I’m not much of a J.R.R. Tolkien fan, but this bit of news seems pretty damn cool for you metalheads that fuck with swords and hobbits and elves and all that sort of shit. With the second season of Amazon’s The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power upon us, Roadrunner Records released the first original song from the season’s soundtrack and it’s featuring some heavy hitters.
Composed by Emmy Award winner Bear McCreary, “The Last Ballad Of Damrod” features Meshuggah vocalist Jens Kidman, as well as Gene “The Atomic Clock” Hoglan on drums. Speaking of that epic collaboration, McCreary said he knew right away that he needed their talent on the track.
“When I first glimpsed Damrod, the murderous troll in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Season Two, I knew immediately I had to call Jens Kidman. The aggressive frontman of Meshuggah, Jens put a searing brand on ‘The Last Ballad of Damrod’ with his blistering vocal performance.
“I am exhilarated to team up with Roadrunner Records, home to some of my favorite bands of all time like Gojira and Slipknot, to bring our song to the world. My collaboration with Jens, alongside virtuoso drummer Gene Hoglan, on ‘The Last Ballad of Damrod,’ offers an introduction to my exploration of the darker recesses of J.R.R. Tolkien’s legendarium and sets the stage for the rest of the sweeping score to come.”
Available in more than 240 countries and territories around the world, and in multiple languages, the second season of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power will hit Prime Video on August 29.