Mick Gordon, the composer behind the acclaimed Doom 2016 soundtrack, is set to perform the game's music live in concert for the first time. Gordon will headline the RADAR 2027 festival in Sheffield, UK, bringing his unique approach to video game music to a live audience.
This marks the first time the soundtracks for Doom 2016 and 2020's Doom Eternal will be played by a live band in a full concert setting. Gordon previously performed a short medley of Doom tunes at The Game Awards in 2016, but this event is a dedicated performance of the complete scores.
RADAR 2027, a festival focusing on contemporary tunes, tech-metal, and progressive rock, announced Gordon's headline slot. According to the festival, this will not be a DJ set or a tribute, but an authentic performance of music that "redefined video game soundtracks." Gordon himself will perform alongside the band, promising a loud and proper rendition of the tracks.
Gordon has expressed a long-held desire to present his video game music in a live setting that matches the energy of a rock or metal show. He stated that RADAR felt like the ideal venue for this endeavor, calling it "the absolute perfect" festival for the performance. He also noted that attempts to bring the music to a live setting have been ongoing for years, with the RADAR festival organizer, Joe James, providing the opportunity.
Adding to the spectacle, Gordon confirmed he will be bringing the "Doom Machine," an instrument he custom-built to create the game's distinctive sounds. Potential elements for the performance include fire, screens, and projection mapping to enhance the experience.
The RADAR music festival is scheduled to take place from July 30 to August 1. While Gordon is enthusiastic about this live performance, his relationship with id Software, the development team behind Doom Eternal, has been described as tenuous, with no public updates on their past falling-out available.
Doom 2016's soundtrack gained renown for its unconventional methods, including sampling real chainsaw noises to achieve its signature guitar riffs, cementing Gordon's reputation as a notable figure in game music composition.