Doom's Combat Evolution Mirrors Modern Metal Music Trends

The Doom series has long been intertwined with the world of metal music, a connection that's immediately apparent from its iconic soundtracks and persistent demonic imagery. The franchise's visual style, replete with flames, skulls, and devilish creatures, mirrors the aesthetic often seen at an Iron Maiden concert. Over its 30-plus-year journey, Doom has evolved in tandem with its gameplay and the metal genre, exploring various sub-genres from thrash to metalcore, culminating in the latest installment, Doom: The Dark Ages, with its heavy-hitting soundscapes.

In 1993, the original Doom's soundtrack was heavily influenced by the metal giants of the late 80s and early 90s. Co-creator John Romero has openly acknowledged the impact of bands like Pantera and Alice in Chains on the game's music. For example, the track "Untitled" used in the E3M1: Hell Keep level, features a riff strikingly similar to Pantera's "Mouth of War." The broader Doom score embraced thrash elements, echoing bands like Metallica and Anthrax, and its relentless pace propelled players through Mars' corridors, much like the urgency of a thrash metal song. Composer Bobby Prince's soundtrack has remained timeless, perfectly complementing the game's unforgettable gunplay.

Doom: The Dark Ages - Gameplay Screenshots

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For over a decade, Doom's music and gameplay continued to harmonize, but the experimental Doom 3 in 2004 took a different approach. Inspired by survival horror, it introduced a slower, more deliberate pace, necessitating a new sound. The main theme of Doom 3 could easily fit on Tool's album Lateralus, reflecting the band's complex time signatures and eerie soundscapes. Although initially controversial due to elements like the flashlight mechanic, Doom 3 was a commercial success and a bold experiment in the series.

Following Doom 3, the series faced a period of development challenges. The scrapped Doom 4 project led to a complete reboot with the 2016 release, which revitalized the franchise. Under the direction of Marty Stratton and Hugo Martin, Doom 2016 returned to its roots with a soundtrack by Mick Gordon that incorporated djent, a progressive metal subgenre. The game's score, with tracks like "BFG Division," became as iconic as the gameplay itself, pushing the boundaries of both the shooter and metal genres.

Mick Gordon returned for Doom Eternal in 2020, although the project faced some complications, resulting in a soundtrack that wasn't entirely his. The score for Doom Eternal leaned into the metalcore genre, aligning with the music trends of the late 2010s and early 2020s. Gordon's influence can be heard in the crushing breakdowns and electronic elements, reflecting the gameplay's mix of intense combat and more experimental sections.

Doom: The Dark Ages introduces a fresh take on the series' combat, requiring a soundtrack that can match its intensity and versatility. New composers Finishing Move, known for their work on Borderlands 3 and The Callisto Protocol, draw from both past and present metal influences. The game's slower pace and new mechanics, like the Captain America-inspired shield and giant mechs, echo the original Doom's design while expanding it significantly.

The Dark Ages' soundtrack seems to blend the seismic breakdowns of modern bands like Knocked Loose with the thrash elements of the original Doom, incorporating fantastical and medieval themes. As Doom continues to evolve, it embraces new gameplay elements like mounting mythological creatures and piloting mechs, reflecting the genre's experimentation with electronic, hip-hop, and hyperpop influences.

This is an exciting time for both heavy music and Doom fans. The Dark Ages promises to deliver on the series' strengths, with gunplay remaining central to the experience. While we've only had a glimpse of what's to come, the anticipation for both the gameplay and the soundtrack is high, promising a thrilling addition to the Doom legacy.