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Mick Gordon says he doubts he will work on Doom again.



It sounds like they only let him master a handful of tracks for the game, and he's frustrated by issues on the other tracks. For example, there's a noticeable blip on the OST version of SOS from Earth that makes it clear they ripped the audio of the shotgun cock from the mixed version in the intro cutscene. On top of that, it sounds like he had no input on the contents of the OST release at all. Mick is a huge part of the personality modern Doom has, and it sounds like it's going to lose that over pointless micromanaging.
 

DonJorginho

Banned
Bethesda and Bungie both treated their composers who literally carried major parts of their games like shit.

They both start with the letter B.

You know what else starts with the letter B? Bully.

Safe to say both these Bullies have had their comeuppance with Fallout 76 and Destiny 1+2.

Long may they continue to feel the wrath of their despicable actions.
 

Nymphae

Banned
time to hire the quake 2 composer



I would lose my shit if they get Sonic Mayhem for the next one and it sounds anything like Quake 2's godlike soundtrack. Pity about Mick, that's fucked up.

Edit: Fuck yes you even timestamped it at the best song

Double edit: wait a second it was just at the song I like because I had been watching that video previously lol
 
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rofif

Can’t Git Gud
What the fuck is wrong with game studios and their treatment of music composers?

First it was Martin and Bungie, and now this?
It's their game. He is supposed to make a track and hand it to them. They can do anything they want with it. The game is not his stage - the music has to fit the game...
And aside from main theme in eternal and bfg track in 2016, it's not that amazing to those who are not heavy metal fans
 
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Panajev2001a

GAF's Pleasant Genius
It's their game. He is supposed to make a track and hand it to them. They can do anything they want with it. The game is not his stage - the music has to fit the game...
And aside from main theme in eternal and bfg track in 2016, it's not that amazing to those who are not heavy metal fans

Please... this is degrading to the music aspect of the game, people would not say this about concept art not the creative leads in charge of environment and character design. The sound effects and music of DOOM especially are a key component of DOOM atmosphere. DOOM 2016 soundtrack is something many non heavy metal fans talk about to this days and a big influence of being excited for DOOM Eternal... even the menu music of DOOM 2016 is memorable and mood settings.
 

rofif

Can’t Git Gud
Please... this is degrading to the music aspect of the game, people would not say this about concept art not the creative leads in charge of environment and character design. The sound effects and music of DOOM especially are a key component of DOOM atmosphere. DOOM 2016 soundtrack is something many non heavy metal fans talk about to this days and a big influence of being excited for DOOM Eternal... even the menu music of DOOM 2016 is memorable and mood settings.
degrading? These games are all about his music. it plays constantly... I don't feel like it's broken or whatever.
I am playing a fucking video game and not watching a music video. It all must fit together nicely. Music can never be overbearing. Imagine any of this music as "background" in a movie. If all - music like this is only possible in video game
 

CrustyBritches

Gold Member
Mick did an incredible job on 2016 and Eternal. The music perfectly captures the feel of power and aggression, of supremacy over demons. This is just how life goes. Things change and people move on. I'd like the next game to go with more of a Nine Inch Nails or Circle of Dust feeling. Heavy bass grooves with creepy atmospheric overtones.
 

Panajev2001a

GAF's Pleasant Genius
Mick did an incredible job on 2016 and Eternal. The music perfectly captures the feel of power and aggression, of supremacy over demons. This is just how life goes. Things change and people move on. I'd like the next game to go with more of a Nine Inch Nails or Circle of Dust feeling. Heavy bass grooves with creepy atmospheric overtones.

Composers can change, but Mick saying this before the first DLC even hits feels like something went bad during the production of Eternal and he was pushed out...
 

Panajev2001a

GAF's Pleasant Genius
degrading? These games are all about his music. it plays constantly... I don't feel like it's broken or whatever.
I am playing a fucking video game and not watching a music video. It all must fit together nicely. Music can never be overbearing. Imagine any of this music as "background" in a movie. If all - music like this is only possible in video game

The music and SFX are one of the key components in the DOOM atmosphere, just like the visual design of levels and monsters or the gameplay design. This is not to put one over the others, just that awesome games are a blend of great components that work in harmony to create something greater than the sum of its parts.

I imagine many movies and their iconic soundtrack ripped out and they would lose a lot of their emotional punch.
 

Blond

Banned
I bet y'all any amount of money that cringe ridden 50% Men/Women chorus had a part in it. You know damn well that was just the start of how they were infringing on his ability to do his job.
 
It's their game. He is supposed to make a track and hand it to them. They can do anything they want with it. The game is not his stage - the music has to fit the game...
And aside from main theme in eternal and bfg track in 2016, it's not that amazing to those who are not heavy metal fans
I don't think you understand why he's frustrated. Mixing and mastering are the final steps in track creation. It's where you take the individual recordings and combine them into a finished track, tweaking things to make them sound right. They basically stepped in at the last minute, said "We'll take it from here," and then made amateurish mistakes. The most egregious being SOS from Earth where they mastered the track with the intro sound effects, then realized they didn't want the dialogue on the OST, so they went back clipped the shotgun cocking sound from the intro instead of tracking down what sound was used originally. The end result is you can hear the very end of the woman saying "Somebody... please help us!" when the shotgun cocks, creating an out of place sound.
 

mcz117chief

Member
At least some good news. I now finally know why Eternal's OST is vastly superior to 4's even thought it is still pretty bad. 4 doesn't have a single track I like but Eternal has at least the menu tune which is fantastic (even though it is just a re-make of Opening to Hell). When you compare it to the songs you unlock in the game, like Quad Machine, it really shows how flat most of the music is in the game.
 

CrustyBritches

Gold Member
Composers can change, but Mick saying this before the first DLC even hits feels like something went bad during the production of Eternal and he was pushed out...
Might have. It's like relationships, you play it out until the fire is gone. Eventually somebody does something, usually petty, that pisses you off and it's over. From there you have the choice of airing the dirty laundry, or just being glad for the memories and accepting reality. 2016 and Eternal are 2 of my favorite games and I love the soundtracks. I hope that experience isn't diminished by a petty feud. I'm curious if this includes DOOM and Wolfenstein soundtracks?

Anyway, I'd like them to move to a more groove-based industrial sound. Klayton or Klank would be a great fit to produce future soundtracks for DOOM.
 

M1chl

Currently Gif and Meme Champion
I have nothing to say, but I find this and I find that funny:
abrjYQ9_700bwp.webp
 

Despera

Banned
So what actually happened?
Yeah would love some details. Mick's tone shift here is really weird.

But I don't mind the idea of a new composer for the franchise.

At least some good news. I now finally know why Eternal's OST is vastly superior to 4's even thought it is still pretty bad. 4 doesn't have a single track I like but Eternal has at least the menu tune which is fantastic (even though it is just a re-make of Opening to Hell). When you compare it to the songs you unlock in the game, like Quad Machine, it really shows how flat most of the music is in the game.
If this is not bait... Lol
 

Spukc

always chasing the next thrill
Tbh doom 2016 OST was good

Eternal was rather shit compared to 2016

So EH
 

xrnzaaas

Member
That really sucks, the soundtrack was a large part of what made the game(s) so fun to play.
 
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eot

Banned
I would lose my shit if they get Sonic Mayhem for the next one and it sounds anything like Quake 2's godlike soundtrack. Pity about Mick, that's fucked up.

Edit: Fuck yes you even timestamped it at the best song
Negative, Descent into Cerberon is the best track
 

FeldMonster

Member
Microsoft should hire him again for Killer Instinct 2 OST.
I know many people love the Doom soundtrack. I don't dislike it, but I don't really understand the over effusive praise.

However, Mick Gordon on Killer Instinct was amazing.
For metal, listen to Fulgore's theme:

As someone whose primary music genre is metal, I swear that Fulgore's theme sounds direct from Fear Factory (one of my all time favorite bands).

Also, Cinder's theme:


Honestly, listen to the entire Killer Instinct soundtrack, even the ones not by Mick Gordon are fantastic, such as Arbiter's theme or Tusk's theme.



I would gladly let Mick Gordon do the soundtrack for a game I enjoy, you may not like his output in each and every case, but there is no denying his passion and skill.
 

Kev Kev

Member
thats a shame. glad im so aware of him now, though. ill definitely check out his music on other games ow that i know how fuckin boss his shit is
 
I took a look at the tweet chain that Mick Gordon replied to and it's worth a read:


Based on what I've read there and skimmed in the Reddit thread, I'm speculating that it's a clash of creatives.

What I think happened is that Mick turned in a bunch of tracks that he envisioned would work for the game, but whoever had the last touch on it decided to compress it to hell and lower the volume (as explained so well in the tweet chain) and probably also altering his tracks in ways he wouldn't have.

My best guess as to why this was done is because it can be tough to have the sound effects stand out amongst the louder music tracks (BFG Division is a perfect example), so whoever did the final mixing and mastering decided to take an axe to perform surgery so to speak, instead of consulting or listening to Mick's input on it.

rofif rofif , while it's likely that whatever contract Mick signed allowed id to have the final say on how his tracks are used and presented, take a moment to imagine if the majority of your GAF posts had the fonts, text colours and sizes all edited by a mod to whatever they fancy. Your message would still be conveyed but it's also not exactly how you want it to be presented.
 
Yeah, I'm not doubt that he didn't want to do it. But having be a selling point of the music screamed "corporate is fucking with me"
Personally I assume he enjoyed the process immensely. When you're in the creative field, getting to try things you wouldn't normally get the chance to is a blessing. Getting paid to do it is a miracle.
 

rofif

Can’t Git Gud
I took a look at the tweet chain that Mick Gordon replied to and it's worth a read:


Based on what I've read there and skimmed in the Reddit thread, I'm speculating that it's a clash of creatives.

What I think happened is that Mick turned in a bunch of tracks that he envisioned would work for the game, but whoever had the last touch on it decided to compress it to hell and lower the volume (as explained so well in the tweet chain) and probably also altering his tracks in ways he wouldn't have.

My best guess as to why this was done is because it can be tough to have the sound effects stand out amongst the louder music tracks (BFG Division is a perfect example), so whoever did the final mixing and mastering decided to take an axe to perform surgery so to speak, instead of consulting or listening to Mick's input on it.

rofif rofif , while it's likely that whatever contract Mick signed allowed id to have the final say on how his tracks are used and presented, take a moment to imagine if the majority of your GAF posts had the fonts, text colours and sizes all edited by a mod to whatever they fancy. Your message would still be conveyed but it's also not exactly how you want it to be presented.

I absolutely understand but a contract is what it is. We don't know yet if they really fucked him over or is it just that his "creativity" is hurt
 

deriks

4-Time GIF/Meme God
I could ask if "Bethesda is that dumb?"
But my answer is easily "they still endorse Fallout 76"
 
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