When DOOM: The Dark Ages made its official appearance at Xbox Developer Direct on 23rd January 2025, the enthusiasts had a proper idea of what iD Software had been cooking for the upcoming series instalment. With a touch of the medieval to the tried-and-true run-and-gun recipe, the game promises to bring high-speed action, thick lore, and grimy visuals to the lore of the Doom Slayer himself. But in the midst of all the hype, one enormous question hung over longtime readers: Who’s composing the tunes?
Unluckily for some, it was announced at the showcase that DOOM legend Mick Gordon, the mastermind of the classic soundtracks for DOOM (2016) and DOOM Eternal, won’t be involved in The Dark Ages. The music for the game is instead being written by Finishing Move, a skilled team that has worked on such games as Halo Wars 2 and Borderlands 3.
Why Mick Gordon Isn’t Involved?
Mick Gordon’s departure is no surprise, but it stings nonetheless. His sprawling industrial metal soundscapes were a central part of the new DOOM experience and were widely critically acclaimed, being nominated for a BAFTA. His work was not background fodder but a central part of the adrenaline-fueled mayhem that made DOOM so crazily fun and rewarding.
Behind the camera, though, things went sour. While and during the making of DOOM Eternal, Gordon was involved in a highly publicised feud with iD Software, in the guise of executive producer Marty Stratton. Gordon attacked the studio for bad treatment, delayed payments, and bad communication, while Stratton released an open letter in defence of the studio. The split was acrimonious and highly divisive, with a large number of fans siding with Gordon. Ultimately, the professional relationship between the two dissolved.
DOOM: The Dark Ages Music Composition by Finishing Move
Once Gordon was no longer available, iD Software later hired Finishing Move to create the soundtrack for DOOM: The Dark Ages. This Brian Trifon and Brian Lee White music composition duo has a good reputation in the gaming community, with past work done for Microsoft Game Studios and supporting top-tier franchises. Their dark, electronic, and heavy rock-influenced orchestral sound may prove appropriate for the gothic medieval environment of The Dark Ages.
While Finishing Move’s audio is distinct from Gordon’s classic brutal metal soundtracks, they’ve demonstrated that they can adapt their style to fit the tone and world-building of a game. That skill will be helpful when producing a soundtrack that will specifically be appropriate for The Dark Ages, especially its combination of ancient environments and high-tech firearms.
Music Has Always Been Core to DOOM’s Identity
From the beginning, music has contributed so much to what makes DOOM iconic. The 1993 original included MIDI tracks based on metal legends like Metallica and Pantera. Fast-forward to the 2016 remakes, and Mick Gordon revived that metallic heft in another, modern fashion—distorted, layered, and surgically in sync with gameplay.
The DOOM (2016) score was loved immediately, not just by gamers but also by fans and critics. “BFG Division” and “Rip & Tear” were just one or two pieces that symbolised the violent personality of the brand. By the time DOOM Eternal arrived in 2020, expectations were high, and while music again received accolades, behind the scenes, tensions were rising in the composer-studio relationship.
Mick Gordon’s loss is, without a doubt, the end of an era for DOOM music. But that does not have to be doom (sorry, I couldn’t resist) for the franchise’s musical heritage. With The Dark Ages, iD Software can try something different—perhaps combining medieval instrumentation with the franchise’s trademark ferocity or remaking heavy metal in a mythic context of an earlier, more ancient era.
It’s too early to tell exactly what the finished soundtrack will sound like, but this much is true: music remains at the heart of the DOOM experience. Whoever writes it, whether Gordon or Finishing Move, fans can expect an aural assault worthy of the Doom Slayer’s rampage.
