Deluge Dirge utilises cellos, timpanis and electronic production for a march-like anthem. It is the standard battle music for Salmon Run matches, however Frantic Aspic plays during wildcard rotations and Fishing Frenzy plays during Known Occurrences. It can also be heard in Squid Beatz 2 after hearing it in a Salmon Run shift, with a maximum score of 117 and 339 in Normal and Hard modes, respectively.
A version of the track serves as the tutorial music for Salmon Run in both Splatoon 2 and Splatoon 3. It features no timpani and the cello is plucked rather than bowed, although the electronically made production is mostly the same as Deluge Dirge. This version appeared as a separate song in Splatune 2 under the name 膏肓 (Kōkō) before it received a name in English in 2022.
Deluge refers to a severe flood, referencing both the flooding of the stages in Salmon Run, and also the large waves of Salmonids could be seen as a flood. Dirge is a solemn song or poem, associated with mourning, this could refer to the mass defeat of Salmonids in Salmon Run matches.
