Chance Thomas composed music for Middle-earth that honestly stands shoulder to shoulder with the films. The Lord of the Rings Online's 2008 soundtrack is this sprawling collection that shifts from cozy Shire warmth to genuine Dwarven grandeur without ever feeling like it's imitating Howard Shore.
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"Hills of the Shire" radiates that pastoral comfort you'd expect, but "Khazad Doom" and "Baruk Khazad" go deep and heavy with Dwarvish intensity. "Bree-land Jig" and "Autumn Ale" bring the tavern energy. Folk fiddles, stomping rhythms, the works.
The fact that an MMO soundtrack has this much range still catches me off guard. If you've spent any time wandering LOTRO's version of Middle-earth, these tracks are basically bottled nostalgia.