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A FIRST OF ITS KIND COMPANION PIECE TO THE BEST-SELLING DC COMIC BOOK EVENT FT. ORIGINAL SONGS BY MASTODON, MANCHESTER ORCHESTRA, DENZEL CURRY, SOCCER MOMMY, HEALTH, IDLES, CHELSEA WOLFE & MORE

SPECIAL EDITION SOUNDTRACK VARIANTS OF DARK NIGHTS: DEATH METAL COMICS 1-3 WITH CUSTOM COVERS & FLEXI SINGLES FEATURING RISE AGAINST, GREY DAZE & DENZEL CURRY NOW AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER HERE

MASTODON’S NEW SONG FORGED BY NERON OUT TODAY

Toronto, ON – May 12, 2021 – DC Comics and Loma Vista Recordings today announced the Dark Nights: Death Metal Soundtrack. Executive produced by Tyler Bates (Guardians of the Galaxy, Watchmen, John Wick), the soundtrack will be released digitally on June 18, 2021, and physically on July 16, 2021. Just as the lauded DC Dark Nights: Death Metal series isn’t the typical superhero storyline, this musical counterpart isn’t the typical superhero soundtrack. Acclaimed composer Bates here unites an array of artists across various genres—including Mastodon, Denzel Curry, Manchester Orchestra, Chelsea Wolfe, IDLES, and Soccer Mommy (full tracklist below)—forming his own musical super crew to create a first-of-its kind companion piece of original music, which adds further dimension to the acclaimed series through a multimedia experience including custom limited-edition comics, videos, and more. Mastodon’s album-opening buzzsaw, Forged By Neron is out today and the lead single sets the tone by name-checking a demon lord of Hell who appears throughout the series. “We are super excited and honored to be part of the Dark Nights: Death Metal Soundtrack! We’ve all been fans of DC Comics and the Batman universe since we were kids, so it really means a lot for us to be able to add something to that world,” says Brann Dailor of Mastodon.

All artists involved took a hands-on approach with Dark Nights: Death Metal Soundtrack, contributing songs—and in the case of a few, collaborating together for the first time—inspired by the text that depicts a hellish Earth twisted beyond recognition, wherein the Justice League is at the mercy of the Dark Multiverse and a diabolical Batman Who Laughs. The soundtrack is available to pre-order now on digital download, CD, and 2xLP—with exclusive Superman, Wonder Woman, and Batman vinyl variant covers, 11 limited edition character trading cards, and more: here. 

Additionally, DC and Loma Vista Recordings today announced Special Edition Soundtrack Variants of Dark Nights: Death Metal issues 1-3, featuring Rise Against, Denzel Curry, and Grey Daze (the late Chester Bennington’s pre-Linkin Park band) on custom comic covers, and released alongside each artists’ respective flexi singles (preview the custom comics covers out on June 18 below; pre-order the Variants individually at the links above).

“This soundtrack and motion-comic series was made by fans of comics, for fans of comics and music,” enthuses Bates, who is beloved for his previous soundtrack work on several of the most influential superhero/graphic novel films of modern times. “‘Dark Nights: Death Metal’ is next-level storytelling by two incredibly talented artists in Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo. The visual aspect of this comic is entirely compelling and resonates throughout each song on the soundtrack." 

Bates first drafted some of the Dark Nights: Death Metal Soundtrack contributors, many of whom were already fans of the DC universe in their own right, to lend their voice talents to characters to the animated showcase for the comic, Sonic Metalverse: Chelsea Wolfe as Wonder Woman, Andy Biersack (Black Veil Brides) as Batman, Andy Hull (Manchester Orchestra) as Lex Luthor, and Denzel Curry as Darkseid Batman. Built on that enthusiasm, new music flowed organically from there, with Bates encouraging the artists to write based on how “Dark Nights: Death Metal” resonated with them personally. Some were driven to include character or plot elements extracted directly from the comics, while others drew inspiration from the artwork or the dialogue that was more abstract than literal. “I love that the songs are directly inspired by the material in one way or another,” Bates says. Read more about the soundtrack at the official bio here.

“One very cool thing about comics is that even during a pandemic, the flow of production and the excitement for the material from the fans is entirely unchanged,” Bates says. “This particular medium allowed for each artist to create music in the context of the DC Comics realm at a time where movie theaters were largely closed, artists were not able to tour, and many record releases were hamstrung or postponed altogether. This soundtrack was crafted by artists who love the DC Comics lore, storytelling, and characters. We are all fans!”

Dark Nights: Death Metal Soundtrack Tracklist:
1. Mastodon - Forged by Neron
2. Chelsea Wolfe – Diana
3. HEALTH, Tyler Bates - ANTI-LIFE (feat. Chino Moreno)
4. Maria Brink, Tyler Bates - Meet Me In Fire (feat. Andy Biersack)
5. Grey Daze - Anything, Anything
6. Rise Against - Broken Dreams, Inc.
7. Manchester Orchestra - Never Ending
8. Denzel Curry, PlayThatBoiZay - Bad Luck
9. Carach Angren - Skull With a Forked Tongue
10. Starcrawler - Good Time Girl
11. GUNSHIP, Tyler Bates - Berserker (feat. Dave Lombardo)
12. Greg Puciato, Tyler Bates, Gil Sharone - Now You've Really Done It
13. Show Me The Body - Stone Cold Earth
14. IDLES – Sodium
15. Soccer Mommy - Kissing in the Rain

DOWNLOAD – Mastodon Press Photo | DOWNLOAD – Tyler Bates Press Photo | DOWNLOAD – Album Art

About Mastodon:
GRAMMY® Award-winning band Mastodon continue to chart their own course through their highly successful music career. Founded in Atlanta, GA during 2000 by Troy Sanders (bass/vocals), Brent Hinds (guitar/vocals), Bill Kelliher (guitar) and Brann Dailor (drums/vocals), the group have unleashed a series of influential albums. Rolling Stone notably cited 2004’s Leviathan on its coveted “The 100 Greatest Metal Albums of All Time.” Meanwhile, Crack The Skye closed out 2009 on year-end lists by everyone from Time to Spin. They delivered three consecutive Top 10 debuts on the Billboard Top 200 with The Hunter [2011], Once More ‘Round the Sun [2014], and Emperor of Sand [2017]. Opener “Sultan’s Curse” notably garnered their first GRAMMY® Award in the category of “Best Metal Performance.” The group commemorated their late manager Nick John with their 2019 take on “Stairway To Heaven,” affectionately entitled “Stairway To Nick John.” Initially released for Record Store Day, all proceeds benefit the Hirschberg Foundation For Pancreatic Cancer Research. Celebrating two decades in 2020, they assembled the Medium Rarities compilation of classic covers, soundtrack contributions, instrumentals, B-sides, and live recordings. Around the same time, they cut “Rufus Lives” for the Bill & Ted Face The Music (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack). In 2021, Mastodon bare their teeth again with the hard-hitting “Forged By Neron” as the lead single for DARK KNIGHTS: DEATH METAL Soundtrack, leaving their imprint on DC Comics universe. Their evolution continues with their eighth full-length offering for Reprise Records produced by David Bottrill [Tool, Rush] and due in 2021.

About DC:
DC, a WarnerMedia Company, creates iconic characters, enduring stories, and immersive experiences that inspire and entertain audiences of every generation around the world and is one of the world’s largest publishers of comics and graphic novels. As a creative division, DC is charged with strategically integrating its stories and characters across film, television, consumer products, home entertainment, interactive games, and the DC Universe Infinite digital subscription service and community engagement portal. For more information visit dccomics.com and dcuniverseinfinite.com.

About Warner Bros. Consumer Products:
Warner Bros. Consumer Products, part of Warner Bros. Global Brands and Experiences, extends the Studio’s powerful portfolio of entertainment brands and franchises into the lives of fans around the world.  WBCP partners with best-in-class licensees globally on an award-winning range of toys, fashion, home décor, and publishing inspired by franchises and properties such as DC, Wizarding World, Looney Tunes, Hanna-Barbera, HBO, Cartoon Network and Adult Swim. The division’s successful global themed entertainment business includes groundbreaking experiences such as The Wizarding World of Harry Potter and Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi. With innovative global licensing and merchandising programs, retail initiatives, promotional partnerships and themed experiences, WBCP is one of the leading licensing and retail merchandising organizations in the world.