When asking Call of Duty Zombies fans where the mode has gone wrong in recent years, one of the most common replies players will share is a lack of personality. For years, CoD Zombies was defined by its unique tone and features, but that has started to fade away in the newer iterations of the mode. Maps have become less unique, with facilities that players would expect to see in a campaign mission serving as maps instead of ambitious locations like Shadows of Evil's Morg City. Operators replacing voiced Zombies characters has also become a problem. However, the identity crisis even extends to the mode’s music.
Any Call of Duty Zombies fan will know that there have been hidden Easter egg songs inside the mode’s maps since Call of Duty: World at War. Beginning with Verrukt and “Lullaby of a Deadman,” brilliant musicians like Kevin Sherwood and Elena Seigman have used music to make Zombies feel more special. Whether it features Avenged Sevenfold, Malukah, or Clark S Nova, just about any track with lyrics is guaranteed to be memorable. Sadly, due to time constraints caused by Treyarch being spread too thin, limited map budgets, scheduling issues, or other unknown reasons, these tracks are no longer a guarantee. Going forward, that should change.
What Makes Call of Duty Zombies’ Songs So Special
Though there are great composers working on every Call of Duty Zombies mode, and solid background tracks featured in each map, most fans will agree that nothing can top the music written by Kevin Sherwood - especially when a talented singer is providing vocals. Over the years, original songs have been used very effectively in Call of Duty Zombies, whether it be to further a story or give a map some extra personality.
The most recent original Zombies song with lyrics came in Firebase Z, and the track was special since it told Samantha’s story when trapped in the Dark Aether. Called “Lost,” it was written by Craig Houston and even sung by Sam’s actor Julie Nathanson, and the first listen is something story fans will likely not forget anytime soon. “Archangel,” a track from Origins which featured every major Zombies artist from the time, was also special. While Zombies often leans into rock and metal, it will also go with slower songs if they suit the tone of a map, like Mob of the Dead’s “Where Are We Going” and Buried’s “Always Running.” Activating these songs while exploring the map can give them an entirely different feel, which is key for a mode built to be replayable.
For some Call of Duty Zombies fans, the first thing to do is activate the hidden song on each map by interacting with Teddy Bears or 115 rocks. These tracks not only make fighting the undead more intense and allow trailers to build more hype, but they serve as a core part of a map’s identity. Whether they are trying to tease future story moments, reflect a character’s inner thoughts, or make players feel certain emotions, Zombies tracks crafted by Kevin Sherwood and the mode’s various singers are outstanding. For this reason, it is a shame that certain maps and even an entire mode have gone without this type of music.
How Recent CoD Zombies Games Place Less Emphasis on Hidden Songs
Prior to Call of Duty: Black Ops 4, every single Treyarch-made map since Verruckt had an original song with vocals, with the exception of Five since it used Eminem’s “Won’t Back Down.” Unfortunately, Tag Der Toten broke the trend. Though “A Light From The Shore” is a very solid track, the lack of vocals for the final song in the Aether story was a bummer, as fans had hoped for another “Archangel”-like piece of music. Like Tag Der Toten itself, it was a bittersweet finale to an excellent era of Zombies content. Unfortunately, this marked the beginning of a trend.
Though Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War got off to a good start with “Alone” and the aforementioned “Lost,” Mauer Der Toten introduced a licensed track with “Amoeba.” Like “Won’t Back Down” on Five, this was fine, even if players would have preferred an original track with one of Zombies’ many great singers. Unfortunately, Forsaken had another purely instrumental track like Tag Der Doten. An unfortunate result of Kevin Sherwood being too busy and Treyarch needing to shift its focus to Call of Duty: Vanguard’s Zombies mode, the lack of songs with vocals for two good maps was a bummer.
After a game where one map lacked an original song with lyrics, and then a game where two maps lacked such music, Call of Duty: Vanguard Zombies served as a new low. Der Anfang had no music Easter egg whatsoever, nor did Terra Maledicta. The reimagining of Shi No Numa had an instrumental version of “The One,” the original map’s song, while The Archon had yet another fully instrumental track. For fans of music in Call of Duty Zombies, it is hard to argue against the idea that Vanguard was hugely disappointing. Hopefully, the extra development time for Treyarch's next game gives Kevin Sherwood and Zombies’ beloved singers the time they need to craft some full tracks on par with “The Gift” or “Dead Again.” Without them, it feels like something is missing from Zombies.
