Doom's Combat Evolution Mirrors Modern Metal Music Trends

Doom has long been intertwined with the pulse of metal music. A single riff from any Doom soundtrack or a glimpse at its iconic demonic imagery instantly reveals this bond. The game's signature blend of flames, skulls, and devilish creatures mirrors the aesthetic you'd find at an Iron Maiden concert. As Doom evolved over its 30-year history, its connection to metal has deepened, exploring various sub-genres from thrash to modern metalcore, culminating in the intense soundscapes of Doom: The Dark Ages.

In 1993, the original Doom's soundtrack drew heavily from the late '80s and early '90s metal scene. Co-creator John Romero has openly credited bands like Pantera and Alice in Chains as major influences, evident in tracks like "Untitled" from the E3M1: Hell Keep level, which echoes Pantera's "Mouth of War." The wider Doom score embraced the thrash genre, digitally recreating the energy of Metallica and Anthrax, propelling players through Mars' corridors with a soundtrack as timeless as the game's iconic gunplay.

Doom: The Dark Ages - Gameplay Screenshots

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For over a decade, Doom's music continued to echo its gameplay's fast-paced nature. However, the experimental Doom 3 in 2004 marked a shift. Inspired by survival horror, it introduced a slower, more deliberate pace and sought new musical inspiration. The main theme of Doom 3 could easily be mistaken for a bonus track on Tool's Lateralus. Although Trent Reznor was initially involved, it was Chris Vrenna and Clint Walsh who ultimately crafted the soundtrack, drawing from Tool's progressive style to match the game's eerie atmosphere.

Despite its commercial success, Doom 3's departure from traditional Doom gameplay is seen as an anomaly. The early 2000s saw a transformation in FPS games, with titles like Call of Duty and Halo setting new standards. Doom 3's soundtrack, influenced by the likes of Tool, was a bold experiment that perfectly complemented its tense, horror-infused setting.

After years of development challenges, Doom returned triumphantly in 2016 with a complete overhaul. The game's directors, Marty Stratton and Hugo Martin, brought the Slayer back to Mars with a soundtrack by Mick Gordon that matched the game's relentless pace. The score, blending sub-bass frequencies and white noise, felt like a playable djent album, setting a new standard for video game music and perfectly complementing Doom 2016's frenetic gameplay.

Doom Eternal in 2020 continued this tradition, though with some complications in its soundtrack production. Despite disputes, Mick Gordon's influence was evident, pushing the music further into the metalcore territory that dominated the late 2010s and early 2020s. The soundtrack, while heavy, introduced lighter elements that mirrored the game's new platforming and puzzle sections, reflecting the broader trends in metal music at the time.

Personally, Doom 2016 remains my favorite in the series, much like my preference for the raw energy of earlier metalcore albums over their more polished successors. Doom Eternal, while excellent, doesn't quite capture the same intensity for me, though many fans hold it in high esteem.

Doom: The Dark Ages promises to continue this legacy, introducing new combat mechanics that hark back to the original game while pushing forward with innovations like mechs and dragons. The soundtrack, crafted by Finishing Move, draws from both historical and contemporary metal influences, balancing the heavy breakdowns reminiscent of Knocked Loose with the thrash elements of the original Doom. This fusion aims to match the game's slower, more deliberate pace, which still encourages aggressive, face-to-face combat.

As Doom: The Dark Ages explores new gameplay elements like piloting mechs and riding mythological creatures, it reflects the broader evolution of both the shooter genre and modern metal music. The game's experimental approach parallels the genre's willingness to incorporate electronic, hip-hop, and hyperpop elements, as seen in the works of bands like Bring Me the Horizon and Knocked Loose.

For fans of Doom and heavy music alike, The Dark Ages represents an exciting evolution. While gunplay remains the core of any id Software shooter, the game's soundtrack is poised to be a demonic masterpiece, enhancing the experience in ways that only Doom can. With its release on the horizon, anticipation is high for what could be a new benchmark in both gaming and metal music.