For decades now, the Doom Slayer (previously known as Doom Guy) has been killing hellspawn to the tune of metal-inspired songs. Whether it be the MIDI-fied versions of popular rock songs in the original Doom by Bobby Prince or the seriously heavy synth metal of Doom Eternal by Mick Gordon, it’s pretty obvious what the Slayer listens to. This guy just loves his hard-hitting thrash.
So that got me to thinking about what real-world tracks the Slayer would put on his iPod (or whatever you kids listen to music on nowadays). There’s gotta be more than the stuff Bobby Prince ripped off. I can think of quite a few fairly deep tracks that explain Doom well, so let’s stop explaining and start rocking.
Mastodon - Oblivion
This is always a no-brainer, in my mind. The first track off of Mastodon’s 2009 album Crack the Skye, “Oblivion” is a retelling of the Greek myth of Icarus. After being trapped in a labyrinth, Icarus and his father Daedalus attempt to escape by flying with wax wings. Icarus becomes enamored with flight and ignores the warning of his father: “Don’t fly too close to the sun.” He does and is ultimately plunged back into the hell that he just left.
In a bit of a heartbreaking turn, “Oblivion” is also about the death of Mastodon drummer Brann Dailor’s sister. Named Skye -for which the album gets its title-, she committed suicide at the age of 14 and it scarred Brann for quite a while. The lyrics reflect the guilt he feels for living on after burying her so many years prior.
In a lot of ways, this is the story of Doom. As many are now aware thanks to Eternal, the Slayer is seeking vengeance for the death of his beloved pet rabbit, Daisy. The demons took her and continue to drag him back to hell time and again. By the start of Eternal, he’s had enough and is no longer taking anyone’s crap.
Animals as Leaders - Ectogenesis
Let’s turn down the introspection a bit with an instrumental song. Progressive metal band Animals as Leaders is known for their incredibly technical playing and seriously sick guitar licks. Lead guitarist Tosin Abasi is noted for being a virtuoso and routinely plays concerts with an 8-string monster of a guitar.
I could have picked any song from their catalog, but “Ectogenesis” (featured on the band’s fourth release, The Madness of Many) sounds exactly like one of Mick Gordon’s tunes from Doom Eternal. It’s the perfect music to rip and tear to, which is exactly what the Slayer would want.
Metallica - All Nightmare Long
Ever the nerds, Metallica’s 2008 intense ballad “All Nightmare Long” retells the story of The Hounds of Tindalos, creatures that would eventually be incorporated into H.P. Lovecraft’s Cthulhu mythos. As vocalist/guitarist James Hetfield describes, the song is this “crazy mindfuck about these wolves that hunt through their nightmares and the only way you can get away from them is stay within angles.”
While meant to be about humans being unable to escape their nightmares, I imagine this is what the Doom Slayer thinks of himself. The demons fear him, according to Doom 2016’s lore, so it’s not hard to picture him as the hounds. He is coming for those demons and they don’t stand a chance.
Slayer - Payback
Probably the most brutal of the songs I’ll put on this playlist, “Payback” is all about viciously and thoroughly destroying your enemies to get revenge. If that doesn’t describe the Doom Slayer to a tee, I’m not sure what else would. It’s almost uncanny how closely the plot of Eternal follows this song, with lyrics such as “Tear your fucking eyes out, Rip your fucking flesh off, Beat you ’till you’re just a fucking lifeless carcass.”
Tool - Jambi
Set from the perspective of a rich and successful person looking over their accomplishments, “Jambi” is about the longing for a loved one that you’ve lost. The protagonist of this song tells a tale of how they’d give everything up if they could just get one last day with their special someone. Considering the Slayer is ripping apart Heaven and Hell for Daisy, it’s not hard to see where I’m going with this.
You also have the awesome talkbox riff that guitar Adam Jones brings to the table. Inspired by the likes of Meshuggah, this is one of the most different and original songs in Tool’s entire catalog. It fits perfectly with the style that Doom embodies, not to mention is heartbreaking at the same time.
Lacuna Coil - Delirium
This might be a little more pop-metal than the Slayer likes, but “Delirium” by Lacuna Coil could rightly explain his mental state. After decades of battling evil throughout hell, Earth, and Mars, the Slayer ended up in the arena and proceeded to lose his mind. Not to be too on the nose, but he develops a sort of delirium that sets him on his rampage to avenge Daisy.
Meshuggah - Straws Pulled at Random
At times during Doom, it can feel like you’re running more on adrenaline and instinct than tactical thought. That’s what “Straws Pulled at Random” embodies: a feeling that fate is plucking you along without any rhyme or reason. Do you deserve this life? Are you working towards a goal? Is there ever going to be an end to the madness? For the Slayer, his struggle is Eternal.
Dream Theater - Endless Sacrifice
Ending on something of a softer note, “Endless Sacrifice” is yet another track I equate to the Slayer thinking about Daisy. Dream Theater guitarist John Petrucci wrote this song as a love letter to his wife while he was on tour. He deeply missed her and would constantly wish to return to her side.
Going the Doom route, it seems the Slayer will endlessly sacrifice whatever demons he can to bring Daisy back…or at least quell the pain he feels in his heart. Doom really is a lot deeper than I give it credit for.
READ NEXT: DOOM Eternal - The Complete Guide
