Spellburn Music Episode w/Saint Karloff & Loot the Body

Plus Dune Inspired Music & Rankin/Bass Hobbit Soundtrack

A recent music-themed episode of the always-entertaining-and-informative Dungeon Crawl Classics (DCC) Spellburn podcast was called “Spellburn: the Music of the Spheres... ROCKS.” It included interviews with members of two bands who have released TTRPG-inspired music.

First, Saint Karloff is a stoner doom metal band from Norway. This Goodman Games profile of the band describes how members of the band are long-time TTRPG players and how the band was influenced by Critical Hit Parader favorite bands such as Black Sabbath, Jethro Tull, Mahavishnu Orchestra, and more.

I’m sorry to report that original Saint Karloff bassist and lyricist Ole Sletner passed away. On the Spellburn podcast episode, his brother, Eivind, discussed how he has taken over the lyric writing for the band. He also does the artwork. Their most recent album is Paleolithic War Crimes. I especially like the song “Blood Meridian.” This Decibel magazine article has a preview of the record, and you can order it from the Saint Karloff Bandcamp page.

Next, Levi Nunez from Loot the Body was the other music guest on the episode. “Shadows on the Wasteland” is the latest song released by LtB, and it is inspired by Goodman Games's Purple Planet setting for Dungeon Crawl Classics. You can listen to it here:

Loot the Body was profiled in the first issue of the Critical Hit Parader zine, and Levi has appeared on the Appendix LP Podcast.

Spellburn co-host (and previous Appendix LP Podcast guest) Julian Bernick put Eivind and Levi on the spot during the podcast by making them choose between Ozzy and Dio. To hear their answers and enjoy the rest of their music and TTRPG conversation, listen to the whole episode here or watch a replay on Twitch.

Hobbit Soundtrack Album

I made a fun purchase this weekend at a used record store that recently opened up in my town: the soundtrack vinyl album for the Rankin/Bass version of The Hobbit:

It includes a booklet of pictures and dialogue from the 1977 animated musical television special:

Included on the album is “The Greatest Adventure,” The Ballad of the Hobbit, by Glenn Yarbrough, which you can listen to here:

Dune Inspired Music

The Geekerati Newsletter by Christian Lindke often includes TTRPG content. The 23rd February issue included Dune-related Music Recommendations, with selections from Iron Maiden and Fatboy Slim (featuring Bootsy Collins!).