Music of the Devil May Cry series

Lore & Background

The Devil May Cry and Devil May Cry 2 soundtracks were both released as separate 2-disc sets on October 15, 2004. Masami Ueda, Misao Senbongi, and Masato Koda are credited as producers for the Devil May Cry soundtrack, while Masato Koda, Tetsuya Shibata, and Satoshi Ise produced the Devil May Cry 2 soundtrack. Following their success, Capcom released the Devil May Cry 3 Original Soundtrack on March 31, 2005, as a 3-disc set, with Tetsuya Shibata and Kento Hasegawa as producers. Vocal songs from Devil May Cry 3 were written and rough vocals performed by Shawn "Shootie HG" McPherson, with David Baker handling melodic vocals.

The Devil May Cry: The Animated Series soundtrack was released on August 18, 2007, in Japan by Rungran, a collective of composers including Aimee B, Gabriele Roberto, Giacomo Puccini, Hiroaki Tsutsumi, JETBIKINI, Kenji Fujii, Rin Oikawa, Shigekazu Aida, Suble, and Takeshi Hama. The Devil May Cry 4 Original Soundtrack, a 3-disc, 104-track set, was released in Japan on February 27, 2008, with Tetsuya Shibata as primary composer. Female vocals were handled by Aubrey Ashburn, and male vocals by Shawn "Shootie HG" McPherson and Jason "ShyBoy" Arnold. A US release followed on November 25, 2008, with new artwork.

The DmC: Devil May Cry Soundtrack Selection was released on January 15, 2013, as a European pre-order bonus for Premium/Special editions, not available for commercial sale. Tracks were composed by Noisia and Andy LaPlegua, performed by Noisia and Combichrist. Both bands released their own editions: No Redemption by Combichrist and DmC: Devil May Cry Soundtrack by Noisia. A special soundtrack, Devil May Cry 4: Special, was released on December 19, 2007, in Japan, including a CD of selected tracks and a DVD with promotional videos.

Reader's Guide

The soundtracks of the Devil May Cry series document the evolution of the franchise's musical identity from its initial release in 2004 through the 2013 reboot. Capcom's cautious approach—testing the market with pre-release sales before committing to official soundtracks—reflects the niche status of video game music at the time. The series is notable for its consistent use of heavy metal and rock influences, with recurring vocalists like Shawn "Shootie HG" McPherson and Jason "ShyBoy" Arnold contributing to multiple entries. The involvement of diverse composers, from Masami Ueda to Noisia, illustrates the series' stylistic range, from orchestral and gothic themes to electronic and industrial sounds. The inclusion of a soundtrack for the animated series and the limited-release DmC selection highlights the franchise's expansion beyond games. These soundtracks remain a key part of the Devil May Cry legacy, capturing the intense, stylish action of the games through music.

Did You Know?

• Capcom initially hesitated to release official soundtracks due to fears of poor sales, testing the market with pre-release orders.
• The Devil May Cry 3 Original Soundtrack was released as a 3-disc set on March 31, 2005.
• The DmC: Devil May Cry Soundtrack Selection was a European pre-order bonus and not sold commercially.
• The Devil May Cry: The Animated Series soundtrack was released by the collective Rungran on August 18, 2007.