cry?
Distant beam of cooling light

I’ll bring you closer / I’ll bring you closer
I’ll bring you close / So close now
You’ll share my every doubt / So close now

©2014 Overlook Hotel Records. Catalog R237-009.

Trinity & Triage debus album cover art

Trinity & Triage: Self-Titled Debut Album (Progressive Psychedelic Rock)

Trinity & Triage: The Self-Titled Debut

Overlook Hotel Records presents the debut album from Progressive Folk trio Trinity & Triage, released January 1, 2014.

Overlook Hotel Records is proud to present catalog item R237-008: Trinity & Triage. This 14-track collection marks the debut of the Islington-based trio, featuring the collaborative talents of Deanna Quijada, Ralph Feetham, and Kevin Hartnell.

Blending elements of Progressive Folk, Psychedelic Rock, and atmospheric Art Rock, the album creates a “hypnotic, dreamlike, and completely fresh” listening experience. From the heavy-riffed gothic darkness of “Cathedral” to the syncopated, psychedelic, progressive textures of “Those Who Leave,” the album is a testament to the power of three.

Critical Reception & Reviews

The album was met with widespread critical acclaim from the progressive music community upon its release.

Eric Perry @ DPRP praised the album’s depth:
“…a vibrant testament to the power of three… A laid back Folk groove is predominant in many of the songs on the album and when it is combined with a mysterious, gothic darkness – such as that found on Synaptic Edge – there is something of Phideaux to be found… This is an album that by and large takes its time… balanced with great effect by the number of harder edged tracks.”

Jason Spencer @ Progulator wrote:
“Trinity & Triage have crafted a debut album that is hypnotic, dreamlike, and completely fresh. Yes, it’s slow and subtle, but it’s also furiously sung, expertly played, and massively entertaining… worthy of prog fans of all stripes.”

André de Boer @ DPRP.net commented on the genre-bending style:
“Take a look at this London-based band which creates really fantastic, sensitive, high quality, mesmerising and renewing progressive folk. And don’t take ‘folk’ too literally here. I also like the use of Hammond organ on some songs.”

ElectricDisk.com highlighted the instrumentation:
“The wicked keyboard riffs destroy any chance you’ll switch the playlist until the song is over. Once the Hammond gets started it commands the air-space and refuses to let you escape from the bitter-sweet harmonic tone.”

Torodd Fuglesteg @ The Sound of Fighting Cats simply stated:
“This band may be the next big thing.”

Stream the Album

The album is available for streaming or download.

Spotify:

Bandcamp:

Official Tracklist

Tracklist:

  1. Surreal (06:06)
  2. Cathedral (05:16)
  3. Synaptic Edge (04:27)
  4. Three Sisters (05:57)
  5. Carrion (03:37)
  6. We Won’t Say Goodbye (05:32)
  7. Those Who Leave (03:38)
  8. Face Of Love (06:06)
  9. Scorn (05:16)
  10. Rosebush, Leaf, & Thorn (04:37)
  11. All At Sea (04:31)
  12. Travel By Whale (06:20)
  13. Tilting (06:36)
  14. December’s Song (Tydnges I Bring) (05:55)

Album Credits

Trinity & Triage is:

  • Deanna Quijada: Vocals, Lyrics, Cover Art Painting
  • Ralph Feetham: Guitars, Bass, Synths
  • Kevin Hartnell: Drums, Percussion, Synths, B3, Mellotron, Harmonium, Guitars, Bass

Additional Musicians:
Jason Whitcomb (Synths on “Synaptic Edge”).

All songs written by Trinity & Triage. Produced and Mixed by Kevin Hartnell. Mastered by Hector the Rat at the Overlook Hotel.

©2014 Overlook Hotel Records. Catalog R237-008.