The Ultimate Doom Playlist
With its fact-paced gameplay which focuses on almost solely annihilating a seemingly endless onslaught of demonic enemies, Doom is a game steeped in heavy metal iconography. Ever since the genre’s inception, metal has had a bond with all things hellish. The original 1993 game was accompanied by a soundtrack of heavy tracks, largely inspired by thrash metal, and whilst the reboot’s soundtrack blends the original’s worship of heavy metal with a modern, more electronic approach, it still hits harder than 99% of game soundtracks.
The emphasis on speed and momentum is key in Doom, and the same can be said for heavy metal. Naturally, then, these 20 killer tracks are sure to make your Doom experience even more intense.
Vektor – Pteropticon
On 2016 album Terminal Redux, Vektor took an epic sci-fi concept that you’d expect to find in a prog album and combined it with a relentless thrash approach. Whilst the abrasive vocals and endless barrage of brutal riffage of ‘Pteropticon’ go hand in hand with Doom’s speedy action, the underlying galactic-scale concept makes it even more appropriate.
Lost Society – Rage Me Up
Perfect for obtaining Doom’s beserk powerup, ‘Rage Me Up’s rapid verses and aggressive nature makes it the perfect choice for punching a demon in the heart. The infectious guitar hook will have you nodding your head as you smash hell’s minions to pieces, whilst the extra-fast outro is guaranteed to spur you on as you fight Doom’s wicked monsters.
Fleshgod Apocalypse – The Fool
The aggravated speed of ‘The Fool’ makes it an obvious choice for this list, however, it can contribute more than just uncompromising speed. Its colossal, clobbering riffs and pounding drums deliver an intensity like no other, whilst the tech metal complexity of the track means it fits the messy, gory combat of Doom well.
Motorhead – Electricity
The way ‘Electricity’ barrels along with an unforgiving momentum is so flawlessly suited for Doom it’s as if the track could have been written for the game. Bands rarely come more badass than Motorhead, and games rarely come more badass than Doom - these two were made for each other.
Ravens Creed – Jungle Justice
Ravens Creed’s sheer ferociousness is born from their grainy guitars and guttural yells, and ‘Jungle Justice’ is no exception. In truth, their most recent album, Ravens Krieg, could potentially fill 13 tracks of this playlist. However, the way ‘Jungle Justice’ drives forward with an unstoppable forcefulness makes it the best pick for urging you to push forward and kick more demon butt.
Metallica – Seek and Destroy
Given that Doom’s gameplay requires a lot of seeking out monsters and destroying them, ‘Seek and Destroy’ is a natural inclusion of this list. Song title aside though, having early James Hetfield’s muscular voice pushing you forward is sure to add to your fearlessness whilst eliminating Doom’s wide array of demonic enemies.
Death – Zombie Ritual
The unrelenting assault that is ‘Zombie Ritual’ matches Doom’s hardcore gameplay seamlessly. With Chuck Schuldiner growling as if he is impersonating the game’s monstrous opponents over a diabolical mix of crunching riffs and fast-paced drumming, ‘Zombie Ritual’ will make cutting a demon in two with a chainsaw just a tad more gratifying.
Slipknot – Spit It Out
Much like Doom, ‘Spit It Out’ is a burst of pure adrenaline-packed rage. It holds a devastating momentum that is certain to make you feel like you can obliterate anything in your path. Forget finding Doom’s secrets and collectables, with this song sound-tracking your game you’ll want nothing but to charge forward to blow more shit up.
Marilyn Manson – Mobscene
A satisfying melding together of Manson’s raspy growls, industrial metal-style drumming and metallic riffs, ‘Mobscene’ is typical Marilyn Manson. Most importantly here, though, it’s powerful, packed full of adrenaline, and breathtakingly fast. Manson’s apparent intelligence may rarely come through in his often simplistic music, but for a game like Doom, all we’re interested in is the gratifying heaviness and industrial pounding of the track.
Five Finger Death Punch feat. Rob Halford – Lift Me Up
Five Finger Death Punch’s signature abrasive metal style holds a cathartic nature that slots in well alongside Doom’s own cathartic gameplay. ‘Lift Me Up’ is a prime example of FFDP’s melodic metal sound, and with metal God Rob Halford adding his distinct cries to the track, it has two different vocal approaches to deliver the song’s inherent rage.
Ministry – Thieves
With thrashy guitars reminiscent of the original Doom soundtrack, ‘Thieves’ suits Doom right out of the gate. However, it is the industrial undertones, such as the effective synth work, as well as the flawlessly executed percussion, that add an extra dynamic layer of bleakness that runs throughout. It’s a well written track that is ferocious and holds a dark vibe, perfect for Doom.
Testament – Down for Life
The Gathering is one of Testament’s heaviest albums, but it is also one of their most dynamic, with infectious hooks and vocalist Chuck Billy showing off a more diverse range. ‘Down for Life’ is one of the album’s best, as it holds the barrelling power of a steamroller. Just like Doom’s gameplay, it rarely lets up the intensity, making it a great metal anthem to destroy a Gore Nest to.
Gojira – The Heaviest Matter of the Universe
From Mars to Sirius is an ambitious concept album with prog musings incorporated into a heavy death metal style. The album is full of well-crafted tracks that cleverly tell a narrative, but most importantly here, ‘The Heaviest Matter of the Universe’ is a hard-hitting monolithic track with a dark nature. Its heavy swirling riffs suit Doom’s fiery world well, whilst Joe Duplantier’s vocals are suitably menacing.
Judas Priest – Painkiller
A bona fide metal classic with two guitar solos and some of Rob Halford’s most impressive screams ever, ‘Painkiller’ is an essential inclusion on a playlist designed for a game as metal as Doom. The song takes high energy metal to a new level of adrenaline-packed mayhem, and though many have tried to match its unforgettable lead guitars, few have been able to equal the unstoppable force of the track.
Pantera – Rise
As one of the songs often cited as a clear influence on the original Doom’s soundtrack, ‘Rise’ has exactly the kind of metallic brutality that suits Doom’s gameplay so well. It’s fast, heavier than a sack of bricks and has an infectious groove that will have you wanting to mosh. Just don’t try moshing whilst playing...it’s tricky.
Slayer – Praise of Death
If one band is perfectly suited to Doom, it’s Slayer. Their repeated use of dark, satanic and/or gory artwork puts them alongside Doom visually, whilst their frantic shredding and relentless speeds go hand in hand with Doom’s quick, violent gameplay. ‘Hell Awaits’ holds all the key Slayer characteristics that fit so well with a game like Doom. With frenzied riffs, chaotic yelling and an insanely intense outro that steps up the brutality, the song has Doom written all over it.
Fear Factory – Powershifter
Fear Factory’s music has often been associated with the Terminator film franchise, not just because of concept album Demanufacture, which took inspiration from the series, but also because of the group’s industrial sound and robotic musicianship that can be characterised by its pinpoint accuracy. Importantly, though, the group’s industrial sound also has atmospheric overtones that engross you in a way similar to a soundtrack. What a Terminator film may lack that ‘Powershifter’ craves, however, is more all-out carnage. Yep, more destruction than a Terminator film, and that’s what Doom can provide.
Accept – Fast As a Shark
A classic track covered by many acts over the years, ‘Fast As a Shark’ is a vicious song with wild speeds and Udo Dirkschneider’s gritty cries (once you get past the intro, that is). The track was a stepping point into the thrash genre which inspired much of Doom’s original soundtrack (with Metallica’s Kill ‘Em All coming out just a few months later) and is a timeless metal anthem that is a naturally good fit for Doom.
Rob Zombie – Superbeast
Rob Zombie’s debut album was a forceful release full of crushing hard rock riffs and electronic drumming. Zombie’s raspy voice was suitable for the horror feel of the album, and ‘Superbeast’ was no exception when it came to this horror feel. The horror-inspired atmospherics coincide with Doom’s demonic settings, whilst the grinding riffs are the perfect backdrop to the game’s brutal gameplay.
Savage Messiah – Hellblazer
2014’s The Fateful Dark marked Savage Messiah out as a band to watch following the free release of 2011’s Plague of Conscience. Single ‘Hellblazer’ was one of The Fateful Dark’s most significant tracks, its Judas Priest-esque stylings gave it a classic metal feel whilst its fast and frantic speed gave it a subtle but powerful ferocity. A soaring chorus and killer solo top the song off, and make it another muscular metal track you need to play whilst tearing demons apart.
