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13 Gripping Songs Filled with Doom features music courtesy of Agnes Obel, Bastille, Gesaffelstein, Vein, and Whitechapel.

DOOM, as defined by Merriam-Webster Dictionary, has multiple meanings.  Doom, in the form of a noun, can mean judgment or decision, with the idea of a/the judgment day in mind.  Also, it can denote destiny (with a negative connotation) as well as death or ruin.  Furthermore, doom can be a verb, with meanings (1) to condemn (2) to fix the fate of (destine) or to make certain the failure or destruction of.  Regardless of the meaning, the common thread with the word seems to be its very damning – not particularly good or happy in any sense.

Honestly, what better way to explore DOOM in various contexts than an evergreen music playlist/music list? Hence, we, The Musical Hype, bring the doom to you via 13 GRIPPING SONGS FILLED WITH DOOM – *cues the infernal music*. 13 GRIPPING SONGS FILLED WITH DOOM features music courtesy of Agnes Obel (“Island of Doom”), Bastille (“Doom Days”), Gesaffelstein (“Doom”), Vein (“Doomtech”), and Whitechapel (“Doom Woods”).  Without further flipping ado, let the DOOM begin!

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1. Bastille, “Doom Days”

Doom Days • Virgin • 2019

“When I watch the world burn / All I think about is you / You / All I think about is you / So put the phone down / Fall into the night with you…” Getting the doom started off right, British alternative darlings Bastille returned in 2019 with their third studio album, Doom Days. Dan Smith and company released another enjoyable, well-rounded LP, despite the fact that it ended up being one of the years more under-appreciated efforts.  Within the context of Doom Days, title track “Doom Days” keeps the momentum going strong despite its brief duration.

“Doom Days” continues an album theme of a seemingly obsessive love filled with ample bad choices.  The aforementioned chorus confirms the obsessive love angle – “all I think about is you.” Prior to the chorus, Dan Smith sings:

“We fucked this house up like the planet
We were running riot
Crazy that some people still deny it.”

Hmm… we fucked up this house… we were running a riot? Okay… That considered, clearly on “Doom Days” Smith isn’t merely referencing a wild party or relationship – it’s much more transcendent.  The doom is real (and quite gripping I might add)!

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2. Gesaffelstein, “Doom”

Novo Sonic System (EP) • Gesaffelstein / Columbia • 2019

Just in case you are unaware, Gesaffelstein is a French techno artist and DJ. For a bigger connection, Gesaffelstein has notably collaborated with Grammy-winning Canadian R&B artist, The Weeknd on several songs.  The Weekend served as the lead artist on two collaborations – “I Was Never There” and “Hurt You” – both from his 2018 project, My Dear Melancholy, (EP)).  Gesaffelstein is credited as the main attraction on “Lost in the Fire”, from his 2019 effort, Hyperion. But enough background; This time, Gesaffelstein unleashes “Doom” upon us from his 2019 EP, Novo Sonic System (EP).

First and foremost, it should be noted that “Doom” is an electronic, instrumental track. Electronic music is a genre where instrumentals soar, and “Doom” is certainly no exception.  Also, it should be noted that this brief record is a total bop – it slaps and kicks some serious ass! Why does it SLAP and KICK SOME SERIOUS ASS you ask? Well, it’s because it’s incredibly rhythmic, built on minimalist, repetitive riffs, and, it’s set in a minor key, which is perfectly suited for DOOM.  Gripping? Ya bet!

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3. Whitechapel, “Doom Woods”

The Valley • Metal Blade • 2019

“Tear him from his mother’s hands / Turn this young boy to a man / Now his destiny’s found…” Ah, the DOOM continues with Tennessee metal collective Whitechapel.  Whitechapel previously graced The Musical Hype specifically tackling serial killer Jack the Ripper throughout the course of their 2007 debut album, The Somatic Defilement.  The Somatic Defilement – WHAT A NAME! Safe to say, with their subject matter from the past, as well as the song at hand, “Doom Woods” from their 2019 album, The Valley, Whitechapel goes HARD.

“In the night they call my name / The moon is my light to a greater side of hell…” Hmm… “Doom Woods” serves as the 10^th and final selection from The Valley.  As expected, it’s dark and unsettling, referencing a nightmarish childhood.  From the jump, it’s foreboding – quite heavy.  That heaviness is constructed by assertive, ripe guitars.  Furthermore, following an extended introduction, the unclean vocals of Phil Bozeman confirm the hellishness – that nightmare.  On the chorus, the infernal nature of “Doom Woods” is further affirmed:

“They say don’t walk to the darker side
But where the light shines, the devil is alive
I’ve seen hell through a child’s eyes
And I know in time, the devil I will find
The devil I will find.”

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4. Agnes Obel, “Island of Doom”

Myopia • Deutsche Grammophon GmbH, Berlin • 2020

“But I know you with a heartbeat / So how does the night feel? / When the lights fade out / … But now it’s gone, it’s gone, it’s gone…” Agnes Obel makes her debut appearance on The Musical Hype with her 2019 single, “Island of Doom.” “Island of Doom” is set to appear on Obel’s 2020 studio album, Myopia, due February 21, 2020. James Christopher Monger (AllMusic) describes Obel as “A Berlin-based, Danish-born singer/songwriter and classically trained pianist with an elegant and elastic voice… [her] poised and melancholic chamber pop … [is] atmosphere-heavy… with a succinct aura of Scandinavian refinery.” “Island of Doom,” which runs five-and-a-half minutes in length, is quite a compelling, hypnotic record.

“Destiny made her way and found you in a room / They told me, they told me / To undo the rule of mind and body…”  Sigh, the lyrics of “Island of Doom” are quite poetic – some of the most thoughtful of any song appearing on 13 Gripping Songs Filled with Doom.  Interestingly, ‘doom’ itself isn’t mentioned explicitly until the bridge:

“But the road through most will lead you back
And I will be with you
For the road of your mind will eat you up
On your island of doom
Where the voices all have gathered up
To a choir of fools
But I know my mind will reach you there
And I will be with you.”

Although “Island of Doom” is lush and set in a major key, typically associated with happier things, it possesses a haunting quality.  This is thanks to the lyricism as well as the music itself.  Just like Monger characterized her, this record exemplifies the chamber pop style.

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5. Frank Iero and the Future Violents, “Young and Doomed”

Barriers • UNFD • 2019

“And I’m classically sad and I’m inclined to get mad / And I dwell upon mistakes that I’ve made / It keeps me awake at night / The realization that I might be a drag / That no one wants to inhale.” Hmm… that’s depressing. Frank Iero is probably best known for being a member of My Chemical Romance, which was fronted by Gerard Way.  Since the end of My Chem, Iero has released a couple of albums as the lead singer, including his 2019 effort, Barriers. Barriers is attributed not only to Iero but also to his current band, The Future Violents.  What qualifies Frank Iero for this gripping, doom song playlist? That would be “Young and Doomed,” the second track from Barriers.

“Don’t leave me here, where my fears / Consume my thoughts, of what was / And what could have been, it’s a sin.” Given the fact that this is a doom-driven list, it’s no surprise that “Young and Doomed” isn’t exactly, um, optimistic.  Just check out the lyrical excerpts from above.  Of course, the chorus, the centerpiece, confirms the depressed, doomed nature of the record.

“That I threw it all away
When I hurt myself again
Yeah, I hurt myself again
When I hurt myself again
I’ll pretend it’s just an accident
‘Til I hurt myself again
… I’ll admit I got problems
Yeah, show me someone who don’t.”

Iero delivers an expressive vocal performance that can be characterized as raw.  Part of the rawness is the imperfectness of the pitch where Iero seems to put more emphasis on high-energy and vibe.  Besides the intense and interesting vocal performance, the music is also intense with pummeling drums and raucous, ‘doomy’ guitars.

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6. The Amity Affliction, “Ivy (Doomsday)”

Misery • Roadrunner • 2018

“I could be your Doomsday / I could be your worst ever nightmare.” Australian metalcore collective The Amity Affliction returned with a bang on “Ivy (Doomsday)”, the promo single from their sixth studio album, Misery, which arrived in 2018.  “Ivy (Doomsday)” becomes even more interesting, with an accompanying video tackling physical violence and sexual abuse.  In the dual vocal lineup, Ahren Stringer handles the clean vocals, while Joel Birch delivers the unclean vocals.

Stringer handles both verses, the refrain (post-verse), as well as a small contribution on the bridge.  On the first verse, he asserts his darkness – how he’ll “choke out the all the light.” On the second, he sings of love, yet being the “Doomsday” that he is, tells his lover, “So down to hell we go together / I was your doomsday from the start.” Birch, uncleanly, ‘sings’ the aforementioned chorus, repeating multiple times on the bridge, “We can watch the world burn.” The music matches the dark, unsettling lyrics, keeping things enigmatic on the verses, while reaching a dynamic, fever pitch on the chorus.

Naturally, during the chorus, the drums pummel, while the guitars are jagged, chocked-full of angst. Ultimately, both Stringer and Birch give solid vocal performances that feel appropriate for such a dark record.  The contrast between the two, as well as some brief overlap, ranks among the many selling points of this gripping doom record.

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7. A Perfect Circle, “The Doomed”

Eat the Elephant • BMG Rights Management • 2018

After a 14-year hiatus (!), A Perfect Circle, fronted by Maynard James Keenan (best known for his work with TOOL), returned with its fourth studio album, Eat the Elephant.  The first new single that arrived in advance of Eat the Elephant was “The Doomed” (2017), a great song in the most doomed and damned way possible.

A hard-hitting-groove anchors “The Doomed” down early on.  Both mysterious and dramatic, “The Doomed” allures early on lyrically, musically, and vocally.  Keenan is charged-up, with assertive, gritty lead vocals.  On the first verse, he sets the tone:

“Behold a new Christ
Behold the same old horde
Gather at the altering
New beginning, new word
And the word was death
And the word was without light
The new beatitude:
‘Good luck, you’re on your own.’”

Indeed, Keenan and A Perfect Circle established a damned, doomed vibe.  The vocals are filled with angst, blasphemy, and unrepentant energy. The lyrics yield a dark, poetic nature, while the music is excellent – dark, enigmatic, and high-flying, with superb production. There are hellish, souped-up guitars, driving, pummeling drums, and various symphonic cues accentuating the drama and theatrical vibes.  Keenan and company close with a bang as he asserts another new ‘beatitude’: “‘Fuck the doomed, you’re own your own.’” Ultimately, there’s not a scintilla of hope to be found on “The Doomed.”

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8. Vein, “Doomtech”

Errorzone • Closed Casket Activities • 2018

“Every time I close my eyes, I crash a thousand cars / And all my loved ones die / Surging with the urges to mutilate and all the guilt of / Every unwanted thought it brings…” WOW… just WOW. Regarding Vein, Neil Z. Yeung (AllMusic) writes, “Brutally hardcore at heart, Boston-area outfit Vein incorporate whatever is necessary from other genres – including pure screamo, drum’n’bass, and late-90s metal – to concoct an extreme and sometimes uncomfortable blend of heaviness.” ‘Extreme’ certainly seems like an accurate characterization of Vein, who released their debut album, Errorzone, in 2018.  Luckily for us, Errorzone contains one of the most gripping doom songs of this playlist, “Doomtech.”

“You sing to wage war / You sing to build this cage / Violent opera, sing me to death…” Hmm, how the ‘hell’ does one best describe “Doomtech?” Well, it’s extremely loud, intense, jagged, heavy, raucous, chaotic – you get the picture.  This record feels almost like something extremely dangerous is coming at you full force – there’s no way to avoid or soften the blow of the impact. It sounds like hell… yeah. While those characterizations might sound crazy, and while the script of “Doomtech” comes off completely unmusical, that’s actually the charm of the song. Furthermore, the vocals by Anthony aren’t melodic but rather shouted and totally ‘in your face,’ matching the sentiment of the music itself.

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9. Unknown Mortal Orchestra, “This Doomsday”

Sex & Food • Jagjaguwar • 2018

“God said my blood’s too warm for forgiveness / Set forth on the interstellar ark of sinners…” Sinful, sinful, SINNER! Honestly, there are few better album titles than Sex & Food, right? You’re damn right – those are two tremendous topics right there – both forms of pleasure! Anyways, New Zealand psych rock band Unknown Mortal Orchestra have the honor of having Sex & Food as the fourth album in their catalogue.  There are a number of unique song titles on the album as well including “A God Called Hubris”, “Ministry of Alienation”, and perhaps the most unique, “Chronos Feast on His Children”. Yeah, this seems like an album readymade for Jagjaguwar. For us, we embrace “This Doomsday,” the ninth track, on this playlist of gripping doom songs.

“God said read me in the cliff’s erosion / Sunlight feels so good, but I just can’t see nothing.” As one would expect given its title, “This Doomsday” is a colorful record.  The sound of the recording itself one of the defining features. The music has a bite and a rawness, particularly the guitar and the drums, in sort of a folk-psychedelic sense…  The vocals/vocal production is also quite intriguing, with some vocal effects in play to construct a distinct sound.  Beyond music and vocals, the lyrics stand out, with God being referenced on both verses as well as the chorus (of course doomsday is oft associated with religion).  On the chorus, UMO asserts:

“God’s face was so big on that day
Lord, don’t let me get bored Sunday
Left with a million things to say
Left me on this doomsday.”

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10. Architects, “Doomsday”

Holy Hell • Epitaph • 2018

“And when the night gives way / It’s like a brand-new doomsday.” Phew, those are some thought provoking lyrics from Dan Searle (drums) of the British metalcore collective, Architects.  Of course, it is singer Sam Carter who brings the closing lyrics from the chorus of “Doomsday” to life.  “Doomsday” appears on the band’s 2018 album, Holy Hell, which was released after the death of Dan’s twin brother and co-founding member, Tom Searle.

As one expects of a metalcore band, “Doomsday” is heavy, loud, and filled with angst.  What makes this particular record special is how it is a reaction to the death of Tom.  At the end of the first verse, Carter sings: “All these tears I’ve shed / I saw the wildfire spread / You said you cheated death / But Heaven was in my head.” Chilling.  During the second verse, there’s another stellar lyric – “Souls don’t break, they bend / But sometimes I forget / I have to do this for you / And the only way out is through / Yeah, death is an open door.”

Of course, the centerpiece of “Doomsday” is the chorus, and it’s an absolutely epic one:

“They say ‘the good die young’
No use in saying ‘what is done is done’‘cause it’s not enough
And when the night gives way
It’s a brand-new doomsday…”

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11. Ryan Adams, “Doomsday”

Prisoner • Blue Note • 2017

Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter Ryan Adams released a fantastic album in 2017 with Prisoner.  On Prisoner, He authentically captured the feelings of uncertainty, regret, and loneliness following a break-up – in his case divorce.  The simplicity of the lyrics make Prisoner relatable to everybody, not just his own situation.  Among the crème de la crème moments from the album is the third track, “Doomsday.”

“Doomsday” helps Prisoner retain its hot status, following gems “Do You Still Love Me?” and the title track, “Prisoner.” The harmonica rears its head at the top of the record.  Love, as it has up to this point on Prisoner, continues to encompass the rocker. Ryan Adams is more enthused about the relationship than his lover is, who is clearly drifting and/or unimpressed.  “Can you stand and face your fears, my love?” he asks on the second verse.  Later, he confirms his dedication, adding, “I could stand in just one place, my love / And never move.” Of course, the doom – specifically doomsday – comes into play on the chorus:

“My love, we can do better than this
My love, how can you complicate a kiss?
My love, I said I’d love you know ‘til doomsday.”

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12. King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard, “Doom City”

Flying Microtonal Banana • Flightless / ATO • 2017

“Do-do-do-doom city, do-do-do-doom city.” Australian band King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard made their first appearance on The Musical Hype on the vulturous playlist, 11 Unapologetically Vulturous Songs About Vultures.  Now, King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard moves beyond those ugly buzzards to “Doom City,” which appears as the seventh track on their 2017 album, Flying Microtonal Banana.  Flying Microtonal Banana, what a distinct album title.  What is the band’s point with this record? The dangers and devastating effects of POLLUTION.

“Doom City” is easily one of the most fun joints on 13 Gripping Songs Filled with Doom.  Why? The psychedelic cues and elements of the music, period.  Furthermore, it’s pretty cool how King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard change grooves and tempo, keeping “Doom City” extremely fresh, even given its retro sensibilities.  Lyrically, “Doom City” is also a winner, mostly the verses – the chorus is, well, merely “Doom City” or the aforementioned variant.  Both verses, to their credit, makes reference to Doom City – “I think I’ll die / When Doom City air this way comes” (verse one) and “Spark in firmament / Doom City opens up / He disorients / Everyone’s lives with his breath” (verse two).

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13. Bring Me the Horizon, “Doomed”

That’s the Spirit • Sony • 2015

“So come rain on my parade ‘cause I wanna feel it / Come shove me over the edge ‘cause my head is in overdrive / I’m sorry, but it’s too late, and it’s not worth savin’…” Ah, we close this most gripping, doomed playlist with another English metalcore/rock collective, Bring Me the Horizon. Bring Me the Horizon is certainly no stranger to our playlists on The Musical Hype, particularly songs from their 2019 tour de force, amo. Four years prior to amo, Oli Sykes and company released the album, That’s the Spirit, in 2015.  That’s where our closing selection, “Doomed,” appears as the opener.

Amazingly, “Doomed” is a bit more of a ‘balanced’ record than one might anticipate. Early on, Oli Sykes shows some restraint vocally.  Furthermore, he also drops some – wait for it – FALSETTO. Musically, while the record is driving, it doesn’t ‘reveal all of its cards’ at the onset – it percolates. Don’t worry though, Oli is still Oli; he ends up unleashing those signature gritty, powerful pipes.  Lyrically, there are some excellent moments, such as the aforementioned pre-chorus, as well as bridge:

“So leave a light on, I’m comin’ home
It’s getting’ darker, but I’ll carry on
The sun don’t shine but it never did
And when it rains, it fuckin’ pours, but I think I like it
And you know that I’m in love with the mess, I think I like it.”

Of course, the centerpiece of “Doomed” is its totally doomed chorus: “I think we’re doomed / I think we’re doomed / And now, there’s no way back.”

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13 GRIPPING SONGS FILLED WITH DOOM [Photo Credits: ATO, Blue Note, BMG Rights Management, Brent Faulkner, Closed Casket Activities, Columbia, Flightless, Gesaffelstein, Grammophon GmbH Berlin, Metal Blade, The Musical Hype, Pixabay, Roadrunner, Sony, UNFD, Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Virgin]

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