Doom: The Dark Ages‘ release date has been revealed, along with a rather lengthy showcase of why it’s likely the best Doom yet. Doom: The Dark Ages‘ will be out on May 15, 2025, and while that’s pretty close, fans have noted the glaring lack of musician Mick Gordon and his rage-filled rhythms for Doom: The Dark Ages. id Software had to employ a full team in place of Mick Gordon with a full team of composers for Doom: The Dark Ages‘ music.
For a little background, Mick Gordon was the original soundtrack composer for Doom (2016) and Doom: Eternal where his trance-inducing symphony of heavy metal and industrial rock has made each gameplay moment iconic and memorable. Needless to say, Mick Gordon’s music was a big part of the first two Doom reboot games. Sadly, Gordon parted ways with id Software after a messy disagreement.
Hence, the Doom subreddit had to commemorate Mick Gordon’s work and previous involvement with the franchise because Doom: The Dark Ages would be the first Doom game in the reboot trilogy without the famed composer. Reddit user u/Agreeable_Abies_4251 even pointed out how id Software had to hire a whole team to replace Mick Gordon:
Some Doom fans were quick to chime in on the discussion; certain users on the comment section stated that Doom: The Dark Ages‘ music sounded like Doom metal at all and just felt like “industrialized black metal.” Others have come to terms with the fact that Mick Gordon isn’t part of the franchise anymore and find the new music fitting.
However, one of the most upvoted comments in the thread guessed that id Software specifically hired a company/team to avoid putting the burden of Doom‘s soundtrack on just one person.
What Happened with Doom Eternal’s Music?
As for specifically why Mick Gordon left, the conflict was centered around the previous Doom: Eternal‘s official soundtrack release. Gordon claimed that id Software mismanaged the music production process, imposed unrealistic deadlines, and later blamed him for the poor quality of the final mix.
Gordon also alleged that his work was heavily edited without his input, leading to a product that didn’t meet his standards. In response, id Software’s executive producer Marty Stratton publicly criticized Gordon’s work ethic, which led to a heated dispute and Gordon ultimately deciding to part ways with the franchise.
