Dawn of Ragnarok's soundtrack is arguably the most musically adventurous entry in the entire Valhalla saga, which makes sense given that its DLC takes Odin himself into the dwarven realm of Svartalfheim to battle the fire giants of Muspelheim.
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The main theme once again features Einar Selvik, whose vocal presence across the Valhalla albums became as iconic as Jesper Kyd's work on the Ezio trilogy. But this score goes further by bringing in progressive metal band Wilderun for collaborations like "The Blade of Surtr" and "Cracking the Vault," adding distorted guitars and blast beats to the Norse folk foundation in a way that feels surprisingly organic.
"Wrath of Muspelheim" is pure volcanic intensity, all rumbling low brass and crackling percussion that evokes rivers of lava and crumbling stone. By contrast, "Svartalfheim" captures the dwarven realm's subterranean beauty with crystalline textures and echoing melodic lines that suggest vast underground caverns lit by forge-fire.
"In Memory of a Very Fine Smithy" is a quietly devastating character piece, its title alone hinting at the loss woven through the expansion's narrative. The collaboration with Ari Mason on "Old Friends and Gentle Jailers" brings a folk-rock warmth that grounds the more fantastical material, while "Sinmara" and "The Adversary" ratchet up the mythological menace for the DLC's boss encounters.
"Not Fated to Die" carries a defiant, almost triumphant energy that serves as the emotional backbone of Odin's quest. It is a score that fully commits to the weirdness and grandeur of playing as an actual Norse god, and it is better for it.