When you’re wrapped up in a video game, it’s often easy to overlook its soundtrack. While it’s hard to miss the loud, distorted guitars, powerful drums, and dense bass that characterize the music, you might not pay close attention if you’re caught up fighting for your survival in one of your favorite gaming titles. Still, it’s undeniable that metal has had a huge influence on gaming culture. After all, there’s nothing like metal’s aggressive energy and thematic depth to signal a quickly approaching boss battle or a dramatic plot twist.
It’s enough to get your adrenaline pumping if it wasn’t already and place you front and center of the action. The fusion of gaming and metal has led to some of the best gaming soundtracks ever produced, gaming designs inspired by the musical genre, and collaborations between musicians and game developers. In this article, we look at the partnership between the two and how metal is influencing gaming culture.
The Role of Metal in Iconic Video Game Soundtracks
Some of the most iconic video games in history have featured a metal soundtrack. If you’ve played these games, you understand why. Metal sets a tone that just fits some games and further immerses you in the gameplay. The Doom series is one of the best examples of metal being put to good use in gaming, with Mick Gordon’s compositions blending metal and electronic elements in a way that’s a perfect match for the fast-paced title. The same can be said of Brütal Legend, which features a soundtrack with over 100 metal tracks from different subgenres that immerse players in a world that evolves around metal culture.
And it’s not just AAA gaming titles that use metal to enhance the gameplay. As gaming has moved online, metal music has come along for the ride. Casual games like the themed slots found in an online casino often feature metal tracks and sometimes are devoted entirely to a specific metal band. Just like in video games, the distinct riffs and pounding rhythms of metal music can help build tension as a person plays these virtual games. For some, playing an album by their favorite metal band is the best accompaniment to long hours spent gaming, especially for casual games that often don’t have much of a soundtrack. In that way, these gamers create their own metal soundtrack.
Metal-Inspired Games and Themes
Metal Musicians Collaborating with Gaming
Several musicians have collaborated with the gaming industry to produce soundtracks that have left their mark on video games. Mick Gordon is possibly the most well-known example. His compositions for the Doom series have become so popular they’re almost synonymous with the game’s identity. Megadeth’s Dave Mustain has also collaborated with the gaming industry, contributing to the World or Tanks Metal Fest event and bringing the band’s music and imagery to the game. These collaborations have helped metal and gaming forge a bond that has bettered the gaming experience for many fans.
The Shared Culture of Gamers and Metalheads
If gamers and metalheads have one thing in common, it’s their love of intense experiences. The rebellion and escapism that metal is known for can also be found in gaming. That’s why it’s not unusual to find metal and gaming crossovers at events like music festivals and gaming conventions, where metal performances complement the atmosphere. These communities both place a high value on storytelling and creativity, making it so they find common ground more often than not.
Reeder, the visionary behind Metal Addicts, has transformed his lifelong passion for metal into a thriving online community for metal aficionados. As a fervent devotee of black metal, Reeder is captivated by its dark, atmospheric, and often unorthodox soundscapes.