War horns have been used for centuries in Scandinavia to signal, warn and gather people over long distances, made from animal horn or wood. Modern recordings recreate that ancient call for films, television dramas and games set in the Norse world, where a single blast instantly sets a Viking Age scene. Online, creators adopted the sound as a shortcut for epic arrivals and mock battles, and its short, recognisable swell makes it ideal for memes, trailers and soundboard pranks.