MIDI Week Singles: "Bfg Division" - DOOM (NS)

 

"Bfg Division" from DOOM on Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, & Stadia (2016 - 2020)
Composer: Mick Gordon
Album: DOOM (Original Game Soundtrack)
Label: Bethesda Softworks
Developer: id Software

I cannot confirm if "Bfg Division" actually plays while the Doom Slayer runs around the Advanced Research Facility, eventually acquiring the BFG 9000 but it would make sense that this would play during that stage.  What I like about "Bfg Division" is that it perfectly encapsulates the feeling of DOOM with the chugging guitars and polyrhythms that sound like something out of a Meshuggah instrumental album.  The high-pitch keyboards that come in at 1:15 are reminiscent of "The Hellwalker" section at 4:19, although here they are more shrill and more pronounced, which makes sense because the BFG is supposed to be the ultimate weapon in the game (next to the Crucible).  I also find that the electronic elements in the song work well with the sci-fi setting itself and at times add a little bit of melody to a song that otherwise exists to keep the player's adrenaline pumping while battling through waves of demonic hordes.

~JWfW/JDub/The Faceplantman/Jaconian

Instrumental

P.S.  If you would rather listen to Mick Gordon talk about his process for writing the music to DOOM and his various methods, there is a short two-part series up on YouTube here:

Part 1

Part 2

And then there is his presentation at GDC 2017.